I was brought up Catholic - made my first communion, confession and confirmation right on schedule. After that it was pretty much downhill. My parents tried to make me go to church but since they never really followed through on any punishments, I never really felt the need to go.Now that I'm older I find myself picking and choosing things from various religions and quite possibly superstition. I've always been one of those people who have asked (prayed) for signs when I was trying to make a big decision. Sometimes I felt like a got them - sometimes I was pretty sure that I had made them up to fit what I wanted. Either way I do know when I've gotten a clear sign and I've ignored it - it's never been pretty.
So Friday I was waiting for the train at South Station I was chatting with my friend Kim and I was telling her how I ran into a friend of my mom's on the red line. The chances of that happening are slim to none. The more interesting thing is that she is a licensed social worker. So I quickly gave her the rundown of what was going one (while we stopped in the tunnel) and she just looked at me and said - Although it's a good program the Smith program is odd - you should go to Simmons. I just said hmmmmmm ok maybe. Then it was my stop so I got off the train.
So as I was talking to Kim I said to her - you know we are always asking for signs for things we are trying to figure out. How much bigger of a sign do I need than an offer of $20,000 toward my education. Kim who had been pretty pro-Smith just kind of stopped and said you know, you are right. She then said and just in case you weren't paying attention he sent a messenger to the red line to talk to you about Simmons. Hmmmmm.
So the bottom line really is how much more of a freakin sign do I need? I sat down on Saturday and did the numbers - Simmons is at least $35K less over the life of the program. I will have to move - but that's ok. I have the whole summer to do that.
So decision remade - Simmons it is.
Tomorrow I have to write Smith a polite letter that says "if you want me, you need to pony up". I did already call them and they said they had no more money. So that seems to be that.
