Children of the World
Last night about 2:30 a.m., I was talking to an acquaintance of mine on Facebook. His name is Alex, and we met briefly when I visited Camp Howe two summers ago as part of my research for my thesis. He's big into the camp scene and working with kids, especially kids with special needs. He's the only person from that trip I've kept in contact with, and it's really only because of his efforts. He'll message me on Facebook chat or AIM (the few times a year a sign on), and we've even talked on the phone a few times. He's a pretty cool guy.
Last night he asked me what's going on with my life, my job. I told him I was still working at Galway Bay, that I could see myself getting sucked into Restaurant World for longer than the 1-2 year break I planned.
He responded,"You've graduated, lady. Go change the world or something."
I told him that I needed a break after being serious in school for so long. "I'm kind of tired of being amazing. I like being normal and mediocre for now."
His response completely pissed me off, especially from someone I don't know intimately:
"You're telling me you were amazing when I met you two years ago? No, you're pretty much the same child you are now."
(A) Who is he to say? We hardly know each other! He just thinks I'm a big floozy for whatever reason- a constant flirt.
(B) What a judgmental thing to say regardless! If we're talking about being a child, I think it's pretty damn naive to think that you can change the world. That's cynical of me, I know, but I'm so tired of hearing that. It's just cliche, it's not realistic or an effective means of motivation, if you ask me.
I think I've grown up a lot since leaving College. It might not be in the altruistic kind of way that people like Alex want, but I like who I am now. I'm way more relaxed and fun, far more sociable. No, I don't plan on being a waitress forever, but I think it's just where I need to be now, and I think that's incredibly mature to realize. Sure, Restaurant World is self-indulgent, but I need to really get to know myself before I jump into a career. And I need to get reacquainted with the world too. After living in Academia and Camp World for so long, you forget what the rest of it is like. I needed to remember. It's pretty damn different. You can't just know THAT it's different, you have to know HOW it's different.
That's what I'm figuring out. It's not the Family of Four friendly place that it seems to be when you work with kids all the time or watch too many Target commercials. Lots of people are alone and sad and struggling. They're not interested in that cuddly stuff. Granted, those sad realizations come from the Camp World too, when you meet a kid who's been abandoned and doesn't have anyone to go home to. But this is the way I'VE chosen to go about my life research, and it's not up for judgement.
But hey, if Alex wants to call me a child, go ahead. One thing I've learned is that no one ever really grows up.
Last night he asked me what's going on with my life, my job. I told him I was still working at Galway Bay, that I could see myself getting sucked into Restaurant World for longer than the 1-2 year break I planned.
He responded,"You've graduated, lady. Go change the world or something."
I told him that I needed a break after being serious in school for so long. "I'm kind of tired of being amazing. I like being normal and mediocre for now."
His response completely pissed me off, especially from someone I don't know intimately:
"You're telling me you were amazing when I met you two years ago? No, you're pretty much the same child you are now."
(A) Who is he to say? We hardly know each other! He just thinks I'm a big floozy for whatever reason- a constant flirt.
(B) What a judgmental thing to say regardless! If we're talking about being a child, I think it's pretty damn naive to think that you can change the world. That's cynical of me, I know, but I'm so tired of hearing that. It's just cliche, it's not realistic or an effective means of motivation, if you ask me.
I think I've grown up a lot since leaving College. It might not be in the altruistic kind of way that people like Alex want, but I like who I am now. I'm way more relaxed and fun, far more sociable. No, I don't plan on being a waitress forever, but I think it's just where I need to be now, and I think that's incredibly mature to realize. Sure, Restaurant World is self-indulgent, but I need to really get to know myself before I jump into a career. And I need to get reacquainted with the world too. After living in Academia and Camp World for so long, you forget what the rest of it is like. I needed to remember. It's pretty damn different. You can't just know THAT it's different, you have to know HOW it's different.
That's what I'm figuring out. It's not the Family of Four friendly place that it seems to be when you work with kids all the time or watch too many Target commercials. Lots of people are alone and sad and struggling. They're not interested in that cuddly stuff. Granted, those sad realizations come from the Camp World too, when you meet a kid who's been abandoned and doesn't have anyone to go home to. But this is the way I'VE chosen to go about my life research, and it's not up for judgement.
But hey, if Alex wants to call me a child, go ahead. One thing I've learned is that no one ever really grows up.