Vagabond

After a year's hiatus from undergraduate academia, I am finally finishing my last two semesters, and am en route to receiving my bachelor's degree. My return to college is something I'm thrilled about; while being an intern at Disney World was naturally awesome and exciting, I have definitely missed learning, especially after a summer of work. So, after last week's two days of semester boot camp, today marks my first actual week of classes. And I am truly excited.

But this time around, things are different. College has been a longer journey for me than for most; while others have a four-year plan, my own academic plan has been marred with hardships and spotted with leaves of absence. Such are the struggles of one who is paying his own way through school. So while many familiar faces have been with me for the majority of my college life, it is now that I am noticing just how many faces have moved on - either upon graduating, or simply transferring elsewhere. It's strange to be in such a familiar place where I've known many, yet look around and see that I'm surrounded by strangers. Taking a year's break from college will do that, of course, but I've noticed this phenomenon especially since school started. Aside from faculty, I hardly know anyone here anymore.

It's sobering. But it is also refreshing.

The sobering side of it is this: Meeting so many individuals and living with them as they experienced college was wonderful. I am a social being, and loved the friend circles that college offered me. Sure, I made a lot of friends in college; and yes, I still know many of them. But the reality is this: College is simply a fleeting phase of life; and inevitably, all of us will end up going our own ways. Seeing so many of my friends moving on with life is definitely thought provoking as I watch my own chapters of academia coming to a close. But being surrounded by strangers, at times I feel like a vagabond in my own college home.

However, this is also a refreshing time. I'm more focused than ever on success. No longer am I subject to the judgment of peers who have seen me transform from an odd, awkward humanoid into a thriving, less-awkward individual. No longer am I plagued with the drama of what's happening in friend circles, who's dating who, or what happened last night in a friend circle. Of the few familiar faces I still see here - fellow students and faculty - most of them have had journeys similar to my own. We've experienced hardships together, helped each other through them, been there to support each other, and grown stronger for it. These are lifelong friends, and I'm so happy to share the last semesters of my own college experience with them.

Though they are few, I'm thankful for the familiar faces I can still see on a daily basis. And as I am now getting into the full swing of this semester, I'm more excited than ever to see how much I learn throughout the rest of the year. And though at times I may feel like a vagabond in my own college home, I know I am here for a reason... and I am okay with that.


**let things fall as they may**

- Knolster

August

August is a wonderful month, but is also an odd month. A summer month, but one that hints at a fast-approaching autumn. For me, it's a transition month; it marks the end of summer, and it's around this time that I realize that the year is two thirds gone. Seriously, where does the time go?

For this boy, summer has been a true journey. Lots of things have happened... I bought new camera equipment, smashed my thumb (literally), couldn't work for two months, de-junked my stuff (still ongoing), and am reorganizing my bedroom. On top of all of that, I'm preparing to tackle my last two semesters of college and get my degree in graphic design. I feel good.

Another development. There's this girl I've known for four years, and we've been talking. And when I say "talking" here, I mean we've literally been talking or texting every waking moment for the past three months. We've grown unbelievably close, and it's getting more and more obvious to us (and everyone who knows us fairly well) that something special may be developing here. The only thing that's sad about this situation is the fact that we live almost 500 miles apart; however, she has agreed to a date, and I have promised to visit. I can't wait to see what shenanigans come of this; perhaps I'll be sharing more about her in future posts. Time will tell. But, I must mention the ironic and humorous fact that this is the first time I've talked about my interest in this girl publicly, and August is National Romance Awareness Month. Whatever.

I visited my school the other day to make some arrangements for this coming semester. While I was there, I got to see some close friends who are already on campus for band camp. Having hardly seen anyone for these last seven post-Disney months, I have been more than a bit lonely and bored with my routine of home life and work. I'm too much of a social being to be cooped up like I have been, and seeing some familiar faces was a breath of fresh air.

As school fast approaches, I'm starting to get excited for the last chapters of this year... a return to academia, some added independence, the drama of an unfolding romance, and some much-needed reconnecting with college friends. But for now, here am I. It is August: my month of transition.

More blogs to follow; stay tuned.


**change**

- Knolster