At the beginning of my senior year at Pomona College, I figured out a solution to my problem. You see, I had no idea what I was doing with my life nor where I was going after college. It seemed like most of my friends had some semblance of a life plan whereas I had been actively avoiding planning the future since September. This lack of direction wasn't the problem, however. I like not knowing where I'll be in six months, it creates an element of excitement in my life that I want to enjoy while I'm young. The problem was the dreaded professor/relative/friend question: "So, what are you doing after college?"
Any college senior is intimately familiar with this question. Some jump at the opportunity to discuss their new job or fellowship. You know when you get up in the middle of the night, groping for the light switch as you look for the bathroom? That initial shock as the light first hits your eyes and you try to shield yourself from the penetrating brightness is similar to how others react. Okay so I’m being dramatic, but you get the point.
I wouldn’t be writing this if I didn’t have some experience as a member of the latter group. I quickly discovered that my typical answer would not suffice as a conversation piece. "I'm not sure, I haven't really thought about it..." generally elicited a quick reassurance that kids my age are too worried about rushing into careers anyway, followed by a deliberate avoidance of the subject for the remainder of the conversation. Yet despite not being a verbal participant, my lack of future plans too often remained a major player, gesticulating at the conversationalists as we strived valiantly to ignore the subject.
My solution was born out of a personal joke and my current obsession was born from this solution. Early in the year I started telling myself that I would hike home. I think I was drinking a glass of wine when the idea struck me. Remember, I go to school over 1000 miles from home so at the time it seemed an absurd proposal to me. It gave me a good couple of laughs, and it quickly became a quick answer to the question. Somewhere along the line, I became fixated. Then I became obsessed. Now, I’m actually going through with it.
This blog will depict my trip plan, trip photos (hopefully), my thoughts and any crazy problems that I come across. Once the trip starts, the amount of material going up on this page will depend on internet access. Who knows when I’ll have access to a computer, but when I do I’m sure I’ll have some crazy stuff to tell you and some gorgeous photos to post. Enjoy!
Any college senior is intimately familiar with this question. Some jump at the opportunity to discuss their new job or fellowship. You know when you get up in the middle of the night, groping for the light switch as you look for the bathroom? That initial shock as the light first hits your eyes and you try to shield yourself from the penetrating brightness is similar to how others react. Okay so I’m being dramatic, but you get the point.
I wouldn’t be writing this if I didn’t have some experience as a member of the latter group. I quickly discovered that my typical answer would not suffice as a conversation piece. "I'm not sure, I haven't really thought about it..." generally elicited a quick reassurance that kids my age are too worried about rushing into careers anyway, followed by a deliberate avoidance of the subject for the remainder of the conversation. Yet despite not being a verbal participant, my lack of future plans too often remained a major player, gesticulating at the conversationalists as we strived valiantly to ignore the subject.
My solution was born out of a personal joke and my current obsession was born from this solution. Early in the year I started telling myself that I would hike home. I think I was drinking a glass of wine when the idea struck me. Remember, I go to school over 1000 miles from home so at the time it seemed an absurd proposal to me. It gave me a good couple of laughs, and it quickly became a quick answer to the question. Somewhere along the line, I became fixated. Then I became obsessed. Now, I’m actually going through with it.
This blog will depict my trip plan, trip photos (hopefully), my thoughts and any crazy problems that I come across. Once the trip starts, the amount of material going up on this page will depend on internet access. Who knows when I’ll have access to a computer, but when I do I’m sure I’ll have some crazy stuff to tell you and some gorgeous photos to post. Enjoy!
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