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?
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I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!! OMG…I am literally grinning right now! I know how much this has meant to you, and just…so happy. Aaaah! I want details! when are you going? are you living on campus? do you know your major? (it’s different in the UK- you apply for a major, not just a general undergrad)
Aaaaaahhh…
OMG Sophia!!!! Tear came to my eyes!!!! I knew the Lord would be fair to you and reward your dedication to your health and family! I’m so very glad for you, I can’t wait to hear your stories about first day, first class, new friends and a new life!!! You deserve this and I know you will take such great advatange of your university years. I’m happy
I loved university. I’m a geek, so I love learning! I loved the student lifestyle, the flexibility of time, the perception of freedom, the plotting out of your future, the wide variety of people you meet. Everything about university was great, pity it’s gone so quickly!
OMG I am tearing over here! I know how badly you wanted this, CONGRATS HONEY!!!!!!!!
Congratulations!!!! that’s such awesome news!! I’m so happy for you girl:)
My dear Sophia, I am so utterly happy for you. Congratulation my dear! I am sure you will be happy there!
B&S,
Hey darlin! It’s so great to “see” your shining face this morning! What wonderful news about USC. Your story really touched my heart. Last year I was accepted to Brown Uni., but they denied my request to defer for a year in order to fully recover. I had the choice of going that year, while I was still very underweight and not at all healthy mentally, or taking my chances again this year re-applying. Well, this year I didn’t get in… I was upset beyond words. But in the last few months I’ve come to realize that the whole thing was God’s doing. I’m going to Rhode Island School of Design now, and I honestly couldn’t be happier about it. Everything worked out for the best in the end.
Have a great Thursday day girlie!
With Love,
Emily
Sophia! So glad you got accepted!!
I just want to say you are never too old to go to college. I finally graduated with my associates degree last weekend, taking classes a few at a time while having 3 kids and working full time.
I’m 41 and thought for sure I would be the oldest one there. And it turns out, I was not, the oldest person was 70!!
I went away my first year of school and it was tons of fun, (not grade wise though!) You are going to have the best time. Many hugs and well wishes for you!
Well done!! I love so much about university life, mainly the more I know the more I want to learn, I’m doing my masters now I wish I could afford to do a PhD!
woo-hoo! Congratulations! That is awesome and so exciting. One of my friends in HS actually went to USC too. I actually had fajitas last night at a place called the taco shop in Henderson. It’s a lil mom and pop type place that has some great, authentic, fresh food. I’m sorry yours turned out so ho-hum. College was such a life-changing experience and I have to say I enjoyed all the people I met, the great dancing I got to do (on the team and in the dance program) and I also met my fiancee and we’ve been together for 3 years in September! So happy for you
-kristen
Congratulations! I am THRILLED for you, you absolutely deserve this. I hope you enjoy and flourish through every moment of it.
Much love,
Rachel
CONGRATS!! That is so exciting!!! I agree that going through an ED gives you so much knowledge and perspective on the world. God probably thought it was your time to learn these things. But now, it’s your turn to get a college education! I am SOOOO darn excited for college. I just can’t wait to get out on my own and feel like I am truly living my own life with any and every opportunity before me.
Sorry to hear the dinner was a disappointment. But I’m sure it barely mattered considering what you were celebrating.
Congratulations beautiful! I am so, SO incredibly happy and excited for you! You are such an amazing person, you really are. I cannot stress that enough and you deserve this so much. So flippin’ much. You’re going to have a blast, and extremely successful. I wish I could give you a HUGE hug right now.
My favorite part about college is all the new people you get to meet, and being ‘on your own’ is always nice! I like going back home after not seeing my family for a while, though, just feeling that warmth after being gone for so long makes the world revolve, it really does.
Chili’s never impressed me either, I’m not huge on Mexican dishes to begin with, unless I crave em’
but my family and I usually stick to the hole-in-the-wall Mexican places, they’re SO much better than the chain restaurants! Sorry you didn’t enjoy your dinner, but at least you enjoyed the company 
Love you!
Meg
I’m SOOOO happy for you! Congrats, girl! You’ve been through hell but you did it!
And the only thing I’ll eat at Chilis is the fajita Quesdillas. Not my favorite place though.
OH. MY. GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED I AM FOR YOU!
And you’re SUCH a little tease, making us scroll all the way down to find out if you got in or not! Silly girl, you BETTER be celebrating big time, this is amazing!!! I am so unbelievably proud of you! I never doubted that you’d get in…but lately I’d detected a little loss of hope on your part for USC admission….I think that might have made the acceptance even sweeter, right??!??
YAY you’re coming to Cali! That is so exciting, everyone I know who goes to/went to USC absolutely loves it. I know you’ll do great things! Have you gotten in touch with your parents yet? I’m sure they will be THRILLED! <3 <3 <3 really proud of you!
And it's so funny, I did the exact same thing when I got my Cal letter (it was actually a website link, lol.) I grabbed Brodie and took him for a walk but it turned into a skip then a run..I couldn't contain my excitement and didn't want to! YAYYYY GO SOFIA!
Your blog gave me goosebumps, I’m SO happy for you! You’ve overcome a lot, and you’re such an amazing person because of it.
I LOVED college, and I miss it a lot. I miss meeting all the fun people in my classes. A lot of bonding happens when you’re all struggling through classes together. Congratulations again!
omgosh for MULTIPLE REASONS!
1. Congratulations my love!!! Yay for you, YAY for going to college, and YAY for having a new, healthy mentality and a healthier body for college!!! Congrats!!
2. WOW. You went to NU a couple years ago? We definitely would have met (I think) because I graduated from there last year!!! Oh WOW. Small world!
3. I Would LOVE to go to USC for grad school. My advice to your girl? STAY IN SCHOOL so i can meet you in a year!!! I’m so serious!! I’m applying for dental school right now…so i’ll know in a good half a year!! Fingers crossed!
4. Your kabocha ROCKS. It beats my recipe 200 times.
Ok finally, the thing i love MOST about college is meeting the BEST girlfriends in the entire world who are non-judgemental, smart, have a great head on their shoulders, and are going to be awesome doctors so when i get old and wrinkly and broke, I’ll still have a doctor to go to. ;P
Well done sweetie!! I’m so so SO HAPPY for you!! I was tempted to get out of the house to hop, skip and jump for you but I only got round to reading your good news late last night. Nevertheless, I hopped skipped and jumped really hard for you at home. Hehe.
You deserve the blessings God is showering down upon you and I am sure you will make the best of your place in USC! I know so. x) *hugs* AHHH! I’m so excited for you!!!!
Wow!! Big Congrats Sophia!!!!!
I’m really joyful for you
Hope wonderful times at the college!
Cheers!
Gera
congrats babe!! Yr new lease of life!!! i hv not doubts you’ll live it to the fullest!!
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you, and you definitely deserve this!
I agree with you totally on Chili’s. I live in Texas, and there are wayyyyyy better TexMex places than that. Their food is pretty bland in my opinion.
I am so thrilled for you!! You are so deserving! Although I’m not surprised at all (any school would be lucky to have you), this is such fabulous news to hear. Man oh man, I’m going to do a happy dance for you. Way to go! Congrats, congrats, congrats!!
It was nice learning more about you. Congrats to you!!!
I worked at a Chili’s for years….never ate the food though. The drinks are alright, lol.
What I miss most about college is band. I was a total band nerd and I really miss having that in my life. But, mainly I just miss the atmosphere that a college campus has. Now that I write this, I have an urge to go visit my alma mater (KU) …I’m off!
KJDFHRFUJYGFDS
CONGRATULATIONS! You could not be more deserving of this! I loved the fact that you just pushed through, applying and applying, and you got the result you wanted! What an amazing time you’ll have. =) You’re so not a pruney applicant! You’re vibrant, intelligent, full of life COLLEGE STUDENT NOW!
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