I've been sitting on my bed in a sea of tissues, coughing and sneezing and sniffling and head-aching, but it is with a light heart that I write this post. You see, I received some very exciting news last week, and it's time to share it!
I HAVE A PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR! Finally! And it feels so good.
During my freshman year of college, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I was in this new place, with new people, discovering and defining who they are and what they believed. There were students from all over the state, country, and world. Different beliefs, different political opinions, different hobbies and interests. It was fascinating. I got involved in leadership on campus by being my hall's Living Area Council member. I worked with my RA and each LAC member from my dorm to put on hall events and dorm events. It was my first peek at what would later fuel my love for college.
UP Staff '08-'09
Sophomore year was my first year in Residence Life. I was hired as a Resident Advisor. My staff was incredible. They supported me like no other group in which I'd ever found myself. They showed me love, encouragement, and grace when I needed it most. My second staff senior year was no different. I cannot imagine a better way to have ended my undergraduate time than with those 9 other women by my side. I was poured into by mentors and peers, and was tugged at and shaped and developed.
Adams Staff '10-'11
That second year in college was when I decided I want to be on a university campus even after graduation. I wanted to take the love I'd received from my mentors, and be for future students what those mentors were for me. I knew I wanted to work in student affairs. So I had a goal, but no details worked out.
Once graduation rolled around, I wasn't ready for 2 more years of papers and studying quite yet. On top of that, I had the travel itch again (after all, I'd been in the country for over 11 consecutive months). Naturally, I took off to work in Europe for a year.
Once I got here, I started doing my serious grad school research. I found schools I was interested in all over the country--from Pennsylvania and North Carolina to Colorado to all up and down the West Coast. By the time my research was done, I had my heart set on the College Student Services Administration program at Oregon State University in Corvallis.
It's not too far from home (at least compared to Los Angeles or Austria), it's in GORGEOUS Oregon, the school has so much Beaver Pride, and I wouldn't have to take out student loans to go there. Sounds like a good recipe for me.
Photo from the OSU website
I finished my application weeks ahead of time and waited (very) impatiently for the first round of reviews, my Skype interview, and my final acceptance.
From OSU's photo blog
And I received my letter last Thursday! So I'm in! On top of that, I already have my first graduate assistantship offer. I'm still walking on air.
From OSU's photo blog
So if you didn't come visit me in Austria this year, you can make it up to me by visiting Corvallis in the next 2 years! Deal?
Grace and peace,
Hilary
No comments:
Post a Comment