Stempson's Index

Boxes shipped cross-country: 12

Days it took to pack: 2

Old episodes of House, M.D. watched while packing: 8

Cute owl things given by Erin packed: 4

Hours left before my flight to North Carolina: 53

Days until I meet my law school dorm-mates: 6

Days until I turn 22: 14

Points to be given to whomever can correctly name the magazine that I'm referencing: 5

Although my boxes have shipped, I continue to pack. I am approximately halfway done tearing apart my room and then reassembling it in 16 x 16 x 10-inch boxes to be stored here in Sunnyvale whilst I am away. It's been rather interesting to go through my old stuff, especially the random journals and other writing I've unearthed. Looking back on my middle school and high school self affirms for me how much I have grown--socially, spiritually, and scholastically--over these past four years in college. I am a little embarrassed by the hubris I tended to demonstrate in my writing before college... I will strive against such conceit here.

It's difficult to wrap my head around the fact that I will be traveling so far away, won't see my family again until Christmas, and will be starting the most challenging academic year of my life. Ridiculous. The concept of going back East is so proverbial, so charged with expectation. I am filled with excitement at the prospect, have read countless books about law school, check the Georgetown Admitted Students website every day--and yet, at some level, I really have no idea what I'm getting myself into.

Ultimately, it's in God's hands. After going to Mass for the Assumption, my mom and I read a few Bible passages about Mary together. Mary's faith is an inspiration. As Elizabeth says in Luke 1:45, "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

Blessed Mary, graceful Mother, I ask that you might pray for all of us embarking on new journeys this fall, that we will trust in God for our guidance and our strength. Amen.