The Storm before the Calm

So the day is here.

I have this post set to go live at the exact time that I should be sitting down at a desk and willingly preparing to enter 5 hours of hell for a little bit of Heaven. That’s right. As you read this, I am taking the dreaded GRE right now. I have studied hard, sweated, have doubted myself and abilities an incredible amount, have felt smart, and have felt weak. In short– it’s been the hardest damn thing I’ve committed to this year. Now I am hoping that it’s a bit of payoff.

I’ve missed workouts, gone through several sleepless nights, worried myself silly, felt as powerful as a Celtic Warrior and and as frightened as a child in a thunderstorm. I’ve cried, believing that this one moment in time will define everything, and I’ve laughed just as much realizing the pointlessness of worry. Basically, I’ve gone through all the emotions one can go with this part of the “process”. One of the things it’s taken me a long time to finally “grasp” is that this one piece doesn’t make or break my future or career. My perfectionistic tendencies have basically just been invited to a party and have invited everyone else to come along, as well. I will say this, I’ve played over worst case scenarios and best case scenarios all day, night and month. I’ve worked as hard as I could and definitely have prayed as much as anyone could for a good score. What more can be done at this point instead of work hard, pray hard, succeed?

Such a weight will be off my shoulder around the time of say, 2:00 p.m. I don’t know where I’m going, but I do know, I will immediately seek out and find a Sam Adams Winter Lager. I will have a nice lunch. And I will be thankful for making it this far.

So many moments pass in a day and so many things happen to define who we are and what we will become. How many people switch religions? Or decide to get married? Or decide to change careers? Or dare to dream? Or take a risk?

My goal with this test is to “make it”, whatever “it” is that I am making (heh).

I’ve had a lot of blood, lot of sweat and a lot of tears. As you read this, here’s hoping that it’s all worthwhile

And this is actually the easiest part of the process. Up next? Applications, and Statement of Purpose.

Yikes.

After that Winter Lager? I’ll be heading off to Barnes and Nobles. It’s definitely nerve wracking…

but at the end of the day? I absolutely love this lifestyle. But the emotional roller coasters it can take you on? Wow.

While I’m away trying to take my life in my own hands here, don’t forget– if you’re up for guest posting here, I still have a few slots open.

Well, I have a few days left to study although by the time you read this, my fate will be sealed.

The Pride of UNCW

What a fantastic weekend.

You ever wake up and realize that you can do anything? That you have power beyond all belief and recognition! And that with only a few choices, you possess the ability to change history?

I just did. And it was fantastic.

As you know, I spent my graduate years at UNCW. Some of you, like the very creative Averie,  are familiar with Wilmington, NC, have lived there and know it as the land of plenty: Plenty Beaches, Plenty Waves, Plenty tourists and Plenty Sun! We’ve already discussed how I ran as a way to stay in shape and deal with stress during grad school. Turns out, running wasn’t the only thing I accomplished.

While out to dinner on Saturday at a very nice, quaint seafood bar in  with friends from the past, the topic came up about diversity in graduate school programs. I found out something that literally shocked me though.

Turns out a quick look into the directory of the psych. program at UNCW shows that I was the very first African American male to graduate from the Graduate School of Psychology. ME.

Holy @#$%!!!!  This is very surprising and shocking for me to learn!

There were 2 others before me. 1 left the program. The 2nd one, due to circumstances in life wound up taking longer than normal to finish the program. I was the 3rd one to enter the program and the first to actually graduate!

WooHoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone who knows me for longer than 10 minutes knows that my years in Wilmington have always been described by myself as the best years of my life. Those 2 years, I walked on clouds and kissed the sky literally every day from the moment I set foot upon the beach until I experienced my final sunset there. I loved my years, and it’s always been in the cards for me to direct my life and career such that I can retire there. I already know the place I want to set sail in, the boat I want to buy, the house I want to live in. My life is really one long journey back there to my home.

Wilmington my home.

And that knowledge solidified it. It never occured to me that I was the first to actually graduate it because the I didn’t realize how young the program actually was. This is even more fantastic in that I was the first person in my family to attend post secondary education and hopefully one day, God willing, I’ll be the first to have the letters “P”, “H” & “D” beside my name. That is the ultimate goal.

I realized I am really blessed, highly favored and that I have a great potential to accomplish a lot of good. I just never realized that until last night you could say. I sometimes get really down because I think I’m either not doing enough with my life or that somehow I’m not working hard enough or smart enough to succeed. But with what I learnt, I now realize, that’s all lies. That’s just unbased anxieties that I have which shows only one real fact: that I need a little bit more faithfulness and to focus more on my hits and less on my misses.  I am actually accomplishing a lot and have accomplished alot…and there’s so much more to accomplish!

I’m probably starting to get into rambling territory but I was just so happy that I had to share it with you all. Oh, and special shout out to Jo, who was the first person to congratulate me on Twitter who was the very first person to congratulate me on my fantastic revelation. I meant what I said, you are a truly beautiful person for acknowledging that. It meant a lot as I was so high (not illegally!) last night. Thank you.

Thanks to all my family, friends and UNCW comrades, too. We’ve done a lot and there is even much more to do!

I will not stop and I will not let you down!

%d bloggers like this: