Time For a New Backpack

By: Allison Norris

If I’m supposed to go left I go right. Seriously. I’ve never had a sense of direction. Thank God for Siri on the iPhone I got for Mother’s Day. Girlfriend is always looking out for me and making sure I’m going the right way. I told her that she is my best friend and all she said was, “makes sense.” It does… I don’t know what I’d do without her now that she’s in my life.

There’s nothing better than finding TWO pairs of cute jeans that fit at Value Village, the thrift store where the employees know my name. They were long enough, hardly worn, and $4.99. It always makes me feel like I’m in on a secret when I find a good deal. My heart beats a little faster and my adrenaline starts pumping. It’s as if someone might come and take them away from me just because they fit so well – it can’t be real.

The only other thing better than two pairs of perfectly fitting denim is finding out that I was one of twelve people accepted into a master’s program at Bastyr University for counseling psychology.

There I was in the toy aisle after my score and my phone rang. Recognizing the number and the date, I knew they were calling to tell me my fate. I hit ignore, obviously. The ‘One New Voicemail’ appeared and I stood quietly debating if I should listen. Should I wait until I’m with other people in case it’s bad news? Should I buy some alcohol to drink my sorrows away?

I decided to listen.

“Hi Allison! This is Lauren from Bastyr and I was calling to say CONGRATULATIONS, you have been accepted…”

I don’t remember the rest because I crouched to the ground and started crying to a worn out firetruck with a busted siren on the shelf in front of me. I was accepted. Me. One of twelve people.

I had been mentally preparing for the opposite outcome. It felt like fall of senior year all over again, wondering where I would be the next year at the same time. My chances felt a bit like winning the lotto… imagining a future based on crazy odds.

The family I nanny for just told me they’d be moving to Florida by September (sad face) and wouldn’t need me anymore. I told them that things were working out perfectly IF I was accepted into Bastyr! If not, it would be plenty of time to find another family. Baylor got into the preschool we signed him up for last year, that still has a waitlist, meaning I’d have time during the week to get some studying done. This all happened last month and the only thing left to hear was if I got in. Everything was falling into place.

Back to being bad with directions. I’ve never felt like I’ve had a strict plan that I’ve followed. I’ve sort of drifted into jobs and only applied to one college because my mom told me I had to go there. I got pregnant on accident and never thought I’d be a stay at home mom with play dates and time outs. This is the one thing I’ve dreamed about, wanted to do, and decided that it’s what I want to do with my future. Actually following through, landing the interview, and receiving that call made me feel something that I’ve never felt before – control of my success and pride in my decision making.

I’m proof – whatever you want to do, and whatever the odds may be, you’ll never know until you try. I wasn’t the most qualified, and my application wasn’t the best (really, I overheard them saying it wasn’t the best when I was waiting outside for my interview), but I really wanted it and I think it showed. I’m on the right road, going the right direction and I can’t wait to see where I end up.