Freedom

I'M FREE!

 

Yep, you heard me, I am officially dunzo with the horrible incident that was grad school.  Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the opportunity I had to continue my education and get my master's degree, but I am also deliriously happy to be finished!

 

Sunday morning/afternoon I woke up, still tired from all the wedding excitement.  But I couldn't just lay in bed all day, I had a mission to complete.  ONE more paper and I would be forever through with homework, reading (for school), research and papers.  I started feverishly writing, just eager for the feeling of relief I knew would come when I turned that sucker in. 

 

I took a little break to go to Freedom Fest with Adam.  What is Freedom Fest, you ask?  We didn't really know either, we just knew the signs up around town said "everything's free" and as two people desperately trying to save money, we decided it couldn't hurt.  They might have free hot dogs or something!

 

"Hey, I'm gonna take you to dinner tonight." Adam told me as I typed as fast as I could on my paper.

 

"REALLY?!" I said excitedly.

 

"Yeah, we're going to Freedom Fest."

 

Oh.  Freedom Fest.  Dangit.

 

I secretly crossed my fingers they had some decent food there. 

 

We parked about a mile away and walked to the Events Center - aka a big field with a stage in the middle of all the baseball fields.  Lots of Searcy people there, which if you know Searcy, you know the people-watching was worth the trip to FF - free food or not.  But they had free food! Not only were there hot dogs, but there were bbq sandwiches, soda, chips, snow cones, watermelon, cotton candy.  ALL FREE.  Sweet.  I ate way too much, we listened to the Christian cover band for 5 minutes, decided our ears had been tortured enough.

 

Back at home...

 

I'm working on my paper when I hear a loud catastrophic BOOM outside.  W.T.F.  I ignored it and kept writing my paper.

 

15 minutes later Adam left to go jog at the track.  I heard more and more booms.  Are we being bombed? 

 

I walked out on the porch to check out the scene and determine whether Miller and I needed to hide in the bathtub with my mattress covering us. 

 

All the across-the-courtyard neighbors were on their balconies looking up at the sky.

 

I couldn't see anything at all when I looked that way, so I decided to walk outside so I could see.  I went downstairs and lo and behold... almost too good to be true... FIREWORKS.

 

I seriously love fireworks.  Freedom Fest was still going on, and since it was held less than a mile from my apt., the fireworks were so close it felt like they were right overhead.  As I sat outside by myself, I felt like the huge (expensive) fireworks display was just for me, saying "CONGRATULATIONS.. You're done with school, JEN!"  It was like the whole town was celebratng my impending freedom. 

 

I finished my paper, turned it in, and every night this week I've had a nagging feeling when I get home from work.  What homework do I have to do?  Isn't sad that this is an automatic thought and I can't stop feeling like I've got something to do?

 

But I don't!  WHOOT.  I'm done.  For-ev-errrrrr!

Summer in Searcy

I live in Searcy. Therefore, there has not been a whole heck of a lot to blog about. Actually, there really has, but no thanks to Searcy. I've neglected to journal or blog or even jot down thoughts about the past 2 months and now I really regret it. I like to look back and see where I've come from and that's easier to do when I write things down. I graduated a little over 2 months ago and already my life is changed completely.

I moved in to the yellow house in Searcy at the end of May and live now with my beloved Chesley. I was nervous to live with someone I didn't really know, but I think we've ended up making great 2nd impressions on each other! ;) She's a great girl and when she leaves me in August I know I'll miss her in this house.

Another change: I started graduate school. Honestly, one of the hardest things I've ever done. Not only because of the work load but because it was the responsible thing to do. I didn't want to leave my friends and family and come to this place for 3 months basically alone. Searcy is a completely different place when you aren't a Harding student anymore and when you're without your closest friends. I knew that this summer would be hard and that it would change me. And it is. I don't know if I can say it's for the better or not, but I do know that I feel myself growing, and I'm learning a lot about myself. These were two of my goals coming into the summer so I'm glad that I'm starting to reach them.


I've only really gone home once in the past month and I won't go home again for another month. That shows how busy my schoolwork is keeping me. I miss my family, but I'm pressing through. Just three more weeks and I'll have a couple weeks at home with no school to weigh me down! I cannot wait!