real life: lesson 2

Hey friends, I'll keep this one short because tomorrow's the first day of school (!!)

It's been a wild ride this summer; first semester is over and now the real work begins. Like all things, my first month and a half of grad school was full of ups and downs. And I did learn a lot, but maybe not what I expected to learn. So my lesson #2 of real life is this: 

Experience is more than circumstance. 

Grad school is hard, no doubt about it, but I think the hardest thing I've had to grapple with this summer was the pesky persistence of expectations I didn't even know I had. Like I expected promises to be kept, communication to be clear, and time to be meaningful. But when that wasn't the case, I could feel my grumbling spirit rise up and commence pouting. It was truly disappointing at times to feel like I'd taken a risk to come here and it wasn't all that it was advertised to be. But that's life, right? Sometimes you think you've got everything figured out and then you get stuck in the stairwell of the school district building...not fun times. 

But even with these bumps in the road, I can genuinely say that I have been really happy this summer. That despite some of the unpredictable and sometimes unavoidable circumstances that come from a slightly disorganized grad program (and a very disorganized me), my experience wasn't defined by those. Instead, I had a blast getting to know some of the coolest, most interesting people who happen to also be my classmates, I explored and learned to love life in this city, and I pushed though my complacency (with loads of help) to find my voice when I didn't believe I deserved one.

Today I was struck by the fact that I've learned so much about how to empower students and let their voices be heard, and yet I haven't really taken stock of my own empowerment, which comes from the assurance of infinite love from a Father who exceeds all expectations. He sees me in my circumstance yet grants me an experience that goes beyond it. And to that I say, Hallelujah!

Thanks for tuning in :)
-M