new life?

so...it's funny to think that i seemed to find more time to blog in my student life than i have so far in my alum life. the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions, and a lack of emotions, but mostly just a whirlwind. i finished all my classwork, and said goodbye to my undergraduate experience. the graduation festivities were perfect: class day was stunning, commencement was beautiful. it's hard to believe that they've come and gone, but looking at pictures is a reminder of their occurrence.

since classes ended, i've been working and moving and running around like a wild woman. my gorgeous friend carol was married the weekend after graduation, which was such a fun time with friends. then i moved out of my sweet little apartment, and bid farewell to my life at MC.

now, i'm getting settled into what life will be like for me this summer. juggling work and weeding through all the junk i've acquired in the last 4 years. currently, i'm wishing for some sunshine, because it's been extremely rainy and gray since graduation weekend. i've been working lots on my photography, and getting lots of inspiration for decorating my apartment in fort collins. i think this picture will be the basis for all my color decisions in the apartment. i'm so excited!

the future is coming!

yesterday was a day for the books. i went to sleep very bummed thursday night because the client i shadow at preschool was sick so he wasn't going to be at preschool for the Valentine's party, meaning my only hope for V-Day fun had been shattered. okay, it wasn't that bad, but i'd been very excited--so excited that i bought a festively cute shirt for the occasion. then, yesterday morning i was awoken by my client's mother calling to say "he has been cured", so i got up and headed into preschool for the morning excited to wear my shirt and observe the 3-year-olds' excitement over celebrating Valentime's.

the day took a drastic turn when I received an email reading, "Congratulations!  We are pleased to inform you that we are recommending to the Graduate School that you be admitted for graduate study in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University." i'll be working on a M.S. in Family & Developmental Studies in Fort Collins, CO beginning in the fall!

as you can probably guess, i've gone through a whole variety of (almost all good) emotions since yesterday. it's been a shock, but i'm so happy and very proud of this accomplishment. i was starting to become worried about next year and was working on establishing consolation prizes for myself with potential plans for after graduation.

so, since receiving that email, i've made many phone calls, booked a flight for the open house at CSU on February 26th, and bought some professional attire since this grad program will not have me rolling around with children the way i'm used to doing. it's funny that yesterday i went to school as an undergrad serving as a shadow in a preschool classroom and ended as a future graduate student who will be moving to CO in less than 6 months. more news is on the horizon, but for now...WOW!

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moving on...

today was a day filled with messages of "moving on". this morning, maureen hartford, the president of meredith college, announced that she would be retiring following the 2010-2011 school year. i received the email via blackberry while i was at preschool, so i read it while i was walking to my car at the end of the school day. reading the email in a setting almost entirely separated from mc, i felt very neutral feelings toward this announcement. i have always held a sense of endearment for dr. hartford. having spent various occasions chatting with her on both academic and personal levels, feel that i've always respected her as the president of our college and i have been able to appreciate the fruits of the progress she has brought for our school. however, knowing that i will be long gone by the 2011-2012 (EEEEK!) school year, i didn't really feel the need to freak out about the announcement. i  know that our school is on a good track and will continue to move forward positively into the future.

returning to campus and logging on to twitter and facebook, i was able to get a grasp on other students' reactions toward dr. hartford's retirement. although i wasn't surprised, i was certainly outraged to see students rejoicing to the heavens over this announcement. while i can certainly respect my classmates' opinions, i do not endorse their outward praise for this news. in my mind, these students are discrediting their own degree and education by discounting the abilities of the administration during their time here at meredith. and, while this is their loss, i can't help but be upset by the insensitivity, closed-mindedness, and negativity. i know without a doubt in my mind that i have received an outstanding education during my time at meredith and i look forward to taking what i have learned out into the world when i graduate. i also know that the changes made during dr. hartford's presidency have greatly impacted that excellent education i've received. there are always going to be things with which we disagree; however, it is necessary to do something about our concerns rather than simply griping and continuing the negativity.

so, with that said, i am proud to have been a student at maureen hartford's meredith college and i know that this announcement will bring many more changes, but hopefully meredith will only continue to progress and move forward, challenging the norms and staying strong as a southern women's liberal arts college.

dr. hartford is moving on and so am i, as i was reminded this afternoon when i received my housing intent form for the 2010-2011 school year. i still don't know where exactly i'll be living next year or what i'll be doing or whether i'll be in school or working, but i know that i will be moving on from here and starting a new chapter. it's scary, but it's exciting, and i know my time at mc has prepared me for all that i have ahead of me.