“Dear Kamilah,
We have completed our review of your application and,
unfortunately, we are not able to offer you a space in this year’s entering
class…”
June 1st 2015 a fear had become my reality: I did not get into
USC. The University of Southern California had been my dream school for the
last year. All who know me knew how passionate and confident I was about being
admitted into USC. I felt that I had had everything planned out and put
together for the rest of 2015. I would attend the University of Southern
California to obtain my Bachelor of Art degree in Media Communications, I knew
what apartments I wanted to stay in, and I knew what activities I was going to
get involved in on campus and off campus, I knew what church I wanted to serve
in… I had it all figured out. It was the ONLY school that I applied to transfer
to for the Fall 2015 semester; it was the only school in California that I felt
connected to, the only school I dreamed of attending. Now that I didn’t get into
USC, I no longer had a plan or a blue print for the next step I would take in
my life after graduating from my community college. I had no back up plans. USC
was it. Although I was heart-broken and fearful of my future after reading the
first 2 lines of USC’s letter, I knew that I was not being rejected but I was
being redirected.
[REWIND]
God loves to surprise me. He obviously had different plans for
me. Allow me to explain how I was set up and what exactly went down prior to me
receiving my letter from USC.
About 3 ½ months before receiving my letter from USC, I felt an
urgency to purchase a one-way ticket to the East Coast. Telling little to no
one, excited and unsure, I went with my gut and purchased my ticket to leave
June 24th at 5:45am.
Then two days before I received the letter from USC I had met
with a new friend who had been traveling, by herself, for 7 months. As she
talked about her experience I came alive, more alive than I had been in the
last year. In between conversing with my new friend, I boldly said, “I don’t
think I will get into USC.”
STOP! Wait a minute. Did that just come out of my mouth? WHOAH! I know, right? I was shocked hearing that come out of my mouth, especially when I’ve been saying the opposite the last 9 months! What surprised me the most when I look back on that day was the fact that I said it with a slight smile and I had a tone of excitement in my voice.
STOP! Wait a minute. Did that just come out of my mouth? WHOAH! I know, right? I was shocked hearing that come out of my mouth, especially when I’ve been saying the opposite the last 9 months! What surprised me the most when I look back on that day was the fact that I said it with a slight smile and I had a tone of excitement in my voice.
My heart had been changing and I had just realized it.
My departure date for the East Coast was quickly approaching. I was
both nervous and excited to do the thing my heart had been wanting to do:
TRAVEL.
June 24th 2015 had arrived. At 5:45am I boarded the
plane. My life had taken a turn. I walked into the unknown full of courage and
hope. The dream I longed for the most had become my reality.
As I sit in one of my new favorite cafes in Washington D.C. I am
overwhelmed by Love. I cannot believe that I am actually living out a dream
that has been in my heart for such a long time. I never thought that I would be
able to purchase numerous one way tickets and do what I want. To live
young, wild, and free. To have no obligations, no major bills to pay, no
worries in life… nothing. Absolutely nothing. At 22 years old I get to travel
wherever I want, whenever I want. My life is a dream.
For those of you who been wondering what was going on with USC,
this is for you. For those of you who have been wondering what I am doing and
why am I traveling, this is for you.
Fall 2015 I will not be in school, but I will be continuing my travels.
I will be following and discovering what’s in my heart, exploring new places, meeting new
people, working my business (JourneywithKam.org), finding new hobbies, finding
me and becoming alive. I will be updating you all on my life through blogging,
Instagram, and Facebook.
Through my blog I hope to awaken the dreamers to dream again and
to live life abundantly. I hope to encourage those whose lives has taken an
unforeseen sharp turn to trust their journey and know that all things work
together.
SIGNED,
The fearless one
Peace&Love <3
PS- I will be applying for schools to start in either the Spring or Fall semester of 2016.
Instagram: __awakenedblackqueen
Facebook: Kamilah Tom
