Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- night

Everything is pointing toward my attendance at Rutgers-Camden School of Law this coming August. Not only did they offer me admission as a full-time day student, but they are allowing me New Jersey in-state tuition by using Mita's address as my own permanent residence. The clincher, however, is their offer of a scholarship which will reduce the tuition by $4000 each year, as long as I maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher. I'm honored they offered the scholarship, but I'm just as happy that it presents me with a very real challenge. That makes me even more excited for law school.

So Corey leaves the United States on June 6 for Armenia. Over the past three years, he's definitely become my best friend. When we hang out, its always a guaranteed good conversation, and its never a bad time. I think its fortunate that Cherise and I are leaving for a month in Europe on June 28. And then, shortly after my return, I'll be tackling the challenge of law school. I anticipate that those two events will ease the transition to my life in Philly without having Corey to hang out with.

But its obvious that a new chapter of my life is about to begin. Just as my trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua last December through March 2003 was an interlude between two well-defined chapters of my life, so will my impending trip to Europe seem to be another interlude between two chapters in my life. I embrace the opportunity and privilege to encounter challenges and hence new chances for development and personal improvement. Fear arises from the unknown. But the confrontation with the unknown will force me to step-up; it will be a test of myself and my personality traits. I consider myself fortunate to be in a position to travel, to be in a position to further my education, and to be in a position to move onward and upward toward new horizons, new challenges, and new successes.