Day 1 - Email Testimony:
I'm writing this email before the fact. It's an act of faith on my part. I'm inspired in part by all the examples of Jesus performing miracles in the lives of so many in the Gospel (and even now today, as He lives and reigns with our Father in heaven) primarily because they simply believed that He could before He did. They took Him at His word when He said "Have faith in God...whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:22-24). In another instance, He said, "Do not be unbelieving but believing." (John 20:27). And yet in another place, "With man it is impossible, but not with God, with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27). And finally, "Ask and it will be given to you, see and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened." (Matt 7:7-8). So, this email is a pronouncement before the fact of God's immeasurable mercy and grace extended toward me in enabling me to be accepted into the Rutgers University PhD program in Organizational Management, as part of the class that begins in the Fall of 2013.
I said I was inspired in part of to make this declaration of faith by the scriptures in the Gospel. The other part that has encouraged me is the many words spoken to me in the devotions I've received over the past week, the powerful words written by Pastor Steven Furtick in his book, Greater, and words of encouragement that I've recently, but probably more applicably absorbed through finally reading the paperback version of Joel Osteen's, Your Best Life Now (in the past, I had only listened to an abridged, audio-book version).
All these have worked together to help amplify the promises in the Bible that I've been blessed to read over the past two months during my church's (www.liquidchurch.com) 40-Day Challenge to read the totality of the NT. The challenge ends on Good Friday and it's been an amazing journey! If you have never read the NT word for word, I highly encourage you to do so. In my 45 years of life, I had never done so before, and oh how much I did NOT know that I thought I knew. If there are major take aways that I have received through this time is that our God - the Living God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth - is faithful, He is true, He is powerful, and He loves us with an inescapable love. We can depend on Him and HE DOES PERFORM miracles. He is our comfort, our shield, and our Guide. He is AWESOME and all glory is due Him - ALWAYS.
I wanted to write this email so that when what I am hoping does come to pass, our great God will indeed get all the glory and honor and praise for working out what only He could because He is merciful, loving and kind. Period. It was not due to ANY merit or ability on my part. This I know only too well. Why?
1. RU was my LAST choice, so I was a bit neglectful in doing a very proper edit of the materials that I submitted. As a result, I noticed that my essay had two glaring errors: a missing period on the very last sentence and two missing words in a sentence earlier in the essay. It is only by God's grace and favor that I was accepted into a PhD program with such egregious errors on my application.
2. I only scored a whopping 490 on the GMAT - about 170 points lower than the average GMAT score for most students accepted into the program.
3. Again, RU wasn't my first choice. My first choice was VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University), based primarily on some dreams that I had:-/ and my understanding of what I thought the program could offer ME. My second choice was Auburn University, which I sort of arbitrarily picked and massaged to fit - again- what I thought the program could offer me. The RU program was - well, at RU, and I had already done my time there as an undergraduate. It also appeared to want A LOT from me - something that in my naivety about enrolling in a PhD program appeared wanting. Through the wisdom of Christ, I now realize that it is exactly the school that will allow me to contribute the most to its PhD program as a student and an experienced professional, while also preparing me to be the scholar and academic I've been hoping to become for all these years. It's also smack dab in a location where the kind of support I'll need as a single mom, through family and friends, is at the ready. So, God knew what was best all along. This is just another reminder that I should NEVER lean on my own understanding (Pro 3:5-6).
4. Finally, I submitted the application with no academic recommendations. As this was about the 10th program I've applied to over the past 15 years, my ever willing Professor Herndl, from New Mexico State University, decided to not respond to my request for yet another recommendation. Fortunately, the Lord had placed in my heart that I should request a recommendation from the Executive Director who ran Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa when I did my Americorps*Vista assignment. She gladly obliged. She actually is now an instructor at the University of Alabama, but I did not know that when I requested the recommendation. Anyway, if not for her recommendation, I would not have had the requisite number of recommendations needed to apply to any of the schools that I applied to. Again, the Lord's favor flowing over my life.
So, with a great deal of humility I give Him my utmost thanks, for I know it is He alone who has enabled my acceptance into RU to happen. And honestly, that gives me even greater confidence that He will also carry me all the way through the 4 years of the program - me and Jonathan - just as He has carried me thus far, these 45+ years. I thank Him for this season of rest and preparation beforehand, so that once I'm in the thick of it, I'll be able to tap into that rest at will! I also thank Him for all those who encouraged me and told me that I would most certainly get into a program. Though I was greatly discouraged, especially when I received my GMAT scores and then those glaring application errors, I praise God for the kindness and prayers of others and above all HIS amazing words of truth, which have given me the ability to simply BELIEVE that HE CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE!
Thank you Jesus!!!
Day 2 - Acceptance Letter to RU:
Dear PhD Admissions Committee:
It is with great humility and honor that
I, Kim Ivey, graciously and enthusiastically accept your invitation to become a
member of the Rutgers Business School PhD program in Organizational Management,
starting in the Fall of 2013.
I’m truly looking forward to all that I
am about to encounter (well, maybe not the lack of sleepJ).
I have believed for a long time
that this is the path that I should take, one in which I can contribute the
most of who I am and will become, and the means by which I can best serve the
community, nation and the world. And in
a very personal way, I consider my pursuit of this PhD as an additional means
by which I can lay a positive and inspirational legacy for my son.
During my interview with the committee, I
was inspired and evermore encouraged in my quest to become a business scholar
and move into a new and invigorating career in academia. I am so grateful to the committee for granting
me the privilege to work under and alongside such a distinguished faculty, as
well as with current and future students who will contribute to the continued
excellence of the Rutgers Business School.
Again, thank you so much for this opportunity to pursue my doctoral
studies as part of such a prestigious program.
I’m about to take on the challenge of a
lifetime and I truly can’t wait to start the journey!
With Sincerest Regards,
Kim Ivey
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