I’ve been at loose ends, mentally, the last several days. A few weeks ago I wrote a brief, cryptic post about longing for a change. Well, though not quite as I imagined it, that change is happening.
In just a few weeks I’ll be applying to Evergreen State College in Washington (state, not district) for their sustainability program – with the plan of studying sustainable agriculture and food systems, with a heavy focus on writing. Evergreen has an interdisciplinary program, so I’ll be able to craft my coursework to suit my goals. I’m not entirely sure what the outcome of this adventure will be – could be work in food policy (me, a lobbyist?!), directing a food systems related nonprofit, or maybe working to restore life to soils depleted by industrial ag abuses – but as the Monkey wisely says, “Almost no one goes to college knowing what they’re going to do when they get out. You may be an adult, but you get that luxury too.”
I should interject here that I never attended college to begin with. It’s not a path I’d recommend but it was mine, and overall I’ve done alright by it. Tenacity counts for a hell of a lot in this world, and if you’re relatively bright, that plus tenacity will pull you through. But I have learned one thing: being an expert in the thing you do opens many doors, and saves you a whole lot of grief. I’m ready to be an expert, and I have identified a passion that will inspire my tenacity.
What’s more, the Monkey, saint that he is, is totally down with uprooting ourselves from our really-very-comfortable-and-satisfying life in Washington, DC and being sole-breadwinner for a few years to make this happen. Can you believe this guy? I think he loves me. And we’re looking square in the eyeballs of an adventure to a land unknown (where the heck is Olympia?) where we might *gasp* afford a place to live that includes ground! (Don’t get me wrong, I love our 10th floor digs and the balcony garden overlooking this diverse and august city.) I do love adventures.
All romanticism aside, I’ve also enrolled at University of the District of Columbia’s community college for math classes this year. It’s been a looong time since high school. If I’m gonna fail a college math class (which is possible, folks) I’d rather do it at $30 a credit hour than $200. Also, if I don’t fail, I have a few credits to transfer. Oh boy, math classes. Nothing like a cold splash of algebra review to snap you out of a collegiate reverie.
To make it up to myself, I also registered for a Food Writing Workshop hosted by the Smithsonian’s Resident Associate Program. (Thanks to Jen at My Morning Chocolate for her tweet about the class a few weeks back!)
If nothing else, this will all be fodder for One/Week. And, there’s a good chance it will be more than “nothing else”.
Sheer awesomeness. You go.
Hey congrats Dragonkat! Now that’s what I call an adventure. I’ve been to Olympia and there abouts once. I remember going to a state college, maybe it was Evergreen. It was raining on that trip, but gosh was the land beautiful!
Yep, must be true love.
Best of luck!
First of all, YIPPEE, I think this is awesome — but you knew that.
Second of all…I hope you know you are far more than ‘relatively bright’ — you are kick-ass smart. That brain of yours is a helluva thing.
Watch out world, here comes Katie Jett.
Congratulations! I know what it’s like to uproot a comfortable life and drive head-first into the discomfort that growth often requires…and I know you will be happier for it.
Also, like Amanda said, you’re pretty damn smart. I hope Washington State is ready for you guys! All the hippies out there better get themselves organized and cleaned up…
Thanks, everyone! This is starting to feel real.
VERY awesome