…The entire day my stomach was tied in knots. Whether we would be able to move to Austin so that I could attend the Professional Chef program would really come down to the outcome of the scholarship I applied for. A full-ride would seal the deal. It would make it financially possible. It would be that extra bit of incentive to turn our lives upside down and redirect our current plans. It would still be a challenge, but it would be POSSIBLE!
The entire day I watched my phone and when it rang my stomach turned, and it rang more than usual with well-wishers and friends/family wondering if I’d heard (note to self, from now just tell people you are finding out a few days after you will actually find out). I hovered over my email account and couldn’t focus on anything else. We had been trying to live our lives the last month as if we were going to move. Sorting through things, planning a yard sale, scheduling dental, eye, and doctor check-ups. This day I couldn’t think about any of it. This was the day we were to finally know!
Austin is an hour ahead of Utah so after not hearing anything the entire day I started to conclude that I didn’t get the scholarship. After all, we had no idea what the applicant pool looked liked, how many applied, or what my chances even were. It was 3:00 pm our time and 4:00 pm their time. I would have heard by now right? Mr. Plate gave me a call to make sure I didn’t find out and was just making him wait until he got off work to tell him. ..that would be cruel. He was having as hard a time focusing as I was.
3:50 pm/ 4:50 pm in Texas and nothing. Ahhhh. . . I am starting to think I’d rather just know I didn’t get it than wait any longer. Play it cool, play it cool. . . maybe they are actually calling everyone tomorrow. Maybe they meant May 11th, not May 10th. That’s it, right.
3:55 pm and the phone is ringing. End of business day. It’s a distant looking number. Deep breath.
Hello.
HI, is this Ashley.
Yes.
This is Heather from the Natural Epicurean, how are you? What are you up to?
(small chat-play it cool)
Oh, we are so busy. Just getting ready for a big yard sale and to sell our home in preparation for Texas (fingers crossed!).
Sounds busy. . . well, we are just reaching out to all the scholarship applicants today. We had a lot of great applicants with great experience and diversity of backgrounds.
(I didn’t get it. The wording sounds like I’m going to be told I didn’t get it)
And we want to let you know that you are our Transform Food and Yoga Scholarship Recipient for Summer 2016.
(What, oh my goodness, I can’t believe it!)
Thank You! I don’t know what to say (getting teary). I am so excited. This is going to be such a growing experience for me.
Mr. Plate- I got it! We are moving to Texas! I am going to the Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts! I am going to be a Professional Chef. Waaaahhhhooooooo!