A Pirate's life for me.

     As many of you know, this is my last year at East Carolina University (at least as an undergraduate student) as I will be graduating in December with a Bachelor's in Arts of Hispanic Studies, minor in Psychology.  I have passed my OQE (Oral Qualifying Exam), have maintained a high GPA and am graduating with honors as a member of Phi Sigma Iota: Sigma Upsilon chapter.

Now, here comes the hard part. Decisions to be made:
     The first decision that needs to be made right now is if I want to go straight into graduate school, take a year off, take a semester off, or just not go to graduate school at all.  My dream has always been to be able to obtain a Master's degree of some sort that would enhance my education and advance my professional career.  After I graduate, I will have a Bachelor's of Arts in Hispanic Studies.  I can do many things with this degree because I know the Spanish language, Spanish culture, Spanish heritage, Spanish literature... etc.  I've been looking into a few schools here in North Carolina, a few outside of North Carolina and I have also been looking into international internships. 
     Right now, I am stuck deciding which pathway to choose from here.  Professional translation?  Bilingual social work? Bilingual speech therapy? International studies? Professorship in Hispanic Studies?  Everything seems like it would be beneficial to me, not only professionally but personally.  Today I found a Master's in Arts of Teaching program here at ECU in Hispanic Studies itself.  I'm not exactly sure what I would be able to do with that, but I am looking into it as we speak.
     But what's dawning on me now is that I'm growing up.  I'm so close to achieving everything that I've worked so hard for so long for.  I'm so close to being someone that I can be proud of, that my parents can be proud of.  That every decision from here on out is going to affect my entire future, the future of my family, the future of my future family.  Right now, I'm mainly concerned with myself.  I have learned that you must be able to support yourself, with or without a spouse.  Do not fully depend on anyone, only on yourself.  You must be able to continue life if something unfortunate happens.  THIS, my friends, is why I keep going to school.  This is why I keep pushing myself, keep advancing in my studies, keep trying so hard to be somebody.
     And you know what?  It's been a lot of work.  It's been hard, I'm not going to lie, but I wouldn't change a bit of my educational career.  ECU has been my heart and soul for 4 years and I'm so glad that I chose to come here.  I've met so many wonderful people, professors, lifelong friends and connections.  I've learned so much... not just in my studies, but ECU has opened my mind.  I'll admit that I was very narrow-minded when I came here.  Anything "different" was not cool in my book.  Now, being "different" is the exact thing that I love.  It's everything to me.  Equality, anti-discrimination, pro-love.  I am in love with the person I have become BECAUSE of ECU.  Because of ECU, I am a determined, intelligent, educated, well-rounded, bilingual individual who has so much going for her in the rest of her life.  I'm proud to say that I have been changed by ECU. Being a Pirate isn't just about being "fun" and a "partier"... it means being a part of an amazing community of other determined, successful, educated people who will stop at nothing to be the people they were meant to be.

I might not be the epitomy of the "ECU girl", but I will say one thing... 
"yo-ho, yo-ho, a Pirate's life for me!"