The Rest of My Life Starts Tomorrow

     I am happy and nervous to say that tomorrow I begin graduate school.

     While it is only orietation, I can see the rest of my future right in front of my face! As I sit with friends and family to dicuss my future, it comes up time and time again-people scaring me into academic submission.

     What I mean by this is that I have found that when discussing my academic pursuits, many people have told me that I will be exhausted, overhwelmed and will not be able to maintain my social life. I understand that I am making a life long commitment to my education and it will truley change my life-partially because it will challenge who I am as a person both socially and academically.

      I am not sure why I have been told this SO often but what I can tell you is that I take it as a challenge.  I am more excited than worried/nervous and, for those who want to scare me, it hasn't worked. All I can say is that I know what I am getting into and know that it will be hard. I am doing this because it is my dream. I am also doing this because I need to take care of my family in the future. For that reason I feel that I do not have the option to fail. And without that option, I will not fail.

     This is the beginning of the rest of my life and it will probably take all the energy I have.

     I will write about orientation tomorrow.
    
     Until then....