I cannot even begin to describe how TAMS changed my life. I've always had a problem with getting bored really easily and, unfortunately, I don't handle boredom well. I've tried - I just can't do it. In school, I ended up skipping 6th and 8th grades, which was great for me academically. But, as you might imagine, it made it really hard to make friends. I got along fine with my classmates (including my older brother who is two years older and was incredibly sweet about his younger sister being in class with him!), but I just didn't click with anyone. Most of the girls were just into who they were dating next, and I really didn't care to spend that much time thinking about that. Having skipped two years was a factor that never really went away and I had a very hard time making friends.
My parents were looking into the local university classes for me at the beginning of my sophmore year since they knew I was bored again. Some wonderful lady at the university told them about the TAMS program. So, we checked into it, and Mike, my older brother, and I applied. My dad drove us down for the interview and several weeks later, we got large envelopes in the mail. We had heard large envelopes meant you were accepted, so I was thrilled! I ripped into mine, and then because I was so excited, I opened Mike's too! I ran outside and showed him our letters. I'm sure I was jumping up and down the whole time and must have had a huge goofy grin on my face! I could NOT wait to get out of Midland, TX, out of the high school there, and on to bigger and better things.
Mike and I went over the summer for an orientation. That night, my TAMS-student-to-be roommate Margaret and I played "Little Bunny Foo-foo" on the ceiling with our flashlights (don't ask!). That experience bonded us and we ended up being roomies for the next two years. I really couldn't have asked for a better or more patient roommate! (Her mom made incredible food too, which was certainly an added benefit...haha).
Back in Midland, I had always been a bit more reserved and shy. Talking to people usually meant them finding out how old I was and I was tired of traveling down that road. Going to TAMS was a fresh start for me. No one knew me or my background (plus I wasn't the only young'un there!). The first night they had all the juniors in Mac, a type of rec room at the dorm, and Mike and I made the rounds, introducing ourselves to many new people (something I never would have done in Midland). Needless to say, we both found ourselves clicking with people right away! All of the sudden, it was okay to be interested in learning and not to have to know the latest pop stars/movies/music. It was okay (even encouraged) to think Calculus was cool and to try your hand at Organic Chemistry.
TAMS and the friends I made there changed my life. It was a much needed confidence booster for me and I finally felt like I had friends who I related to. After years of feeling like the ugly duckling, I finally felt like I had friends who accepted and loved me for me. I cherish those two years with all of my heart and have so many fond memories! I still keep in touch with the friends I made there more than I do the friends I made in "regular" college. I have been trying to describe the bond that TAMSters have with each other to my husband, and I just can't find words to do it justice.
Now, what's funny, is that even though I love these people so much and know I am accepted for me, I am still really nervous about tomorrow. I have absolutely no reason to be, but I still am. It might be because it has been so long since I have seen a lot of people. I consider them such good friends, but I haven't seen many of them in several years, so we have a lot of catching up to do. Or maybe it's because with just a bachelor's degree, I will probably be the least educated person there...haha! Most of my friends have gone on to be medical doctors or have or are pursuing PhD's. I know exactly what I want to do for a master's and even a PhD (ASL Linguistics - I plan to rewrite Deaf Ed curriculum using English as a second language techniques), but the opportunity hasn't presented itself yet. I'm rather picky about which degree program I would be a part of and due to distance, I haven't been able to enroll in either of the ones I would want to.
Oh well. Nerves or not, tomorrow promises to be a fantastic day with some great friends!
Here's a picture of me from way back when - I was in a friend's room getting ready for a hoedown! (I didn't normally wear pigtails...didn't want to look any younger than I had to.) And Mike, I tried to find a pix of you too, but will have to add that later!
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