December 3 – Moment.
Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).
(Author: Ali Edwards)
Orientation: To say I am a non-traditional student is an understatement. How non-traditional is none of your damn business
I was "job-eliminated last December and months of unsuccessful hunting finally resulted in an "Uncle" moment. You know like when you were a kid and someone had you in a head lock and would not let go until you said the magical (and nonsensical) release word: UNCLE! So I said "uncle" and became what I am sure is the oldest freshman at our local university.
To say all of orientation was the most enlivening experience of my year would be reason enough to commit myself. Much of it was snoresville. There was this moment though. I was sitting in this auditorium looking at this kid reading his orientation material when I felt the page turn.
The chairs are too small and to hard for comfort. The little desk-flap that is attached to each of them is ridiculous! My cell phone looks big sitting on it. Turns out his name is Alex. I met him later in a class. But he is sitting there, behind people I assume are his parents. He's a handsome kid. Starving-indie-type. Far too cool to sit with the parentals, so he sits a row behind. Symbolism much? The sun is streaming in and the dusty rays threaten to beam him up to somewhere. he looks positively angelic. I think how lucky he is and I wonder if he knows. I never had a family that pushed me. At his age, around the time Alex was driving in this morning, I would have been passed out from another misspent night or getting up to go to work in a liquor store. Things got a lot worse as the years went on. I've been making up for that lack of push for many a year.
I realize at that moment that this is a better late then even scenario if ever there is one. I am scared and uncertain and not sure what the future holds. Just like every other nineteen year old in the room. Right on!
Sam's unsolicited advice: Do everything you can for your kids so to set them up with a good start. If you think you already have...do a little more.
Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).
(Author: Ali Edwards)
Orientation: To say I am a non-traditional student is an understatement. How non-traditional is none of your damn business
I was "job-eliminated last December and months of unsuccessful hunting finally resulted in an "Uncle" moment. You know like when you were a kid and someone had you in a head lock and would not let go until you said the magical (and nonsensical) release word: UNCLE! So I said "uncle" and became what I am sure is the oldest freshman at our local university.
To say all of orientation was the most enlivening experience of my year would be reason enough to commit myself. Much of it was snoresville. There was this moment though. I was sitting in this auditorium looking at this kid reading his orientation material when I felt the page turn.
The chairs are too small and to hard for comfort. The little desk-flap that is attached to each of them is ridiculous! My cell phone looks big sitting on it. Turns out his name is Alex. I met him later in a class. But he is sitting there, behind people I assume are his parents. He's a handsome kid. Starving-indie-type. Far too cool to sit with the parentals, so he sits a row behind. Symbolism much? The sun is streaming in and the dusty rays threaten to beam him up to somewhere. he looks positively angelic. I think how lucky he is and I wonder if he knows. I never had a family that pushed me. At his age, around the time Alex was driving in this morning, I would have been passed out from another misspent night or getting up to go to work in a liquor store. Things got a lot worse as the years went on. I've been making up for that lack of push for many a year.
I realize at that moment that this is a better late then even scenario if ever there is one. I am scared and uncertain and not sure what the future holds. Just like every other nineteen year old in the room. Right on!
Sam's unsolicited advice: Do everything you can for your kids so to set them up with a good start. If you think you already have...do a little more.
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