Maturing Queen

I can’t wait until warmer weather comes! I am so ready for dresses!

Going from the end of 2017 into 2018, I have been really interested in finding and understanding music, exercising, understanding my craft and trying to figure out what the next step is.  

me: *closes camera and acts like nothings happened*

I just found out a little while ago that a good friend of mine in graduate school has decided to drop out. I am really sad that they are tentatively leaving the program. This person is a true homie. We both have the vision of impacting our community with our research, staying true to ourselves and providing those like us with support. This person is feeling apathetic, which is one of the worst feelings you can have while in school. Often times when people become apathetic, they are truly at a fork in the road. Previously, when I have been apathetic it was my defiant personality, will and passion that made me diverge to continue on my path. But this is not everyone. Honestly, it takes a truly brave and strong person to take the path less traveled and forge a new path. This person will be the second person that I have known to drop out of a grad program.

As I journey through this qualifying exam, grad school and life in general, previous lessons I have learned and need to integrate fully into my life have continuously been bombarding me. While I have not been totally paying attention and heeding them, they all came to the forefront of my mind as I was reading a letter from my mom and crying (who secretly put in my quarter pouch for laundry). The first thing is to put God first. For a while, I was doing a good job by doing daily devotionals to God while in my bed just thanking him for waking me up and allowing me to carry out his will and allowing me to have a great and productive day. However, as the days got busier and I got less sleep that fell to the wayside. In addition to putting God first, my mom also said to turn off the music as I mediate. I now realize I need to do this for at least 20-30 minutes a day. All in all, this post is a reminder that I need to put God first and reflect on my day and all that has happened whether good or bad so that I can push forward and be successful in the coming days.