Utensils for Life

Post collegiate graduation: the most confusing, stressful, and overwhelming time of my short life so far. Moving from the beautiful grunge of Isla Vista which I came to know and love so much, to the original homeland of El Cerrito was, and still is quite the transition. No longer can I walk from the front door of my house on Pasado to the beach, bars, Thunderdome, and University Center (while stopping at every other house along the way to say "hi" to friends) all in one trip.

Now, all of us fresh graduates have the ecstasy of academic freedom coursing through us, coupled with the depressive sensation of unemployment and uncertainty as to what where our lives will lead us now. Until now, we've all had a rough outline sketched out for us as to where we will go, or what we will do. Being the food lover that I am, I have often mentally compared this situation to a set of utensils at a fine dining restaurant - humor me:

Similar to the sense that you are expected to use your utensils in a certain order, your path through academia is much alike. Everyone is expected to use your butter knife first, simply preparing you for the bigger and better things to come, just like elementary school. Moving along, the salad fork (NOT the dinner fork) and soup spoons are essentially ensuring your palate is ready to take on the main course, just as middle school readies you for high school. As you finish middle school, you are ready to pick up the dinner fork and knife, showing that you mean business. Dessert, or in this analogy "college," is the sweetest part of any persons life meal; but some care for it and some don't.

We've all finished our dessert, and there are no more guidelines as to where our life path goes now; the utensils are all used up. Watching my class peers, friends, and girlfriend all go very different directions after college has made me realize that the next course in my life's meal should be one that I can enjoy. Whether it be work, travel, a vacation, or anything else that you decide to do, you should love doing it and want to keep coming back everyday. So eat dessert with your knife, and butter your bread with your spoon, because now you are setting the guidelines for yourself. Don't worry about the bill because however expensive it may turn out to be, if you loved the meal, it's worth it.