learning.

October 18, 2009  •  Leave a Comment

I just put the finishing touches on my final assignment for the semester. Once I turn it in tomorrow morning, I will only have 6 more days of classes here in Cape Town, and only 34 more days total. Shocking. 

 
What's more shocking is that this means I'm halfway finished with my junior year of college. It really occurred to me this morning how much I'm going to miss school. Not necessarily living in dorms, dealing with drama, etc. But classes, and learning. I really enjoying expanding my knowledge on almost any topic, and it will be difficult to continue learning without college. Of course, this is not to say that I'll be done with school after my Senior year. As much as I would love to say goodbye to homework and tests, it is almost guaranteed that I'll go to some sort of schooling after my undergrad. Whether it'll be real grad school, or technical school -- following in my brother's footsteps-- I'm not quite sure. However, the more pictures I take, the more certain I become that I want to keep taking them. And hopefully, someday, pay the bills with pictures. But that's a decision for another day, or year. 
 
This, of course, is yet another thing I've learned during  my time in Cape Town: the true meaning of "crossing that bridge when you come to it". In the past, I have wasted hours, and days, trying to plan out exactly what's going to happen for me in the future. My job. My friends. My relationships, marriage, kids, blah blah blah. 
 
Cape Town has taught me to live for today. Of course, you always need to keep tomorrow in mind, but today is all that matters. Tomorrow is never a guarantee, its a privilege. 
 
(Ha. That reminds me of my other lesson: A microwave is a privilege, not a guarantee). 
 
You can plan and plan for tomorrow, but when you've reached your last tomorrow, will you have wasted all of your todays?
 
So yes, now school is coming to a close, and soon also will my time in South Africa. S'Africa. But it is not, nor will it ever been a concern, that I wasted my time here. My todays here. I am certain that my days spent in Cape Town are easily the most valued days I have had yet in my short 20 years of living, and I hope that I can continue that trend after arriving home. 
 
Of course the transition to home will undoubtedly be a challenge. I left a lot of loose ends when I left, and will need to start along the path of tying them up. That's not going to be easy, because, per usual, they affect other people in my life. 
 
The thing I've realized as well, is that I learned so much from Cape Town because it was a natural challenge. I don't learn nearly enough at home -- life learning that is, not school -- because it is no longer a challenge. It's just home. So to counteract this, I'm planning on a series of changes for myself, to make sure I continue along the path of appreciation, self-awareness, and learning I've begun here. 
 
They aren't anything major. And of course, they aren't anything foolish. But I do think they are important. I just wish I could teach others how important continued learning is...well beyond the school years. 
 
Anyway...if you didn't read it all, at least read this:
 
Neither microwaves nor tomorrows are a guarantee. 
333KEC

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