1. I graduate with my Masters in Theology today. I won’t be there to walk down the aisle to get my diploma, because even the sight of my seminary’s campus ( @SBTS) is trauma triggering to me, and my wife. Seminary was a dehumanizing & traumatic experience for me, for my family.

2. I finished both my Associates in Biblical & Theological Studies & Bachelors in Christian Counseling with Magna Cum Laude honors in just a few years while supporting a family. Those were good years. A bunch of family showed up, it was a moment treasured.

3. In 2015-2016, there always a massive shift in culture of SBTS. With the ongoing deaths of unarmed black people & the rise of T, the environment got so hostile that even tho I lived across street from Seminary, I began to only take online courses. We no linger went on campus.

4. Long story short, after several years, we decided to finish degree since we already invested so much time & money. I downgraded my degree from an M. Div to M.A. to graduate sooner. Today is a mixture of both thankfulness & sadness. A day of personal self care & family time.