Today, I’m missing home. My environment, my “safe” place.
It’s a quiet morning in the office. Just myself in here. It’s kind of grey out, but there’s just
enough light to where I can keep the overhead, fluorescent light off. I’m
listening to The Avett Brothers, and a tear…or a few tears really…crawl down my
cheek. Today, I miss my family, I miss my friends. There is something so
bittersweet, and beautiful about this moment.
I chose this decision, and I truthfully couldn’t be happier about
it. I’m following my dreams, and
experiencing the opportunity of a lifetime. However, nobody said that this
would be easy, and I knew that it wouldn’t—but I don’t think I quite realized
just how hard it would be sometimes.
While there is phone calls, and FaceTime—there is nothing quite as
special as sitting down around a table having a cup of coffee or a glass of
wine, beer, flute of champagne, and just
laughing. Sharing moments of your past week, both good and bad, and being
thankful for the weekend or end of the workday when you can simply just lay
everything out on the table. I miss that.
It’s funny though, because I know that if I had my little
support group here, I know exactly what they would say. My mom would tell me
how proud of me she is, and that much like every difficult situation I’ve
faced, she would tell me to “keep plugging on.” My best friends would tell me
that my house is haunted and that I should move back home—we would laugh, and
then think about it for a moment saying in our heads “is this place really haunted?” Each of them would then proceed to tell me
how proud of me that they are, and that this is only temporary…that I’m not
moving for forever. They would tell me that I have to do this, and that they
understand that—I’m truly lucky. They
would tell me that they love me so much and that it will all be okay. My other
best friend, who also had to move away for graduate school would probably tell
me that she is feeling the same way that I am.
We would talk about how we wished that we were at the same institution
so we could have our library/coffee dates every afternoon. We would talk about our “typical” school
stuff, and be each other’s backbone, telling one another that we can’t give
up…because based on our “exit” exam, we are just “average,” despite the fact
that our GPA’s said something else…and laugh because we made it into graduate
school, and that we stressed so much over it our last semester of
undergrad…and that well, we have to do it now.
I know that I’m not alone, I know that I have a huge support
group behind me, but sometimes it is just sad.
I take solace in knowing that I’m pursing MY dream…this is something
that I wanted, and still want…so, so, so badly. I am feeling extremely lucky to
have this opportunity. I’ve only been in school a week, but I think that I
already love my program, and all of my professors have been extremely helpful
and kind. I feel so proud of myself for
taking this chance, and for embracing this change. I am happy to feel sad—or
just to “feel” in general. I know that
where I am, sitting in this squeaky chair, enjoying the quiet morning, is
exactly where I’m supposed to be, and that feels good.
Listening to:
“Salina” by The Avett Brothers