Thoughts on My Impending Milestone Birthday

As many of you may or may not know, I will be turning 21 on Wednesday. For folks who went to school with me, this isn't much of a newsflash, but I'm one of the youngest ones in my friend-group in Whitesburg (of course no one knows this, since they're all dazzled by my wit and maturity... psshh).

Here's what I've been thinking:

1. I'm ready to go back to Oberlin, learn, do homework, read, write, research, and graduate.

2. I'm not going to let the absurdity of the school get me down.

-I will be in a co-op exclusively to eat

-Oberlin has an old-time music ensemble. What the heck. And you know what, I'm not going to let my feelings get hurt when they don't beg me to be in it. I have more authenticity in my big toe than they do in their entire banjo-plucking bodies and I refuse to let them get me down (although the thought of it is getting me down already).

-If a student group I am involved in is making me feel insecure, I will do what I am best at

doing, and simply quit.

-I WILL DO MY HOMEWORK. I WILL NOT CHASE BOYS.

As you can see, Oberlin is creeping back in to my mind. I'm ready to take hard classes, spend my life in the library, eat weird hippie foods, go to awkward parties, and trudge to class through the frozen tundra. I'm not exactly thrilled at the prospect of two more years (or even just a year and a half) there, but it's what I need to do.

3. I need to find a work/life mentor.

The closest thing I have to a mentor right now are a number of people who I love dearly and have made mistakes that I have learned from. I also have a couple of role models who are 4-8 years older than me who I think are the coolest and I strive to emulate. But I really need one really powerful woman who is much older and has been successful in the way I view success. I also need to not be intimidated by this person, which is a huge limiting factor, as I am easily intimidated by awesome women.

4. My life has been pretty durn good so far.

I mean of course there have been ups and a ton of downs and periods when nothing was okay, but if I were to average the highs and the lows, you'd probably come out with a solid okay. And that solid okay translates into "pretty durn good" when you multiply it by all of the wonderful folks who have been a part of my life. I usually dislike it when people say "I've been blessed," but I have truly been blessed with wonderful friends and family throughout my life. I've known some of the most amazing people of all ages and I never cease to be amazed by the human race. Thanks for 21 wonderful years of friendship, love, and support.