As my high school graduation is coming up (tomorrow) I am feeling absolutely insane. I have had my open house. I have gone to many friends open houses. And as I go to more and more parties I am being hit, hard, with the reality of what I am doing. Every open-house I go to, I hear pretty much the same thing "yeah going to a four year college" "no I don't know what I will study" and also sometimes "yes I have my future planned out"... etc etc... I pretty much feel a lot of envy for all of these people.
Now before I go any farther; yes, I am VERY excited to go to Austria, but at the same time it is very weird not to be moving on to college with my peers.
Even though I feel at best conflicted now about my year on exchange I do have one very MAJOR positive. Many, many people came out to my open house last weekend, and these people are the people who are closest to me. Of all the people who came, many were surprised when I told them that I was not going to college, but instead I would be going on exchange to Austria. However unconventional my plans for next year seem to many, not one person was negative, in fact the response I received was quite the opposite.
All of these people who I love so much, and who have been there for me were totally, unconditionally supportive of me. They thought it was so exciting that I am going to Austria, they told me it will be amazing, and they laughed with me when I told them I don't speak German yet but Rosetta Stone and I are becoming "besties" during the summer. The support and love that out poured from my family, friends, and church members (aka second family) means the world to me! They have truly offered me all of the support a girl could want over the years of my life!
Here is a little background on me. I was always a quiet little kid. I didn't talk, even to people I knew. I always was shy; but I am NOT shy any more. Some people that have been through me through my various stages of awkward are my "church family" they knew me when I didn't talk, they knew me when I didn't even use the bathroom yet. These people have had plans for me. Some people that I became particularly close to both lost there husbands (which I was also very close too, I mean yes; very close like family close. Cool grandpa... ya know). Both women really almost made me cry (and yes... I am not emotional). Both of them heard me say that I was going to Austria and told me that their husbands always said "You gotta watch that Gwen you know her now, but she is really going to take off and be something" Okay now I am crying but seriously this support means so much to me because both of these men were so close to me and my family while we were in Albion, and that comment (which they never told me while alive) was just incredible and affirmed my path.
To those people, really, I am just so blessed to have all of you fabulous people in my life. Thank you so much for all of your support. Without all of your wonderful people I would most likely really be doubting my choice; but thanks to you and your support, I have no doubt.
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