12 Days of B-School Apps

Last year, I wrote of the woes and annoyances of adulthood. As I sit at my parents' kitchen table, post niece and nephew Christmas tree sleepover, eating peanut butter and jelly, I couldn't complain if I wanted. Not even the Browns' sad excuse for a football team phases me. Right now, life is easy, and my biggest concern is what television series to binge watch, what book to read, and what holiday treat to eat. To be fair, these decisions can be quite hard.

... I really just wanted to share this picture. So much fun!

Over the years, I have addressed my illustrious career in terms of obedience, loneliness, confusion, trust. I have walked in faith, not knowing where the path was leading. As I plot the winter/spring of Anna, I think it only fitting to address gratitude. This year, instead of 12 Days of Adulthood, 12 days of B-School Apps will give a glimpse of how the Lord used a sometimes unorthodox path to lead me to graduate school. As always, it follows the tune.

12 months applying. Last year, I looked at my life, and I wasn't satisfied. I don't normally toss around cliche quotes*, but my favorite from Mark Zuckerburg is: "Am I doing the most important thing I could be doing?" It is easy to be satisfied with "I'm doing well," but this goes further. It demands more.
Of course, the answer to the most important thing is unique to everyone, and the entrant of significant others, marriages, children, other relationships often change that answer. I was in a unique position to pursue the most important problem I could be solving in my career. So I stopped looking at my life, and I looked to God.

11 days of fasting. We began fasting as a family earlier this year because my sister was awaiting a decision on a career opportunity. She asked for prayer, and Mother, the prayer champ she is, suggested fasting. God closed that particular door, but He used it to strengthen our family's relationship with one another and with Him - as well as open many other doors. Sometimes, I made it all the way to five o'clock on a Thursday, and sometimes, I had to eat at three so I didn't attack a coworker, but each time we fasted, one of our prayers was for a clear next step in my career.

10 months of managing. I have a huge amount of respect for the leadership of RKG, but when I sat in a team leader meeting, I looked around the table at people my own age, with similar experiences and similar backgrounds. I wanted different.

9 months of music. MusicToday, that is, but MusicToday didn't fit with the jingle. An interesting stint, and one that helped me define myself outside of RKG, build valuable relationships, and work with an empowering manager. Though brief, I grew more there than I would have elsewhere.

8 essays written. Each with an immense amount of help from my resident editor, Lydia. So, a shout out to my muse - who I wish I could take with me to remind me to be concise and avoid cliches.

7 fifty GMAT. The score I worked for, prayed for, and received.

6 city visits. Marked off my bucket list. I prayed for something to look forward to in the midst of this process, and God used my role as conference coordinator at VividCortex. I traveled to San Francisco, Boston, Portland, Prague, Budapest, Dubrovnik, absorbing culture, indulging in food, and experiencing nature in all its glory.

5 job transitions. Certainly not the path I would have chosen. But each position built a different skill set, showed me what I do and do not want in a job. Each position exposed me to different industries, forced me out of my comfort zone, and revealed my strengths and weaknesses.
At the beginning of the year, I dreaded the thought of another transition, especially because Charlottesville had become comfortable. Now, I am pumped to tackle another transition and apply the plethora of lessons I have learned thus far.

4 years of serving. I was never big on volunteering, but my time working with young women was amazing. Without fail, each time I doubted my time in Charlottesville, I received a text from a girl in my youth group, thanking me for my friendship. I learned so much from them, and the experience helped shape goals for my future.

3 doors closed. Well, one door was cracked. Harvard and Stanford rejected me, and Northwestern put me on their waitlist.

2 months of waiting. Absolute waiting. A point where I said, "God, I did this in faith, it is yours, I trust you with it."* During this time, God asked, "How much do you trust me?" My job at VividCortex ran its course, leaving me gainfully unemployed and not certain of my future.

And a full ride to Michigan. When I began the application process, I prayed for clarity. Yes, a part of me wanted the answer to be in Charlottesville. A part of me wanted to get accepted to Harvard or Stanford, so I could say I got into Harvard or Stanford. Part of me wants to stay on the waitlist at Northwestern to see if I get accepted. But I didn't pray for that. I prayed for clarity, and this is crystal clear. I am so grateful and excited.

Sidenote: Countless - Number of times I failed and disappointed throughout this process.

To some, this may simply be an account of hard work or good fortune, and indeed, I worked very hard and am fortunate. But this is so much more.

My favorite Christmas hymn is O Holy Night, and my favorite lyrics are, "A thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices." Last year, I was weary, and I will certainly be weary again. But the birth of Jesus, His absolute perfect life, and His death on the cross and resurrection offer hope. Looking to the cross, rather than our circumstances, gives us access to a God "who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." This is merely a small testament to that power.

Merry Christmas, all!

* Yes I do.
* /God, if I don't get into grad school, we are going to have some serious chats.
* A lot harder than I am currently working