Today, I had to think.

     As I was currently in the state of my deep, peaceful slumber, I heard and felt the intense double buzz from my beaten phone. Mother had texted me. The body of the text had informed me to call her so as to receive some good news. In my mind, three things had popped into question:

1. Did this have anything to do with our trip to the Motherland?

2. Did I win money? Or anything for that matter?

3. Why is she texting me so early in the morning (11:00 am)?

     While pondering the possibilities of what the good news could be, I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling for the next hour until I finally had the motivation to call.

Mother: Why hello, anak!

Asian: Heellooo, maja.

     slight silence

Asian: So what's the good news?

Mother: Oh, I just wanted to say hiiii!

Asian: That's it? That's the good news? You wanted me to call you just to hear you tell me something you tell me, like, everyday of my life.

     As I went on my little joking rant, my mother was laughing hysterically.

Mother: Can I not say hello to my children?

Asian: Is there something special to this hello that requires me to call you?

Mother: Yeeess! To tell you my love!

Asian: Oh, really? So did all of your other hellos mean nothing? So kind, mother, so kind.

     Eventually, we got to the reason why she had asked me to call her.

Asian: So did you or I win something? Ten thousand dollars?

Mother: You won ten thousand dollars?!

Asian: No, mother. I was asking if we won ten thousand dollars.

Mother: Oh, nooo. But, it's something better!

Asian: What?

Mother: "Dear Asian, We are pleased to annou-"

     From the beginning of that letter and recently learning about my dear friend's early acceptance, I was able to put two-and-two together.

Asian: No thank you.

Mother: What? This is from--

Asian: The School of White Magic. I know.

     Now, most people would have taken the opportunity to get in early; if I were still home, I would have. But since moving here, I realized that I wanted to complete my two year journey. I told myself and everybody that I was going to be here for that long and intend to keep to my word. Was it disappointing for both me and mother? Absolutely. But she knew. She knew that I'd eventually come back to finish because I was determined to complete this degree. For the meantime, I still have more adventures ahead of me.

     Later tonight, I met up with a guy I had been talking to for about a week or two for dinner. In the midst of that dinner, we discussed how he'd be moving to Saint Francis for work; leaving in the summer. I'm not gonna lie, my heart shattered into millions of pieces. Though, honestly, it was good that we had this conversation because in the end, we came to the decision of going with the flow and seeing where this interaction takes us.

     Life is about making those hard decisions and taking risks. I could have taken the easy way out and said that I'd be going home early and just let myself crumble to nothing after hearing Dutchman's news. But where the fun and sense of adventure in that? Everyday is a new experience and the best way to make it worthwhile is by taking the hardest route possible. Yes, tears will be shed to the point that it creates the sixth ocean of the world, but overcoming these obstacles will make these hardships the fondest of memories.

     So readers, the next time you face a hard decision, remember that there are two paths that you can take:

1. The easy path - content with life and having the power to move on.

or

2. The hard path - struggling with life and the willingness to put your life in the hands of chance.

     As I've said, my path is that of the latter, but it's not the path for everyone. It's your destiny. So choose.

     Here's to more adventures and experiences in the future.

Sincerely,

An Asian