Part 2: One year later

Ten things that have happened since I've moved to TX:

1. Trip to New Orleans (see pic on left)

• It wasn't the fact that I was on my first road trip as a graduate student. It was where I was going. It wasn't the fact the fact that I was going to New Orleans. It was the fact that I was going to Louisiana. The birthplace of my Grandmother and home to family that I do not know. When it was my shift to drive back to College Station and as we passed Lake Charles Louisiana, my mind often drifted thinking of did my Grandmother and my Aunt Olivia making that same drive many times before. I am blessed, to have traveled the same road that she did.

2. Getting an A in a class.

• In Dr. Kerr's class of all classes.

3. Realizing that being in grad school does not equate to Intelligence.

• Just because you are in Grad School does not automatically mean that you have common sense, intelligence, etc.

4. Witnessed racist rants against all people (white, black, mexican, etc.)

• Look at number 3 and then add racism.

5. Have met amazing people

• Veronica once told me that the people I would meet in graduate school will be the people that I will be forever connected to. She would mention that in your undergraduate experience, you meet everybody. Everybody. But in grad school you meet people that would have the same passion in studying and doing what I find interesting. Since moving here I have met some amazing, amazing, amazing people. And for what they have done for me, with me, putting up with me, and showed me, I am forever grateful.

6. Witness the passion of Big 12 football.

• Sore legs from standing the whole game attests to this.

7. I turned 30

• Although I was not with family I was with amazing people (see number 5) (see pic to right)

8. Saw Corinne Bailey Rae in concert at the House of Blues in Houston, TX.

• Again, see number 5. How can such a powerful voice come from someone so tiny? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iDWAcOnHaQ&feature=av2n)

9. Moved away from home and survived being away from home

• Physically I knew it was not going to kill me...but emotionally, I knew it was going to be a battle..luckily I made it.

10. Completed my first year of Graduate school.

• First in my family to do so.

Ten things I hope to happen in the next year:

1. See my uncle for the first time in 16 years and my cousin for the first time in 3 years.

• Both just recently completed "bids" in jail and were both released while I am here in Texas.

2. Continue being/searching/developing "me".

• Although I know who I am and I think I know what I want to be, I'm still finding out lil things about myself that I did not know before.

3. Thank those that need to be thanked when they are to be thanked.

• Anybody and everybody who has helped me to get where I am now: My Ma, My Sister, my Grandfather, Upward Bound family (Lyd, Vero, Mayra, Mr. Coin, Amarone, Belinda), WESTOP family (Sam, Brian, Melisa, etc.), my new Texas Fam (Mel, Bush School, BGSA folks, GSC folks), my Grandmother, God, etc. I wanted to name more (Ms. Jackson, Kells, Rafa, Ang, etc.) specific people but there are too many that has touched my life in their own specific way. So without further adieu: thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

4. Avoid procrastination.

• May be the hardest thing to do.

5. Travel a little bit?

• List of places I want to go: home, Las Vegas, Orlando, Illinois, and.....

6. Continue to serve where I can and when I can.

7. Try to figure out what happens after graduate school

• Just where do I go and do after "Texas"? Work? Phd? Go swimming?

8. Continue talking to God and my Grandmother.

• Everyday....all day.

9. Reach out to my dad.

• ............

10. Graduate from grad school (and figure out how to get my ma to watch it).

• She cant fly (afraid of heights), don't know if she can stand 16 hours on the road (her knees are not the greatest)....still...whether she is here in person, watching online, or on the phone with me as I walk across the stage, she will be with me every step.