I should start this by admitting that I've never been very adventurous. Rather, I've never been as adventurous as I'd like to be. Half of me craves spontaneity and boldness, and the other half is logical, analytical, safe. You can guess which half usually wins.
But when an incredible, unreal experience fell into my lap (well, actually my inbox), I knew instantly I couldn't say no. The tiny little voice that says, "YES, DO IT!" finally, finally overpowered the fear. Which is why I'm six days away from hopping on a plane bound for Boston to intern with Major League Lacrosse for the summer.
I'm aware that this probably seems random. But it really isn't.
One Memorial Day weekend, when I was probably 8 or 9, I was sitting at our lake house flipping through TV channels. (This was before we went all Walden Pond and canceled our cable & internet there– but that's another story.) I landed on the NCAA Lacrosse National Championship. I remember that Syracuse and Johns Hopkins were playing, and I remember that I was absolutely captivated by this game, this strange game I had never before seen. (Because I love Cullman, but let's be real: it wasn't cool enough for lacrosse at this point.)
So ever since then, I've been enthralled with this game. No, I've never played– partially due to lack of opportunity, but mostly due to my lack of any athletic ability whatsoever. But one night a few months ago, I was browsing internships online. All I've ever wanted to do is work in professional sports, but I was having a hard time finding many internships that matched my needs for the summer. I found this one, though, and thought, "Why not? It will never happen, but wouldn't it be so cool if it did?"
(note: never say those words. because you are basically assuring yourself that it will, in fact, happen.)
But then, one February morning, I got an email from the MLL Marketing Consultant asking if I could interview. Less than two weeks later, the offer was in my inbox. I should stop here to make two disclaimers:
1. I am not nearly as cool as this job. Things like this don't happen to me often, or ever.
2. This is only happening because God has allowed it to happen. I am well aware that I got this opportunity not because of what I've done, but because God has opened this door. I'm not sure why they chose me– maybe they just want to laugh at my Southern accent all summer, I don't know– but I'm sure that it's only because of God's great, mysterious, often strange (but so perfect) plan.
It would have been so easy to take the safe route. I had an offer in Tuscaloosa, my favorite city in the entire world. I sat in the Publix parking lot on the Strip the morning before my interview there, nearly in tears, knowing that as much as I want to live in my first city, God was saying "Not yet." As scared as I was to turn my back on the easy road, the safe choice, my first home, and instead say yes to Boston, I am so sure it was (is) the right call.
I have all the emotions: thrilled, nervous, excited, apprehensive, overwhelmed and overjoyed, but mostly just thankful. There have been bumps in the road (like the five days a few weeks ago where it looked like I might be homeless all summer), but I'm so ready. I don't know what to expect, other than it probably won't be anything like I expect. This opportunity has required– and will continue to require– so, so many prayers. I'm scared, but I can't wait.
I'm terrible at conclusions, so I'll just end this with my favorite Boston-related memory so far: the 2008 ALCS Game 7. My second favorite moment in Rays history. Top of the 8th, bases loaded, two outs. Every baseball fan's dream. Also the moment we knew David Price was legit. (Because surely you didn't think I'm EVER going to become a Red Sox fan?)
(you can watch the whole game if you want– I might have done that once or twice as I try not to study for finals...)
But when an incredible, unreal experience fell into my lap (well, actually my inbox), I knew instantly I couldn't say no. The tiny little voice that says, "YES, DO IT!" finally, finally overpowered the fear. Which is why I'm six days away from hopping on a plane bound for Boston to intern with Major League Lacrosse for the summer.
I'm aware that this probably seems random. But it really isn't.
One Memorial Day weekend, when I was probably 8 or 9, I was sitting at our lake house flipping through TV channels. (This was before we went all Walden Pond and canceled our cable & internet there– but that's another story.) I landed on the NCAA Lacrosse National Championship. I remember that Syracuse and Johns Hopkins were playing, and I remember that I was absolutely captivated by this game, this strange game I had never before seen. (Because I love Cullman, but let's be real: it wasn't cool enough for lacrosse at this point.)
So ever since then, I've been enthralled with this game. No, I've never played– partially due to lack of opportunity, but mostly due to my lack of any athletic ability whatsoever. But one night a few months ago, I was browsing internships online. All I've ever wanted to do is work in professional sports, but I was having a hard time finding many internships that matched my needs for the summer. I found this one, though, and thought, "Why not? It will never happen, but wouldn't it be so cool if it did?"
(note: never say those words. because you are basically assuring yourself that it will, in fact, happen.)
But then, one February morning, I got an email from the MLL Marketing Consultant asking if I could interview. Less than two weeks later, the offer was in my inbox. I should stop here to make two disclaimers:
1. I am not nearly as cool as this job. Things like this don't happen to me often, or ever.
2. This is only happening because God has allowed it to happen. I am well aware that I got this opportunity not because of what I've done, but because God has opened this door. I'm not sure why they chose me– maybe they just want to laugh at my Southern accent all summer, I don't know– but I'm sure that it's only because of God's great, mysterious, often strange (but so perfect) plan.
It would have been so easy to take the safe route. I had an offer in Tuscaloosa, my favorite city in the entire world. I sat in the Publix parking lot on the Strip the morning before my interview there, nearly in tears, knowing that as much as I want to live in my first city, God was saying "Not yet." As scared as I was to turn my back on the easy road, the safe choice, my first home, and instead say yes to Boston, I am so sure it was (is) the right call.
I have all the emotions: thrilled, nervous, excited, apprehensive, overwhelmed and overjoyed, but mostly just thankful. There have been bumps in the road (like the five days a few weeks ago where it looked like I might be homeless all summer), but I'm so ready. I don't know what to expect, other than it probably won't be anything like I expect. This opportunity has required– and will continue to require– so, so many prayers. I'm scared, but I can't wait.
I'm terrible at conclusions, so I'll just end this with my favorite Boston-related memory so far: the 2008 ALCS Game 7. My second favorite moment in Rays history. Top of the 8th, bases loaded, two outs. Every baseball fan's dream. Also the moment we knew David Price was legit. (Because surely you didn't think I'm EVER going to become a Red Sox fan?)
(you can watch the whole game if you want– I might have done that once or twice as I try not to study for finals...)