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kcme · 12-03-2004, 12:30 AM

I am currently a college freshman, and for certain reasons will most likely not be returning to the school I am currently at for the spring semester. The school that I wish to go to recommends that I apply for the Fall semester of next year as a sophmore (credits will be no problem). However, where I currently go is simply to expensive to remain for the duration of the year, especially if I feel that I am not getting all that I could be, or should be, getting out of it. At present I am evaluating what to do from now until then, and was looking for some insight. While my parents may expect me to work at my old summer job for the whole time, but I see this as an opportunity to get out and experience something about the world that I wouldn't otherwise be able to. I feel like my life is already charted, that I will go to school, I will get my degree, I will possibly go to grad school, and then I will work/teach/research. I've lived a sheltered suburban life - everything has been planned for me, and will be for the forseeable future. My advisor has told me to get involved in a research group starting after my freshman year. The just isn't the life I want to live, but I feel like there is no way to escape it. So now I have this chance, time to explore, live, while I'm still young. This is the time to assert myself, to direct my future, decide what I want for a change. I have to do something with it, I can't just do nothing - I have to account for my time when I apply to transfer, and I'd rather make it more interesting than simply "I worked."

I'm restless.

So what do I do? I don't see how you can just pick up and go. Whatever I do I have to either make money or somehow break even after I come back (and not run out of money along the way). Perhaps it would help to know a little about me. I am studying the Chinese language, am interested in Chinese culture, Asian art, and Eastern Religion. I will probably be a Math/Physics major, but hopefully will be able to get a degree in either English or Art History. I've never been outside of North America (Canada for hockey, Mexico on a cruise). I would love to go to China, but I can't enter a study abroad program for the Spring semester. What can one do in China for several months? I have read Buddhist teaching with great interest and respect, and would like to spend several months at a monastery working, studying, reflecting, living. How do I just go somewhere, and live? When I was studying computer science I ran across Jos Claerbout. His life has since been an inspiration to me, reminding me to think for myself, live as myself.

I think I left a lot of things out above, but I want to be as brief as possible. My question is: what can I do, where can I go, how can I live, for 8 months as a 19 year old. Maybe I'm just being stupid, and in the end I'll just work for 8 months, save money. But that's not what I want. That's not the life I want. So what do i do?

12-03-2004, 12:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
kcme Upright	Taking a semester off, what to do? I am currently a college freshman, and for certain reasons will most likely not be returning to the school I am currently at for the spring semester. The school that I wish to go to recommends that I apply for the Fall semester of next year as a sophmore (credits will be no problem). However, where I currently go is simply to expensive to remain for the duration of the year, especially if I feel that I am not getting all that I could be, or should be, getting out of it. At present I am evaluating what to do from now until then, and was looking for some insight. While my parents may expect me to work at my old summer job for the whole time, but I see this as an opportunity to get out and experience something about the world that I wouldn't otherwise be able to. I feel like my life is already charted, that I will go to school, I will get my degree, I will possibly go to grad school, and then I will work/teach/research. I've lived a sheltered suburban life - everything has been planned for me, and will be for the forseeable future. My advisor has told me to get involved in a research group starting after my freshman year. The just isn't the life I want to live, but I feel like there is no way to escape it. So now I have this chance, time to explore, live, while I'm still young. This is the time to assert myself, to direct my future, decide what I want for a change. I have to do something with it, I can't just do nothing - I have to account for my time when I apply to transfer, and I'd rather make it more interesting than simply "I worked." I'm restless. So what do I do? I don't see how you can just pick up and go. Whatever I do I have to either make money or somehow break even after I come back (and not run out of money along the way). Perhaps it would help to know a little about me. I am studying the Chinese language, am interested in Chinese culture, Asian art, and Eastern Religion. I will probably be a Math/Physics major, but hopefully will be able to get a degree in either English or Art History. I've never been outside of North America (Canada for hockey, Mexico on a cruise). I would love to go to China, but I can't enter a study abroad program for the Spring semester. What can one do in China for several months? I have read Buddhist teaching with great interest and respect, and would like to spend several months at a monastery working, studying, reflecting, living. How do I just go somewhere, and live? When I was studying computer science I ran across Jos Claerbout. His life has since been an inspiration to me, reminding me to think for myself, live as myself. I think I left a lot of things out above, but I want to be as brief as possible. My question is: what can I do, where can I go, how can I live, for 8 months as a 19 year old. Maybe I'm just being stupid, and in the end I'll just work for 8 months, save money. But that's not what I want. That's not the life I want. So what do i do?