Options Part II

So I wrote a blog called “Options” a little over six months ago. So many things have happened in those short months that I felt the need to update my faithful readers. After looking at the stats on each of my blog posts I was happy to see that I do have a committed following that reads my blog. I thank you for caring about what I have to say. I did notice that the most popular posts were about technology and hair care. So I will start posting more about those topics since I have an affinity for both.

I am now exactly one year into the mba program. I have four quarters under my belt and the fifth quarter starts today. Here is what I claimed for myself back on June 25^th 2012, and where I am to date:

Claim: Had just earned an “A” in Statistics, and was concerned about Quantitative Methods.

Result: I aced not only Quantitative Methods, but Financial Accounting.

Claim: Maintenance of at least a 3.8 gpa.

Result: I have maintained a 4.0 gpa.

Claim: No deterrence from a December 2013 graduation date.

Result: My graduation date has moved up to September 2013.

Claim: Desired invitations to at least two honor societies.

Result: There are two honor societies at the graduate level at Strayer. One only offers membership one quarter before graduation. I joined the other in October 2012.

Now to the bad stuff. My beloved grandmother, who I shared 35+ wonderful years with, passed away on Wednesday, November 14, 2012. My grandmother was a very important person in my life. She acted as mother to me because my own mother was very young when she had me. I loved my grandmother with all my heart. I am devastated to have this hole in my heart. What makes all these great accomplishments bittersweet is the fact that my granny, who was my biggest cheerleader, ally, and source of emotional support is not here to share them with me. But I know she is looking down from on high and she is proud of all the things that I and her other grandchildren are accomplishing. I will honor her name and memory by being the best person that I can be. R.I.P. Miss Estelle!

Secondly, 2012 was a year that I was reminded that people come into your life for a reason or a season. Clearly my grandmother was there for a major reason. Not only do I come from her, but she was one of the most positive influences on my life. Other people came and went after a season or two. I hold absolutely no animosity. God has blessed with me with a cadre of AMAZING friends- some of whom I have been down with since I was 10 years old. My ride or dies stood behind me in pink bridesmaids dresses on my big day. None of them live close to me, but our bonds transcend the highways, byways, oceans, and friendly skies. I cherish and value those friendships and am grateful for them. Having those people in my life allowed me to get through the pain of my loved ones deaths, my own personal failures, setbacks and other low points that are visited upon all of us- no matter how perfect we portray our lives to be to the outside world.

Speaking of low points, it’s also mind blowing that someone who people had listed as down for the count could rise like a phoenix from the ashes. So many great things have happened over the past few months, and some are still happening now. So stay tuned for the Options Three update! I don’t want to jinx a certain situation but God is really blessing my family right now. I feel like Job, and I am more humbled, and grateful for my blessings this go round than I had been in the past!

Seriously- stay tuned!

Love,

Me

Options

I can’t believe a person who used to write extra long love letters can’t even update a blog. I used to promise my faithful few readers that I would try to do better and committed to updating at least once per week. I think we all know that’s not going to happen. I’ll try to blog when I have something really relevant to share. In between I’ll try to post up some of the videos from my youtube page.

Ok, so one big change that has happened in my life is that I am officially in grad school! I just completed two quarters. I am shooting for a December 2013 graduation date with my mba in Human Resource Management. My thinking is that this degree will allow me to be more flexible in my career choices, and remove me from the media pigeon hole I’m in. I eat, breathe and sleep media but I want to be able to float into other industries if I find myself without a job. This degree will allow me to go into any type of business function, or Human Resources. I’ve been seriously considering going straight through and completing my PhD, but we’ll see how I feel after getting hammered by this rigorous mba program. 

Aside from counting my duckets, I am NOT a math person. Left to my own devices I’d probably get an F in every math class I ever took. I am definitely more into the humanities. Anyway I need to pop my collar and brag about the fact that I just got an “A” in statistics the first time out. I’m so proud of myself. I worked hard, stayed up long nights, gave up my weekends for 11 weeks and basically neglected my friends, kids, pets and husband to snag this grade. Next up is quantitative methods which I hear is far worse so please keep me in your prayers. LOL. Here’s what I am claiming for myself with this program: Maintenance of a 4.0 gpa at best, no less than a 3.8 on the low end. Invitations to at least two national honor societies. No graduation date push backs- December 2013 I want to walk across that stage.

One week ago I took a 6+ hour journey to drop my youngest off at college in Tallahassee. She will be pursuing a BA in chemistry. I encouraged her to take this path to give herself options. She wants to be a doctor, but realistically we all know that path is rough. So if she gets the degree in chemistry she can do one of two things. First, she can keep the chemistry degree and become a chemist. One of our cousins has made a career as a chemist and really enjoys working in the lab. Second option, she can apply to pharmacy school. Pharmacists make a great living with less years in school and no malpractice headaches. So she weighed her options and decided to give the chemistry major a try. If I had to do the last 15 years of my life over again, I think I would have given myself a lot more options. Don’t get me wrong- I don’t regret any of the decisions I’ve made (aside from one, which will be resolved very soon). But maybe I could have gone straight to grad school after college. Or maybe I should have stayed in NY 2 years less. Maybe, maybe, maybe. This time around I want options. I promise to blog tomorrow. I have a rant that I’ve been dying to post about for about a week.

Toodles,

E.B.

Post Turkey/Black Fri Day Check In

I absolutely have not forgotten about my readers, as dwindling as that number may have become. I guess I neglect this page for the same reason I can't get into twitter. Though I love to write, I just can't do it on command like that. And if I have nothing to say, I don't write. So much has happened since my last post and I would love to share it with the world- or at least the faithful readers that remain. I'll play with the privacy settings to go in about a few things that I don't want to necessarily be public right now. What I can share with the world is that I am almost finished with a portfolio that encompasses ALL my work. At first I had one that was strictly photographic in nature but since who I am is so much more than a photog I decided to pull together the whole kit and kaboodle. I'll post it here when it's done.

How have you all been? Feel free to bang back: escapebrooklyn[at]gmail.com . Besitos.