Introduction - Week 2

Linda Yahn - Introduction

Hello Dr. Pryor, TA’s and fellow Florida Gators:

It is with great anticipation and excitement I begin my junior year today! After many years, I am finally racing toward my lifelong dream - completing my Bachelor's degree at the University of Florida. My name is Linda Yahn, and upon graduating from high school ( a very long time ago), I desperately wanted to attend UF and begin my college education. My foster parents, however, had other plans - plans that would lead me to Florida Southern College in Lakeland. After one semester, overwhelming biological family issues were such that I quit; I have regretted that decision every day for years. Nonetheless, I do not consider that momentary failure a mistake, but rather the best I could do under the circumstances. Real failure would have been had I not gotten back up again and continued my journey.

I made it! 2016

Moreover, as a great author once said, courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying 'I will try again tomorrow.'  Today is my 'tomorrow' because it is forty-five years later and I am a junior at the University of Florida, working on my Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. It doesn't matter how long it has taken me, just that I never stopped.

US News & World Report - Heavener Ranks 16th

Raising six children was a challenging and extremely rewarding career choice; but it wasn't the all that I wanted. During those years, I had the opportunity to work as a pharmaceutical representative for Bristol-Myers Squibb, develop a human resources department for a Permobil, a global powered-mobility chair company in Tennessee, and then become the HR educator for HCA Physician Services in Brentwood, Tennessee. Currently, I am an Executive Property Manager for a large apartment community in Bradenton, Florida.

"If you are going through hell, keep going!" ~ Winston Churchill

My life has been one of challenge and fulfillment, yet deep in the back of my mind, I could not forget my dream of completing my college education. This same longing and importance of college education was instilled in all of my six children (and now in my 7 grandchildren). All of my children have either finished or are working on completing their degrees, one of whom played basketball at Santa Fe in Gainesville, and then went on to play at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg where I grew up. Once receiving her MBA she joined the Foreign Services and is currently serving at the US Embassy in Afghanistan. Several others are business owners and/or successful in their chosen careers. I am blessed with adult children who are productive, compassionate members of society.

5 of my 6 amazing children and 2 of my beautiful grandchildren
 The bride is the Diplomat in Afghanistan and her Italian husband whom she met in Shanghai

So, it is my time! In all reality, my major career aspiration it to just finish the race.  Today, I have blinders on and am running toward the finish line. I will finish what I started in order that I might leave a legacy to my children and grandchildren so they never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.

My life is a collection of happy moments, so I will share a few about which you don't know. I am a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, I had the amazing privilege of landing and launching on the aircraft carrier USS GEORGE WASHINGTON 85 miles at sea, thus making me an 'honorary tail-hooker' and I am a plank owner as a commissioning member of the USS ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. I am a Guardian ad Litem, which is a special advocate for neglected, abused and abandoned children, I advocate against domestic violence, and I take seriously Abraham Lincoln's quote on caring for our veterans. I have lived through a divorce and the death of a child, but I kept chasing my dream.

Lastly, as Lincoln once said, in the end it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years! Whatever you are, be a good one.

Go Gators!