plot2themoon

It was a cold Wednesday in December, Centenary College Equestrian Center was covered in snow. As the text message went out that classes we canceled for the rest of the day I ran to ask the van that headed back and forth to campus if it would wait as I went to drop of my schedule with my advisor for the next semester. As I gracelessly made my way to the offices Tim Cleary (my wonderful advisor) was headed out the door. “Actually we need to meet up and talk about your schedule.”

Nothing sucks more that not getting the classes you want. Students spend quite some time coming up with 5 classes that a line in a way that you can make it to each class, be able to eat (not that eating is something that I of all people need to do, but it is my favorite thing to do), and for Equine Studies students it is even more difficult because we have a twenty minute drive to another campus, along with animals that don’t care what your schedule is that require attention.

The next week I found myself in the Crow’s Nest (Equine Studies Professors Offices) next to Tim’s desk waiting news that the only classes I would be able to take this semester were the insipidly bland ones. “You can graduate.”

I stared at him

“At the end of this coming semester you can graduate”

After 20 minutes I walked out of the offices with the most amazing class list anyone could ask for. Photojournalism with Lev, Honors Thesis with Cleary/Elsaser, Management of Equestrian Activities with Cleary, Novice Hunt Seat with Hustis, Equine Nutrition (blah), and Middle East Peace Conference with Fitzpatrick (AMAZING Prof). Now what?!?! I found myself going straight (or as straight as one can go coming down Kings Highway) to the DSO (Disability Service Office). The DSO is amazing and every school should have one as well as every student be able to use it if they want. Tara was sitting behind her desk and new right away that something was up. After some discussion with many of the wonderful people in the office it was decided that I would come up with something wonderful to do with my major, minor, and concentration, not only for my life, but my thesis as well. I signed my declaration papers and went to hunt down Maureen Fallon (the main reason I made it through college) and filled her in.

Winter brake was spent doing some soul searching and taking to many of the wonderful people in my life about how they got to where they were, and before I knew it I was sitting front of an Air Force Recruitment Officer. Long story short dyslexics can’t fly fighter jets, and the other deal I was offered did not sound like a lot of fun, so I went in search of other options. A couple month later I was on Skype with my uncle Tom, then in the Peace Corps Office for my interview (then getting asked by my dad why I never told him any of this), getting an invitation to leave for the Ukraine, righting a horrible 32 page thesis creating an Equine Non-profit in the Ukraine, and graduating from Centenary College with a Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies, a concentration in Communications, and a minor in Political and Governmental Affairs. Honors from Delta Apha Pi Honor Society, Centenary College Honors Program, and cords from Theta Epsilon Nu Sorority (take that people who think people with dyslexia are less than. With my diploma in hand I was ready for this grand adventure, only to be told that my grades never went through and I won’t be making the trip to the Ukraine.

I spent some time in Pennsylvania horse showing for Royal Rock Equestrian Center, for I made my way to Arizona to work as a hunter stable. This was the worst job I will probably ever have; every single person I met was wonderful with the exception of my boss. Though she was not always around her disrespectful and brazen manner was enough to put me in the hospital. My wonderful brother Ian helped me pick up the pieces when I got a letter stating that I would be leaving for Kazakhstan with the Peace Corps. Of course the world exploded (my staging offices words not mine) and stated that once more I would not be going to my assigned location. This led me to call my uncle Chaz and aunt Elaine who were nice enough to let me live with them. Of course when in California one must go visit the wonderful people and horses of Mill Creek Equestrian Center (my favorite place in the world, sorry Cognac, France and Moray, Peru, Mill Creek will always win). A hug and greeting with the wonderful Cory, and I had found myself a new Job.

I can’t stress just how wonderful Mill Creek was. It was just the best job I had ever held. The work was fun the people were amazing, being that consistently happy in a job is had to come by. Living with my Aunt and Uncle was just so much fun, my friends Lexi, Janey, and Katy, made my weekends wonderful, and every person I worked with as fun. Unfortunately, not to long after being there Morocco came a calling. Peace Corps Volunteer Youth Development in Morocco, even with having finally found happiness this was a hard opportunity to turn down. I gave Cory my notice, sold the car, and headed to Dallas Pennsylvania for one last family get together. My brother Ian and my dad both made the trek to come visit before I took off.

With long goodbyes I hoped on the plane to Philadelphia for pre-service training. In the airport was the first place I actually met two people which was fun, and after that the day was spent in lectures and going out for one final meal with Pork and Beer since for the next two years of our live these things would be absent.

The Adventure had begun, the people were amazing, and there was official no time to breath. We were off and though nothing was happening everything was changing.