Making Hard Decisions + Hoping They're The Right Ones
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In May 2016, I graduated from undergrad at Drake University in Des Moines, IA, ever the "go getter", I chose to move to China to teach at a university in the Sichuan province. Upon moving home from China, I applied for my Ph.D. in Medical Sociology and saved my pretty pennies to go to India to get my 200hr yoga teacher training (YTT). I got in (!!!) and got certified as a yoga teacher, however upon moving back to the States again, I received an email about there being open spots in a program I had considered pursuing my final year of undergrad prior to deciding to move to China, I applied and got in (!!!) then came decision time.
Ph.D. in Honolulu, Hawaii vs MFA in Portland, Oregon
It felt like such a pivotal moment and maybe it was, but in reality, I will never know. I can still go pursue my Ph.D. at a later date, but first, we'll see where life takes us.
Today I go through orientation for my graduate program and I am on day eleven of a design build for a local CBO (community-based organization). My studio time for the next three months has been set and excitement is in the air.
One of the hardest things about moving or starting what initially feels like a new exciting venture is that there is this imaginary pressure that we need to be loving life and that hardship won't be as present.
Yet, our problems follow and persist, just in a new place and around new people. No worries, you will have great times and make friends and have amazing moments, but the beginning won't be Instagram worthy unless you truly #liveauthentic.
This is life in process.
This is pushing boundaries and creating with soul.
And when the rain starts to trickle and the sky goes dark for months on end, I hope I can say that I am still pursuing passion and that while this was a hard decision that it feels worth it.
Today, we have orientation and tomorrow we finish a twelve-day build, a few days from now I will take on the title of "student" again.
Currently listening: Science Fiction by Brand New