I have written one of these posts before. About being back in Florida after time at Shimer. This one is different though. It feels different. After my second year as a Shimerian, it feels less like "being back in Florida," and more like "being away from Shimer."
Chicago, and my college, has become my home. Although I still have a bedroom here, I feel like a visitor. Rather, I feel as though I am attempting to wear a dress that was made for me many years ago. It kind of fits, but it's obvious I should be wearing something else. I have two more years before I graduate and this seems both a long time and barely enough to get all I want to do done.
My family and teachers from grade school will tell you that I was "involved," "well-adjusted," and "a social butterfly." I will tell you that I was a late bloomer. While my grades have always been good and I've never had trouble getting along with the locals, things don't click for me as soon as they do for other people. At the pool, as others are cannon-balling in, I stick a toe into the water to slowly adjust to the temperature. Such has been my experience so far at Shimer. I've tried a little bit of each thing out, warming myself to the atmosphere, and am finally submerging myself fully.
There are ups and downs to this sort of behavior. I have gotten to see a lot of what is offered and been in a position to form an opinion on the happenings at Shimer, but I haven't had enough yet. I'm left constantly wanting more. To give an example, I acted in the last semester's play, The Importance of Being Earnest, but I didn't attend the cast party. I'm sampling all the flavors and haven't committed to a scoop of anything yet.
This is part of the reason I'm so anxious for the school year to start again (something that is quite a ways away). I intend to take all of my taste tests and commit to a full bowl of Shimer activity. My only fear now is that I'll decide on far too many scoops.
Scoops! When you get back, let's get ice cream! :)
Posted by: Stephanie Fong | June 14, 2011 at 08:34 AM