Over the past year, I’ve been working on applying to grad school, and today I received an an e-mail from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah informing me that…
I am admitted to the Masters In Public Administration program in the Marriott School of Business!
This feels like…
- The first time I at last made the final jump on Bowser’s head at the end of Super Mario World.
- After logging dozens of hours into a Zelda game and, at last, I have opened the treasure chest to find the final heart piece.
- When I got to tour of the Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles.
- When the lights went down in the theater, and the Fox anthem began, announcing the beginning of the Special Edition of Star Wars. (I’ll probably be that excited for Episode VII, even if the Fox anthem isn’t there).
This acceptance letter is the result of several years of introspection, research, decision-making, studying, and then waiting.
I chose this program because it will increase my ability to both make a living and to serve others.
Also, the ice cream at the university is delicious.

My sister Alexis, my brother-in-law Joseph (who is married to a different sister), and our BYU Creamery ice cream.
Also, I look forward to changing my dual life from University Employee by day, Aspiring Writer by Night to Graduate Student by Day, Writer by Night (and sometimes weekend).
Overall, the best way to sum up how I feel is this:
Foot Note: Brigham Young University is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS, or Mormon). If you are interested in the ideas and philosophy of service that attract me to the program, here are two talks from leaders of the LDS church.
Opportunities To Do Good by President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency
Be Anxiously Engaged by Russell M. Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your studies there.
I hope I do too. It’s a big investment.
If nothing else, I will certainly enjoy the ice cream.
Coincidentally, E. J. Barnes, who did the dragon walking stick and vampire bureau badge illustrations for my blog, will be giving a talk at BYU on Friday on her current graphic novel project, which ties into a publication project the German Studies department is conducting. Naturally, she’s being lodged in a Marriott. I’ll tell her to hunt down the ice cream.
Even if it’s cold it’s worth it. Also, the chocolate milk is really good.
I wish I was up there so I could go to her talk.
I heard from her last night, Laura, and after her brown-bag talk with the undergraduates at noon yesterday, they did indeed go to the BYU Creamery. Though I’ve yet to hear what flavor she had.
She had a nice afternoon’s conversation with the chair of the German program, in which they both learned important things from each other, so it sounds like it’s going well.
Congrats! That must feel awesome, good luck with your program!
Thanks!
Barabasi Janos szerint:szia TrintityOlvastam amiket irtal es nagyon kedves vagy a tobbiekhez.gondolom tied az oldal hogy igy torodsz vele En romaniaban elk Maros-megyeben es az Avenged Sevenfold – A little piece of heaven zongorakottaja kene nekema testverem rokker es o is imadja ezt a szamot es en is nagyon megszerettemelore is koszonom figyelmessegedetu.i. : remelem segitsz
Yay, congrats! I graduated from BYU as an undergrad. Such a great school!
Then, it must be good.
Wooooooooot! I am so excited for you! Wow. Enjoy this feeling, relish it, hold onto it, because as you kind of mentioned – these moments don’t come often. Usually only when you beat that video game or watch Star Wars. Haha.
Also, just saw the Lego movie. Was pretty impressed and it did kind of make me want to sing “Everything is Awesome” as much as possible.
Did you get into any other Masters programs? Was that the only one you applied for? Was it your top choice?
I also got into the Masters in Educational Leadership Program at University of California Santa Barbara, but BYU’s my top option.
Any chance to use Everything Is Awesome is a good one.
Congratulations on a dream come true!
Thanks! It’s cause I found a luck dragon.
Congratulations, sounds like you really deserve it. Have lots of fun with it! 🙂
Thanks! Fun is always one of my goals.
Yay! Grad school and ice cream! Awesome indeed!
(And The Lego Movie is awesome, too.)
I think I’ve got to slow down a little bit to take in all of this awesomeness.
Congratulations! I wish you the best of luck. 😀 Also, you’re lucky the campus even serves ice-cream! My campus only ever served sorry-looking sandwiches. =[
Thanks! The university I work for doesn’t have much in the way of ice cream itself, so I understand.
Congratulations, Laura! I am so pleased for you. Also, if the ice cream there is so awesome, should I plan to visit while you are there?
Thanks, and yes.
Congratulations! Ice cream is, of course, the most important factor when trying to decide where to go to grad school.
By the way, I really like how you mix media and text in your blog. The video and pictures are fun! Do you mind if I borrow your technique from time to time? 😉
I think blogging and writing is all about sharing and taking good things from other people and making it your own.
In the picture is mint and brownie ice cream which is amazing.
Congrats! I hope your new lifestyle lives up to expectation!
Also thanks for the SMW analogy (still the zenith of platformers) and for the introduction to that amazing Lego song.
I’m glad you enjoyed the references!
Congratulations! (and I can so relate to that Star Wars moment 🙂 )
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