Major Change

What did you think you would be when you grew up? Does it surprise you to see where you are now, compared to what you thought you'd be as a child? I've just finished watching the British documentary, 49 Up, a film that interviews the same people at age 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and finally, 49.

Not surprising to most, I always thought I'd end up on the big screen. Ha! Fast forward to freshman year of college at the University of Michigan. A professor assigned a paper on the liberal arts. At two in the morning the night before it was due, I still hadn't started it. I began instead to write a short story.

Years on, I can't locate a copy of the short story and neither can my professor (now a good friend). All I recall is that the story was a farcical take on the university environment. Professor Masterson is in his office on a cold and snowy winter's night. He's being interrogated by a police officer. A student has thrown herself into the "fish bowl" (think the Louvre's inverted pyramid only spherical) at U of M, thus ending her life. In a suicide note, she claims she did it because she couldn't decide on a major.

My teacher asked me to stay after class. I thought I was in trouble. Instead, he congratulated me and said I should consider a writing life. A few weeks later, I changed my major from theater to creative writing.

"A butterfly doesn't live very long, but delights in opening and closing its wings, being beautiful for everyone, enjoying the sunshine. Perhaps there isn't any more to life than that, just being what you are, realizing that life goes on all around you and there are millions of other creatures that have to find their part as well." - paraphrased from 49Up

Go forth and enjoy the sunshine.