The Open Door

I thoroughly enjoy making plans. Planning my future, planning vacations, planning fun activities. In fact, I often make to do lists, though they usually get lost before the next day. There is just something I appreciate about the mental process of planning. While often this habit keeps me organized, it can sometimes steal my focus from the present to the future. Justin usually balances this problem with his amazing ability to not plan anything and live spontaneously in the moment. Still I sometimes find ways to circumvent the delicate balance of present and future minded living.

I definitely went overboard making preparations for graduate school. I just couldn't stop myself. After submitting my application to the Patterson School, I poured over their website and looked up potential classes I wanted to take. I even started on last year's summer reading list. I didn't do these things because I am the biggest dork in the world (though I guess it is possible), but because I was impatient and love planning my future. From February 1st to the end of March, I anxiously waited to hear back about my application. After the first week of March I would nervously yet routinely check my mailbox after I got home. My friends told me not to worry. I had lots of overseas experience which is key to getting in at the Patterson School.

Fate was not in my corner. The inevitable letter reached my hands the last week of March. Waitlisted. Still a small sliver of hope remained. I really wanted to go to grad school in the fall of 08. Attend the Patterson School. Obtain a Masters in Diplomacy and International Commerce with a focus in International Organizations and Development. Begin my career in Economic Development of third world countries. Again I was forced to wait until April 23rd to discover my grad school outcome. Yet already my resilient mind was making new plans, just in case.

Today is April the 23rd. And I found out that I did not get accepted to the Patterson School for the Fall 08 semester. While this news is obviously disappointing, it is also liberating. I am now free to make more plans. Hopefully plans that will work out. And that are perfect for me to grow and experience life. And just today a new door opened.

I have been volunteering at an organization called Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Two days ago my contact at KRM emailed that she would be finishing her Americorps position and taking a new job. A vacancy at an organization that I would love to work for. So, I emailed her this morning to see if working there would be a possibility. She thinks I would be perfect for the job and I have meeting tomorrow morning to discuss the opportunity. I don't know what will happen but the hope of finding a job I would potentially really enjoy is enough to ease the disappointment about grad school. And motivated me to spend my morning planning about this new open door. Fall 09 just might be the perfect time for me to start grad school.



This is Jeanette, a Burundian refugee. I have been tutoring her in English for about 6 months through KRM.