Days 8-9 Collection

Day 8: History made its mark. Make yours.

 I decided on this memoir because it's New Student Orientation. It's officially the beginning of a new year. This quote is on my vision board. I don't remember which magazine I got it from but I loved it from the moment I saw it.. and it's true for this year. History made its mark. Make yours. I have to make and leave my mark in school, at work, with GSC, with SESSA, with NASPA, as a mentor. In everything that I commit myself to, I need to make my mark. Even when it comes to myself.. with my health. I need to make a mark this year. I will make a mark this year.

New Student Orientation did go well. I'll be glad when October comes.. I think. October has to be a quieter month. It just seems like it will be less stressful.. less busy. But I know me.. I'll find a way to have the busiest year until the next year comes.

Day 9: Waiting isn't always a bad thing.

I talked to Jacqui today. It's been a couple months since I last spoke with her. It's always good catching up with her. She's getting her Ph.D, as is Sharawn. Ashley has hers and is now preggers (yay) and Rachel is in med school. Lena got a promotion at Sony and Heather is just recently married. Nikki is raising a beautiful family and planning a wedding, and Starr and Leah are enjoying the birth of their new summer babies... I have some pretty fantastic friends doing some pretty impressive things. But we're all doing it now.. 

In my conversation with Jacqui, we started talking about the culture that Wake promotes.. get your terminal degree. Go to grad school right after graduation. I didn't do that. I worked after graduation and I was scared that I didn't know what I was doing.. but I have always had favor. Public Allies was the best thing that ever happened to me. If we were friends during that year, you also know it was the hardest year for me but I was introduced to fantastic people who I still keep in contact with today. But it also introduced me to NCSSM and Student Affairs where I have ultimately found my passion. Without taking that year with Public Allies, I don't know where I would be. It was an emotional hell for me. Some of it I created.. but some of it, I didn't. It was a hard year but I can honestly look back and say, I wouldn't change it. I resigned from the first professional job I ever had. At 22, I had enough and I resigned. I quit. I never quit. I always finish.. even if I have a terrible time, I finish. But I couldn't finish this one. I was scared and I didn't know what would happen next. But what happened next, led me to my destiny. I love working with young people. I love mentoring. I enjoy event planning and NCSSM allowed me to do all of that. It was exactly what I needed, when I needed it. And it all started with me waiting... holding off going to graduate school. Resigning from a job that made me unhappy, and waiting for one that would make me happy. I worked at a school that made me incredibly happy, sad, tired, and inspired. I waited until I knew for sure what I wanted to go to school for. I waited to figure out what my 10 year plan was. I know it know and because of that, I'm happy.  I'm thriving. And it's all because six years ago, I listened to the voice in me that said I am not ready for this step in front of me. So I stopped.. let others pass me by, and I waited. Waited until it was time for me to make that next step.