Category: Musings

Simplicity

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“I brake for birds. I rock a lot of polka dots. I have touched glitter in the last 24 hours. I spend my entire day talking to children … but that doesn’t mean I’m not smart and tough and strong.”

 Jess Day, New Girl

Recently, this quote has inspired me as I face a challenge of entering the adult world. Often I find myself at a loss when adults, and even some of my peers, do not respect me because I choose to indulge my imagination. I find this quite saddening.

Particularly in today’s society, those with immense imaginations and who remain true to themselves should command the most respect. In an age of efficiency, fact, and structure, we tend to lose sight of what makes us human: the capacity of contemplating and giving meaning to the beauties of life. Any who are willing to believe in fantasy, romance, and idealism despite this ever-chilling world view should be applauded, for they are able to see what many no longer can, and that is a rare gift.

So often in my life I have encountered opposition to my fanciful nature, which is altogether disheartening because it is really the only thing I fancy about who I am. However, it has grown into more of a plight as I age. Many tend to write me off as a “dumb blonde” or a simpleton for the sole reason that I find wonderment in the everyday. Yet is not such idealism what inspired some of the greatest art, music, and poetry, an exposé on the everyday in order to enhance human existence?

Indeed, I will vehemently defend the existence of dragons. All of my clothes are floral or polka dot dresses. Flying a kite sounds like time well spent. It is my goal to stop and pet every puppy I see on the street. However, I also work very hard to achieve my goals. I am capable of an insightful discussion on literary works. My independence is something I pride myself on. One must never forget that there are two sides to every coin. I simply choose to laugh easily and be awed by life’s simple pleasures because it makes me happy. Happiness is a virtue, yet somehow it has been debased and warped by the cynicism of today, which casts an immense rain cloud on the human parade.

So here is my advice to you: applaud the romantics, the dreamers, and the idealists. Stop to have a conversation with them and listen to what they have to say. You may find yourself with a new perspective on life that you were previously missing in your haste. Personally, the individual who is content to watch the clouds and make up fanciful stories about what they see seems a very worthwhile companion. Go, surprise yourself, and live a bit simply.

Originally written 8 March 2013

First Semester Reflections

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In six days I will be homeward bound. I almost cannot even fathom that an entire semester has passed since I last laid eyes on my home, Bear, and all that was familiar to me. I can honestly say that these past few months have simultaneously been some of the most challenging yet rewarding of my life.

Some days, when I am feeling rather lonely, I remember the fact that this time last year, attending St Andrews might have been a fantasy. The emotions and frustration that time conjures makes me appreciate every breath of Scottish air I draw. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to explore such a beautiful place while attaining a world-class education. After so many years of being dissatisfied with my high school education, St Andrews, at times, still feels like a fantasy. The students, the locals, the architecture, the classes, and the sea all blend in a glorious harmony that I get to call my life. It is almost as if I am living one of my stories, and I cannot believe it.

Though I have faced some challenges, such as initial homesickness, anonymity, loneliness, and challenging coursework, I could not have asked for a better first semester. Yet unfathomably, everyone asserts that your university experience gets better as the years pass. As ineffably happy as I am today, I do not know if my heart can accommodate any more wonderful experiences.

So I eagerly await what is to come. Yet unlike my high school self, I do not wish for today to end. Instead, I revel in each and every sunrise, smiling gleefully to myself that I am here. I could not have asked for a more rewarding and lovely experience as a St. Andrews student, and I am already ravenous for more.

To quote my favorite hobbit, “The road goes ever on and on…”

Originally written 16 December 2012

Culture Clash

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Perhaps one of the most interesting experiences I have had while being in St Andrews is the strong, often negative, reactions to my being an American student. While I am not naive enough to think that the entire world loves the United States and all its inhabitants, the fact that I have encountered so much negativity is both discouraging and disappointing. Often, my peers are fond of pinning the misdeeds of my nation on my shoulders, forgetting the fact that I am an innocent eighteen-year-old girl. Are we not all here for the same purpose?

However, no matter where we hail from, I think that all the international students deserve some respect and applause for their decision to come to the University of St Andrews, regardless of how long their stay is. Moving away from home to begin university is a huge step in the life of any young adult, yet adding the international factor makes the experience all the more daunting. It saddens me that some of my peers choose to speak so negatively of the American student population, without realizing the fact that many of us are here for the experience of studying abroad, learning about a new culture, and perhaps satisfying life long dreams to see such a beautiful country. How discouraging would it be for someone to essentially tell you to go home after you have waited your whole life to visit their amazing country? It is a saddening occurrence to say the least.

Finally, while I do not expect to be free from the many stereotypes that follow the American students, the way a lot of the other students go about expressing them is disheartening. I have been met with many questions that are inappropriate in their direct support of outdated, often rather rude, stereotypes. When I do not adhere to one, another is quickly put in its place, as if I cannot exist without some negative qualifier that confirms another’s suspicions about American lifestyles. Whatever I seem to say about my home, my upbringing, or my family, I am met with ridicule, which just altogether makes me uncomfortable.

Though I have made many friends here, many of whom hail from such diverse backgrounds, it simply disappoints me that I have met so much negativity simply for my national identity. I am in no way saying that that Americans do not subscribe to similar ideologies about other cultures. However, university is a place full of international students, a safe haven for scholars pursuing their dreams and discovering themselves. Personally, I find the European way of life appealing, and I have fallen madly in love with Scotland, so much so that I do not want to leave once my student visa runs out. All walks of life should be tolerated, and view points expanded while at university.

Originally written 6 October 2012