Catching Up and Some Big News

04.21.2012
Okay, so! I haven't been keeping up with my blog as well as I would like. I haven't posted anything about my incoming/outcoming mail in a long while, which is disheartening because that was the original purpose of the blog in the first place. So, while I don't remember what all has come in since my last post, I just wanted to list some of the mail that's gone out this week:

4/21- Letters sent to Kate, Ashley and Victoria.
4/19- Book sent back to Bri!

I've also received quite a few postcards lately. I need to learn how to operate my scanner so I can upload images, because some of them have been so cute I want to brag on them!

In other news, I finished reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth- which is the book I sent back to Bri earlier this week. I have to admit, it was my very first zombie book and I was iffy about it at first. But now I've borrowed my aunt's Kindle to read the two sequels, and I'm on a huge post-apocalyptic kick. I've even gone back and started re-reading The Host.

And now on to the afore-mentioned (not-mail-related) BIG NEWS.

Wednesday, my mother and I drove up to a private college about two hours away for a tour. I'd been to the campus once before for "Honors Day", when there were dozens of other seniors competing for scholarships and touring and whatnot. The crowd and the original scholarship that that first day offered were very discouraging, and since then I'd talked myself into staying in town, keeping my job and just taking online classes at a tech school. I'd even told my dad I didn't plan on going anywhere, and he was pretty relieved because he doesn't want me to go away.

Since that first day in November, the college has done all the figuring and it turns out I got more money than they previously expected. Meaning, it's now within reach, but I was still a little bitter and had my mind made up that I would be content to stay at home for college.

So, the whole drive up there I kept telling mysef it was a waste of time, I didn't want to go, I didn't want to want to go there, etc. I told myself over and over again that I was going to hate it.

....Well. Then we pulled onto campus, and the first thing we saw was a sign (not a paper sign; a real, printed metal sign) on the first parking spot, saying it was reserved for guest Shelby.

Right. Guess who bawled.

After that, my resolved faltered. I ended up loving the dorms and I already knew I loved the cafeteria, and I found myself drawn in by all the promise of their unique classes and outdoor, extraciricular programs.

That said, guess who's going away to college this fall! As a very rooted, very dependent person, I'll admit I'm pretty terrified. I'm socially awkward and don't know how I'm going to survive on my own when I still rely on my mom to pack my lunch for me. But at the same time, I know this is something that I need to do. It'll be good for me, whether I get up there and adjust like I'm sure I will, and even if I don't. It's going to be a learning experience, an it's such a great opportunity.

My dad's out of town, so even though I've called to tell him, I'm not sure how he really feels about it. I know my parents are both proud of me, but I've done my fair share of crying because I know they're going to miss me. I'll miss them too, but for now I'm going to keep reminding myself this is exciting.