[Good] Karma

Over the past four and a half years at UWEC, my life has been full of moments that seem to only happen to me. Moments that would discourage anyone: losing a student i.d. six times in a summer, losing a credit card on campus, getting a phone stolen, damaging a car, near death experiences, wiping out on rollerblades in front of a large portion of the student body, someone getting stuck to my backpack, singing off key in front of the entire RA group, burning too much popcorn, peeing on stage, almost dumping hot chocolate on her head trying to take a selfie, getting shit on by a horse, getting lost on the way to class, slipping down the hill, forgetting to put a coffee cup under the Keurig, getting electrocuted trying to pet a goat, burning their hand on the curling iron, waving to someone who wasn't waving to me, getting lost in the Badlands, and so much more. Maybe some day I'll write an autobiography. I soon learned that these small moments have contributed a lot to my character. They are key components of my quirky disposition that have built good karma. How do I know that?

(drumroll...)

I have accepted a job back in Juneau at the University where I'll be working as an Admissions Representative in their office. Things could not be more perfect. A dream come true! I mean, rent will be well over a grand and then I'll have student loans, but YOLO. Adulthood is near. Some how the girl who trips every time she takes a step is about to enter the professional world...yikes. In August when I decided to drop education, I didn't know what I would do. I knew that ultimately, in the long run, I would love to be back in Juneau working in their Admissions Office. Keep in mind, though, that this is where 30 year-old Allie saw herself. Not 22 year-old Allie. I've been praying about what my life after college would be like, where I wanted to be, etc. God has clearly answered my prayers and for that, I am #blessed. It's been yet another thing to affirm my faith and relationship with the Lord. He truly is wonderful. So, shout out the big man in the sky!

The timeline for all of this is absolutely crazy. One of my friends had something to me about graduating, going to Nicaragua, and moving to Alaska all in one month. The veracity of that statement is crazy to think about. So much change will be happening in a short amount of time. Graduation is this weekend. I leave for Nicaragua January 1 and get back January 21. I will then probably make my way out Juneau January 25. My car and I will go on an adventure out to Bellingham where we will then catch the ferry to the soggy city that fills my heart with joy! EEEEE. Essentially, it be me, my car, and music on the open road making a few stops here and there. Now that I have a job locked in place, my mentality towards finals is worse than it has ever been. Prior to this, I procrastinated a lot, and as you can imagine, it has only gotten worse. I know that I would still pass all of my classes if I just didn't finish up final papers, presentations, or even the final itself. Then I give myself a reality check. Those grades will matter when I am applying to graduate and P.hD programs in the future.

There's also been this sense of nostalgia that I seem to be facing each and every day. I feel as if I haven't had enough time to process the fact that I'm leaving the city that has given me nothing but opportunity for the past 4.5 years and the city which has been my home away from home. And knowing that I may very well never see 90% of the people I have encountered on this journey ever again.

While I'm definitely stressed about my impending debt of life after college, I'm glad I won't ever have to worry about taking 18 credit semesters (at least not for a while). Of that 18, I won't have to worry about having 12 of them be Spanish classes and of that 12, 9 of them being Spanish-literature. Yikes. What a nightmare. But you know, I read some really interesting things over the semester: Don Quixote, La casa de Bernarda Alba, works by Pablo Neruda (my favorite poet by the way), Waslala, La Carta de Cristóbal Colón a Luis de Santangel (I hate Christopher Columbus), La Muñeca Menor, and so much more. I have just been on autopilot with all of this. My favorite, though, has been my ability to explore the space and place of Latin America and how that is reflected in literature (I even did a research project on it...willingly!).

My other Spanish class, we are required to film an episode of a telenovela. So, that has also been consuming a large chunk of my time. I play Juan, an aspiring politician, who is caught cheating on his wife with his lover. It's pretty dramatic. Meanwhile, my other two classes are pretty much just presentations and papers in addition to the papers I have for my literature classes. IT'S HORRIBLE. But almost over.

Amidst all of this academic chaos, I have had time to spend with friends exploring christmas lights, eating Chipotle, bell ringing, and so much more. To me, right now, the last few days I have with my friends before starting this next chapter carries more importance in my heart because they have taught me so much, have been there for me when I needed them most, and have encouraged me to follow my dreams! Homework has never done that.

I am quite certain that all of my good karma I had waiting for me has been cashed in and I'm at ground zero again. My license plates were recently suspended making it illegal for me to drive my car for a few days because I forgot to pay a University parking ticket. I overslept and missed half of my final today. So I imagine that things will only get worse.

Here's to hoping that the rest of the week is smooth sailing. I'll be sure to keep you, mysterious reader, updated on my life post-graduation. I'm sure it will be a cheesy and sentimental post. Until then, stay warm!

-A