Soon, I need to make a very critical decision for myself in the year 2012.
A few days ago, I received news from Köln International School of Design (KISD) in Cologne, Germany that I had been accepted as an exchange student for their Summer 2012 semester. In Germany, they have Winter and Summer semesters rather than Fall and Spring semesters.
This is great news, for I had applied to two schools for study abroad, and after getting rejected from one in Switzerland, KISD finally got back to me telling me I was in. Yet now I find myself in a difficult position.
Earlier this winter break, I received confirmation that I had been accepted to CCA’s in-house graphic design studio Sputnik as an intern for the Spring 2012 semester. This is significant.
The question now arises as to what I should do these next few months? Should I go to Germany and attempt to defer my internship for next semester? Or should I go through with the internship and continue to study in the Bay with the hope of travelling in the summer?
Going to Germany brings with it difficulties. The semester at KISD begins in March and ends in July. This awkward timing would technically provide me three more months of break and make it difficult to solidify any plans for the summer, with July being so very close to the start of CCA’s Fall semester. Yet the more I ask people, the more they constantly tell me that the experience, the experience, the experience will be worth it.
If I stay at CCA this semester, I can do Sputnik. In addition, a piece that I designed and submitted to a competition was selected for an exhibition that’s traveling to Japan, and an opportunity to travel to Japan with the exhibition has also arisen. In addition to that, last year students and an instructor from CCA’s Graphic Design program went to Japan for summer study abroad, and there’s a good chance the same trip will be held this year. In addition to that as well, there are people I know in both Japan and Korea. So there’s the potential that I could teach (which I enjoy doing passionately) and when not teaching simply explore.
Yet what I could also do is go to Germany and then visit Japan afterwards, and then if I’ve failed to defer Sputnik, I could seek an internship during the Fall.
These are all speculations, but I need to make a decision soon. I told myself and the International Office at CCA that I would have one by the end of this upcoming Monday. Yet here I am, lost amongst these “what-ifs.”
With that being said, there really is no wrong decision I could make. I am incredibly blessed to be in this position, where either outcome has the potential to be amazing.
Over these past few days, I’ve probably sent more emails out than I have this entire break. When I find myself in positions where I have to make serious decisions I usually do two things: recklessly ask a bunch of people (friends, family, etc. people whom I either respect, trust, or fear) or forgo thinking about the decision until the very last minute and do other things instead, like throw a tennis ball for my dog to catch.
May I cease worrying.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4: 4-9
My mom reassured me that something significant about life is making decisions.
Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
