Let There Be Light
So, as my bio says, I go to Duke. Yes, it is a great school...one of the best in the country. But sometimes...it really bothers me that I go here. When I got back from Winter Break, I took a look at the people here and realized that most of them disgust me. They're all so caught up in their sororities, fraternities, or fighting to beat out everyone in their class for an A that they aren't the least bit considerate of anyone else. Granted, not everyone here is like that. I have tons of awesome friends and people I don't even consider my friends that are great too. But sometimes the "typical Duke student" is just too much for me to handle. But then I just think to myself, "I have awesome friends...and basketball:-) And when I get out of here, I know I'll be a better person for it.
Well, this guy Emin (last name is really long) wrote an editorial in the Chronicle (school newspaper) today. And he ended it with something that I thought made a lot of sense. And it doesn't really have anything to do with what I've been talking about. I just thought it was good...probably because sometimes I feel like I'm not happy (because of reasons stated earlier). I think it really hit home for me.
"In a world of chronic overachievers, playing it safe can often come before being happy. So as the new year and the new semester get under way and many of you start to think about the future of the relationship you started last semester or get chills every time you remember that you have to have a major by March, just keep in mind that if you're not happy with your life it's ultimately nobody's fault but your own. Stuff happens and circumstances arise but at the end of the day it's up to you to make sure that you're living how you want to live. And since it is your own life, put practicality aside every once in a while, whether it be in your academic or social endeavors, forget how it looks on paper and simply go after what you want."
So, I've realized that the ignorant, arrogant snobs of Duke don't have control over my happiness here if I don't let them. It's going to take a while for me to not let the "typical Duke student" affect me. But I think in time, I can.
Well, this guy Emin (last name is really long) wrote an editorial in the Chronicle (school newspaper) today. And he ended it with something that I thought made a lot of sense. And it doesn't really have anything to do with what I've been talking about. I just thought it was good...probably because sometimes I feel like I'm not happy (because of reasons stated earlier). I think it really hit home for me.
"In a world of chronic overachievers, playing it safe can often come before being happy. So as the new year and the new semester get under way and many of you start to think about the future of the relationship you started last semester or get chills every time you remember that you have to have a major by March, just keep in mind that if you're not happy with your life it's ultimately nobody's fault but your own. Stuff happens and circumstances arise but at the end of the day it's up to you to make sure that you're living how you want to live. And since it is your own life, put practicality aside every once in a while, whether it be in your academic or social endeavors, forget how it looks on paper and simply go after what you want."
So, I've realized that the ignorant, arrogant snobs of Duke don't have control over my happiness here if I don't let them. It's going to take a while for me to not let the "typical Duke student" affect me. But I think in time, I can.