The other day I had to make an excursion to a part of town I rarely get to see; Oakland. Now for those of you who are unfamiliar with Pittsburgh, Oakland is home to dozens of hospitals, colleges and of course The University of Pittsburgh's main campus. The campus sprawls over most of the cement landscape of the neighborhood.
As I stepped off of that bus it felt as though I was being transported to another place in time; a place that I could have and should have been. I walked through the maze of beaten pathways and allowed myself to fantasize that I was one of the lucky students who attended this college.
I pictured myself as one of those scholarly types; backpack strewn across one shoulder, open text book in the other as I casually make my way between classes, smoking a cigarette and enjoying a double latte, extra foam. I swear to you I could feel the intelligence in the air, I could smell the debates brewing amongst students, and I could hear the lecturing of a well-known professor. I suddenly very much needed it to be real; I have this great desire to be a student at a University now.
I can't help but wonder that if my life hadn't turned the corner it did, would I have gotten the chance to be one of these students here or maybe somewhere in Boston? The bigger question I asked myself was that if I had had that chance would I have felt the same admiration and appreciated it the way I did right now? Would I have even took notice of the sprawling campus or the architecture of the old buildings around me? Would I have loved my experience or would I have thrown it all away?
I would have probably ended up wasting a ton of my parents money and a lot of my time. Life happens for a reason. So I didn't get the chance to go off to some great college then, but if I play my cards right I could one day end up walking those paths as an official student, right?
This really struck a chord with me!
ReplyDeleteIt is NEVER too late to chase your dreams. From what little I know of you, there is zero doubt in my mind that if you set yourself to it, you WILL accomplish it.
I feel the same way when walking through schools. I had to go back to my elementary school the other day to vote and 2 things hit me as I walked in. The first was how SMALL everything seemed - it was so much bigger when I was so much smaller! The second was how many shoes have walked this hall, filled by kids who are filled with unlimited potential! May they all be as lucky as I was and get teachers who inspire them to do nothing but their best.
Great post... brought back great memories of secondary and then post-secondary school!
Have a wonderful day!
Absolutely! I say go for it. I am contemplating going BACK to school. While I did appreciate my undergrad studies and the amazing, small campus I attended, I threw away going to med school. *kick self in ass* I think it all happened for a reason, but I still get mad at myself for not just doing it. I say, it's never too late to go to school. Don't give up the dream...if you have that much appreciation, you will be an excellent student and really get the best out of the school you attend!
ReplyDeleteI always wondered what it would be like to go to college. I never had the money or any idea of what I wanted my major to be so I don't want to go and spend all the money I don't have and have no clue as what I'm there for. lol Maybe someday I'll go.
ReplyDeletePicture imperfect,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about things being so small. I recently visited Kennywood ( an amuzement park in Pittsburgh) and I was shocked at how small it really was. When I went there as a kid the place was huge! We would spend the entire day there and when it was finally time to go home we'd cry!
I do plan on going to a "real" college within the next 2 years to earn a bachlor's or maybe even a masters degree, who knows! Thanks for stopping by!
Haley,
ReplyDeleteHey its never too late for you either, you could go to med school! I am working on an associates degree at one of those trade school kinda places and it's nothing like I thought college would be. It is pretty much just high school over again. I am surrounded by immature naive 18-21 year olds that have no clue as to what life is all about! I should be done within the next 6 months and I plan on going to a real college sometime after that. Thanks for stopping by.
Gavin,
ReplyDeleteSeriously I did not know what I wanted to do for a long time and it wasn't until after I took these placement tests that tell what your strenghts are that I figured it out. You could always start at like a junior/community college and get your core classes out of the way until you found something that interested you. I say do it! You'll be so glad you did. I never in a million years thought that I would be a college graduate but yet here I am! Well in 6 more months anyways! Have a great day and think about it, it's never to late to go back!
i really love my school, texas tech, and still often wear the red raider garb. i met my wife there. partied for the first time w/o mom and dad strapping a curfew to my back. busted my ass really for the first time there. ahem, DIDNT inhale for the first time there ; )
ReplyDeleteits good that you desire to go because alot of people just simply go. probably because they feel its whats 'supposed to be done'.
FAAAAABULOUS post!
ReplyDeleteI know that you and I shared the same feeling...
...Life happens for a reason.
It brings us to where we are today.
if I play my cards right I could one day end up walking those paths as an official student, right?
You better believe it.
You GO, girl!
X
P.S. Pittsburgh looks and sounds beautiful!