So here I was sitting in my apartment in Laramie, when my grandma calls me up and asks me to go to Ireland with her. A dream of mine has been to travel the world one day and this sounded like an amazing opportunity that I could not pass up.
A month later in April, coming towards the end of the semester, I packed up my bags, gathered my belongings and took the shuttle to DIA. I was ditching a week of work and school, but here I was more nervous about the layovers I would encounter as opposed to all the material I was missing.
Before I continue, you should know some things about me. I do not show up to class late, instead I leave half an hour early to get there. It is a rare occasion if I actually ditch a class. This semester I am taking 18 credits and I could graduate a semester early (in December) if I really wanted to.
This semester all I have done is go to class from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. every day, then work from 4-7 p.m. When I got home, I would eat dinner, do homework and go to bed. I would live my life looking forward to the weekends instead of living day to day. That is my college. That was my college.
Growing up, I was constantly told that school is the most important thing. That grades and a good GPA define you and what you are capable of. Hell, I am sure we all dealt with this societal pressure and expectations.
The journey and adventure I had this past week, changed this whole idea for me. In ten years, I am not going to be sitting back and telling my friends and family about that Spanish quiz I took and how exhilarating it made me feel. No, I am going to tell them about the time I spent with my family in another country learning another way of life, and a new culture.
The whole time my grandma was with me, she kept saying, “Travel while you’re young.” This affected me. One, because I know my grandma was hurting and that as amazing as this trip was to her, she was feeling pain. Two, I thought about how she had a point. My first answer when asked to go to Ireland was no. I had school and work that I couldn’t skip out on for a whim. My mom and Dad were the people that convinced me to go. They told me I could retake any class, this was a once and lifetime opportunity and not taking advantage of it would be dumb.
Take experiences when they come forth, because one day you will not be able to do those things that you put off when you were young. I used to think the most important thing in my life was graduating, having good grades and being a perfect student.
I was wrong. I read something once that said when you’re young you have energy, time but no money. Then in your middle ages, you have energy, money but no time. When you are retired, you have all the money and time but no energy. I believe you should do things while you’re young, make time and you can always make more money.
So this is where my opinion comes in. Do things while you are young and able. Do not stress about that exam, there is always another, and if you fail, take the class again. Instead, do things that give you fulfillment and joy. Do things that make you happy. Sure, people will judge and question your life choices, but that is exactly what they are- your life choices.
This trip I proved something to myself.
I felt blessed. Blessed to have had this opportunity. Blessed to be able to say, “I did this, and I lived this.” So do not be afraid to jump outside of your comfort zone and take risks. To blow off responsibilities for a day and do what makes you happy. Do you. Be you.
