I just got a piece of mail from Financial Aid. They've cut this semester's student loan to $233.50. I'd probably panic over this development, but I'm not. I am still getting the money. It's just instead of a student loan, I've got a HOPE SCHOLARSHIP! I can't believe after all this time, I've got it. I figured I'd never get it again after failing the five classes when I was 20, and the 2 I've dropped since I've returned to school. Nope, my HOPE GPA is high enough to get it. Or so FA says at the moment. My Honors Calc grade doesn't look like it was calculated into anything, yet. I'm not sure what that will do to my financial aid. I guess I'll figure out if and when I reach that crossroad. Hey, I'm going to enjoy the thrill of getting HOPE this semester. I know since I returned to school, I have been trying to do my best. It's been paying off.

If you aren't aware, today's the 20^th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. I was 7 when it happened. It was a Tuesday morning and I was home sick. I was watching my favorite game show, The Price Is Right. Dan Rather cut in at the end, when the winner of the Showcase Showdown was just about to be announce. At that moment, I didn't know the maginute of what happened. I just remember being angry over the cut-in. In the days after the event, I started to understand what happened. I would re-enact the horror in our den. I know, it sounds sick, but my parents never stopped me. It paid off for me. I read about space exploration history. I'm taking an astronomy class. I realized I didn't want to be an astronaut.

Prior to the disaster, I did know a few things at that young age about space. I remember being a child and a couple of times, I'd swing down to Huntsville and visit the Space and Rocket Center when I'd go to Nashville. My mother took plenty of pictures in those days. I should find one and scan it. One of my most prized posession is a pink "Allison" hear keychain my mother got me there at the center. They didn't have anything with "Shawn" on it. I always kept the keychain safe. I still know where it is to this day.

Oh, I miss my mother. She would be thrilled over my HOPE news. As for the Challenger disaster, say little prayer for those astronauts, their families, and the astronauts and families affected in the other two major NASA tragedies, Apollo 1 and Columbia.

[♪ Listening to: "Barely Breathing" - Duncan Sheik]

Posted by Shawn at January 28, 2006 3:49 PM in General, Schooling.