Author Update #9

It has been quite a while since I’ve had an update to announce but, moreover, I’ve been far too busy. Between moving from San Diego to Orange County, and learning our new area, to finishing my final semester at Grossmont Community College, and completing my transfer to University of California, Irvine, I’ve just had a lot on my plate.

My updates this time are not about a new publication, unfortunately. Though I have put in a few submissions, I have yet to receive a response from any of them. Here are the big news, in list order:

1. Yes, I was approved to attend UCI in Fall 2021, which was news enough to make me overjoyed on April 9th, my last night in San Diego. The very next morning, we moved. My grades were really good throughout my time at Grossmont, even during COVID, so if it seems weird to be moving to Irvine before getting accepted, I figured it was a pretty safe bet that I would need to be here. However, it was surprising to find that with such an historic number of applicants to UCI this year, my transfer was by no means guaranteed! Great that it worked out, huh?
2. After a very long, stressful, and emotional move, we were finally getting settled in and exploring our neighborhood about a month later, when I received information for my financial aid. We had planned on trying to personally finance as much as possible for my schooling, since we are still paying my partner’s student loans, and we figured a large loan would be impossible. Additionally, the move really drained about $2,000 of the savings for it. Paying ourselves looked highly unlikely. Thankfully, my financial aid offer came in — and I received a grant! Not just any grant, enough to cover all tuition fees for my ENTIRE junior year! When I found out, I screamed in the middle of a park filled with kids. So there’s that.
3. After so much good news, I didn’t think there could be more, but there is. I just yesterday, July 2nd at about 3 pm, received an acceptance letter into UCI’s Honors Program. The application was easy, but the decision wait was grueling, and I had a tough time emotionally. With only about a 30% chance of getting in, I assumed it to fairly unlikely — but I wanted it SO BAD! My Honors thesis will be a collection of memoir-style CNFs illustrating the lifelong cycle of domestic violence and abuse, and the rise from it. The work will include “The Static”, previously published with Epoch Press, as well as previously unreleased works and many items I have yet to write.

I hope that any readers of this celebrate these great successes with me, and if anyone reading this is a survivor of domestic violence and abuse, you realize that your abuser is wrong. You are NOT useless, people WILL love you (much better), and this is NOT all there is for you. Almost twelve years ago, I nearly died from domestic violence — today, I am living my dream. Don’t give up.