Annnd we are BACK

My week long trip is over. Time as a concept is a weird thing. It is always the same speed yet can feel different depending on environment. The trip to Philadelphia and New York I just took to see some of my closest friends felt like it sped by going 150mph. Even the lead up and planning was quick. Yet, I have been out of college for 1.5 years now and it feels way longer. Why did my previous month fly by when the other 17 felt like a turtle's pace? No idea and not my focus today.

I missed writing while I was away. Sure, no one may ever read these except me but I enjoy getting my thoughts out there either way. It also forces me to be authentic and improve getting personal thoughts into public messages to polish up my presentation and speaking vocabulary (I want to be a politician one day after all...). 

During my trip, I worked remote each day and didn't sleep much, but well worth it for the time with friends. There was one point that I noticed right away, something my friend called an "adrenaline" rush. It was the time you spend doing something to escape from work and the "real world." What activities help you escape?

Being back with a college friend, it was clear that his world was still homework, school, baseball, and social circles involving college despite him being my age. There is nothing wrong with this at all. Some people love that environment and I did too for my 4 years. It was just different seeing it from the outside, working adult perspective is all. And what really blew my mind was the "adrenaline" habits or better said as "what are you doing to occupy your free time?" The kids in college went to bars, sat on social media, and played video games. I understand that not everyone does this but it feels like 99% do. There is no extra reading on your own, drawing or creating, language learning, skill development, professional development, diet or cooking skill improvements, etc. It is all leisure activities relating to those 3 things. In a way, I thought about my last year and what I have worked towards: starting job, job development, personal business development, language acquisition for dual citizenship, and cooking skill development. I also blog daily, read daily, run daily, and have found myself and my goals again. And side note, my time spent on my phone is way down during this time too.

Now this is not to compare or brag or complain, just simply a contrast. I was left leaving "why?" Why do college kids spend their free time doing this? Why is their fun those 3 activities and what is holding them back from doing something else? Is it too much homework or the social environment? Is it lack of access to other resources? Is it a way to shape up before the real world and thus gets treated as a last hurrah of sorts?

College is a great place and an opportunity to find yourself, your career, your spouse, your passions, or escape your hometown among other things. But at the same time, is it unleashing your true potential like each college claims or is holding you back? The experience is up to you.

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