most recently.

My life has finally started blooming it feels like. For a long time, I’ve felt stuck in my situation. I’ve wanted better and different. I was restless, unhappy.

Now, though, so much about my life seems so full of light! Thank you for your love about Indiana! I was thrilled about being accepted, but I wondered if the program was exactly what I needed. A little while after, I was accepted to Virginia Tech’s program, but I still wasn’t completely sure that it was the ideal fit either. And then to my surprise (read: SURPRISE), I was admitted to the writing program at the University of Michigan, and then to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. My dream programs! I didn’t think I’d get into either of them and I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to choose between such great programs. Iowa Writers’ Workshop—the Harvard of Creative Writing programs!—has been my dream for years. I didn’t realize how competitive the program was or how prestigious, but for a long time I wanted to go there because that’s where Sandra Cisneros went. 

Still, with everything positive going on, I also feel incredibly anxious and terrified and lonely. Working on applications (I started studying for the GRE and working on my writing sample early last summer!) took such a long time that finally reaping the benefits feels really sudden. So much is changing: this month I turn 24 (one year away from my mid-twenties!), I have to think about leaving home for the first time this summer, and a whole bunch of other stuff.  Which is partially why I’m blogging again! Besides the healthy living accountability (which I've missed), I need a healthy distraction and a creative outlet as I sort through everything. I hope everyone has been well! Love. --A.