Nicole Berry, MA!

In other news...

I turned in my last assignment for my last class at Fuller Theological Seminary. I officially am a Master of Cross Cultural Studies with an emphasis on Leadership Development. Anyone hiring?

The funny thing is that when I first thought about committing to two years worth of studies and debt in the tens of thousands of dollars I had big plans to be an overseas missionary or something adventurous like that. I didn't even know Brandon when I began researching schools. I was just a single gal living in Charleston and working as an administrative assistant to the missions director at my church. Now, with the diploma in the mail, I have a husband, a daughter, a home (and, subsequently, a mortgage), a job at a marketing firm, a lot of travel under my belt, and no idea what how God's going to use this degree in my life! (But I know it won't be wasted).

I WILL miss:
learning new ideas and concepts that will help me in ministry and life, learning from and alongside some of the best and brightest from all over the world, having an excuse to get out of stuff ("Sorry, I'd love to, but I really have to study")--not that I ever used that with you...

I will NOT miss:
writing papers, reading a lot of books that are not exactly page-turners, paying tuition fees (and hidden costs that just 'pop up'), writing papers, climbing the stairs in the smelly library at FTS, writing papers, staying up late to study, having something hanging over my head ("I know I should be studying right now, but I'd rather...), making sure I'm using correct Turabian style formatting, and...writing papers.

I'd like to publically thank everyone who has supported me during this process...my old boss who encouraged me to go to school, my parents who let me move all the way to California (and told Brandon he could take me out there as his wife!), everyone who financially supported us while we lived and ministered in Los Angeles while studying (including the Johnstons and the Yingers--two families who gave a scholarship to Fuller which I was awarded for my second year tuition), my co-hort (10 other gals who became my buddies during the first year) and other Fuller peeps--some of whom I expect will be lifelong friends, many of my professors (including one of my favorites, Bobby Clinton), and my precious hubby who not only worked right alongside me, but encouraged me to do my best in my classes, wouldn't let me give up, prayed for me every day, sacrificed his own educational dreams to do the right thing when we were deciding about moving back to South Carolina, and reminded me to finish well.

Peace in Pasadena,
Nicole Berry, MA