My Reaction to being told I had won!

As I sat in the lobby to Dr. Lowery-Hart’s office I began to fantasize about what we would be talking about. To be honest, I was really hoping that he would tell me that I was going to be going, and that all this “final interview” nonsense was all made up. I was worried about how my interview would go, because it was going to be a one on one talk, not in groups. While I sat on one of the couches I thought I was going to faint before he arrived back from lunch.

Finally Dr. Lowery-Hart arrived to his office; he greeted me, as I did too. We both stepped into his office where we both took a seat. He asked me how I was doing, and where I was going. I told him that I was going home for the weekend, and that I really felt bad about not making it to the final round. We talked for a few minutes before he asked me what time I had to be at the airport. I told him that I was to be at the airport at three. He then told me in a serious and low voice that what he was about to tell me I could not tell anyone else. Some part of me deep down inside was excited because I knew I had won, but I wasn’t for sure, so I didn’t show any expression on my face yet. “David, you’re going to Europe,” he told me. I believe I smiled from the shock and for a second or two didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say, I was actually really surprised that I had won. Dr. Lowery-Hart then told me the reason why we had not been notified by email about our success. At this time I was upset that I wasn’t going to be able to be with the other winners.

At the end of my talk with Dr. Lowery-Hart I said thanks and goodbye to him. As I headed back to my dorm room, my face was in a state of permanent smile. I couldn’t wait to get to Dallas and tell my mom that I wasn’t going to be going home for spring break, instead was going to be going to Poland! I am very thankful for everyone that has made this possible, and I will never forget how happy and successful this has made my first year in college.

Holy [censored]!!!

You that feeling you get deep in your stomach? That butterfly, achy breaky feeling? That feeling that life cannot get any better than this one moment, yet you are scared that the dream will end in just a minute, and you will wake up in the morning realizing that it was all just a great dream? That butterfly feeling is the adrenaline pumping through your system, the organs in your abdomen literally seizing up so as to speed blood flow to your muscles in what is called a “fight or flight” reaction. It causes senses of euphoria and horrible cramps the next day.

Yeah, finding out I was going to Poland was like that (even the cramps). I heard the words spoken, I saw the reactions of the people around me, and then as my mind caught up with the rest of the world, I had the overpowering desire to remove the chili cheese fries that I had eaten for lunch fom their current location. (If anyone is wondering, avoid eating anything where the primary ingredient is grease just before an interview.)

So as I realized that the alarm was not about to go off, the first thing that flashed through my mind was, (honestly) “I get to go to Europe with a good looking bunch of people.” Of course then I realized just how inappropriate my thoughts were, and proceeded to enjoy the feeling that I was able to go and study something that means more to me than most people could ever know.

I study World War Two. I study the actions, the results, the ideas that went into it and the philosophies that resulted. That war represents the best and the worst in what mankind has become. Being able to go means visiting places where man’s essence has forever left a mark, yet not in any sort of physical sense.

I still wake up some mornings and fear that it was a dream, and that the alarm is just now going off.