Good news for the Meyer-Lochner children
On tuesday I got a letter from UB telling me that I got the Presidential Honors Scholarship (formally known as distinguished honors). I almost practically cried with happiness when I read "Congratulations!" My undergraduate education is going to be entirely free - tuition, housing, meal plan, books, laundry - everything. I called my brother at his office as soon as I found out and chuckled as he said to his friend (who was also a recipient of the scholarship) "My sister's one of us now." I really stopped caring about "getting away" recently. I first wanted to go away to college so badly last spring, when frankly I wanted to get away from everything. Going to UB, with everything paid for, I can afford to save money to go travel overseas, which is what I really want to do, for a semester or for a summer. Who knows, I could even go to China to meet Kevin (my penpal who seems to be a wonderful person from his letters). So in other words, I am perfectly happy. (And if the current brainstorms are followed through, Mike and Gene will have an apartment together in two years on campus and I can play their video games :P)
On the SAME day, Zac got terrific news as well. He's been accepted to Georgia Tech for grad school, with his tuition reduced to $600 per semester. He would also be paid by the school about $17,000 per year for being a T.A. and something else that I can't remember... It'll be interesting to see what he gets from the Cali schools and where he ends up. Where ever it is I'll be sure to visit (<-- another thing I will be able to save money for!) (And how exactly it wherever spelled? i feel like it's wrong both ways...)
As an added bonus to this week from god, Jackie found my band hoodie that I lost back in the first week of October. I originally left it in Euro, and by the time we came back to school from the October storm it was no where to be found, not even in the "Lost and Found." But today, Jackie and I were chilling in the Orchestra/Drama room. Jackie was looking through a box of drama dept costumes for a head scarf when she pulled out a band hoodie.
"Is it mine?" I asked, excitement building. Jackie looked into the hoodie to read the tag.
"Lochner!" She exclaimed. I gleefully reached for my beloved hoody, hugging it in my arms and rubbing my face on it's familiar texture. My dear hoodie has been returned! As soon as it's washed, I'm wearing it. Of course I should be getting a new one soon with the trip being in less than two months...
And yesterday was my first day on the job at Kohl's. Well, orientation. A 4 and a 1/2 hour long orientation. But I didn't wear a watch and time passed relatively quickly. There were a few people around my age, most of which attended one community college or another, with a major in criminal justice. Everyone else was older. One man needed a second job because he had a baby a month ago. A couple people came over after quitting Target because they hated the management (reminded me of Mike). One older woman (60s -ish) with short blonde/white hair and big round earrings said her husband died three years ago, that she's looking to get a job better than Walmart, and that she's getting into life and "just coming out of the closet." Now I don't know if she meant this literally or if the saying when used by an older generation is meant to mean that she's coming out of the closet so far as the whole getting into the fun of life thing. Another woman is a phlebotamist (sp?) and she needed a second job for extra income. The funny thing is that she recognized most of the people there because she did their drug tests for the job. My manager is seems to be a really cool guy. His name is Byron and he's stylish and probably in his late twenties. He seems very laid back and witty. So this is a plus. Hopefully I will enjoy working (at least as much as anyone can enjoy a part-time job). My next day of work is next thursday, I'm doing merchandising. The week after training starts. Tablet PC here I come!