Graduation Day

My older sister, Shelly and I are 19 months apart in age. I know there were many times my mother wondered what she had done to earn such sparring children.  We did a lot of screaming and fighting growing up. We also did a lot of traveling together and becoming true friends.

Today my sister is in Oxford, England attending her Ph.d ceremony.  She is now Doctor Michele Habecker!  I am SO PROUD OF HER!

The journey to her doctorate began many years ago.  I will have to let her share her full story with you when you meet her (and you should– she and her husband, David, are a treasure trove of knowledge, experience, story and travel).  After being born and raised in Africa, she went to Wheaton College.  After graduating from Wheaton, she went off to Eritrea to teach English through the Peace Corps program.  I got to visit her there and WOW, talk about living in the bush!

Her stint in Eritrea (2 years!) led her to Oxford where as a Fulbright scholar, she received her Master’s degree in African studies.  That led her to work for UNHCR in DC, traveling to refugee programs around the world.

Shelly then went on to start her doctorate in African migration to African America USA (specifically the Washington, DC area).  And here we are,  a few years later, celebrating this LONG and winding road to her doctorate.

Shelly, you have always been my big sister.  I’ve always copied everything you did.  When you learned to ride a bike, I immediately set out to do the same that day.  We went to school together, we stole each other’s notes hidden in our rooms, we attended slumber parties (well, okay, so maybe I cried my way into attending your friend’s parties…but hey, I thought they were my friends too!), we grew up together. 

You have shown me how to stick it out through anything, no electricity and running water for two years not withstanding!  You have an incredible heart for Africa and a thirst to know more of that amazing and wonderful land and people! 

I am proud of you. I am proud of how hard you have worked (finishing your final copy of your dissertation just one week before Lucy Claire was born!).  Congratulations my sister!