Excerpt: The 30 Angels of December

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. - Romans 12:12

December 1st

“Aargh!”

Ella wanted to scream as she looked at the printout that she received from her professor. She just sat there with the limp paper in her hands as she barely heard the voice of her professor.

“I suggest that you take oral communications for next quarter, because it is a requirement for your graduation and I know how you don’t like speaking up in class so it might be the hardest class for you. You might as well get it over with now then wait until the last quarter until you graduation to take it.”

She just continued to stare at the purposed quarter listing for next quarter based on the discussing with it over weeks and now that the quarter was ending she had to make a decision what she needed to do. Just the amount of money that she needed to have was a bit larger then it was the last quarter. Things were tight as it was and now trying to come up with even more money seemed impossible at the moment and the professor remaindering her that the classes were really required in order to graduate was even more frustrating for her. She knew it was coming but with Christmas coming up and working retail it wasn’t always a bowl of peaches no matter how you looked at it.

She had so much planned this month. December was the busiest month for her both personally, professional and academically with juggling three jobs, one of the being retail, and practically going to college full time. Her mind was trying to plan the future that best she could in the next couple weeks, with finals coming up. And it was just the first of December

“ So what classes are you going to choose? Are these the ones that you want to take or do you want to drop one or two,” He asked inquisitively as he looked at the copy of the document, which she held in her hand.

Her full attention was drawn back to her professor She had to think quickly, very quickly because scheduling for next quarter was starting very soon and she would have to make a decision in the next couple days.

“Yes, I believe I will take all these classes. It is what I need so I will find away to pay for it. I will need a couple days, at least a week to make sure my decision is final.” She said with finality as she looked at her professor.

“ I thought you would say that. You are a very determined person, I have to say that.” He quipped. “You just get back to me in the next week or two and we will make it final or make what ever changes you feel that you need to make at that time.” He said getting up from his chair signaling that the short meeting was over.

Ella stood up, glancing quickly once more at her paper as she stepped toward the doorway. She eyes soon fell up the writing in the bold letters above his door way.

“Only the best and the brightest enter this door”

Those words lighted her heart knowing that no matter how she felt at the moment, at least one person though she was one of the best because she was pursuing an education no matter how hard it was getting to her. She remembered vividly her first paralegal class, in which the room was filled with students eager to learn. There were 28 students to be exact and now there was only 8 students left of the original 28 that started the class almost 2 years ago.