22 years.

It's that time of year again.  Or is it?  For the past 22 years of my life it has been the time of year when I began getting excited and preparing for school (yes I was that kid that liked school).  Now 22 years might seem like a bit much, but seeing as how the American school system has you attend school for 13 years (K-12), then college was an additional 4 (we're at 17), and a lot of kids attend preschool prior to that all beginning...  most kids however don't attend preschool for the entire first 5 years of their life!  (My Mom worked at the preschool).  Thus for the first time in 22 years I am NOT getting ready to go to school. 

This brings an array of emotions.  When it was the high school to college transition, you're sad it's over but so excited for the new experience.  Now that it's college over, I'm simply stuck on sad.  I have no regrets about college as I had a blast, but I would do it all over!  I'd change up some things.  (Not the school of course:) ) 

So as this "I'm sad to have to no real clearly defined plan for the fall as I have for the previous 22 years of my life" entry starts to turn into a ramble, I'll leave it with some thoughts/suggestions...

- For h.s. actually enjoy it, but don't take it seriously.  It's only a small part of your life, and there is SO much more outside those walls that you fail to recognize while you're there.
- College is only four years (for most), so enjoy every aspect.  Go to classes that are hard.  Take random classes on odd topics.  Talk to people. 
- TAKE OFF YOUR IPOD ON THE BUS/WHEN WALKING AROUND CAMPUS.  How can you enjoy people, your surroundings, if you're stuck in your own little world.
- Join clubs and get involved.  Sounds cliche, but that's how you try new things and meet people.  Don't just stick with the same stuff each year, try something new.  (this is the one I would change up!)
-Road trip.  Go nowhere important, just go!
- Have no regrets.  Life is what you make of it.  At the time you're making decisions on going out, dating whom, what classes to take, you're making the decision that you feel is best for you then.  So have no regrets just live it up in everything you do!

*For now I'll try to stay off my college soap box.  No doubt, I'm sad not to be heading back to Happy Valley and starting classes tomorrow!  BUT I know I'll find something eventually, and until then, that same bed I had at home for the past 22 years of school will be waiting for me each night.

A job I hated...

So the summer is wrapping up officially.  When the Steeler's are on TV you know it's fall and I'm monster sad as I didn't even see summer happen.  With the summer wrapping up everyone is off to new/the same things.  For the first time in 17 + years (I went to preschool for my whole early childhood!) I'm not heading back to school, and while in weeks to come I'll surely reflect on that, for now I look back at the summer.  I realize you have to do what you want to get where you want, and you need to pay attention to the people you meet along the way.  This summer was a trial and test, both fun and frustrating, and that's only the start of the list. 

I did an unpaid internship with some really great people, then to be able to pretend to pay my rent and afford to live (thanks Mom for actually making me able to) I worked on MY marina and as a cashier in a parking garage.  This is where I met some of the craziest, most obnoxious, fun and friendly, intelligent and respectable people... 

Looking at these people they aren't people I would pick and choose as friends.  They come from backgrounds, lifestyles far different than mine.  Not to make theirs or mine right or wrong, but I noticed today, that there is a small common bond of working in the parking garage.  A silent code of camaraderie.  At my internship we all had a lot more in common.  Conversation came easily.  We all shared common college tales, lifestyles growing up, same favorite TV shows, free time activities, and even life goals.  While each of us were different, these are the people I could see myself interacting with throughout the summer, and the type of people I'll surely interact with for years to come.  But the people in the garage, from such different lifestyles, these are the people I think I'll remember the most.  The simpleness of knowing we were all working to get by, most with dreams of moving on, and just stopping by to earn some cash on the way.  Learning the dreams some of these people have, learning about their hobbies that are so different then mine, this created a bigger camaraderie then what I would have anticipated starting the job this summer.  These are the people I'll remember.  Possibly, in the long run these are the people who impacted my life more.  I've been exposed to different cultures, different music, different hobbies, all because I took a job I hated.  I listened to other peoples dreams while telling them mine.  And when they wished me well as I leave them behind next week, I actually think they are sincere....

Crazy how things work out.

-M

So it begins...

After all that time in college where I was told blogging was a good idea, and I didn't listen, here I am.  I thought who would read a word I wrote and I still ask myself that.  (I also thought the same with Twitter, but in a few short days of signing into that account after months away, I've already got followers... and they're ppl I actually know! AND I actually am tweeting and am way to addicted!)

So now that college is done, the delay of finding a real job is done (internship was definitely good), I think I'll fill my time by writing to myself, and maybe perhaps entertaining you cyberworld people!  Either way, we'll all go to sleep happy and content... I hope!  So here goes to my thoughts on life, on people, on topics, on everything and nothing that matters... I believe you can have your Kake and eat it too...


*I'll just through this disclaimer in now... I DO know how to spell cake, but when you're name has a k in it and you love cake and by only changing one letter you can make the very/similar word... you get the point I hope...