NEIU

It's a go, my friends, and I couldn't be more excited.

I met with the councelor a week ago, and felt instantly at home back in a school building. We talked for only a matter of minutes, but that was all that I needed.

A Master of Arts in Teaching Language Arts. I can't wait.

But first, I must be accepted.

I must pass the Illinois Test of Basic Skills. (Uh oh.)

I must pass the GMAT. (Double uh oh. I don't even know what that is.)

When I first arrived at NEIU last week, I was under the impression that if I was accepted, I'd be starting in the Spring.

Wrong-O. Fall. Yikes. That's 3 months from now. Holy shit. I know.

Ok, I lied. You can start taking classes in the fall without these tests under your belt, but you can't "declare" until you've passed. You're considered a "student at large" until then.

Whatever.

I'm currently in the process of finishing up my application. It's not long..it's not hard. (Tee hee hee.) But the last question on it asks why you want to join the program, and what you'd like to achieve. I started answering it immediately, then thought about it for a moment. It's a test...to see if you can write. i write purty, no? =) So I wrote it last night. And then my screen froze. I didn't save it.

Oh shit.

So, the genius that I am, I ended up taking a picture of each and every paragraph, and re-writing the whole thing, after I refreshed the page. God bless digital cameras.

Here it is...let me know what you think.

"When I was in the 5th grade, I wrote a story about my Mother's heart transplant, and won the Young Author's Award for writing. My Mother said to me, "Kelly, I don't know where you get your writing talent from. It sure didn't come from me."

As time passed, I continued to write. It was something I did mostly for school, but I still found extraordinary enjoyment in it. When I graduated from high school, I contined with my education at Northern Illinois University.

During my time at NIU, I was an on-air talent at the student run radio station. While on the air, I discovered my gift of speech, and would entertain the masses, (or at least those who listened) with my gift of words. After my first semester on the air, my mother said to me, "Kelly, I don't know where you find the nerve to talk to people on the radio. You surely didn't get that from me."

During my last year at NIU, I tutored freshman in their Coms 100 class, a basic speech requirement for all majors. I would observe speech after speech, and give these budding talents a critique of their speeches, and offer suggestions on how to improve. The students looked up to me, and took my advice to heart. They were eager to learn, and from that, I took immense pleasure. After my last session with the students, my Mother said to me, "Kelly, I just don't know how you can teach a bunch of kids you don't know." But I did. To me, it was natural.

During my last semester at NIU, it was time to write my senior thesis. After much debate, I wrote about Orson Welles' impact on the history of radio. I spent weeks upon weeks slaving over that paper. It couldn't just be good, it had to be spectacular. I wanted my readers to feel the "War of the Worlds" as they absorbed my written word. And spectacular, it was. After I turned in my paper and received that hard earned A, my Mother said to me once again, "Kelly, I'll never understand where you get your writing ability. I'll just never understand."

After college, I had the incessant desire to continue writing, so I submitted an entry to a non-fiction essay contest sponsored by "Glamour" magazine. I felt compelled to tell the story of how I, Kelly Courtney, the "Big Girl" of the seniour class was able to blow all the stereotypes out of the water and was crowned Homecoming Queen of the senior class. Upon submission, my mother said to me, "Kelly, I don't know where you find the strength and creativity to write the way you do. You make me so proud."

My mother passed away on a cold February morning in 2005. I spent the first two days walking around in a dreary haze, hardly aware of my surroundings. On the third day, I realized what I had to do. It was my ultimate calling and there was simply nobody else who could complete this task. I had to give the eulogy at my Mother's funeral. And that I did. I stood up there in front of that church filled with mourners, and spoke of the good days. I told stories of her past, and even managed to muster a few laughs from those who were grieving most. It was the hardest, most gut wrenching experience of my life, but I knew what I had to do.

As I stepped down from the altar, I could hear my Mother from somewhere in the distance saying to me,

"Kelly, I knew you could do it. I still don't know where you find it in you, but don't ever forget how proud you've made me."

I feel that I've been blessed with the gift of creativity and writing. I know that if given the opportunity, I would grow tremendously within the Masters of Arts program offered at NEIU. In doing so, I would be able to spread my knowledge, and teach future generations the beauty of the English language, and everything that encompasses it. I have a burning desire to teach, and I know somewhere out there, students are yearning to learn. I want to be the person to open up their hearts and minds, and show them that they can find their own talents well within themselves.

I want to do this for myself, for the memory of my Mother, and for all generations to come. I've had a burning desire to teach, and feel that the time has come.

I'm ready."

So there you have it. Not bad, eh? I'm serious though...if you can think of any constructive changes, let me know. I'm planning on submitting it by Friday. Just waiting on my letters of recommendation.

And a way to pay for all of this craziness.

Anybody looking for a maid? =)

Hmmmm?