Emmy Johnson's Blog
Final Newsletter. / 08.04.08, 02:50 PM
ENDING ONE JOURNEY, STARTING ANOTHER
One year. It seems like a long time when moving to a place where you don’t know anyone or anything about the location, other than you are living and volunteering there. On the other hand, one year doesn’t seem like much time in the bigger picture of one’s life. Either way, it’s hard to believe I’m writing my final newsletter to all my faithful supporters of my one-year commitment.
First of all, I want to be sure and say thank you, to all of you. No matter what form your support came in (thoughts, prayers, finances, etc.), I am so grateful for your commitment to go through this process with me. I truly feel it was a privilege to experience this year and all of its ups and downs. It has challenged, changed, and strengthened me as well as altered the path of my future.
Had I not done Mission Year I never would have figured out how much I enjoy social work, as well as what it’s like to be passionate about my future career. Passion was something I lacked in education. I saw the importance of education, enjoyed kids, and from time to time was okay with the work being a teacher required, but I still felt like something was missing. After my experiences this year, I think that thing was passion. If it wasn’t for my awesome support network, I never would have been able to do Mission Year, thus never discovering this about myself and finding a career I can and will be passionate about. Something I think too many people dismiss when figuring out what to do with their lives. So even though I feel like it is not nearly enough, THANK YOU!
Since I’m interested in social work, that means I need to go back to school! Something I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do… at least not for a long while! Life is funny sometimes. So my plans are to start graduate school in the Fall of 2009 pursuing a Master’s in Social Work as well as possibly a Master’s in Business Administration. I’m not sure which school I will attend, but that is part of what I plan on figuring out in the next year.
As for my immediate plans after Atlanta I will be visiting my family in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the first part of the month. Then I will be moving home and living with my parents in Towanda, Illinois for the fall semester and taking a statistics class at Heartland Community College as well as applying to schools.
While it’s nice to have life until January figured out, there is still much to be discerned in terms of which school to attend and what do January through July. Please continue to pray for me as I transition to life after Mission Year, figure out more of my future, and apply to multiple graduate programs.
As I said before, it’s hard to believe this is all over and it is much more difficult to leave than I expected. However, I am excited for my future and what is in store, even though it is MUCH different than I pictured for myself only a year ago.
If you are interested in getting together to see pictures and/or hear about my year first hand, please, do not hesitate to contact me. I would love to not only share about my life in the inner-city, but also catch up with you and your life! Thanks again.
SAYING GOODBYE
These are some of the people that my team and I grew especially close to, therefore it was a bit more difficult to part ways with them…
NAKIA AND FAMILY
We spent a lot of time with Nakia and her three children Khadijah, Angela, and Jerry. Nakia spent a lot of her days off with us in our apartment or taking us around Atlanta. Her kids were involved in S.A.Y. Yes! and also spent a lot of their days at our place. I will miss seeing them almost every day!
REGGIE
Reggie “Bo-Bo” Jones lived below us this year and attends New Life. He was a huge help to us at the beginning of the year when we were getting settled into our apartment and looked out for us through out the rest of our time here. It has been such a blessing having him around and becoming friends.
TARA
Before Christmas break my roommates and I had to say goodbye to a neighbor who moved away. That person was Tara, and we were to lucky enough to be around when she moved back to Atlanta in March. In that time we have spent a lot of time laughing with her and Tara has become like a little sister to most of us on the team.
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Emmy,
Thanks for sharing your heart! It was so great to meet you this year! I hope u enjoyed Savannah! Keep in touch!
By Zeny Martin / Aug 9, 01:21 AM / #