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Aimee is Happy
Feb. 13th, 2003 12:19 amQuitting college is the best feeling in the world. I feel so upbeat and relieved and excited and optimistic. Someday I'll go back, but that is in the future, and I don't have to worry about it, and IT'S OK that I'm taking a break. College is there whenever I need it. I don't need to feel rushed to complete it in the prescribed way. There are so many opportunities out there for someone willing to put in effort. Right now, what I need is to give my brain a rest before it explodes and to do physical work, be social with other people out in the world, so that I feel strong and healthy in my body and connected to humanity.
I'm joining Americorps. I had a visit with my counselor today (did I ever mention a few months ago that I started seeing a counselor at YWCA?). We talked about what I need in life right now and some different options that I have. She was very encouraging, and it was so reassuring to finally have an adult that I look up to telling me that it's ok for me to quit college, that it doesn't mean that I'm giving up or that I'm irresponsible or that I'm making a huge mistake which will follow me for the rest of my life. She said that a lot of her friends are in or have been in Americorps and that it's a great program for people who want to gain life/work/etc. experience while having a fulfilling job that pays (min. wage) and contributes to the community. Unlike Peace Corps (which is still a future possibility for me), you don't have to have a college degree or be fluent in another language.
My counselor told me the experiences of some of her friends. One of them went up to Alaska for a year with nothing but a willingness to learn the neccessary skills and work hard, and she worked out in the wilderness, building and maintaining backcountry trails. God, that sounds so very much like what I need. My counselor gave me other ideas in addition to AmeriCorps, which I'd alreading been considering. She herself worked for four years doing wilderness therapy with drug/achohol addicted or troubled youths. So I'm looking into maybe volunteering as an assistant or something in that also.
I'm joining Americorps. I had a visit with my counselor today (did I ever mention a few months ago that I started seeing a counselor at YWCA?). We talked about what I need in life right now and some different options that I have. She was very encouraging, and it was so reassuring to finally have an adult that I look up to telling me that it's ok for me to quit college, that it doesn't mean that I'm giving up or that I'm irresponsible or that I'm making a huge mistake which will follow me for the rest of my life. She said that a lot of her friends are in or have been in Americorps and that it's a great program for people who want to gain life/work/etc. experience while having a fulfilling job that pays (min. wage) and contributes to the community. Unlike Peace Corps (which is still a future possibility for me), you don't have to have a college degree or be fluent in another language.
My counselor told me the experiences of some of her friends. One of them went up to Alaska for a year with nothing but a willingness to learn the neccessary skills and work hard, and she worked out in the wilderness, building and maintaining backcountry trails. God, that sounds so very much like what I need. My counselor gave me other ideas in addition to AmeriCorps, which I'd alreading been considering. She herself worked for four years doing wilderness therapy with drug/achohol addicted or troubled youths. So I'm looking into maybe volunteering as an assistant or something in that also.
