I originally began this very post exactly one year ago today. Much of the original, unpublished blog entry largely morphed into what I ended up writing in my “Forward Motion” posts. I never completed it because I wasn’t quite ready to share nor did I really know how to express what I wanted to say. This post has been saved as a draft for a full year now, so I figured it was time to actually write it.
One year ago today, on August 15, 2011, I began classes at Meredith College to get a paralegal certificate. I had realized a year earlier that I was most likely not going to find a job in journalism as long as I lived in North Carolina and when I end up back in NY, it will be so long since I had a writing job that I’d be at the bottom of the hiring list. So, after feeling a bit bitterly disappointed to recognize that reality, I decided not to sulk, but rather to move on and see what else life has in store for me. None of my friends will think less of me if I’m not a journalist and if they do, then I feel sad that they live such a superficial life. And who knows? Sometimes you find what you’re meant for when you stop holding on and start opening yourself up to exploring new pathways.
So here I am, one year later. Indeed, that decision to go back to school has changed my life. Over the past year, I have made new friends, found great new job and finally started working on my book idea. I feel I’m in a better place than I was a year ago. I cannot believe how much has happened over the past year, both professionally and personally, both good and bad.
I definitely believe it was the right choice go back to school and change career paths. If I ever humbly and gratefully find myself back at journalism’s door, then at least I’ll now have had more experience to add to life’s journey.
P.S. A bit of serendipity today: August 15 is considered by LOST fans to be a “LOST Day” since 8/15 celebrates Flight 815 which brought the Losties to the Island. On this year’s 8/15, it has been exactly 815 days since the LOST series finale. I love when things work out like that. Crazy.
