My Bff just called cracking up after reading my last insane post - she told me I should write some more, and like now. Don't ever let her fool you, she likes me crazy.
So for Mary, I write...
A couple years back, my life had turned to complete shit. My marriage had tanked, I was broke and alone and most of all - hopeless. Those of you who follow, know already that self-esteem has been a real issue for me in the past.
My BFF Mary had simply had enough of being the sole guest to my pity parties and did what every good friend will do for another. She forced my hand - called me out and put our love on the line...
She gave me the education talk, told me college would change my out-look, that I needed to fight the fear, slay the damn demon and then... then she made me promise that I would finally go.
When your soul mate says "promise me" - you do what you have to do - you promise.
So when ECP got on the bus for Kindergarten, I drove my sorry, scared ass to PVCC and began my formal higher education.
Mary does this for a living - she is a financial aid wiz in the great state of Maine, she is on a daily basis, a champion of the college experience.
Who knew, her greatest professional achievement would come in the form of her bestie.
Now, two years in to my degree
In my head I fantasize that she and I will be a team - someone, somewhere will pay us to go and put on the Deb and Mary show for high school students, we will get all the kids who think they don't have any good reason to go, inspired and enrolled.
I would serve as the walking, talking example of why you should not go the "other" road. I'd do my crazy charisma thing, win all the kids over with my charm, freak them out with all my horror stories, then finally inspire them with all my subsequent collegiate successes. When I was done, I would hand the baton to my beauty queen and she would rock their world with resources and financial aid factoids and we would change the world, one high school at a time.
Sexually transmitted diseases would go down, teen pregnancy would cease to be a problem and no young women would ever go forth in life feeling incapable of anything.
Yup that's how it would go...
Ahh if only someone would pay us and it would warm the hell up in Maine...
See here's the deal.
College has saved my life.
College has saved my life in so many ways that it would take ten blogs for me to even hit the tip of my iceberg.
Last year I would have told you it boosted my confidence and gave me hope -
This year I say, and I mean this - it is impossible (in my opinion) for anyone to realize the scope of their own personal power without higher education.
Big statement.
How so? Well I'll tell you...
If you do not fully understand the history of this world, the rise and fall of civilizations, the conception of different religions, great philosophers, partake in classic literature, view magnificent pieces of art - if you do not understand your world and how you came to be in it, you cannot fully comprehend the magnificence of your own being.
Before I went to college I thought I knew what I needed to know - I quote myself
"there is a tremendous difference in being a survivor and being a thriver"
No truer words out of my mouth will ever be spoken.
I am so thankful that I now know all the things I didn't really know then.
I am a writer - I am a philosopher.
Before I knew James Joyce, Emily Dickinson, Socrates and Rene Descartes, I assumed I was just a little tapped...
Now I know, now I truly understand how important I am.
Mary always nagged "your answer is college" and I always hid trembling behind my excuses.
So good to be out of my head and into a room of equals - hello.
Thanks Guru - I plan to make you very proud.
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