Friday, May 6, 2011

How I Got to Where I Find Myself Today: Inspired by Calvin and Hobbes

For those of you who have never read a Calvin and Hobbes comic, I highly suggest you do so immediately.  Not only will you be expanding your cultural diversity, but you will learn a few good life lessons in the process.  Some people consider it the best comic of all time, while others rate it #7 on a top 100 list.  For those of you who are a fan like myself, I hope you can appreciate this post.

Before I get started, I would like to apologize for my lack of blogging in the past month.  Some of you might understand when I say that the last  month of your college career isn't an easy one.  But I'll get to more of that later.  Anyway....

Yesterday, my senior seminar class and myself were at an elementary/middle school waiting for a staff meeting to end so we could give our final presentation.  We were waiting in a classroom that had one of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes books:  The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes, a treasury of Bill Waterson's best work.  It opens with a poem, one that is especially moving at this particular moment in my life.  It goes like this:

I made a big decision a little while ago.
 I don’t remember what it was, which  probably goes to show
 That many times a simple choice can prove to be so essential
 Even though it often might appear inconsequential.

 I must have been distracted when I left my home because
 Left or right I’m sure I went. (I wonder which it was!)
  Anyway, I never veered: I walked in that direction
 Utterly absorbed, it seems, in quiet introspection.

 For no reason I can think of, I’ve wandered far astray.
 And that is how I got to where I find myself today.


Pretty good, right?  Maybe it doesn't strike the same chords for some of you who aren't in the same transitional phase of you life like I am, but I am hoping some of you can relate.  

The reason this meant so much to me is because in 2 days I will be graduating from college.  After 5 of the most amazing, yet most difficult years of my life, I have finally finished my degree.  I can remember other transitional times in my life similar to this one--my transition from high school to JCCC, and then my move to the middle of Missouri for William Woods.  I'm never been one to hate change, and I am always up for a new adventure.  I am so thankful that I made the decision to choose those two schools, and I would never trade one minute of it.  I just wish I could go back to my then 18 and 20 year old brain and remember what it felt like to be so carefree.  Back then I would have traveled with the circus if the opportunity was presented to me and it sounded fun.  My brain wouldn't have been flooded with worries of bills and family and friends and a significant other.  

I have a few job interviews coming up and I am so excited for this new adventure in my life, but I am getting so nervous!  In the next week, I will be making some pretty substantial life decisions and I feel like I am being dragged by my mother by the back of my shirt with my feet dragging behind me through gravel.........I don't want to make a decision! 

Wouldn't it be great if when we were faced with important decisions in life, we could choose them all and live in 2 or 3 separate universes until we figured out what we wanted?

I know some of you are thinking I am absolutely crazy.  You are probably sick of reading about me complaing that I have jobs to choose from and I can't make a decision!  I am completely aware that in today's world, I am lucky to even get one interview or one job offer--And I understand that and feel beyond blessed that in a week I might actually have some jobs to choose from!  However, that doesn't change the fact that I will be facing some pretty important decisions very soon... 

Hopefully with the newly acquired free time I will have soon, I will find more time for blogging.  Just simply having a blog with more than one post is a huge accomplishment for me so cut me some slack!  If you are looking for a blogger who posts frequently, with a lot of hilarious stories--go here.



Before ending this, I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me get through these past 5 years.  I don't know how I would have gotten through it without you!

Mom, Dad, Stef, Brian and the fam--thanks for always encouraging me and supporting me even when my dreams and ideas seem outrageous.  Its the best feeling in the world knowing that I have such a great family to come home to.  I love you all so much.

Sarah--thank you for being my best friend in the whole world.  Our first 2 years of college spent together were the best ever.  From signing on the playground, afternoon bike rides, living with possibly the world's worst roommates, to 6:3o a.m. phone calls, I can always count on you to be right by my side.  Even though I'm the worst at returning calls and being 2 hours away, I am so lucky to have a friend like you.  I can't wait for you to get here tomorrow and help me celebrate such a big weekend :) I love you!

Homies--thanks for being my constant group of friends to come home to over the past couple years.  From hours of playing spoons, munchkin, that fun zombie game, pit (1!  3!  2!  1!  4!!), Are you the traitor, and even Risk and Trivial Pursuit, I am never disappointed in the amounts of fun and random shenanigans we find ourselves getting into.  Can't wait to be home and have more YouTube nights, emarrassing act bets, and random food and drink challenges.  You guys are the best!  And special thanks to Brian for encouraging me not to drop out of school.  

The Alpha Chi girls--you all make me want to stay in college forever, I even stayed an extra year just to be with all of you! :)  I have made the most incredible memories with you all and even been lucky enough to travel the country with some of you.  Thank you for showing me that I can do anything I set my mind to, and for always bringing out the best in you.  You all have something really special and I can't wait for future reunions!!

Sharon, Scott, Casey, and Mysti--my career counselors!  Thank you all for your advice, counsel, direction, and encouragement over the past year.  The words of wisdom I've gotten from all of you is INVALUABLE.  I am a better person because I have been able to work with all of you.  

To anyone else who is feeling offended that I didn't mention you but I probably should have--thank you for being a part of my life up until now!  I know for a fact that everyone has been put into my life for a reason and has helped make me who I am today.

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Enough of the sappy stuff, I just wanted to give the long, overdue credit to those who deserve it.  I'm going to call it good on this blog post, I don't even want to see how long it is.  So from Calvin and Hobbes, to my rant about choosing a job, to my random list of thank you's,  thanks for taking the time to read this.  Hopefully the next blogpost will be my new job description and location.  

Time to pack up some more boxes...

song of the day:
--an album I've been listening to non stop for the past few weeks