STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I was just thinking about it a few minutes ago, and nobody is around to talk to in "real life" (plus I want you all to know, as well )... I LOVE MY NEW SCHOOL! I just started on Monday, but I can tell that it's perfect for me. I finally have a plan, I finally have a purpose. I graduated from high school in 2003 and decided that community college was my right path at that time. I didn't know what I wanted to do with myself and my parents and guidance counselor were putting so much pressure on me to make a decision. When I told everyone I was going to CCRI (our community college)... that was a bad day. They acted like it was the end of the world, like I MUST go to a four-year school (the "plan" was for me to go to URI or NYU), and I felt ashamed of myself. I spent two years at CCRI, sporadically attending classes, miserable. When people would ask me what school I went to, I was embarrassed to answer... not because community college is something to be ashamed of (it certainly is not), but because my parents and guidance counselor made me feel that way. I had taken an architecture class in high school and I was thinking about how interesting I thought it was this past spring. I looked into it and decided that this is what I want to do. The best school choice for me is the school I am at now, and let me tell you... I was petrified to tell my family about it. Since it's not a four-year school, I thought we'd go through the whole "living up to my expectations and potential" thing again. To my suprise, everyone was very excited and supportive.

I was so excited to start my classes last week. I love it! I love the professors, I love my classmates, I love the whole atmosphere of my campus. I feel like I belong there, not like I'm stuck there or settling there. The classes that I'm taking are for my major, not just general courses, so it makes being there more interesting. I couldn't be happier there, and I'm so relieved! I was starting to think that I'd have to settle on a major at my old school that I don't have any interest in at all, and I'd be stuck with it forever. I'm so glad that's not the case!

Now, when people ask me where I'm going to school and what I'm going for, I proudly answer. When I tell them, they often give me that "oh-wow-that's-amazing" look and a sincere "Good for you" (you'd think I said "I'm going to Harvard and I'm going to be a Neurologist ), instead of a blank stare and an "oh" when I used to say "CCRI, for general studies."

Well, I guess I should wrap this up, because I know I'm just rambling so I'm going to go do some homework (and I'm not even procrastinating... I don't have school until Tuesday! :giggrin:). Thanks to anyone who read this far... I'm just so happy I want to share the joy Ok, enough gushing...