Shelter in Place: Day 29

Well, folks, all I can say is wow.

I was sitting in my room yesterday, refreshing my email over and over again waiting to get the rejection from the University of Idaho when I saw the program director’s number show up on my phone. I answered thinking that they were nicely rejecting me in person.

Instead I found out that they had managed to find an additional teaching assistantship which meant I had a spot in the program!

My exact response was, “Really? Are you sure? Yes!”

The rest is a bit of a blur.

Some details, though: the spot is fully funded (covers tuition plus a stipend), it includes a teaching assistantship, and I’ll be starting in August (provided we’re all still here at that point).

So, I’m moving to Moscow, Idaho!

I’m so overwhelmed right now. I am still grieving for my uncle. I am still coming to terms with the state of the world. But at the same time I am closer to achieving a lifelong goal.

As a twelve-year-old, I wrote up a list of things that I wanted to do when I was grown up. They included getting my master’s degree, writing an award-winning book, becoming a conservation worker, traveling to Europe, Africa and Australia, starting a reserve in the rainforest, living in New Zealand, and becoming the first “women president”. Some of those require a little tweaking, of course. But that first one is actually a possibility now.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me and encouraged me on this journey. My friends who have gone to grad school and let me know a little bit about what to look for in a program; all those who have read and critiqued my work over the years; my family for believing in me during all my dark days.

I have worked so hard for so long to achieve this, but I know that I wouldn’t be where I am without so many people’s love and encouragement.

Thank you to everyone for reading and responding to my blog.

I am so excited for the next chapter in my book.

With love,

LAF