So, I turned 27 on Monday… I like my birthday, and I like the month the August. It’s a time of new beginnings and reflection for me, so I’ve been doing a lot of that. And this year - well this year is a really new beginning! I am so excited to be embarking upon the GSU Master of Social Work program. I’m working part-time, I have a Research Assistantship and a field placement, so I’m going to be pretty busy these next two years. But it’s a good busy, and it’s exactly what I want to be doing.
Still, I had some challenges this week in the terms of unexpected fees that had to be paid by Friday. I got used to having a paycheck that would cover all the bills and still leave room for savings and fun money. That’s definitely not the case anymore. But, I’ve got this new part-time job, and I’ve also got some babysitting jobs lined up, so we should be okay. Just no more going out every week for drinks, dinners, etc.
But that’s okay…it’s only two years, and we’ve got plans. Other plans. Awesome plans. And we’ll be fine.
GCRJ = Georgia Council for Restorative Justice
This is my GRA project, and to be honest, I hadn’t ever heard of Restorative Justice before meeting GCRJ’s director. But I quickly read up on it, and while I have a LOT more reading to do, I know for starters that I’m intrigued. I really like the concept, at least from my limited understanding. Everyone knows our legal system (and school system, and welfare, and health care, and and and…) needs some serious reform, and this seems to be like a very good step in the right direction. At least, in my kind of direction, which is putting a person’s best interests for healing and growth first, and working in a supportive manner to facilitate dialogue that leads to action that leads to positive change for everyone involved.
So, as you probably noticed from all the China pics (oh goodness, we still have sooooooo many to go through! But we’re sleepy! And busy! I do hope we get around to that, though. In little bits’n'pieces….tangent much? anyhow…) the best travel hairdo for me happens to be pigtail braids. Yes, they make me look 10 years younger and I already look waaay younger than my 26.666 years. But- they’re easy and they get all my hair out of my face and when my hair is all dirty and gresay, you can’t really tell. And unlike a ponytail, pigtail braids don’t make my head uncomfortable when I try to recline on long bus, train, or taxi rides. Ponytails always create a bump in the back, y’know?
Convenience and comfort will almost always win out over fashion and style with me. But I did get really tired of having the exact same hairdo every. single. day. Because I prefer variety to all things, even comfort! It’s not just the spice of my life…it’s like oxygen. I can’t live without it.
Okay- now on the school front. I received some très awesome news today! I’ve been offered a coveted GRA (Graduate Research Assistantship) which means that GSU will be paying ME to go to school there! And work on a really awesome project with the Center for Restorative Justice, to boot. No loans! No debt!! No worrying!!! There’s even a slight chance that in addition to the GRA, which will only be around 12-14 hours per week, I might also be hired to work additional admin hours for the project for even more income. If that happens, I won’t even need to look for part-time work anywhere. How fan-freakin-tastic is that?
Yeah. Life is so good right now I just can’t stop smiling. Time to wake my fiancé up and get some dinner!
(Fiancé….heehee….)
So yesterday Mark brings home a big packet from Georgia State University. He thought it was junk mail. Good thing he decided to hand it over to me first instead of tossing it immediately, because it was my acceptance letter to the Master’s in Social Work (MSW) program! Woohoo!
I’ll be starting in August and going full time. Hopefully I can find some awesome part time jobs to make up some of the income loss, but the main focus for the next two years is going to be grad school. Because I want to save the world by vastly improving social service delivery and community sustainability. And that takes some serious focus and devotion. I’m excited, though! It took me a while to figure out what grad school program was the right fit for me. I looked into Tibetan Studies, International Relations, Sociology, Public Health…and finally I realized that Social Work, despite the stigma and stereotypes, was the most versatile, flexible, and ultimately, the best program for what I want to do in the world.
I can’t wait to go back to school! And knowing that this is directly benefiting my career makes it even more worthwhile. No more sitting through long, boring geometry classes wondering why I had to be there since I wasn’t going to ever use geometry. This is a hands-on program that will give me actual skills I need to make the world a better place.
– Leah
