Thursday, July 11, 2013

The Way It Feels to Walk


That's my smiling mug. Cap and hood and crazy-armed gown. Officially done.

I'm so glad I made it to the official graduating ceremonies. At the end of January, my thesis done, my diploma in the mail, I felt like the program was over. I'd done everything I needed to do. But the last six months have felt a bit aimless, and I think part of me was worried I'd have trouble separating from college life, the way I did when I "graduated" undergrad but never walked across the stage.

But arriving on campus for the last days of residency with the other flood of January grads, and I felt like I was done. There's a sense of completion I needed here, to know I don't belong on that campus anymore, at least as a student.

I also loved the invigorating feeling about being around writers still excited about writing, about that community that is so alive it is like a visceral buzz that resonates through my whole body. I sat through a few craft talks and readings, and I suddenly wanted to write again. Better yet, I was suddenly able to throw off all those voices in my head and just write. Just me. My own voice again. Only better. The voice that is purely me, but all the great things I learned somehow seamlessly incorporated. If I was wandering, I have found my road again.




11 comments:

  1. Hurrah! So glad you have found your voice. I wish you much writing joy!

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  2. Thank you, Melissa! Now I need time to write consistently! :) The more consistent I am, the more likely to keep the joy!

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  3. This is me CHEERING!!!!!!

    I wished this for you, and I'm so happy that you're feeling good about the whole thing. Also you look so good in pictures! Which has nothing to do with graduating or writing but I had to say it.

    Reeeeeally looking forward to reading the results of your writing, selfishly of course, because I'm dying of curiosity and I generally love what you write!

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    1. Thanks, Heidi! I know you have been with me through it all, and I've relished having your constant support, and those emails saying "I can tell how much better you've gotten!!!" right when I needed them most. MWAH!

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  4. This post is so filled with joy!

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    1. There was MUCH joy on that day. :) And also - a lot of other conflicting emotions. Calling these ceremonies a "commencement" is the positive spin. It's a beginning, of course, but also an end of something very special. I'm so blessed to have had this experience!

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  5. You did it! So happy you've found your voice again. Congratulations and keep writing.

    kathrynjankowskibooks.com

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    1. Thanks, Kathryn! Trying to write - word by word, right? :)

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  6. congratulation wishing more of gods blessing, i thank god for you. visit www.unn.edu.ng for more

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  7. That is the best smile ever! Everything you seem to be feeling is right there on your face. Congratulations!

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    1. Thank you, Paige. I couldn't stop smiling. :) It was weird to be the one having my picture taken all the time, though, rather than taking everyone else's! I'm much more comfortable behind the lens. :)

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