Return with Elixir

I've completed this Hero's Journey with so much knowledge about myself.  I've learned a lot about the things I need to do when faced with these types of situations, like be humble and patient. I've learned that it's okay to be disappointed when things don't work out the way you've planned them. However, I've also learned that it's not okay to take that disappointment out on others.

 I've realized that my dreams are still going to come true, whether I attend the school of my dreams or not. I want to be a journalist, and I can do that no matter where I go. My career dream still has the potential to come true, and so does my life dream. No matter where I go, I want to be a leader. I want to change the lives of others for the better, so in turn they will want to do the same for someone else. That dream can come true whether I'm in Brunswick County, or Buies Creek, or even Wilmington, North Carolina. I want to inspire those around me. 

I'd just like to tell everyone that it's so important to have a dream - have millions of them. No dream is too big. Always remember, though, some dreams don't come true. That doesn't mean you're a failure. That doesn't mean you won't achieve your other dreams. It just means that there is something better out there waiting for you than you dreamed for yourself. Don't be bitter over life's disappointments. We all have to face the fact that life isn't fair. It isn't fair to anyone, so don't think it's just you. It isn't. Be inspired by the beauty you see in the world. Chase after your dreams, and if some of them don't come true, at least you can say you tried. Don't ever stop believing in yourself and your potential. You can do and be anything; you just have to let yourself go where life leads you. 

I'm ready to embark on my new journey at UNCW. I am confident that I will find myself there, and it will be more than I could have ever imagined for myself. That's what life is all about, right? Finding yourself and becoming your own person. After all, life is about the journey, not the destination.

Call to Adventure

Hello everyone! For my final AP English IV project, I have to write about the stages of the Hero’s Journey. Some people in my class wrote children’s books, others wrote short stories. However, I chose to write a blog about the 11 stages of the Hero’s Journey based on a hero that I know best: myself.

I hope you are able to enjoy this journey along with me. It hasn’t and it won’t be easy, but it will definitely be worth it.

This year, I have had to make many tough decisions. I didn’t realize that, as a senior, so much stuff would be put on my plate. One decision that I thought was set in stone was the one I made to attend Campbell University in the fall. For the past two years, I had my sights set on Campbell. When I went for a tour there, I fell in love. I knew it was the school for me. It was my perfect fit.

When I applied in September, I felt very hopeful that I would get in and be offered some sort of financial assistance because it’s a private school. I got my acceptance letter in the mail in October, and everything I’d been hoping for had come true. Without hesitation, I sent in my enrollment deposit and signed up for housing, all before Christmas. I was so proud of myself for being accepted to the college of my dreams and having everything settled before Christmas break. 

I thought I was done (finally) stressing over college. I thought wrong.

After I filled out my FAFSA, Campbell sent me an original award letter of how much money I would get in loans and such. From the beginning I thought tuition at Campbell was only $28,000. That is the amount that is posted on their website, so when I received my acceptance letter I was very excited because they had given me more than half of that in scholarships. When I received my award letter, the amount they listed for tuition was $37,000. My heart sank. There was no way I would be able to pay that money. 

Luckily, before all the chaos ensued, I applied to ECU and UNCW and both accepted me. I never wanted to go to ECU; I just loved their journalism program. So really, my only option was UNCW. And the question presented itself: What was I going to do?

The only school I ever really wanted to go to was Campbell. I was already considering myself a camel. I couldn't even picture myself going anywhere else. Sadly, the day came where I had to start...