Another Chapter to the End of My College Career

In a previous post, I explained why I finally pulled the plug on my college career.  A deep fryer spewing oil all over me was reason enough, but it truly was just the cherry on top of what was a really hard month.  Here's another piece to the puzzle.

I had the opportunity to study American Sign Language during high school.  I loved the language and picked it up quickly.  I studied it for three years so when I heard the local Deaf school was hiring teacher's aides, I applied and was hired.  I worked at an elementary school in a co-enrolled class of mostly hearing and a few Deaf students.  I loved it and decided to pursue a Deaf education teaching degree.

I enrolled in a local community college, one that was far enough away from home that it required me to move out.  My best friend Sophia was attending a major state university in the next city so we decided to become roommates along with her friend Ava.  That was the first of many bad decisions.  I had a car and an apartment that I couldn't afford so I knew I had to get a job.  Instead of holding out for a good job that worked with my school schedule, I settled for working in a grocery store deli.  I was working more hours than my full school schedule allowed so I missed a lot of class.  I was exhausted and stressed, but knew I needed that job.

It was October and Sophia and I had been talking about/planning a night to carve pumpkins. After a particularly difficult night at work, I came home to Sophia, Ava and Elijah* carving pumpkins on our porch.  I was hurt.  We had planned to do it together and not only were they doing it without me, they didn't tell me ahead of time so I could at least come home and join them.  I muttered some kind of greeting and went to take a shower. Nothing like smelling like fried chicken every night.  Once I was showered and smelling like a normal person again, I walked to the kitchen looking for a mug for hot chocolate.  I didn't have one of my own and usually borrowed one from a roommate, but there weren't any clean.  For whatever reason, this broke me.  I turned around, and without saying anything, left.  They called after me, but I ignored them.  

I called Grayson and asked him if I could hang out there since I had no where else to go.  I don't think he wanted me there, but felt bad so allowed me to come.  I just sat on a chair in his living room while he hung out with another friend.  Eventually Elijah came home.  We talked, I felt better, and I left.

On my way home, I stopped at a store and bought a mug.


*Go to Cast of Characters to know who these people are.