Mom's Graduating!

It’s a really big deal.

My mom is not only graduating with an Associate of Science degree from Dixie State College of Utah on Friday – she’s graduating summa cum laude. And I couldn’t be prouder.

Like many women in her generation, Linda Gubler married young and left college to start her career as a homemaker. She raised nine children and although she did not have a college degree she instilled a love for learning to her three sons and six daughters.

Mom read hundreds of books to us, volunteered in our classrooms, enrolled us in music lessons, edited our papers, and attended our class productions and sporting events. As the fifth of nine children I certainly could have been lost in the shuffle, but the opposite is true. She supported me in everything. And all of my siblings could say the same thing.

“She backed us up in our own educational pursuits acting as chauffer, muse and prodder,” said Peter Gubler, child No. 3, a CPA and partner of an accounting firm in Las Vegas. “She experienced a number of sleep-shortened nights due to school projects she assisted us in.”

Mom’s successes come to the tune of three honorary master degrees – including Dad’s – and three honorary bachelor degrees. Today, Mom will pick up another honorary associates degree along with a diploma that has her own name on it. (I say honorary because we attribute finishing our degrees in part to her.)

This time her husband, nine children, their spouses and 12 grandchildren will be in the cheering section.

“She’s showing her grandkids that it’s never to late to achieve your dreams and it’s never too late to get your degree,” said John Gubler, child No. 4 and Head Staff at a youth counseling facility.

However, Mom’s job wasn’t easy at times. We didn’t always want to write papers, work out math problems, or finish science projects. She definitely helped with follow-through.

“She kicked my butt (figuratively) and made me educate myself,” said James Gubler, child No. 7. “She wouldn’t let me sleep in.”

It was that extra push that inspired us to achieve our best.

“Of course Dad was supportive, but Mom was the driving force behind me getting my education,” said Katie Gubler, the oldest child and Manager of Labor and Delivery at Dixie Regional Medical Center. “I remember Mom always saying she regretted not getting her education. There was never a question of whether or not I would go to school.”

Mom has always joked that she “dropped out” of Brigham Young University before they could “kick her out.” However, since she resumed classes at DSC she has received perfect marks from her professors.

“She works and works and works until she gets an ‘A,’” Dad said. “She puts her heart and soul into it. She knows what she wants and goes after it and gets it.”

Her diligence and positive attitude has certainly rubbed off.

“I’ve noticed how much happier she is while she is working on something to improve her life,” said Heidi Petersen, child No. 2, who has a bachelor of arts from BYU. “She has shown me the importance of always trying to better and challenge myself. She was scared to death of taking her math class and found that math is actually one of her strengths.”

It’s true. Before attending Dixie, Mom’s last mathematics class was Algebra II when she was 15. Let’s just say it wasn’t her best subject. But it was math that made her decide to get her degree.

“It had been 42 years since I had taken math,” Mom said. “It was time to figure out the beasty math thing.”

And she did.

After getting an “A” in Elementary Algebra, her teacher suggested she test out of Intermediate Algebra. She did and has just completed Pre-Calculus with another “A.”

Emily Caplin, child No. 6 who is finishing her fourth year of teaching third-graders, wasn’t surprised with Mom’s success in math.

“She doesn’t do anything halfway – she always goes above and beyond when she puts her mind to something,” Caplin said. “She did extra math problems. If the teacher assigned every-other-odd problem, she did all the odd problems.”

Mom’s work ethic influenced Alli Gubler, the youngest, as they took Elementary Algebra during the same semester at Dixie.

“No one wants their mom to do better than them!” Alli said. “She always, always did her homework.”

Kim Gubler, child No. 8, is also working towards her associates at Dixie.

“She’s shown me the importance of education,” Kim said. “She’s let me know that it’s easier to do it when you’re younger.”

Next up for Mom: A bachelor degree.