I’ve Got Mail!

I finally received it. The mail for which I have been waiting with such a tense and anxious heart. The decision mail from University of Southern California.

Those of you who have been following my blog for quite some time will realize what a big deal this is to me. For those of you who don’t, here’s a quick background of me:

• Developed anorexia around junior year of high school, dropped weight gradually.
• Got hospitalized senior year, missed school for more than three months, but by some stroke of crazy luck still managed to graduate in the top 5% percentile.
• Accepted to Northwestern University with full scholarship and unrecovered ED.
• Got hospitalized after one month in Northwestern, got sent back home.
• Gained some weight, but Northwestern refused to admit me back unless I went into an inpatient treatment program.
• Relapsed out of frustration and anger and depression. Meanwhile, applied to other universities.
• Got accepted to University of Southern California (USC) with full scholarship
• Weight dropped drastically, couldn’t make it to school year so postponed to next semester
• Next semester come, but still very much ED-ed, weight still too low, asked for second postponement

And that brings us to today.

When I asked for a second postponement to my enrollment in USC, I did so with a heavy heart. I knew my chances were slim, as I am no longer a real freshman. It’s been 3 years since I’ve graduated from high school! What’s more, the decision team would be reevaluating me entirely, comparing me to all the new flood of eager, young, and brilliant freshmen. What chances did I have? I was a pruney applicant, aka, dried and wrinkly.

Each time my friends came back home from college, energetic and full of vibrant ambitions and passions, I felt sick to the guts. People my age were out there living the college life, enjoying their youth, experiencing and learning new things, but I was cooped up at home, tied down by my ED. I longed to experience the college world, and was frustrated and furious at my inability to grab hold the opportunities handed to me.

But the more I experienced God’s love and clearly saw the way He was leading me, I began to slowly let go of my misconception that I had to go to a good college in order to succeed in life. I realized that even without college, I was learning and experiencing so many precious lessons…priceless wisdom and understandings that are worth so much more than all the knowledge I could ever gather from 4 years in college. And I began to view true success not in the worldly possessions or praises from man, but in the deep and unadulterated pleasure from God. So long as God was happy with me, I was successful.

Perhaps…God was just waiting for this timetable for me to really surrender all my selfish ambitions and dreams. But anyway, He finally answered with a mail in my postbox…

It was a thick envelope. I knew what that meant, but I had to read it for myself. I opened it with trembling fingers…and read: “Dear Sophia, Congratulations! I am pleased to offer you admission to the University of Southern California…”

I read the letter once. And then twice. I put down the packet, and I went out for a walk. The walk turned into a power walk…then a hop, then a skip, then a combination of jumping jacks and a run. And I started singing, “I’m going, I’m going, I’m going!!!!” And just to make it clear once again…

I AM GOING TO USC!!!!!

Hell yeah!!

30-page long essays, hellish exams, long lectures, hectic schedules, midnight study sessions…Aaaaah. It makes me feel all warm and toasty inside just thinking about it. Am I crazy to actually long and desire for the crazy stress load of college?

Anyway, tonight my brother and I and Joyce, one of my best friends, had dinner out at Chili’s. I was so excited to try my first tex-mex cuisine.

My brother ordered the fajita steak quesadillas:

Fajita-marinated steak with grilled onions and Jack cheese in fire-grilled tortillas. Served with sour cream and house-made pico de gallo. With black beans and rice.

Joyce ordered the Crispy Chicken Crisper Tacos:

Extra crispy chicken breast tacos with applewood smoked bacon, house-made pico de gallo, mixed cheeses and lettuce, drizzled with honey-chipotle and Ranch dressing. With black beans and rice.

I ordered the classic chicken fajita platter:

Fajita-marinated steak or chicken grilled to perfection! Served with onions and bell peppers. With warm tortillas, mixed cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream.

Basically you make your own wraps. There’s the chicken…

And the garnishes…

And the tortillas…

Assembled together like this:

For my first fajita ever, I was quite disappointed. Honestly, the taste wasn’t much, and I couldn’t believe I was paying $13.95 for something I could easily assemble together at home for more flavor.

Chili’s, whatever. Don’t think I’ll be visiting again. Plus, the lighting was terrible. Not a good place for a food blogger!

Oh well. Today’s good news totally made up for the lack of good food!

Question of the day: What did you like most about college life? Or for those who aren’t in college yet…what do you look most forward too?