College Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude!!!!

[WilliamPitt]

Tell me about it! How's things!

Yeah, you were missed.

[sasquatch]

1. I never went

I went to fucking trade school instead so know I have to take correspondents to get the right High School credits to get in college.:argh:

[WilliamPitt]

2. No no no

I am seeking a particular DUer named 'College Dude.'

That being said: I'm sorry. If you ever need a recommendation, send them my way.

[populistmom]

3. Edited since I'm not college duuuuuuuuudddddde

nevermind

[proud patriot]

4. Hey is he back ?

cool :D

[Mr. Brown of MD]

5. Fucking A, sir!

I have changed my major to Political Science officially and am heading towards some path where I can do that with my life. I don't even know what yet, specifically. It's kind of cheesy, but I feel like I can do something where I can make a difference in the world instead of just being some 9-to-5 salary slave destined for middle management.

This school year I am the Vice President of my campus' chapter of the College Democrats, which basically means everything that the President doesn't want to do (including most real political activities) get foisted upon me. I am also a member of the Legislative Action Committee of the College Democrats of America, a fact that would make me a lot happier if the Exec. Board of said group was not made up of a bunch of people who I find to be schlubs who are incapable of getting anything done.

Over the summer I worked part-time as a cashier at a Food Lion. Not terribly significant, but I feel like I've gotten a good snapshot of how "the system" works (or at least one area of it) and I'm more convinced than before that it really fucking sucks.

On a personal note, I'm presently engaged in a Cold War of sorts with my ex-girlfriend. Long story, that, but in a nutshell it is a pain in the ass to deal with. At least she's in Illinois so I can ignore her for the most part. And at least she no longer comes here because she never understood why I cared so much.

Turning 20 in November. It's too bad I'm not 21.

I'm also finally learning how to drive. Maybe by the winter I'll be able to take some jaunts outside of the Baltimore region on a whim. That's an exciting prospect.

That's all I can think of for now.

How about you, Will?

-CollegeDude
I know that's open ended, heh

[WilliamPitt]

6. That sounds like life

at the fullest, girlfriend bullshit and everything. I envy you your chances and age. I wish I were 20 and able to dive into a PolySci major again. Good stuff. Make some mistakes, bloody your nose. Nobody learns shit by doing everything right.

I am well. Traveled over 30,000 miles since the middle of July spreading the good word to the folks as best I can. Headed to North Carolina on Thursday to do more of the same, and am privileged to be traveling to Amsterdam, London, Oxford, Paris and Toulouse through the first half of October as an ambassador of liberal American values. There's a third book wilting at the printing press, which is frustrating as fuck, but we do the best we can.

[Mr. Brown of MD]

9. Doing the best I can

It was hard telling my parents that I didn't want to major in Computer Science after all. I still kind of feel like they think I'm making a mistake by going with what they see as a "less secure" field. Which kind of stings sometimes, because I like my parents and I'd rather them not think of me as not living up to my potential. But, it's what I want to do, I'll sell them on the idea somehow, and I'll relish the look on their faces when I prove to them that I can make a life out of it.

The ex-girlfriend BS is the first time I've really had to deal with shit like this, and we had been together for a couple of years, so it's pretty nasty, heh. It's an experience, lessons are being learned and mistakes will hopefully not be repeated. I also proudly note that I think she's learned better than to try to fuck with Yours Truly in any arena that requires thought. Damned if DU didn't help me form rock solid arguments.

I gotta say, I envy you in return, what with your opportunity to do that much travel. And for such a good cause. I hope it's been a good trip, and from what I've read on here it sounds like it has been pretty good. Crossing the country and getting the word out. I hope it pays the bills and more, because you deserve it. Your bringing up North Carolina reminds me, I have a couple of friends who are at Chapel Hill and I think I remember reading that you were going to be there. I'll have to nudge them into attendance.

What is the third book about?

-CollegeDude
Continuing my life in brief

[WilliamPitt]

11. The third book

is called 'Our Flag, Too: The Paradox of Patriotism,' and is pretty much just a collection of shit you've already seen on DU. :)

As for the girlfriend thing, take this with you. When I was your age, I was two years gone with a woman who was (and remains to this day) the most gorgeous and soulful creature I have ever had the privilege of knowing. It got all fucked up - distance, college, growing apart, etc. - and ended pretty badly. Most of that was my fault, because I suck, pretty much.

BUT every relationship I have been in since then has been the better because of that woman, and the time we spent, and the mistakes we made, and the damage we did. All of the lessons I learned in that got carried into my dealings with every other woman I cared about. One of these days, I will settle down with a woman and make her happy for the rest of her life because of what I learned when I was 20. So thanks, Michele.

As for your parents, they're gonna be wiggy until you're 30. Cope.

Will
Missed CollegeDude's sub-sigs
:)

Edit: Here's the book -

[Mr. Brown of MD]

12. Sounds like a blast

I hope I'm not sticking my foot in my mouth here (or revealing that I missed some crucial bit of info from a long time ago) but weren't you planning a wedding in the not-so-distant past? I gather that is not in the works any longer.

Distance + relationships = the suck. It was good while it lasted, but bleh, I'm not going to try that again for a while. I guess it can work for some people, but one such person is not a 19 year old going through a major change with regards to what he plans to do with life. Perhaps my thought about that is still a result of the ego sting of her current boyfriend being a dyed-in-the-wool Bushbot. Then again, that's her loss, not mine.

But like I said, lessons learned. Unless I'm a complete dumbass, I won't make most of those mistakes again.

I see your point about the parents, it was just a bit of a shock for me because I thought we were mostly on the same page before now. I guess that's what I get for keeping secrets. Though even now my dad keeps talking about how I should go work for the State Dept. or the CIA or something because I'm learning Japanese. Don't think he understands my dislike of Bush, either. ;)

I will keep an eye out for the book. Always looking for new reading material, even if it's stuff I've seen before.

-CollegeDude
Original user of the sub-sig (or whatever you care to call it)

[WilliamPitt]

13. You gather correctly

and that is a looooooooooooooong story with no telling at this point.

Distance + relationships = the suck. Her loss, your gain, on many levels.

The cool thing about parents is that they are crazy about you. Let 'em in on what you're doing, what you're thinking, what you're feeling, let 'em stew a bit, and 99% of the time they'll be along for the ride. They might surprise you, if you let them.

-Will
Yes, it's a sub-sig, dammit

[WilliamPitt]

14. Oh, P.S.

Everything you need to know about 'the system' was plainly evident at the Food Lion. People go through 15 years of PhDs and post-docs in economics without twigging to that basic shit you can see in the Lotto aisle at 3am on a Tuesday.

[Mr. Brown of MD]

15. My bad

Didn't mean to drag out old skeletons, heh.

It's easier said than done to put all my cards out on the table for the parents, but that's definitely something I will have to do at some point. It's probably better done sooner than later. I think I already know what to say, it's just a matter of saying it. It doesn't seem to come across online, but in person I'm kinda shy even around people I know. So it goes.

On that note, I think I'd better turn in. I've got a 10am lecture and if I keep procrastinating going to sleep it's going to get ugly for me.

Thanks for the chat, Will. :) You know where and how to find me if you need to, or even just want to. Take care!

-CollegeDude
Language classes were not meant for morning lectures

[WilliamPitt]

16. Heh

Speaking of the suck, they always stick the language classes in the morning. Mine were at 8am. That was the suck.

[cherryperry]

7. I'm so glad you started a thread on this.

eom

[WilliamPitt]

8. Oh hush

:)

[Mr. Brown of MD]

10. Hey, me too

That makes two of us, eh?

-CollegeDude
Not Canadian

[cherryperry]

17. Why don't you start a thread on it? eom