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...
I've really been trying my best to accept and be happy for Lexi's decision to go to Campbell, but we have fought a lot about this. Mostly, it's my fault, but we currently aren't talking right now. I'm trying to face this conflict with humility, but think about it: if you were in my situation, would you be humble? I can almost guarantee you wouldn't because it isn't that easy. To watch someone else live out your dream is really hard, no matter what stage of life you are in. I have to let myself be happy about MY own decision to go to UNCW. I feel like if I can do that, I can in turn be happy for Lexi and her decision to go to Campbell. It's easier said than done. 
