A New Start

Wow, so much has happened since my last post. In accordance with my Limbo post, I got Number Two—Acceptance with partial funding at The University of Georgia, a prestigious institution (one of the public ivy’s and the oldest public chartered university in America) located in the Deep South city of Athens.

The Southern states have what is called the Academic Common Market, where if my degree is not offered in my state, I can attend elsewhere, out-of-state, for in-state tuition. Effectively, that saves me about $20,000 per annum. This is in effect til I complete my degree. I’m going to apply for an assistantship for the 2012-2013 academic year. I missed the deadline last go-round.

This is a new start for me, a new degree, new place, new people, a new life. Although I will never forget what happened during my masters year in 2009, I have to move on for my own sake and those around me. What’s that old phrase? “Learn from this and move on.” This is my chance to shine. I cannot go into this degree thinking I will come out on top or I will always be the best. These goals, I will certainly strive for, but I know at times, I will fail. Failure is a part of life and is an essential part of the learning and growing process. I must look at my failures as opportunities. If I never fail, then I will never succeed. But I do know one thing for certain. No matter how tough it gets, I will never give up on this degree. It is not always the smartest that get a Ph.D. It is those that put in the long hours over cups of coffee, leftovers, and piles of paper and books. It is those that cry over their supervisor’s harsh criticisms for a short period and then find new ways to start fighting back and reworking their ideas. It is those that rejoice in the small successes along the way, never taking them for granted. It is those that keep a support network of mentors, friends, family, and yes, even pets.  It is those that keep a healthy diet and exercise regularly (Endorphins make you happy!). It is those that see a failure as a way to try again and learn from this experience. It is those that keep active in their church and in their community as an external release from the daily academic rigor. Basically, it is those that persevere and hang on for the ride.

I moved to Georgia in June, right after Father’s Day. My house is a plantation home built in 1856. This is the same house my parents have purchased for their retirement and they’re in the neverending process of renovating. It is very livable. I estimate living here for 2, maybe 3 years, probably until I go ABD. Taigh is here with me.

I found a church home in Covington, Good Shepherd Episcopal. I have also found a non-UGA affiliated mentor in the form of my choirmaster, who is also the former dean of the American Guild of Organists. She has a BM from Clayton State in organ performance and a M.Div. from Candler School of Theology at Emory U, Atlanta. I can stand to learn quite a lot from her, as I have already. Plus it’s good to have somebody not affiliated with the university that you can ask for advice on academic matters and more importantly, musical matters—one who is local and knows the area quite well. I’m very blessed to have found a church family well before school begins. I am also ringing bells at First Presbyterian Covington, literally 5 minutes down the road from Good Shepherd, and I am a substitute ringer for the Atlanta Concert Ringers, the professional handbell choir in Atlanta. (Georgia’s version of the Raleigh Ringers)

I think that’s about it as far as news goes. I’m being advised today and signing up for classes, always a stressful process. Thank God, I’m Ph.D. though, no more taking 23 hours in one semester for me! I hope to get all my classes on the same set of days because it is a quarter tank of gas for a round trip to Athens from my house. That gets expensive after awhile, especially in this economy. Well if God brought me to it, he will bring me through it!