"My whole career I’ve been thinking of a night like this; like what’s about to happen. And, as it was going on, I was like, “Oh sh*t, this it right now; a night with all the stars in line.” Now, I ain’t trying to get too dramatic on ya’ll, but that night I felt like the luckiest man in the world." – Jay-Z; “Fade to Black”
It seems like the series finale of a long running television show. If anyone would have told me back in 2005, after graduating from Brunswick High School, that I’d still be in school for the next seven years straight, then I don’t know what I would have said. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. But, here I am accepting my greatest academic achievement to date. Speaking with divulgence more important than the destination is the journey; so come take a ride with me. |
As a high school senior, I really wasn’t about much business. My grades were acceptable; I passed all my graduation tests including a perfect score on the English/Literary portion, and was scheduled to walk across that stage on time. As far as what to do afterwards, I didn’t have a clue; my mind wasn’t prepared to contemplate the next step in my life. I didn’t look into scholarships or potential universities to attend and before I knew it, my senior year was over and the only option I had left was to start at the two-year community college. The plan, of course, was to just start and then transfer to a traditional university. But, as we all well know, things don’t always adhere to plans.
I learned two very important things at Coastal Georgia Community College, which is now the four-year College of Coastal Georgia; one was that my aptitude for math completely bailed on me with Calculus and Limits, and two was that, unless you have a Rosetta Stone program, don’t come at me trying to teach a foreign language. I attempted a Pre-Med degree and was on track until I loss to Calculus twice. Then, I switched to a Communication degree and was a beast until Intermediate Spanish II. At this point, I was pretty much done with all my core classes and just needed something to graduate with. Thankfully, it was mentioned that I look into Sociology, which I did, and finally obtained an Associate of Science degree.
Much like my last semester of high school, I didn’t know what my next big step was going to be after community college. I was very content being employed as an independent contractor with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, but, after a painful, heartbreaking end of a personal relationship, I was urging to get out my hometown and see what else the world, or at the very least my nation, had to offer. Fortunately, my aunt, whom resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, felt the same and that was my ticket. Before that associate’s degree was physically in my hand, I had already applied, been accepted, and was packing up to attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Much like my last semester of high school, I didn’t know what my next big step was going to be after community college. I was very content being employed as an independent contractor with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, but, after a painful, heartbreaking end of a personal relationship, I was urging to get out my hometown and see what else the world, or at the very least my nation, had to offer. Fortunately, my aunt, whom resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, felt the same and that was my ticket. Before that associate’s degree was physically in my hand, I had already applied, been accepted, and was packing up to attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
With anything in life, you have to go beyond your comfort zone in order to continue learning and become better; my time at UNCC did exactly that times two. Back home, I basically drove to class and then either back home, work, or wherever I needed to be; there was no campus housing and I lived about fifteen minutes away. So, when my aunt stressed that I spend my first year with campus housing, I was a bit hesitant. However, I thank her for that push so much that I recommend every traditional student spend at least one year or a semester living on campus; it should be like a rite of passage. Good or bad, the experiences you have will last a lifetime.
Since my senior year in high school, I developed a strong love for performing arts. I love being on stage, having the limelight on me, the rehearsals, the schedules, and just about everything of theatre life. It was no surprise, at least to me, that I jumped head first into the theatre program at UNCC. My time at the university allowed me to be featured in two main stage campus plays, one city-wide stage production, a web-series, a showcase host, a campus radio DJ, and hours upon hours working on my acting craft. Because I had knocked out all my core classes at the community college, I just had to take my main theatre courses. It was an amazing experience. I met and worked with so many different people from so many different backgrounds. It opened my eyes and I began to see things through a spectrum of perceptions. I met my very best friend, whom I’m still cool with, worked as a Resident Advisor on campus, and was able to, once again, give my heart to another.
Anyway, with the times quickly passing by, I found myself in my final semester at UNCC. I was on schedule to graduate on time and I was basically just going to enter the work force after completing school. However, there was this person, who I’m sure seemed very disgruntled of my existence, and to pleasantly prove my worth to this person I started inquiring about graduate schools. The more I looked, the more I wanted to attempt grad school for my own benefits and dispelled the notion of doing it for idealistic approval. I had received the greenlight from my supportive beneficiaries and, based on what I seriously saw myself doing in life, the creative writing program at Full Sail University was my goal. It was an online program and that went well with trying to be employed because at the time I wasn’t thinking about a “me,” but rather of an “us.” The last semester had come and gone. I was receiving my Bachelor of Arts degree and was scheduled to start grad school in the Fall. I was unconditionally in love and was ready to work, make money, and enjoy life; I felt on top of the world. But, as mentioned before, life doesn’t always go as we plan.
Anyway, with the times quickly passing by, I found myself in my final semester at UNCC. I was on schedule to graduate on time and I was basically just going to enter the work force after completing school. However, there was this person, who I’m sure seemed very disgruntled of my existence, and to pleasantly prove my worth to this person I started inquiring about graduate schools. The more I looked, the more I wanted to attempt grad school for my own benefits and dispelled the notion of doing it for idealistic approval. I had received the greenlight from my supportive beneficiaries and, based on what I seriously saw myself doing in life, the creative writing program at Full Sail University was my goal. It was an online program and that went well with trying to be employed because at the time I wasn’t thinking about a “me,” but rather of an “us.” The last semester had come and gone. I was receiving my Bachelor of Arts degree and was scheduled to start grad school in the Fall. I was unconditionally in love and was ready to work, make money, and enjoy life; I felt on top of the world. But, as mentioned before, life doesn’t always go as we plan.
To make a long story very, very short, I didn’t find a job within the time I allowed myself, after a very blissful summer, I ended up going through the second worst break-up of my life, and, by the beginning of Fall, it was just myself and my graduate studies. It had seemed that things went all downhill practically overnight; like, I went to sleep wealthy just to wake up dirt poor. At my lowest point, it felt straight out sickening. Granted, these problems weren’t life threatening, but, at the time, they might as well have been. All the personal backing and connections that took genuine time and energy to create had been severed and I was alone back at square one.
A synonym for isolation should be the words “online courses.” With your classmates and teachers in different areas clear across the nation, isolation is basically what it is. The commitment and motivation truly comes from within one’s self to continuously do the readings and assignments on your own. Throughout everything I was going through, where I found that inside of me, God only knows. No matter what though, it never crossed my mind to drop from Full Sail; it seemed to be the only tangible thing I had. Eventually, I got hired for a few jobs here and there, but nothing seemed more important than completing a graduate degree. In the last few months of 2011, I was in some really depressing, weird space, however, I had to be thrown out of my comfort zone again in order to build myself back up even better.
At the beginning of 2012, I realized that interacting with other people was what I missed the most. So, I began working on assignments at the library on the UNCC campus. In order to meet and network with new connects, I started going out more. I engaged in dating again, though, that’s a completely different segment. I wanted to try new things and ended up obtaining my bartending license. I got back into my love of performing arts and started auditioning again. Before I left to accept my Master of Fine Arts degree, I had been featured in commercials, cable television productions, and music videos. Even more, I had gotten signed with a local talent agency and went further with an internship, all-leading up to walking across another stage for the third time.
At the beginning of 2012, I realized that interacting with other people was what I missed the most. So, I began working on assignments at the library on the UNCC campus. In order to meet and network with new connects, I started going out more. I engaged in dating again, though, that’s a completely different segment. I wanted to try new things and ended up obtaining my bartending license. I got back into my love of performing arts and started auditioning again. Before I left to accept my Master of Fine Arts degree, I had been featured in commercials, cable television productions, and music videos. Even more, I had gotten signed with a local talent agency and went further with an internship, all-leading up to walking across another stage for the third time.
And now, here we are back in the present. I am extremely grateful for all the experiences of the past seven years. I truly hate that I lost a few principle key players along the way, but overwhelmingly proud that I found others. Everything happens for a reason and I wouldn’t change anything even if I could. I speak as if this is really it, but there is plenty more life ahead. It’s a possibility that I could very well go back to school, but, after seven years nonstop, I’m a bit distinguished about where I am in my life. Thank you and take care.
- Will Carter, Jr.
Works Cited
Paulson, Patrick. Warren John, Michael. (Directors). (2004). Fade to
Black [Film]. Los Angeles: Paramount
Gould, Tom. Richter, Alexander. (Directors). (2011). David Dallas -
Life is… [Music Video].
Black [Film]. Los Angeles: Paramount
Gould, Tom. Richter, Alexander. (Directors). (2011). David Dallas -
Life is… [Music Video].