I’ve been with Living Forward for almost three months now, and I feel that together Suzanne, Lou, and I have accomplished a lot in a short span of time. Living Forward is in the process of creating new programs in order to reach larger audiences and continue teaching “lifelong learning.” As the summer draws to a close, I reflect upon the lessons I’ve learned from working with these brilliant women and contemplate how to carry them into my newest beginning.
In two short weeks I will be leaving to go back to school, only this time everything is new: a new program, new people, a new place. I will be starting my graduate program at the University of Northern Iowa and, as new beginnings often do, the anticipation of this life chapter brings on mixed emotions.
There are plenty of things I’m nervous about. I’ll be attending a different school than the one I received my Bachelor’s degree from, so it’ll be an entirely new environment. I’ll be navigating new terrain, meeting new people, and gaining new experiences. On top of that, I’ll be enrolled in classes more difficult than I’ve ever taken before. This is going to be a lot of change to take on at once.
Despite this, the emotion I associate most with this new chapter is excitement. The new experiences that are on the horizon above all bring with them a clean slate. I have the opportunity to make decisions I’ve never faced and acquire new knowledge. I’ll be taking courses in the topics I’m truly passionate about and learning about myself along the way.
New beginnings are truly dynamic. Of course they can be nerve wracking, but they also bring a sense of hope for what could be. Recognizing this allows us to go forward in our endeavors, despite our anxieties, and have a positive attitude about the future.