Coffee & Writing

For some unknown reason, I was not granted entrance to the master’s program in philosophy at the graduate school I did attend. I was told how to get my transcripts if I wanted to pursue my degree elsewhere. Basically I was expelled, even though I made the grade they asked me to. (FYI: Even a private college must tell you the reason and let you defend yourself, but that never happened. Yesterday is gone, we look to tomorrow, and enjoy the present.)

I trolled the internet looking for another school that had an online philosophy program. The best one I found was in Wales. Considering that the application was in Welsh and English, plus it wasn’t in the same country where my bed is, I realized it probably wasn’t a logical option.

Hanging my head, either in frustration or prayer, I thought about what was the closest to philosophy. The best I could come come up with was humanities. After wearing out my laptop looking for a school with a humanities program, it looked like there was nothing on the horizon. Finally, I came across a school called California State University, Northridge or CSUN for short.

Just one problem, a couple people who I love and depend on very much did not like the school because CSUN’s MA in Humanities program was too expensive. I was going to get a FAFSA student loan so I couldn’t understand why that mattered.

One of them had a really good idea to take free classes online through a site called Coursera, which has talented professors from all over the world teaching on a variety of topics. It was a good idea, I could develop my own curriculum and go at my own pace.

It was a good thought, but I applied to CSUN anyway. I figured there was no way I would get in. Well, not only was I accepted but I was assigned to a cohort; sometimes people will get admitted but not assigned to a cohort.

I never knew what the phrase, “it took my breath away” meant until my breath got taken away by reading those first few words, “I’m happy to inform…”

My first reaction could not be one of happiness. It was one where I felt like I was in trouble. It shocked me, but it didn’t make me happy.

When I broke the news to the people I loved, they thought about it and gave me some great advice. Pray on it, ask God what to do. So, that is precisely what I did.

I sent them a premature email saying that I would do free classes online because that is what I thought God wanted. A couple hours later I called the school to ask them how the deferment process went, because I didn’t want to take such a generous acceptance for granted.

When I called the program manager, she of course, said the school’s name and then her name and my heart leapt with joy. She was the first person to tell me Congratulations. Since then, I’ve only had one other person say congratulations.

As my heart leapt with joy, it reminded me of when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth in the Bible and just being in the presence of the Blessed Mother, who was pregnant with Jesus, the baby Elizabeth was carrying, John the Baptist, leapt in her womb.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,

Luke 1:41

The school brought me joy because they have such a great curriculum. However, I also decided to seek spiritual direction. The woman I met with could see how much joy the school brought me and she told me not to do something to appease someone else.

I signed the letter of intent and I can’t wait to start classes in late August.

Miriam Kavanagh, future learner

But, is CSUN, See Sun, or See Son?