4

A year and a half ago I went back to school. I walked into a studio without a clue as to why I was there. How did I, Ms. Flaky and Unreliable, manage to get accepted to Columbia University? And furthermore, how in the world could I ever expect to succeed in a program that I knew nothing about?
Yes, I liked plants and gardening and I seemed to have a green thumb... but designing? And drawing? And construction? I was lost.
Then, a funny thing happened. My professors actually started giving me praise. I got hired by not one but two beautiful parks, then I actually got hired by a design firm... And all of a sudden, I had actually succeeded. I, the girl who never really believed in the whole work ethic thing, and who never really cared about anything for longer than it took for the next best thing to come along, was actually working hard at something I was passionate about. After thirty years of just floundering through life I finally found something that makes me happy and that I'm kind of good at. Yeah me.
Tonight was my last class. Monday I will present my final project in front of my peers, my professors, and their colleagues. To say that I am nervous would be a huge understatement. To say that I am scared would be an even bigger understatement. I can hardly breathe, much less sleep.
Monday night will not only be the end of a journey for me, but it will be the start of a new life.
I fly to a land of uncertainty on Tuesday. I have job interviews to go to, houses to look at, paths to find... and I will be leaving behind a success that I never thought could ever be mine. Hopefully I will carry that success with me to my new life, to this adventure that my husband is already living, and loving. And hopefully we will be happy. Just four short days and all of the apprehension and anticipation will be over. It's done.
I did it.