Kalen Nicole

A Ludacris account of how I moved to Nashville last week.

I’ve recently learned that there are no big decisions or actions. There are just small choices which amass to undeniable results, sometimes for the good and other times for the not so good. As Aristotle said, “”We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit,” and it totally makes sense now.

I’m usually enjoy flying through life on whim; leaning towards the most assuring option, but always ready to grasp onto a new opportunity. And as I’ve grown older, my choices have entailed greater risks, challenges and reward.

During my undergraduate experience, I knew I wanted to pursue a master’s degree. I decided on a field of study last summer, but I did not choose a university until a year later. I presumed the attention needed to choose an appropriate graduate school and program would be as linear as my undergraduate selection process. This presumption in mind, I procrastinated asking a lot of questions, reflecting and just figuring it all out.

“‘Causin’ confusion, disturbin’ the peace,” Move, Ludacris

I knew I wanted to attend Vanderbilt University. They had a program that interested me, I had applied and I had been accepted, so I began to casually plan the next two years of my life. And like a large percentage of Millennials and Gen X, I joined a Facebook group that included all students accepted into Vanderbilt’s Peabody Graduate Program and the Facebook group for the twenty other students who would be in my program specifically. From there I made a friend, who turned into my roommate, which resulted in us finding housing near campus and another graduate student roommate!

We’ve bonded over coffee, our passion for social equity and our similarities as graduate students. I am in awe how God has blessed me through this venture. From taking the GRE, my application process, finding roommates/friends to living 1.2 miles from the University in a city where affordable housing is decreasing by the minute.

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” -MLK

I have no credit for any blessings I’ve been given, all that is good has come from God. When I visited campus/Nashville for the first time this summer, each person I interacted with provided me with guidance, direction and reassurance.

When we arrived to campus, I was running late for a meeting, but we happened to see a lady walking who pointed us in the right direction, but we were still lost…until my mom made eye contact with a lady outside who WALKED us to the correct location. We were able to visit with my program director and the program’s administrative assistant who took time out of her day to give my family a tour of the campus and coupons for snacks.

As we toured the library in (NASHVILLE, TENNESSE) we met my program’s librarian who asked where we were from (Oklahoma of course), and her husband’s family lives within twenty-five miles of us and my dad KNEW the uncle.

Hol’ up wait a minute, did you think that I was finished

I still hadn’t enrolled in classes, so we wondered through the administrative building to try to figure things out. We met with a lady who DESIGNS the enrollment website and a host of other things, she made a few phone calls and enrolled me on the spot.

As we were then preparing to leave, my mom saw another friendly face, that happened to belong to a dean. They were extremely welcoming, kind and willing to answer my questions. I asked if there was a way I could work for the office of diversity and inclusion? I was then taken down the hall to the (interim per se) director. I discussed my involvements and research during undergrad and I was offered an Graduate Assistantship. (Did I mention this person had been to Oklahoma?) We talked about school, and I soon learned that my scholarship offer was less than I expected. This rattled me to the core because it’s basically July and this is the only graduate program I had applied to.

Everyone in the room was open as we discussed a few options. I felt deflated, but still hopeful of my future at the University.

My family and I then left the university to tour an apartment (no recap), and prepared for dinner. That evening as we were making our way to our hotel shuttle, we saw a man selling hot dogs. My mom had just bought a hatbox, and he asked to see the hat. My dad and mom told him that it was empty and “it’s just a box.” He said, “nobody just buys a hat box,” and so he was shown the inside of the box.

He asks if we had seen the movie War Room, my mom had. The man mentions how the lady in the film collects hat boxes, her faith and how she prays and how he had learned more about prayer from the movie

He then says, “I was homeless for some years up until a few days ago. I was in the army, I came back home and messed up. I had nothing. My buddy got me this stand and I’ve been doing good.” He looks me in the eye and says,

“God always provides.”

I’m on the brink of tears, because nothing is an accident. I was meant to speak to this man on this day, because my hope was weaning.

We continue walking and see a man singing What a Wonderful World, so beautifully we had to stop. I remember these encounters so vividly, because they were too perfect to be ignored or dismissed as a coincidence.

We eventually make it back home and after a few days of summer work routine, I go talk to my biggest supporter My Grandma. I tell her everything, about the school, the helpful strangers, the job offer, the homeless man and we are both in tears. She asks me if I am feeling regretful for my decision, and I say kind of. “I just didn’t know what I was doing and everyone thought I did.”

She says, “I don’t want you to feel sorry for yourself. It’s going to be ok.” And concludes by saying, “We can’t live in the past we have to make plans in the future,” and my heart is lifted.

We are about three weeks from school starting. I’ve finished my summer internship, but I have no plans or idea of what I should do. I sleep terribly for the four weeks before I moved. I question every decision I’ve made, my wants, my instincts, my capabilities. I prayed for answers, but still felt unsure.

I received a blessing that helped me afford the cost of attending this program, but I did not have a place to live until August 7th, a week before I ANTICIPATED moving.

After many heart to hearts, my parents and I became all in preparing for the move. I even babysat a three-year-old Monday and Tuesday, and I packed TUESDAY Night to move 571 miles away WEDNESDAY.

We made it to Nashville. The house is clean, safe and affordable. My roommates are kind, intelligent and funny. I am learning, I am grateful and all the praise belongs to God.

On my own, I don’t deserve any of this, but my God is a way maker and shows unwavering grace.

I hope this story encourages someone. Try for your dreams, be obedient and trust in the Lord.