briannacapstone-blog

[briannacapstone-blog]

Everything is a sign

Being a Cognitive Science major requires you to take some really cool classes. This semester I had to take a semiotics course and If you have ever taken a semiotics course with Professor Vampola, you will learn about Charles S. Pierce. Pierce is known as the father of pragmatism, to him, everything was a sign. Every thought is just a thought, until it is given meaning by someone. No one knows about my thoughts unless they are written down, they are just in my head until I make them conscious by physicality. Signs are everywhere, and it is up to you to give that sign some type of meaning based off your individual experience.

With that being said, my whole life I have seen the number “11,” 11:11, 7:11, 4:11, 11’s on random objects or pillars making up the figure of an 11, ect. I never knew what 11 was trying to tell me, but all I knew was that when I saw 11, I felt this feeling of security and like I was on the right path – perhaps it was a number from my angels. I later found out my Grandfather passed away on December 11th when my mother was 9 years old. Now, when I see 11, it is a signifier for me that my Grandfather is present and watching over me.

 However, on Tuesday I got a sign while walking to my 8 am class. I saw a paper on the bulletin board for the New York Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. I quickly read it and ripped a small piece of paper off of it that had the contact information. When I got to class I decided to quickly type the webpage in – I was in disbelief for what I had just read. A master’s program being brought to New York City by Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. They are opening the doors to any post-grad student interested in understanding unconscious forces. As I looked at the clock right after on the projector screen, there I saw 8:11. I knew it was fate – thank you Grandpa for validating this.

 This semester has been weird, I have felt off and lost. I haven’t found one graduates school that has appealed to me and it has been discouraging. I’ve been asking for guidance and direction, and in the times I needed it most a sign was presented to me. Anyone can say that its just a coincidence, but is anything in life really a coincidence, or is it just synchronicity?  I personally don’t believe in coincidences, sometimes the universe becomes parallel with your reality and offers you a sign. It is up to you to take that sign and run with it, or just ignore it as any old piece of paper hanging on a bulletin board. Having faith in something gives you more of a purpose to achieve that goal. I have faith in my goals and passions, as well as in my loved ones looking over me. Sometimes I get lost and dig myself in a hole, but having faith always reminds me to stay positive and keep going.