Hello all! I'm from Dalton, Georgia, I'm 24 years old, and I just graduated with my BFA in 3D studio art from Georgia Southern.

I chose to study in Waterford this summer for several reasons. First, it's just a hop, skip and a jump away from what my family is calling my 'next great adventure': going to grad school in London. Second, I've always had a soft spot for the Emerald Isle. As cliche as it is, I'm proud of my heritage and it's such a magnificently beautiful place. Lastly, and I know this is going to sound like MAJOR brown-nosing, but I really enjoy JB's classes (despite my less than stellar performance in previous semesters).

I'm excited about traveling again. I was lucky enough to get a chance to travel abroad in high school, and I'm afraid it's become an addiction. To narrow it down to a more specific point, I'm excited to see Ireland again, through older, more focused eyes. I missed so much my first time around, being too young and overwhelmed to really take in everything I saw. The one thing I am most excited about, that makes my breath catch, is the fact that, when the program ends, I will not be returning with everyone else.

As excited as I am about all of this, I am also filled with trepidation. I am absolutely terrified of taking such big steps on my own. I'll be flying by myself for the first time. I'll be moving to a new country. I'll be working on (and paying for) a master's degree. I'll be 4000 miles away from my family. If I fall flat on my face and fail miserably, the only person that will be there to pick me up is me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not planning on failing miserably, but that little niggle is in the back of my mind.

This trip, this last hoorah, this whatever you want to call it, is singularly the most exciting and terrifying thing I've ever done. This trip is the first of many big steps.

Cheers,
Meryl