If you’re anything like me, you live for the weekends. Being in your twenties, weeks are full of nine to fives, the gym (yikes, especially the week after the holidays), plenty of oatmeal for breakfast, and chicken breast for dinner. Weekends, on the other hand, are full of adventures and excursions, romance, pan-crepes and red wine, and if you are lucky, a few outstanding experiences with exceptional food. Yes, the weekend is that gold baton we strive for Monday through Friday; it pushes us through that final sprint to get us across the Friday afternoon finish line.
This week, though, despite some post-holiday doldrums, something happened that made it a bit more exciting than most.
Remember this?
Back in August, I attended orientation at the Institute of Culinary Education, and started to get the ball rolling on taking the school up on their promise: “We’re in the business of dreams.”
Then, this week, after multiple set-backs and months of discouraging phone calls with Sallie Mae loan officers, I finally saw these words flash across my computer screen:
“Congratulations! Your loan has been approved!”
At first, I couldn’t believe it, and had to mentally pinch myself. Then came the extreme excitement and a well-warranted bout of hyperactivity as the reality sunk in. I am going to Culinary School. This is actually, finally, going to happen.
But not too shortly after, a bittersweet sentiment settled in the wake of the email. In one short year, I’ll hold a culinary arts diploma from the Institute of Culinary Education, and hopefully, be well on my way to my dream job – experiencing and writing about food full time. But I’ll also be paying back my students loans in the form of hundreds of dollars each month, apparently the bright yellow price tag that dangles from the ultimate acquisition: making your dreams come true.
So where does it all net out? Is it all worth it, at the end of the day? I’m still a strong believer in following your heart and dreams in life – it minimizes your regret, if nothing else. I also believe that personal passion is one of the strongest motivators for your greatest ambitions – far more so than money – but understand that this isn’t true for everyone. Still, I have to wonder, will this dream come true?
Well, who’s to say? I’ll find out in a year – and I expect to enjoy one hell of a ride getting there. As Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Here’s to aiming high and meeting your goals, whether they be to make it into Harvard Law, or just to make it through the work week. You can do it, I promise 🙂
Oh, and keep on cooking!
Not once in this entire blog, did I get street credit for essentially creating the title of this very post!!!! What the hell?!?!?
Yes, Cara, you get full credit for the inspiration. Actually, 50% – the other 50% goes to recording artist Nelly (that’s only fair).
Congratulations! This is a great start to your new year. I hope to hear of your progress regularly as you work your way to becoming the next great chef and author.
And Cara – great title. I felt a little like I was back watching Dallas. But you should know, they have good schools to develop writing skills also. 🙂
Congratulations! I am sure that you will make all things work to your best advantage. And welcome to the big league of always owing huge amounts to someone – you’ll get done with student loans and then move on to the mortgage and then college for the kids. :0 It’s all good. Looking forward to reading of your adventures.
Buona Fortuna, Bella!
The dream is in each moment. Enjoy every one!
[…] It Was Only Just a Dream – Or Was It? – I posted this just hours after I found out my student loan got approved and I was actually going to Culinary School. I was still riding high on that news, but the response I got to this post sent me even higher – tons of friends, old and new, saying they were inspired by this decision to pursue their own dreams! […]