A Conflict After High School Essay, Research Paper
Hey Erik, turn up that CD bro, that songs hella tight, I haven t heard Sublime for days. For sure, Im so glad track is over, too much to do, you finish rolling that spliff yet B? Yeah man, hook me up with that light on the table, puff, puff. I laid back on Erik s plush, slightly worn leather couch purchased from the Value Village store downtown and watched as he displayed a phat French inhale. I was in a cloudy state with so much on my mind I didn t know where to begin. I was once again in the basement bedroom of my closest friend Erik doing what we did best with nothing else to and needing to conversant about life.
I was at a crossroads in my life, finishing up high school, about to make a decision some said was the biggest Id ever make. What to do after high school? And who better to discuss it with than a life long friend, one who had been there more times than I could count. We both shared ideas and dreams of what we wanted to do and see, some alike, some very dissimilar, but we both knew school somewhere would be the decision. I saw many of my friends, those less confident with themselves, join the military in hopes of finding there calling, for them I hope they do, for myself military was never of the question. I had an idea of higher learning, one which was not well understood, unclear of what I might face and what failure it may result in, perhaps that is why it is most appealing, the uncertainty. Hey man, finish this up and lets roll down to Ryan s and see what he has going on over at his pad. Said Erik. All right I said. As we got up and headed outside towards my shiny green, German sports sedan, eyes startled by the bright, spring, afternoon sun as we exited the front door.
Erik and I had both been excepted to Western and kept it in mind as a good option and often fathomed what it might be like to attend the same school, like we had through middle and high school. Many of my classmates and friends were being accepted by large, famous Universities far from home, some for academics, some for athletics, and others with wealthy parents. For these people I had much happiness, but at the same time a slight jealousy arose wishing I had pursued a larger school. Lack of funds, laziness in the classroom, and a fear of being to far away from home pushed me away from this type of idea. Many of my closer friends were going to attend universities in Washington or in neighboring states, this had created a friendly competition among us for who would be the most successful and who would have the most fun.
Another close friend of mine was Danny, a true friend from which a relied on many of times. Danny and I had met in high school during a freshman geometry class, and right away shared many of the same interests. We had played football together and also ran track in the spring, we went through Spanish together, we got in weekend party fights together, with this man I shared much, which made it hard to separate near the summers end. Danny as well as myself had been excepted to ITT Tech. in Phoenix Arizona, this was a serious consideration for my future, to learn a growing trade with a prosperous salary. I would have the security of a good friend in a strange new place, but I just didn t know what I wanted to do! Danny spent hours trying to convince me of the job possiblities in computers, and the money I would be able to spend after only two years of school. I questioned him about what if computers didn t turn out to be my thing and I decided to peruse a different carrier, I would have no transferable credits and be forced to start all over again. Danny had understood my concerns and continued to offer what support he could, but I was decided that basic freshman classes were what I wanted. I wanted a strong foundation from which to build my future, one I could take anywhere I went, and apply it to any profession I wished. At this point in my life, not knowing what I want to with my uncertain future, could I spend so much money on a school that would only educate me about one thing I wasn t even sure if I really liked. Danny understood my concerns and offered what advice and opinions he had, but they were of no influence. I wished him the best of luck, knowing he would do well and assured him we d stay in touch.
Danny left for school in early August, his phone calls to me are what caused the questions in my head, doubting I had made the right decision not join him in Phoenix. Danny bragged about his luxurious apartment, informed me that school was going by with ease that his school had found him a local job paying well in his field of computer networking. I was happy for him but wasn t sure if I had made the right decesion to not go, here he was having so much success and I wasn t even sure what school I was going to attend! It was time for myself to make a decision, there uncertainty of my life was making me mad, I was so close to a decision but I wasn t sure, I needed time alone to figure out what was right.
After a nights rest at home and a solemn day at school, I decided to stop by Erik s house after class and see what he was up to and do what we normally about this time of day. I rolled into Erik s drive way around 3 o clock on another beautiful spring afternoon, I parked my car beneath an old willow tree that stood about eighty feet tall. I stoped and gazed in awe as the sun lit up a bright background above the old willow tree and the light blue sky bordered its sagging branches forming a well defined silhouette. The warmth felt good on my skin as the sun beat down and the smell of fresh cut grass passed my nose while the sounds a distant guitar were heard in the back ground. I walked around to the back of Erik s house and up to the porch were he was sitting on an old wooden swinging bench practicing a few tunes. I had come to my decision on where to attend school, and I was going to tell him. I wanted to live on the west side of the state, and I was going to Western. I walked up the stairs and sat on a chair across the deck.. How did your day go? I asked. Not bad, not bad, just Delia causing me drama, you know how she is. You think anything more about where your going to school? Yeah man, Im going to give Western a try, what about you? I replied. My parents and I were thinking the same thing last night! Damn yo, were going to go to school together again. We decided not to room together from stories heard by older friends and their past experiences. At this point my mind was at rest, I had figured out the beginning of a plan for the future of my life, how much more complicated could it be I thought?
Later that same evening I went home to have dinner with parents, my mom usually cooks somthing up around 7 o clock every night. I was going to tell them of my decision to attend Western, I was unsure of what I wanted to be but felt that a university was the place for my head to be. Im an only child so my decision was very waited upon, but defiantly not rushed. My mom hollered down stairs that dinner was ready, I went up stairs and sat beside my dad at the dinner table. We carried on a normal daily conversation discussing weather, and how my last week of school was going. I told them I was going to western. Both were excited I had made a decision to further my education and said they were going to help me as much as they could, they also made sure I was going to work for money and grades. Of this I was not concerned and was aware of the sacrifices I must make and I give appreciation to my parents for their help.
As the first quarter of school went by allot happened, and allot was noticed, that of myself, my friends, and those who surrounded me. Grades were descent and I was having a good time. The same could not be said for Erik, we were still close and hung out almost every day but something was changing in both of us, he had not yet adapted to life away from home and couldn t get use to classes. We talked to each other about our problems but his could not be solved, Erik moved back home on Christmas break. I now had no attachments of back home, and it wasn t bad, I was meting new people and enjoying my freedom. I had grown to realize everyone needs to be on there own and experience new things for themselves, I know now I made the right choice for myself by attending Western and wouldn t want it any other way.