In Anticipation of a New Year

The subject of this post makes me think of January snows, and yet here we are in the absolute dog days of August. I can't help but feel similar New Yearsy feelings as I gear up for the fall semester. Tomorrow is the last day before the rush of registration, followed by the rush of classes, followed by the incredible deadlines of all sorts of documents that I have promised to have done (and probably won't have done because of all the impending interruptions that occur during registration week).

But today I bought a pretty pink and green striped notebook and brand new pens. And my textbooks have arrived. So, you see, I am ready for the new year to begin. I will lay aside my Hebrew lexicon (temporarily) to study Greek, and I will become immersed in the words of Hillel and other sages as I study rabbinic thought and literature.

I decided this summer that I would take an extra year to finish my masters. This means there are still three years ahead of me. At first, I wasn't sure about the idea, but it feels very right to do it. And it also means that I will have that last year to mostly focus on writing a brilliant thesis and not have to worry about too many classes interfering with that process.

In reflection, it seems that the past academic year ranks as one of the worst years ever for me. Definitely the worst year on a professional scale. And yet I hold so much hope for the coming year, even if the unknown, unspoken possibility does not come to pass. There is so much good ahead.

And so...I raise my metaphorical glass to toast the new year! May the yet unwished wishes comes to pass...and maybe some of the wished wishes as well. Cheers to all!