I'm a joyful mess

Ok, lovelies, I wanted to share some really exciting news today about my future! 

Wait for it....

I'm going to GRADUATE SCHOOL in the FALL!!!

I EVEN GOT INTO MY FIRST CHOICE, THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA! 

Also,

It's going to be COMPLETELY FREE! POR GRATIS!

AND

I was awarded an amazing fellowship that will actually PAY ME to go to school, and I won't even have to work for it! (I'm a really weird person who thinks school is a treat, not work.) I am going to make the most money I have ever made and all I have to do is GO TO SCHOOL. 

I LOVE SCHOOL!

Sporting my new school's colors and I think I pull them off!

Ok, ok! Now, I can calm down and tone down the caps lock, BUT HOW STINKING AWESOME IS THIS NEWS?! I can't even tell you how excited and joyful I am. I couldn't even believe the news that I had been given such an amazing fellowship, which only 7 other people were awarded. (I'm still pinching myself to make sure that I'm not daydreaming)

I worked pretty dang hard concerning academia and now I feel justified in all my long nights as an undergraduate. Working 2 jobs to make ends meet and embracing life as a poor college student, while maintaining a competitive GPA was no walk in the park! I can't count the amount of times that I got home past midnight from work with a night of studying waiting for me and classes at 8 am the next morning. All the hard work I did hoping it would be enough to take it to the next level and earn a PhD, all of it feels worth it now, but I know the real journey and the real work is only about to begin. 

And I am so ready for it start.