Get that stick out of your ***
I’m not sure if you know this or not, but I am a 20 year old student in college. I have lofty goals for myself and am looking forward to my future. I know the real world will kick my ass because the reality will hit that well, it’s not that much fun anymore. I recognize that. I understand that maturity and professionalism is key in the real world. But wait, I am a 20 year old college student in college. Ah, I see now.
OK, so where am I going with this? It’s a long story but I’m gonna try to explain in a much shorter and entertaining blog entry instead. The more I go through college, the more I see that adults cannot connect with people my age. Sad I know, since they once were my age, enjoying every second of college, knowing that those 4-5 years were magical. Yes, magical. But now that they are adults, it’s as if they forget those times. All they can focus on is our future and how THEY can shape OUR future. Now, I’m all for role models and life lessons but I am also for making my own decisions and learning from my own mistakes. Would you like some examples? I thought so. Read on.
I guess this whole thing started in high school with student council. I was the VP of what was probably the best student council my HS has ever seen. Plain and simple, we got shit done. At least, when we were allowed. My school had the dumbest rules when it came to some things. Guys can’t have braids because it’s considered cross-dressing. All socks must be visible. No shorts ever even when the AC goes out in the school. I could go on and on but I won’t because I did enjoy my high school experience. But sometimes, it would be like pulling teeth just to get something we wanted. And obviously, whatever we asked for was for the good of the students. But again, the administration didn’t look at it that way. Instead of giving us the opportunity to make good decisions and maybe learn from some mistakes, they just made decisions for us. Such as now, the prom includes dinner. Don’t wanna attend the dinner? No problem, but you’re paying for it anyways. Frickin ridiculous.
Then, how bout my scholarship? I know, this may shock some people. Why is Barnes complaining…he gets paid to go to school. Trust me guys, I’ve heard your jokes but hear me out now. Just this past week, my scholarship laid down some laws. To give you some background, I do go to school on full scholarship and then some. I have to sign a contract as well that states that I will keep up with the GPA requirement, not get in trouble, attend all meetings, etc… Well, this year, the program has been a bit power-hungry. First of all, we sign a contract that says nothing about community service, but then we have to a mandatory six hours. Hmmm, odd. I’ll do it, but that came from nowhere. Next up, the scholarship says we must inform them when we add or drop a class. So, if I drop basketball for broomball, they need to know. WHY? Do they not trust me? I mean, the money runs out in four years so if I screw myself over and don’t get done in four years, it’s my money now. And what’s the final straw? How bout they told us this week that they don’t want us getting jobs. WHAT?! This one struck a chord with me. As they put it, we are scholars and should be focusing on our studies. God forbid we try to have a life outside of that though. A life with a little bit of responsibility and spending money. You know, something to pay cell phone bills with, car insurance, buy beverages, whatever. So if we get a job, guess who needs to know? Again, ridiculous.
The last one isn’t as dramatic but after the scholarship one, it really got to me. As we run our big program for Intramurals, I get a lot of grief for announcements not even made by me. The announcements were questionable and they were made to a crowd of about 100 people. So I understand some of their feelings. But without setting any guidelines of what was too far, it’s hard to put fault on someone for making an announcement they see as funny. I didn’t think they crossed any lines because there were no lines drawn. Not only that, but the only people who did not find the jokes funny were those who weren’t my age. Now are they out of touch? Maybe (though many times, they aren’t). This night though, it was frustrating because I was receiving fault for what other people did. And then what they did wasn’t really wrong since there was nothing set as to what was right and what was wrong.
I guess what I am trying to get at here is that adults are trying too hard to shape people my age into what they want. They are unwilling to let us learn from mistakes OR make our own decisions. They tend to be out of touch with our generation and do not consider the world from our point of view anymore. Even though, all had the point of view before. And don’t get me wrong. I love my high school, scholarship program, and my job but it can be frustrating sometimes. It’s not that I have a problem with authority. I just have a problem when the authority thinks a 20 year old college student can’t make their own decision. Or when they do, they immediately believe that it is invalid. Or get mad when the college student makes a decision they don’t like when no guidelines were set. Instead of getting mad, make it a learning opportunity.
I don’t know what the solution to this is but I do know this. I am capable of making my own decisions. I will make many good ones and plenty of bad ones. But let me make them. Support me in some so that I can see how it carries out. Do not lash out if I make a bad decision. Instead, just tell me what was wrong about it. The great thing about college is that it can kind be a bubble. Things that happen during these 4-5 great years can truly stay there for eternity. So let us make our mistakes now. That way, we don’t make them in the real world. If I mess up a class, it’s my fault. If I can’t handle a job and my classes, I can decide whether or not to drop classes or quit my job. I just wish some people would take that stick out their *** and allow people my age to live. Let us do what we do. No matter what, we are in control of our lives. We shape it into what we want to. So please, let us be. Have faith in us. We can make good decisions…if you let us.
You know the drill. Until next time, HAKUNA MATATA
Friday, November 10, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
A TRUE FRIEND....ACCORDING TO ME
So, I just went through my third Halloween here at OU. Yea, literally just got done with it. Did I get wasted? Not really. I've learned that of all the days to get sloppy, Halloween is not the day. The student population almost triples, the amount of police double, and the amount of arrests, well, let's just say there are more than most weekends. So what does one do on a Halloween night in Athens? Good question. The answer: enjoy yourself. That could mean get sloppy drunk, it could mean go uptown and look at ridiculous costumes, it could mean go to a dance at Baker Center or it could simply be just have a good time with some friends. For me, this Halloweenwas an odd one. Let me tell you why.
First of all, this Halloween started earlier than others. Startig in mid-afternoon with a power hour, I got the ball rolling. Yes, I didn;t have much in my stomach but it felt right to get going early. I enjoyed the time, chillin with a best bud and his friend, just casually drinking while watching some college football. I mean, seriously, you can't ask for much more. Then, we all decided, let's take a cat nap and wake up when more peeps get here. That ended up meanig have them wake us up when they walk in unexpectedly but hey, whatever works.
The time with the new peepswas kind of a blur because well, to be frank, it wasn't that much fun because of a weird feeling in the place that kind of dampened the mood for me. The sad thing is that the feeling should not have affected me but for some reason it did and as a friend, I felt like I should back him up completely and help him out. So when it was time to leave the apartment for the Halloween festival uptown and elsewhere, I was glad to see a group of people, especially one person, go with us to go have a good time.
Instead of recapping the enitre rest of the night, I'm gonna fast-forward to the part that matters. The part where I began to figure out what a true friend is. I know, it's odd that I figure this shit out on a night when I am supposed to not remember anything but again, Halloween isn't a big deal for me. Anyways, the moment came when I, self-admittedly, brought up something that I was completely wrong about. That's when my friend did something I didn't really expect him to do: tod me I WAS WRONG. I kinda took a step back on this, halfway thinking he was joking. I mean, did my own friend NOT support my decision? I was actually getting mad and then I talked to his best friend and after talking to him, it made sense. Not only was I wrong, but he was proving to me that he was a true friend.
So what is a true friend? Well, get rid of Webster's Dicionary and just read my take on this. In my mind, a true friend is one that respects you. Of course, this is an obvious one but sometimes, this can be tougher than you think. Friends do some dumb things AND believe in some odd things, things you may completely disagree in. The trick is though as a good friend, you back them up in what they believe in. UNLESS, bringing me to my second point, they are completely wrong. This can be tough for friends, because when you have a strong friendship with someone, the last thing you want is to end it over a dumb argument or criticism. But when a friend criticizes my thought process or points an inconsistency in my morals, it means a lot to me because that means they care about what I'm doing. They could easily turn their head OR just be a bobblehead doll and just nod to everything I say. Thankfully though, there are true friends who are willing to speak up and tell you things straight up, without reservation. The last thing about a true friend is that they're always there for ya. In this day and age, it's tough to find that kind of commitment to a friendship, especially once relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends get involved. It's jut pretty damn cool to know there's always a friend you can talk to about anything, whether it pertains to school, work, religion, family, friends, or just whatever.
So what does this all mean? I'm not really sure. I don't know ifI have really spelled out anything but I think I have helped clarify what exactly goes behind a true friend. True friends are hard to ome by and then even harder to keep. Stuff happens, no matter how big or small, that can ruin a friendship within seconds. That's why it is so important to have those best friends you can talk to whenever needed. For those moments in life where you need a second opinion on something or just want to vent about anything, having that true friend makes the expereience all the more better.
For now though, I digress because of time considerations but I do want to remind all those reading this that being a true friend means more than just leaving Facebook wall message. It means so much more. HAKUNA MATATA.
So, I just went through my third Halloween here at OU. Yea, literally just got done with it. Did I get wasted? Not really. I've learned that of all the days to get sloppy, Halloween is not the day. The student population almost triples, the amount of police double, and the amount of arrests, well, let's just say there are more than most weekends. So what does one do on a Halloween night in Athens? Good question. The answer: enjoy yourself. That could mean get sloppy drunk, it could mean go uptown and look at ridiculous costumes, it could mean go to a dance at Baker Center or it could simply be just have a good time with some friends. For me, this Halloweenwas an odd one. Let me tell you why.
First of all, this Halloween started earlier than others. Startig in mid-afternoon with a power hour, I got the ball rolling. Yes, I didn;t have much in my stomach but it felt right to get going early. I enjoyed the time, chillin with a best bud and his friend, just casually drinking while watching some college football. I mean, seriously, you can't ask for much more. Then, we all decided, let's take a cat nap and wake up when more peeps get here. That ended up meanig have them wake us up when they walk in unexpectedly but hey, whatever works.
The time with the new peepswas kind of a blur because well, to be frank, it wasn't that much fun because of a weird feeling in the place that kind of dampened the mood for me. The sad thing is that the feeling should not have affected me but for some reason it did and as a friend, I felt like I should back him up completely and help him out. So when it was time to leave the apartment for the Halloween festival uptown and elsewhere, I was glad to see a group of people, especially one person, go with us to go have a good time.
Instead of recapping the enitre rest of the night, I'm gonna fast-forward to the part that matters. The part where I began to figure out what a true friend is. I know, it's odd that I figure this shit out on a night when I am supposed to not remember anything but again, Halloween isn't a big deal for me. Anyways, the moment came when I, self-admittedly, brought up something that I was completely wrong about. That's when my friend did something I didn't really expect him to do: tod me I WAS WRONG. I kinda took a step back on this, halfway thinking he was joking. I mean, did my own friend NOT support my decision? I was actually getting mad and then I talked to his best friend and after talking to him, it made sense. Not only was I wrong, but he was proving to me that he was a true friend.
So what is a true friend? Well, get rid of Webster's Dicionary and just read my take on this. In my mind, a true friend is one that respects you. Of course, this is an obvious one but sometimes, this can be tougher than you think. Friends do some dumb things AND believe in some odd things, things you may completely disagree in. The trick is though as a good friend, you back them up in what they believe in. UNLESS, bringing me to my second point, they are completely wrong. This can be tough for friends, because when you have a strong friendship with someone, the last thing you want is to end it over a dumb argument or criticism. But when a friend criticizes my thought process or points an inconsistency in my morals, it means a lot to me because that means they care about what I'm doing. They could easily turn their head OR just be a bobblehead doll and just nod to everything I say. Thankfully though, there are true friends who are willing to speak up and tell you things straight up, without reservation. The last thing about a true friend is that they're always there for ya. In this day and age, it's tough to find that kind of commitment to a friendship, especially once relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends get involved. It's jut pretty damn cool to know there's always a friend you can talk to about anything, whether it pertains to school, work, religion, family, friends, or just whatever.
So what does this all mean? I'm not really sure. I don't know ifI have really spelled out anything but I think I have helped clarify what exactly goes behind a true friend. True friends are hard to ome by and then even harder to keep. Stuff happens, no matter how big or small, that can ruin a friendship within seconds. That's why it is so important to have those best friends you can talk to whenever needed. For those moments in life where you need a second opinion on something or just want to vent about anything, having that true friend makes the expereience all the more better.
For now though, I digress because of time considerations but I do want to remind all those reading this that being a true friend means more than just leaving Facebook wall message. It means so much more. HAKUNA MATATA.
Friday, October 06, 2006
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
I know what you’re thinking…can’t he be more creative than that for a blog title? Well, the answer is yes but that phrase just seems so fitting after going through the last two weeks. As a young man at 20 years of age, life is supposed to be one of little worries. I mean, of course there’s the real world ahead but I mean, it’s college. Soak it up while you can. But it’s funny how your life can change in an instant. Your priorities change, your thought process changes, your whole world is just thrown for a loop. Well, that’s kinda been the two weeks for me.
I guess it all started two weeks ago (obviously). What I thought was a harmless phone call from a buddy turned into a phone call that made me take a step back. A former wrestler at my high school had died at the age of nineteen. 19! I remember giving this guy rides homes after practice, always bitching about how it was out of my way and that it would be the last time. Yet, every practice, without fail, he asked for a ride and I drove him the 4 minutes to his house. I look back at those moments and I am so glad that I had those rides with him because now, there are no more moments. Yea, we had fallen out of touch but I know if I saw him right now, we would have some great stories to tell each other. It just didn’t make sense either. The whole situation. And not only that but someone that young should not be dying. It just made me sick to my stomach.
After a weekend of trying to get the taste of his death out of my mouth, it just got worse. I get news that my best friend’s mom had a stroke. My immediate reaction was shock, followed by immediate prayer. I had already lost a friend at a young age. In no way could I lose one of my many “moms”. But God had other plans. The next day, I got the news that she had been called to heaven. Now, I’m the kind of guy that likes to stay positive and upbeat and well, you know, Hakuna Matata. But this one hit hard. Really hard. I was numb inside for over an hour. Life just didn’t make sense. It went back to that question “Why do the nicest people go?” The more I thought about it, the more I thought about my own life. I mean, am I truly living each day as if it were my last? Am I truly cherishing every moment with my friends and family? Again, these are things I shouldn’t be worrying about as a college student. But when you lose two people in a span of a week, you have no choice but to wonder.
The memorial service on Saturday for my best friend’s mom was exactly what I needed though. For what is normally a somber event, I was so at peace the entire time. I was surrounded by people who are always there for me, including my parents and best friends. I saw strength in my friends who had just lost their mother and that helped to put my mind at ease. I saw commitment and love (yes, I used the word) in their boyfriends for them as well. Always by their side throughout the ordeal. Most importantly though, I saw just how close we all are as friends. I wish it didn’t take the passing of a loved one for me to recognize it but it did. And the ironic thing is that my best friend’s mother was not one for the sappy stuff. She was more of the “don’t worry, be happy” kind. Grab a drink and enjoy life. And so while all week I was lamenting and somewhat depressed, it took her memorial service to remind me that life goes on and that she wants me to keep on enjoying life even though she won’t be there.
And so, I left that service thinking just that. It’s time for me to truly enjoy life. Yes, as each day goes by, there will be ups and downs, but hopefully more ups. I will have more struggles, more setbacks, more deaths but I’ve got to remember that in order to live a fulfilling life, not only must you be loved and respected by many, but you must also enjoy it yourself. Cherish every moment. Take some chances. See all you can see. And that brings me to right now. I wouldn’t say I have a “new” outlook on life but I have thought about this a lot since the memorial service. I am just 20 years old. Hopefully, I have at least 60 more years in me. In that 60 years, how am I going to enjoy life?
Step 1: Stop thinking that damn far ahead and enjoy the moment right now.
Step 2: Repeat Step 1.
I know what you’re thinking…can’t he be more creative than that for a blog title? Well, the answer is yes but that phrase just seems so fitting after going through the last two weeks. As a young man at 20 years of age, life is supposed to be one of little worries. I mean, of course there’s the real world ahead but I mean, it’s college. Soak it up while you can. But it’s funny how your life can change in an instant. Your priorities change, your thought process changes, your whole world is just thrown for a loop. Well, that’s kinda been the two weeks for me.
I guess it all started two weeks ago (obviously). What I thought was a harmless phone call from a buddy turned into a phone call that made me take a step back. A former wrestler at my high school had died at the age of nineteen. 19! I remember giving this guy rides homes after practice, always bitching about how it was out of my way and that it would be the last time. Yet, every practice, without fail, he asked for a ride and I drove him the 4 minutes to his house. I look back at those moments and I am so glad that I had those rides with him because now, there are no more moments. Yea, we had fallen out of touch but I know if I saw him right now, we would have some great stories to tell each other. It just didn’t make sense either. The whole situation. And not only that but someone that young should not be dying. It just made me sick to my stomach.
After a weekend of trying to get the taste of his death out of my mouth, it just got worse. I get news that my best friend’s mom had a stroke. My immediate reaction was shock, followed by immediate prayer. I had already lost a friend at a young age. In no way could I lose one of my many “moms”. But God had other plans. The next day, I got the news that she had been called to heaven. Now, I’m the kind of guy that likes to stay positive and upbeat and well, you know, Hakuna Matata. But this one hit hard. Really hard. I was numb inside for over an hour. Life just didn’t make sense. It went back to that question “Why do the nicest people go?” The more I thought about it, the more I thought about my own life. I mean, am I truly living each day as if it were my last? Am I truly cherishing every moment with my friends and family? Again, these are things I shouldn’t be worrying about as a college student. But when you lose two people in a span of a week, you have no choice but to wonder.
The memorial service on Saturday for my best friend’s mom was exactly what I needed though. For what is normally a somber event, I was so at peace the entire time. I was surrounded by people who are always there for me, including my parents and best friends. I saw strength in my friends who had just lost their mother and that helped to put my mind at ease. I saw commitment and love (yes, I used the word) in their boyfriends for them as well. Always by their side throughout the ordeal. Most importantly though, I saw just how close we all are as friends. I wish it didn’t take the passing of a loved one for me to recognize it but it did. And the ironic thing is that my best friend’s mother was not one for the sappy stuff. She was more of the “don’t worry, be happy” kind. Grab a drink and enjoy life. And so while all week I was lamenting and somewhat depressed, it took her memorial service to remind me that life goes on and that she wants me to keep on enjoying life even though she won’t be there.
And so, I left that service thinking just that. It’s time for me to truly enjoy life. Yes, as each day goes by, there will be ups and downs, but hopefully more ups. I will have more struggles, more setbacks, more deaths but I’ve got to remember that in order to live a fulfilling life, not only must you be loved and respected by many, but you must also enjoy it yourself. Cherish every moment. Take some chances. See all you can see. And that brings me to right now. I wouldn’t say I have a “new” outlook on life but I have thought about this a lot since the memorial service. I am just 20 years old. Hopefully, I have at least 60 more years in me. In that 60 years, how am I going to enjoy life?
Step 1: Stop thinking that damn far ahead and enjoy the moment right now.
Step 2: Repeat Step 1.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
LEAST FAVORITE WORDS FOR $600 ALEX....
When I started writing this blog entry, I actually had about 5 paragraphs written and then just as fast as you can say "Let your chain hang low", I deleted it all, never to see it again. Why? Because a new thought popped in my head and the thought of having a chance to elaborate on this intrigued me. See, when I write on this blog, all I do is type. I don't think. I just let my fingers roll across the keyboard and hope they write something logical. I don't consider myself a great writer. I consider myself a great bull-shitter and that's fine with me. In the end, it gets the job done. So what is this topic that I deleted 30 minutes worth of rambling for? It's actually just one word, but it's a word that I can't stand: disappointment.
So what it is about this word that makes me want to write a whole blog entry arond it? Well, a lot actually. I just went through a two-month ordeal that drained the hell out of me and really made me think about this. I try hard not to disappoint people. Yea, it's a lofty goal because it's impossible to please everyone but when I see disappoint in people's faces, it hurts me inside because life is too short to fill it with disappointment. It could be disappointment in yourself, in someone else, in the President, the world, whatever. Whatever it is, it tears away at your body and your soul. Well for me, the disappointment came from others, but it was in me. And though they may not admit it, I know they were. And as I saw it in their eyes, I felt terrible inside because all that I had strived for was getting thrown at me like a cannonball to the face. PAINFUL. I did a lot of soul searching over those two months and found out a lot about myself. And now as I look back at it, I am so glad that it happened.
See, the thing about disappointment for me is that is just leaves this feeling of emptiness, this thirst that has yet to be quenched. When I disappoint a tour group with my performance or my answer, it hurts because you can see they were yearning for so much more and you didn't fulfill their needs. When I disappoint intramural participants, I actually don't feel too bad for them because well, dems the rules bitch! When I disappoint Southeast Ohio on the TV show though, it does hurt. Honestly, a lot of people in the area tune in just to watch their teams, their sons or just themselves and when we don't produce a quality show to the people that adore us like rock stars, it kills me inside. We do the show for them so when we put through a crappy performance, it makes it seem like we're not giving it all we've got (or in other words, slacking off). That disappointment is a tough one to shake off. Thankfully, there's always next Friday night. When I disappoint co-workers, this also gets to me because as I garner more responsibility, I have more people looking to me for answers and results. When I can't give that to them, it makes me look like someone who doesn' take their job seriously. And though this is NOT the case, it reflcects on me that way.
But the worst type of disappointment is when I disappointment my own family and friends. The people that I cherish and turn to when I'm in need of anything. The people I would be nowhere without. Yea, some are stronger than others but all are considered friends for life. Disappointing these people is tough because I know as a friend/family member, one should NEVER disappoint. Unfortunately, I failed at this and for that, I am/was truly sorry. But as I reflected, I thought of all the good that came out of this. I found out who my true friends were. I challenged myself as a friend for probably the first time of my life. I turned to people that I had never turned to before. I found a whole new support system and it was great. The initial disappointment was tough but there was a silver lining.
So what does all this babble mean? Not much actually, but it does bring up a point. I hate disappointment and I want to strive to never disappoint anyone in any fashion. If I begin to do that though, call me out on it please because it's always easier to strive toward something when you've got some help along the way from the people you care about.
To end this pointless post, I just wanna encourage everyone to watch the new season of Survivor. Yea, it's reality TV but so is that crap they call Laguna Beach! Anyways, this season should be good and I think a lot of people would benefit from watching this season. Thanks for reading this post and you know, I'll try to not only make them better but more useful to you as I go along. It's been a long time since I've really had time to just sit and write something truly reflective so if it seemed a little scatterbrained you should understand. For now though, it's time for me to depart. HAKUNA MATATA!
When I started writing this blog entry, I actually had about 5 paragraphs written and then just as fast as you can say "Let your chain hang low", I deleted it all, never to see it again. Why? Because a new thought popped in my head and the thought of having a chance to elaborate on this intrigued me. See, when I write on this blog, all I do is type. I don't think. I just let my fingers roll across the keyboard and hope they write something logical. I don't consider myself a great writer. I consider myself a great bull-shitter and that's fine with me. In the end, it gets the job done. So what is this topic that I deleted 30 minutes worth of rambling for? It's actually just one word, but it's a word that I can't stand: disappointment.
So what it is about this word that makes me want to write a whole blog entry arond it? Well, a lot actually. I just went through a two-month ordeal that drained the hell out of me and really made me think about this. I try hard not to disappoint people. Yea, it's a lofty goal because it's impossible to please everyone but when I see disappoint in people's faces, it hurts me inside because life is too short to fill it with disappointment. It could be disappointment in yourself, in someone else, in the President, the world, whatever. Whatever it is, it tears away at your body and your soul. Well for me, the disappointment came from others, but it was in me. And though they may not admit it, I know they were. And as I saw it in their eyes, I felt terrible inside because all that I had strived for was getting thrown at me like a cannonball to the face. PAINFUL. I did a lot of soul searching over those two months and found out a lot about myself. And now as I look back at it, I am so glad that it happened.
See, the thing about disappointment for me is that is just leaves this feeling of emptiness, this thirst that has yet to be quenched. When I disappoint a tour group with my performance or my answer, it hurts because you can see they were yearning for so much more and you didn't fulfill their needs. When I disappoint intramural participants, I actually don't feel too bad for them because well, dems the rules bitch! When I disappoint Southeast Ohio on the TV show though, it does hurt. Honestly, a lot of people in the area tune in just to watch their teams, their sons or just themselves and when we don't produce a quality show to the people that adore us like rock stars, it kills me inside. We do the show for them so when we put through a crappy performance, it makes it seem like we're not giving it all we've got (or in other words, slacking off). That disappointment is a tough one to shake off. Thankfully, there's always next Friday night. When I disappoint co-workers, this also gets to me because as I garner more responsibility, I have more people looking to me for answers and results. When I can't give that to them, it makes me look like someone who doesn' take their job seriously. And though this is NOT the case, it reflcects on me that way.
But the worst type of disappointment is when I disappointment my own family and friends. The people that I cherish and turn to when I'm in need of anything. The people I would be nowhere without. Yea, some are stronger than others but all are considered friends for life. Disappointing these people is tough because I know as a friend/family member, one should NEVER disappoint. Unfortunately, I failed at this and for that, I am/was truly sorry. But as I reflected, I thought of all the good that came out of this. I found out who my true friends were. I challenged myself as a friend for probably the first time of my life. I turned to people that I had never turned to before. I found a whole new support system and it was great. The initial disappointment was tough but there was a silver lining.
So what does all this babble mean? Not much actually, but it does bring up a point. I hate disappointment and I want to strive to never disappoint anyone in any fashion. If I begin to do that though, call me out on it please because it's always easier to strive toward something when you've got some help along the way from the people you care about.
To end this pointless post, I just wanna encourage everyone to watch the new season of Survivor. Yea, it's reality TV but so is that crap they call Laguna Beach! Anyways, this season should be good and I think a lot of people would benefit from watching this season. Thanks for reading this post and you know, I'll try to not only make them better but more useful to you as I go along. It's been a long time since I've really had time to just sit and write something truly reflective so if it seemed a little scatterbrained you should understand. For now though, it's time for me to depart. HAKUNA MATATA!
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS?!
Unfortunately, it is true. School is here once again. The times of not having to worry about writing a paper or reading 50 pages are gone. Summer just kinda flew by, without even telling me hello. Not even a simple wave. For me, summer 2006 will go down as one that I honestly just will not remember actually having. Yes, memorable things happened during this summer but after 18 years of the "typical" summer, this one was special because it never happened. Confused? I don't blame you. Let me explain.
My "typical" summer has always been one of laziness. One that drags on so long that I almost want school to start so I can see all my friends without spending 80 bucks in gas. It also consists of work that well, isn't really work. I mean, I get paid but as you should know, a lot of people get paid for things they shouldn't. And finally, it also involves seeing the same 5-10 people in mass amounts. And though I cherish every moment with these people, it gets old sometimes. And though I love the fact that I do not have homework to worry about, summer sometimes can be a drag.
Well, this summer was completely different. As I stated before, that's if I even really had one. This "summer" started off right where spring ended: working in Athens. Now, I did this half by choice and half because I NEEDED a change of scenery. Well, I worked three jobs, somehow balancing them all (I surprised myself) but yet met some new peeps and had a great time. I got hooked onto two shows (Entourage and Falcon Beach), go to know some new ppl (Lambos Bros., Seany Mac, Solo and others), came up with more drinking games than I thought were possible and got to catch up on some much needed thinking of my future. What's funny is that I look back at that time and refuse to believe that that was half of my summer. It felt like maybe, and I mean MAYBE, a week. But that's how this "summer" was.
Anyways, the second half of "summer" was completely amazing. Again, no time for my usual laziness because I had 14-hour days to look forward to. And honestly, the next four weeks were just a whirlwind. I look back at those weeks and all I can really say is WOW. I mean, it's hard to put into words what PC meant to me. Actually, it's impossible. I went into PC thinking of it as a job and then came out with being an experience. I hope at some point in your lives you get to experience something as great as PC. During those four weeks, I met so many great people that became not only my friends, but my support system when I went through some tough times. The four weeks went quick now that I look back on them. I mean, they really went by quickly but they were still amazing. If I could do it all over again (and I plan on it next year), I would do it in a heartbeat.
Well, back to business. The last two weks of the "summer" were just work. Lots and lots of work. Literally 9-5 and then add 7-12. It was tiring but it was a good kind of tired because I was getting stuff done. I was becoming an adult, learning how to budget my time, how to push myself and how to work hard while having fun at the same time. And now I look at the calendar and I see school starts tomorrow and I feel like this summer went too quick for it to be considered anything. But don't get me wrong. This was a great summer. Yea, I'm calling it a summer now. I accomplished so much over the past 12 weeks, I met some outright amazing people, and I experienced things (good, bad, and ugly) that I never thought I would. That's just how wonderful it was.
So now, it's back to the grind of homework, assignments, papers, quizzes, exams, projects, labs, etc... and the excitement known as learning. As much I love all of the previous, I am already missing my summer. I hope before the school year starts, you can take time to reflect back on your summer as I did. Not only will it make you smile but it will help you re-focus on what you have to do at school. If you're like me, your focus is simple. Getting good grades while having a good time. Work hard, play hard if you will. Just remember, do not waste these years away. You only get one true college experience. Drink it up. It always goes down smooth.
Unfortunately, it is true. School is here once again. The times of not having to worry about writing a paper or reading 50 pages are gone. Summer just kinda flew by, without even telling me hello. Not even a simple wave. For me, summer 2006 will go down as one that I honestly just will not remember actually having. Yes, memorable things happened during this summer but after 18 years of the "typical" summer, this one was special because it never happened. Confused? I don't blame you. Let me explain.
My "typical" summer has always been one of laziness. One that drags on so long that I almost want school to start so I can see all my friends without spending 80 bucks in gas. It also consists of work that well, isn't really work. I mean, I get paid but as you should know, a lot of people get paid for things they shouldn't. And finally, it also involves seeing the same 5-10 people in mass amounts. And though I cherish every moment with these people, it gets old sometimes. And though I love the fact that I do not have homework to worry about, summer sometimes can be a drag.
Well, this summer was completely different. As I stated before, that's if I even really had one. This "summer" started off right where spring ended: working in Athens. Now, I did this half by choice and half because I NEEDED a change of scenery. Well, I worked three jobs, somehow balancing them all (I surprised myself) but yet met some new peeps and had a great time. I got hooked onto two shows (Entourage and Falcon Beach), go to know some new ppl (Lambos Bros., Seany Mac, Solo and others), came up with more drinking games than I thought were possible and got to catch up on some much needed thinking of my future. What's funny is that I look back at that time and refuse to believe that that was half of my summer. It felt like maybe, and I mean MAYBE, a week. But that's how this "summer" was.
Anyways, the second half of "summer" was completely amazing. Again, no time for my usual laziness because I had 14-hour days to look forward to. And honestly, the next four weeks were just a whirlwind. I look back at those weeks and all I can really say is WOW. I mean, it's hard to put into words what PC meant to me. Actually, it's impossible. I went into PC thinking of it as a job and then came out with being an experience. I hope at some point in your lives you get to experience something as great as PC. During those four weeks, I met so many great people that became not only my friends, but my support system when I went through some tough times. The four weeks went quick now that I look back on them. I mean, they really went by quickly but they were still amazing. If I could do it all over again (and I plan on it next year), I would do it in a heartbeat.
Well, back to business. The last two weks of the "summer" were just work. Lots and lots of work. Literally 9-5 and then add 7-12. It was tiring but it was a good kind of tired because I was getting stuff done. I was becoming an adult, learning how to budget my time, how to push myself and how to work hard while having fun at the same time. And now I look at the calendar and I see school starts tomorrow and I feel like this summer went too quick for it to be considered anything. But don't get me wrong. This was a great summer. Yea, I'm calling it a summer now. I accomplished so much over the past 12 weeks, I met some outright amazing people, and I experienced things (good, bad, and ugly) that I never thought I would. That's just how wonderful it was.
So now, it's back to the grind of homework, assignments, papers, quizzes, exams, projects, labs, etc... and the excitement known as learning. As much I love all of the previous, I am already missing my summer. I hope before the school year starts, you can take time to reflect back on your summer as I did. Not only will it make you smile but it will help you re-focus on what you have to do at school. If you're like me, your focus is simple. Getting good grades while having a good time. Work hard, play hard if you will. Just remember, do not waste these years away. You only get one true college experience. Drink it up. It always goes down smooth.
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