The American Dream

Year after year, millions of people around the globe dream of the American Dream. They dream of a quality education, a career and a big house with their children playing in the yard, safely protected by their very own white picket fence.  While immigrants flee their home nations of poverty, war and dictatorships to come to the United States, many millions of American children share the same dream.  When you grow up wearing hand-me-downs and shopping at yard sales, Kmart and discount stores you long for a better life at a young age. You go to a University, achieve a degree, and then you get a great career and live happily ever after.  

But for some people that dream is almost impossible.  It can truly seem as if everyone and everything around you are working against you.  I know there were times during my 2 years at UW Tacoma that I felt like a tadpole trying to swim up-stream.  Shit, I felt like I was swimming up a vertical waterfall.  You lose sleep and spend less time with your friends or doing the activities you love and push through or you simply don’t.  The challenges of being a returning student go beyond less personal time or less sleep or even leaving a comfortable work environment to pursue your dreams.  Achieving your dreams and a quality education can be an emotional journey as well.  It can be easy but an extremely stressful process to move past less grant money than expected and take out student loans. It can even become simple to let comments roll off your shoulder, most are made out of complete ignorance anyway.  But it can be very difficult to have those around you; your close friends and family continually question your commitment to your education or worse not even offer an acknowledgement of your accomplishments.  You really don’t know how it feels until it is you. 

So, when it came time to go to my brother-in law’s Eastern Washington University Graduation I wanted to make sure he knew how proud we were.  I wanted Jayson to have all the bells & whistles.  I pre-ordered him a nut lei instead of flowers and made him a few signs to hold up from the stands.   With our children being young I also bought a few new toys & activities to keep them busy during the two hour long ceremony.

Above-Jayson before the ceremony.

 Above- The Jayson Sipress cheer section.

Bellow- Laura & Mark cheer Jayson on from the crowd.

After the ceremony was finished we drove over to a nearby park so the kids could blow off some energy and enjoy the sunshine.  Tyler’s Dad, had to catch a flight home so we snapped a few group pictures and headed to dinner.  For dinner we went to a Spokane restaurant called Twiggs.  We had a relaxing seating location on the deck near the water and a beautiful water fountain.  The food did take a little bit to arrive to our table but when it did it tasted great.  Tyler & I split a tasty spring greens salad & a unique pizza.  After dinner we headed back to Jayson & Andalyn’s house for some delicious pies and daiquiris’. 

 Above- Issac & Grandpa Brad look at the firetrucks.

Bellow- Josie's loving the park.

 Above & Bellow- We try to get a family shoot with the new Graduate!!!

 Above- the boys with their Mom.

Bellow- the boys with their Dad.

On Sunday morning Andalyn made everyone breakfast. Jayson read Issac some books and everyone relaxed with coffee.  Then Laura & Mark headed home before we enjoyed lunch and the rest of us took a trip to a nearby park.  Both Tyler & I are very grateful for the attention Jayson gives the kids.  Issac has such a great time with his Uncle Jayson each and every time we see him.  Jayson always takes the time to play cars, read books, go for walks and even trips to the park or children’s museum each and every time we get to spend time together.  It is because of this that Issac always asks about Uncle Jayson & points to his pictures on the wall.

At the end of the summer, Jayson and his wife, Andalyn are moving to the Vancouver-Portland metropolitan area.  Jayson has been accepted into Chiropractor school.  He will attend twelve quarters straight over the next three years.  The time commitment will be even greater then at EWU but the reward will be fabulous when he completes his education  We wish Jayson nothing but good luck and internal strength as he continues to chase his dreams and turn them into reality.  I know he will have to continue to defend his commitment to his education and defend his choices of how he spends his time to people who will never understand but I also know Jayson will continue to refuel his mind, body and soul to get the job done and achieve his goals.