I have six work days left at Drake. It’s kind of a weird feeling to know that I am almost done. I have spent six years in this office with, for the most part, the same group of 30 people. I came here in June of 2004 with NO nephews (that’s an appalling thought), short BLONDE hair, no boyfriend, fresh off my retail “fun” at Express.  There have been SO many changes that have taken place while sitting in the lobby of Cole Hall: meeting, falling in love with, and marrying Christopher, experiencing the absolute JOY of meeting my Gavie, Leebs and Tater-Bug, growing my blonde spiky hair into a cascading waterfall of brunette waves, moving out of my parent’s house, into the BEST apartment in the Des Moines area, OUT of said apartment into the cutest lil house on Burnett Ave., and going from a 5 minute drive to a 40 minute drive.  And of course, going from not thinking about having children to getting excited about having children with Chris to thinking maybe having children may not be in the cards for us to getting ready to meet Little Miss in 4 short weeks!

Wow.

A lot can change in six years.

I’ve met and gotten to know more ambassadors than I can count, have loved many of them, have wanted to smack several of them. They have made me laugh til my sides hurt and also want to never work with college students AGAIN. I’ve been through 2 campus visit coordinators, from the quirky, hilarious, antique-crazed Andrea to the sweet, loving, funny Kelli. My boss has remained the same – crazy but so loving.  I have also seen TWO Cole Halls – they decided to renovate two years ago. Cracks all along the wall and the faint stench of death in the heater grates usually don’t bode well for welcoming families to the University.

I can do my schpeel in my sleep…checking in families…giving directions, hotel accomodations, taking visit requests…I can do a complete visit call while playing Spider Solitaire. I thank my theatre classes for helping me “look” like I am “enjoying” “meeting” you and that ‘Really? Your student got a 32 on their ACT!?!? Well HOT DOG! And I’m sorry, what? NOO!! They’re the STARTING quarterback for their high school team? Wow. WOW!” *

*I. DON’T. CARE.

So farewell, little Cole Hall. I’ll be stopping in with Little Munch this summer. I expect to hear the click-clack of Sporcle being played, Allen not doing work, the discussion of the summer workers about some horrific show on the CW, the laughter of Deneen (heard from a mile away).

It’s been fun. So why leave? This little quote will help:

I have never felt that I was contributing more meaningfully to society than when I decided to put my own career on hold to be home with my children.  Any ‘ole Joe can refill Ralph’s prescription for hypertension, but I am the most uniquely qualified and gifted person to raise my own children and to love and serve my husband.   No one else can do that with the same passion and care.   So, I want to stand up for all educated, professional women who have made an informed and conscious choice to give their lives in service to their families.   I applaud you.   What you do is important and powerful and instituted by God himself.   There is no higher calling.   There is no greater work.

-Edie from lifeingrace.com