An Adoration of Academia

Tuesday night I had the privilege of sitting on a blanket on the grass starring at the cloudy sky surrounded by buildings containing classrooms and ideas. Three of my friends and I stayed up until 2am talking, about theology mostly. First of all, I adore my friends. They are smart and encourage me to think a lot about a lot of things, but also because they are fun and make me feel at home here. Second, I can’t help but realize how different the academic’s life is, even on a social level, from that of my previous life as a nanny. I am being forced to think about so many things that I hadn’t even known I should think about. Granted I am not even taking classes right now, but we still find reason to debate issues of the world and our life. I am not even suggesting that my life as a nanny did not have great discussions of theology or politics, because it surely did. But I feel different. I feel as though mentally I am more alive. I question everything, to the frustration of some and delight of others. I want answers and I want to push myself in ways I didn’t think I’d ever desire. I came to this university just so that I could get my Bachelor’s Degree. That’s it. I wanted to go teach English in Japan mostly, but I was open to anything. I just figured whatever I wanted to do next; getting my degree would make it easier. And now, almost a year after moving to Chicagoland I find myself looking at graduate schools because there is still more that I want to learn. I am still shocked at myself for considering this. My friends here not knowing my previous state of mind get frustrated with me for my disbelieve in myself, but I am just getting used to the idea of grad school. Soon I’ll be on my own bandwagon thinking that it’s actually possible that I could get a masters degree.