08/16/2020
Fall is my favorite time of year. I was born in the fall, I was married in the fall, my firstborn was born in the fall. Working on a Big 10 campus there is always, at least I feel, an added level of excitement to the start of the Autumn season. It’s almost like the air even changes, it feels like it vibrates with excitement. I never used to care about sports except casually, but after spending a lot of Saturdays watching College GameDay while super pregnant with Madeleine, it grew on me and is now a huge part of the fall traditions in our house. Now I love College football, another reason to love fall!
But this year...this.frickin.year.
This isn’t about the decision on College football, really. I will get to my point soon. I went on campus to grab some personal items from my office, that I haven’t stepped foot in, in 5 months.
I got a little emotional driving into campus that day.
I never considered college, like ever. I applied to MSU because I had a writing assignment for an English class senior year and I figured why waste the work I put into it. I was rejected. But then I was accepted. I still don’t know what happened there. But I moved into my dorm, and quickly realized that I was not mentally prepared for College, I felt like my independence was taken away, as weird as that may sound. I couldn’t have my car, felt limited in what kind of job I could hold. So I gave up a great opportunity, and withdrew, but I can’t regret it.
Later down the road, my now husband and then boyfriend attended MIchigan State University as a graduate student. We got engaged while living in East Lansing as he was earning his masters.
I applied for job after job after job at MSU. Probably easily over 100 if I remember correctly. I finally landed a position there.
And now. I have been there 5 years this fall. I found out I was expecting my first baby on a Friday before driving into work. I found out I was expecting my second, also on a Friday, before driving into work. I gave birth to both my babies while working here, and I have an amazingly supportive supervisor and department chair.
Cont. in comments- @ Michigan State University
