I'm Earning My Degree

So this semester is going to be the one that makes me earn my degree. I've been in school for 2 years now and each semester seemed like it was going to be a tough one, but I don't remember being so overwhelmed with classes like the ones I've got now. Each week both my classes have a quiz over the reading material, and I've already had one case study presentation for one class and the next one is coming up in a few days. And I haven't even mentioned that I have yet to start studying for my comps which are coming up in 6 weeks! My committee chair has yet to give me even one question to start studying for. Um... can you say under pressure?

I've also been going through a rough time in my personal life. I knew this time would be coming; I'm sure you're wondering how I knew. Have you ever had the feeling that things were going so well, that eventually something was going to go wrong and bring you back down to reality? Well, that's what happened. For months now everything has been going better than I could have ever imagined, and then I was given a challenge to bring me back to reality. I won't bore you with the details, but this test in life challenged me in ways I never thought possible. Each day I prayed to God for the strength to get me through my adversity, and to show me the way. While being tested, I did some things that I am not proud of, but I admitted my mistakes with the ones whom I was hurting, and I feel that God gave me the strength to get through my trial. While I'm not entirely out of the woods yet, I feel that my relationships with God and my partner were strengthened, and there is nothing better than that.

On a brighter note, I'm getting excited that I'm less than a month out from seeing my significant other. It's been too long since we've seen each other, and this trip is going to be a good one for us. While the partner is out working (ah, the joys of taking mid-week vacations), I'll have the opportunity to hop on the train and explore Boston the way I want to. I'm thinking a trip downtown, as well as hopping different lines are in order. It will give me a chance to better orient myself with the city that I am quickly growing to love. I've dreamed for a decade now that Boston is the city I'm going to call home, and I'm excited to see it for all that it is. Everyone I've ever talked to praises the city - minus the brutal winters, but even that I've been told will be all right. "Bundle up and you'll be fine" is what I hear most. Oddly enough, I think that's true. When you want something so badly, nothing seems to get in the way of that; not even brick walls of freezing cold.

Speaking brick walls, I watched the most amazing lecture the other day. The other half asked me watch it, telling me that it would be inspiring, and while I never doubted his enthusiasm, I had no idea what I was in for. Everyone should see this lecture from an inspiring individual, Randy Pausch, professor of CS at Carnegie Mellon University. Randy gave a heartwarming lecture during his "last lecture" and I don't want to give away everything, but if you get a chance, watch the lecture. http://www.etc.cmu.edu/global_news/?q=node/42 I promise that you won't be disappointed. The lecture is sincere, the lessons are simple, and the take aways are priceless.

On that note, I should get back to studying, so that I actually earn my Master's degree. I found out that my official graduation day is December 15, so I have a goal now. How cool is that?! Until next time...