Eight-Eight Weeks later...

I was a graduate student for two years.

88 weeks to be precise.

616 days

14,784 hours

88, 7040 minutes

And 53,222,400 seconds

I’m amazed at how my perspective changed with each number. Personally, I feel like 88 weeks is so much longer than two years, but not quite as overwhelming as 616 days.

This was the time frame spent researching, writing, presenting, defending, and arguing with the academics around me.

A lot happened during that time. Aside from working full-time and attending classes every week, I also met, dated, and married my husband.

A lot changed, especially how I see the world.

In the midst of all this change, I realized that my emotional well-being suffered because I wasn’t making the time to pursue my passions. See, I write.

I write poems, novels, and the occasional children’s book story.

I also paint. I decided to take it up the summer before grad school started, and I’m so glad that I did.

I also read. I was a Straight-A Bookworm throughout my childhood. I did my best to read for fun during grad school, but didn’t get to read nearly as much as I wanted to (especially because I was researching and writing 75% of the time).

Lo and behold, the idea to start this brag blog came to fruition so I could keep myself accountable during my passion pursuit!

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to write more, at least 500 words every other day (it was every day at first, but then I worried about burning my brain out).

This is my second blog; the first is a highlight reel of my life experiences. You can find it here.

This blog serves as my platform to express myself creativity and also a record of my endeavors. At times there may be crossover between blogs, but I’m the star of the show here. I’m the ringmaster in my own creative circus!

But in all honesty, I want to be an accountable artist, and that is my intention by ways of this platform. I want to explore my creativity and cultivate my curiosity for the world around me.

I’m starting the next great chapter in my life story, and someone might want to read my story and experience my journey.

As I write this, my thesis is being bound, and it should be in my hands at some point in the near future. I’m beyond elated that I’m going to be published. Well, published in book form. Here’s a story I wrote that got published on the UWEI blog: Maiden Names,Family Planning, and Other Personal Decisions Everyone has an Opinion On. 

I hope to publish my novels someday, additionally I have a children’s book series in mind as well.

I’ve been so busy with higher education for the last little while, I can’t wait to devote some much needed time to the ideas fluttering around in my head.

Hope that you enjoy the ride!