I Passed The Last Test... Now, Time...

I passed the last test with flying colors. I sparkled in the Sun. No, I didn't ace it, but neither did anyone else. But, I did break the pattern :) The lead instructor who was putting the exam cards through the machine said, "Everyone is making the same score, that's weird." People were joking about everyone having cheated, and our particular instructor, for that course, was joking that he must have given everyone the same wrong information. And I was sweating bullets, really, as I did with each other exam, waiting to see if I even passed. When he slipped mine through the reader, he said, "Sarah, you broke the pattern. Everyone else was getting 87, you scored 94." Wow! After all the pressure, and after having been the only one, in most of my classes, who had never even touched a chart, before, or even much experience navigating, period... and after having known that some of my co-workers were tearing me down (men, who felt threatened by a woman driving a boat, especially a woman who had been a mere guide on their boat, previously)... this was excellent news! I knew, in my head, which ones they missed, too... because when we feel unsure, we take the safe road... and I knew that they had chosen the safe answer to some of those questions. I almost did the same thing, but reasoned it out in my head. And I'm glad that I trusted my gut. Here I was, again, going out on a limb, taking a risk... and, because I did, I came out above the rest. I don't really have a need to be above the rest... but, sometimes in life, when situations have tested you, sorely, it feels almost like a reward, to make up for the suffering that we may have experienced. Besides, I'm tired of running with the pack, perhaps I don't want to be "the same", anymore. Really, I'm just glad I passed! Yahoo!

I take note, as well, that, on my Journey, I have often gone against the grain, in taking jobs that, previously, were filled by, mostly, men. Or, rather, I should say, jobs in which men felt threatened by women who could perform their job as well as, or even better, than men. The first was the Army, the second was my Letter Carrier job... and now the Captain thing. Given my past history, regarding job options, then, in that respect, then yes, shining above the rest is a nice reward :)

I'm not a Captain yet, I still have to receive some paperwork in the mail, complete my package and submit it, then play the waiting game. Here's to going against the grain!

Peace & Love to you!