The Email Woke Me Up

by Callie Hawkins

​After returning home from my Texas Tech Terry Foundation Scholarship interview, I tried my best to avoid all concerns and thoughts about the scholarship. I knew the decision was no longer in my hands, and that I shouldn't waste time worrying about it. I succeeded in this until Monday evening when one of my classmates, and two of my friends all informed me of the emails they had received stating that they did not receive the scholarship. I instantly turned into a nervous wreck! I spent the remainder of the day checking my email at an unnecessarily quick rate. I hardly slept, and made sure my phone would ring as loud as possible anytime I received an email. Unfortunately, this tactic only resulted in an emotional roller coaster every time I received an email notifying me of a new Tweet, or a Facebook friend's birthday. 

In my Tuesday morning slumber, I had all but forgotten about the email. I was bent over blow drying my hair, all the blood rushing to my head, when I suddenly jerked upright in response to the obnoxiously loud ringing of my phone! I couldn't even see the screen; I was seeing stars! I then saw the email, and was so filled with fear I could barely bring myself to open it. I finally did, and had no words. Really, I was speechless! I ran to my mom's bedroom and startled her by yelling incoherent noises as I threw my phone into her hands. At some point I finally managed to say, "I got it". Overwhelmed, my mom burst into tears. I quickly reassured her through my enormous grin that she shouldn't be crying, she would ruin all of the make up she had just finished applying! We then called my dad, who sent back an automatic text message response saying he was in a meeting and couldn't talk. I called again anyway, he quietly answered, and was greeted by joyous squeals saying that I had received the Terry Scholarship! My dad yelled how proud he was, and announced my accomplishment to everyone in his 8:00am meeting. We spent the rest of our day sharing news of the immense blessing that had just placed in our lives.

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