How does your Garden grow?
"With silver bells and cockle shells, and pretty maids all in a row."
I had a wonderful weekend and have wonderful news.
First, the news: I found out (over month ago actually, whoops!) that I received a Graduate Assistantship in the Undergrad Library at the University of Illinois (and I am sure this is a result of my teaching experience so even that led to good things- decay turned to bud). The best best best part is that I thought it would only cover my tuition and it provides me with tuition coverage and a stipend. This, in combination with affordable student health insurance, makes me feel like the luckiest person alive- I am so blessed in all I receive.
I feel as if I am getting back tenfold to make up for the dark times I had where nothing seemed to be working out. It's very seasonally appropriate as well: in the fall everything withered away and there was just soil- dark and deep. Life seemed barren and empty and cold. But now there are so many flowers I don't even know what to do with myself.
And one last bit flower that recently popped up: I have also received word that a Plath project (turned article) is going to be......... published!! That's right: me, published in a literary journal!!! I will post more information on that later (as well as provide all of the information necessary to find said article) but, wow. I still remain skeptical that I am worthy enough to add my own voice to the scholarly discussion.
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So I find myself bursting at the seams with all of this goodness. As you can imagine, summer is going fairly well- I am, for the first time in a while, excited about my job in the fall and excited about the opportunities I have been given. I am finding that living with this amount of happiness affects every corner of my life. Whether I am swimming in the apartment pool, cooking a simple meal, reading one of many novels, or just sitting out on my porch with a cup of coffee (with freshly ground beans- I will never go back!!) I feel full, satiated.
We can never be truly happy all of the time but when those moments, those weeks, those months are full of joy, they must be en-joyed.
As part of this joyous celebration I spent the weekend traipsing around U of I's campus with a friend who had gone there for Undergrad. It was wonderful to see the school through her eyes: her favorite study spots, her most memorable college experiences, walking the quad, inside jokes/ Illini traditions, etc. Seeing something through someone else eyes gives me a whole new perspective and appreciation for the campus I will be joining.
It also excited me to no end- I started making mental plans of things I would do when I got there (voice lessons, museum visits, selecting a study tree, etc.). I'm not so sure it's the doing that is important but the want to do, the want to live.
From getting to go to a beautiful school, to receiving amazing aid, to finally being published, I am one lucky duck.
"My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky :
So was it when my life began."
-Wordsworth
I had a wonderful weekend and have wonderful news.
First, the news: I found out (over month ago actually, whoops!) that I received a Graduate Assistantship in the Undergrad Library at the University of Illinois (and I am sure this is a result of my teaching experience so even that led to good things- decay turned to bud). The best best best part is that I thought it would only cover my tuition and it provides me with tuition coverage and a stipend. This, in combination with affordable student health insurance, makes me feel like the luckiest person alive- I am so blessed in all I receive.
I feel as if I am getting back tenfold to make up for the dark times I had where nothing seemed to be working out. It's very seasonally appropriate as well: in the fall everything withered away and there was just soil- dark and deep. Life seemed barren and empty and cold. But now there are so many flowers I don't even know what to do with myself.
And one last bit flower that recently popped up: I have also received word that a Plath project (turned article) is going to be......... published!! That's right: me, published in a literary journal!!! I will post more information on that later (as well as provide all of the information necessary to find said article) but, wow. I still remain skeptical that I am worthy enough to add my own voice to the scholarly discussion.
______________________________________________________________________________________
So I find myself bursting at the seams with all of this goodness. As you can imagine, summer is going fairly well- I am, for the first time in a while, excited about my job in the fall and excited about the opportunities I have been given. I am finding that living with this amount of happiness affects every corner of my life. Whether I am swimming in the apartment pool, cooking a simple meal, reading one of many novels, or just sitting out on my porch with a cup of coffee (with freshly ground beans- I will never go back!!) I feel full, satiated.
We can never be truly happy all of the time but when those moments, those weeks, those months are full of joy, they must be en-joyed.
As part of this joyous celebration I spent the weekend traipsing around U of I's campus with a friend who had gone there for Undergrad. It was wonderful to see the school through her eyes: her favorite study spots, her most memorable college experiences, walking the quad, inside jokes/ Illini traditions, etc. Seeing something through someone else eyes gives me a whole new perspective and appreciation for the campus I will be joining.
It also excited me to no end- I started making mental plans of things I would do when I got there (voice lessons, museum visits, selecting a study tree, etc.). I'm not so sure it's the doing that is important but the want to do, the want to live.
From getting to go to a beautiful school, to receiving amazing aid, to finally being published, I am one lucky duck.
"My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky :
So was it when my life began."
-Wordsworth