"I give it to you not that you may remember time, but you might forget it now and then for a moment and not spend all your breath trying to conquer it. Because no battle is ever won. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools."
I love this quote. I did not really enjoy the book, however. When I came upon this quote, it jumped out at me. I've read it many times since I first read it in "The Sound and the Fury", and everytime I try to grasp it a little bit more. I'm still not exactly sure what it is trying to say, but it can be interpreted in many ways.
As my first year as a college student fades to a close (Yes, it was fast), I came back upon this quote and tried to apply it to this year. Going away to college, all everyone hears is that the next four years could easily be the best four. If only I took advantage of the possibilites that lay before me, I knew it couldn't be anything too bad, in the least. But within that expectation, there is the reality that it is only four years. Immediatly, there is a boundary which your expecatations can not rise above. Therefore, I think it is best that I just forget about time for a while. If I spend all my time attempting to make sure every moment of college is amazing, I will only fall victim to regret and miss opportunities. Living in the moment is always a better option.
Because no battle is ever won. When someone decides they are going to beat the reality that college is only four years, they will ultimately reach the end and wonder where it all went. The battle is lost, becuase they should be remembering how amazing those four years were. So, there is no use saying this year has come to an end. Yes, I will be coming home for a couple months to spend with family and friends in my great hometown, it is only a pause. Returning to Bloomington will be like picking up right where I left off, with even more possibility ahead of me.
With that said, the time I've spent here up until now has been quite the journey. Growth, some backward steps, an opportunity to learn from mistakes, and many opportunities to make it better the next go around. Like most other things, college is a cycle. Class, study, waste time, and let loose on the weekends. Meet people, spend time with them, some fade away, and others become your best friends. I may have learned more this year than any year before, and not really in the classroom.
Going away, I had an expectation for college, and I must say it has been met. I lived on my own for the first time, and I was fairly successful I must say. Other than the fact that my room was never clean (is it at home?) and I fall behind on my laundry (Mom, you're the best!), I had no life threatening experiences. And never ruined a load of clothes, if that stands for anything. I got a job, made some money, went to class and got good grades, and met more people in this short of time than I could have ever imagined. My friends range from classmates, floor mates, and those I see only once in a while as we pass on the sidewalk.
I made time to grow, but I never forgot. I never forgot where my roots were, and how I got to where I am now. I made time to call my parents and thank them and tell them I love them. I never forgot to make time to call a high school friend and say "How are things going for you?" I never forgot to make a trip every once in a while to see their faces and remember how much fun I have with them. I never forgot that though us Dowell siblings are in four different places, we have a bond that is unbreakable. I never forgot to stop and ask for help knowing I can't do it all on my own. I never forgot that when I go home in the summer I will be exactly where I am supposed to be.
I made new friends, and kept the old. I heard new music, but you'll still never find me without a Counting Crows album near by. I forgot old regrets, and pushed through the new ones. I made new mistakes, but remembered the old ones so I could fix them. I found more of myself and the world. I lost a little too, some I hope to get back and other stuff I'm glad has left.
I took a risk, made a new place my home, with almost nothing to fall back on. And I'm still standing tall. Maybe taller than I was when I got here. I didn't worry about how much time I had, cause that battle is a losing one. If I don't stop to stay a year is over, I can never really know how much time I have left here. Stop and think for a while, it doesn't matter how much is left if you enjoy what you have now.
Yet, I still remember never to run with scissors.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Not So Little (500) Afterall
Every kid remembers that triumphant day the training wheels came off of your first bicycle and you made it down the driveway without falling. Recreational bicycle riding always fades off though as kids become teenagers, and few people ever pick it up again. Most adults come back to it to lose those unwanted pounds, but some people take riding a bicycle to the next level.
Most have heard of the Tour de France, and I am willing to be everyone knows of Lance Armstrong, if not for his skill on the bike, but with his campaign against cancer. Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France 7 times, but it still is not the coolest thing he has been a part of. No, he saves that title for the Little 500. After watching the event for the first time he said, "I've won the Tour de France, and seen the Indy 500, but the Little 500 tops them all."
As for myself, I had barely even heard of it before coming to Bloomington, but once hear you can't not hear about it. You hear of the famous weekend in April where the campus has only one thing on its mind: the best college weekend that celebrates the Little 500. I never knew truly what to expect, but now I can tell you all about my first experience with it.
It's not mistake the Little 500 falls the weekend before 'dead week.' Everyone knows the centerpiece is the actual race, but we also know there is much more to it. This is Indiana University, and the students are not going to ever pass on a chance to let loose and have a good time. Most people start early in the week, but few last until the end. But that doesn't mean you can't find many good times throughout the entire week.
I was a novice to the whole experience so I can't say I saw it through to its full potential, but thats why I have three more goes at it. Believe me when I say I had an awesome time, though. From "Breaking Away" on Dunn Meadow on Wednesday until an impromptu family lunch on Sunday afternoon. The weekend itself featured the best weather anyone could imagine. The sun was high and hot, and there wasn't a cloud in sight. That also means sunburns, but everyone needs a good base tan.
I have never seen a bicycle race before, other than the Tour de France on TV, and that always made me question the sanity of some poeple. The Little 5 is on a quite smaller scale, and much more enjoyable to watch. You get to see them pass more than once. At first it was interesting cause it was fun to see how they raced, and the pack was bunched. Then we got our first lapped team, which we cheered for. A few wrecks, some bad exchanges, and 120 laps later we had 6 teams on the lead lap. So from there on out it was awesome watching them race, their different strategies, and the exchanges. It all built up to a one lap sprint to the finish between five teams with the Cutters winning for a record eighth time.
Matt rode his bike up, Greg drove in Saturday morning, and we all had a splendid good time. It set the bar high for Little 5's still to come. But if they all can be this good, I'll be darn happy.
Most have heard of the Tour de France, and I am willing to be everyone knows of Lance Armstrong, if not for his skill on the bike, but with his campaign against cancer. Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France 7 times, but it still is not the coolest thing he has been a part of. No, he saves that title for the Little 500. After watching the event for the first time he said, "I've won the Tour de France, and seen the Indy 500, but the Little 500 tops them all."
As for myself, I had barely even heard of it before coming to Bloomington, but once hear you can't not hear about it. You hear of the famous weekend in April where the campus has only one thing on its mind: the best college weekend that celebrates the Little 500. I never knew truly what to expect, but now I can tell you all about my first experience with it.
It's not mistake the Little 500 falls the weekend before 'dead week.' Everyone knows the centerpiece is the actual race, but we also know there is much more to it. This is Indiana University, and the students are not going to ever pass on a chance to let loose and have a good time. Most people start early in the week, but few last until the end. But that doesn't mean you can't find many good times throughout the entire week.
I was a novice to the whole experience so I can't say I saw it through to its full potential, but thats why I have three more goes at it. Believe me when I say I had an awesome time, though. From "Breaking Away" on Dunn Meadow on Wednesday until an impromptu family lunch on Sunday afternoon. The weekend itself featured the best weather anyone could imagine. The sun was high and hot, and there wasn't a cloud in sight. That also means sunburns, but everyone needs a good base tan.
I have never seen a bicycle race before, other than the Tour de France on TV, and that always made me question the sanity of some poeple. The Little 5 is on a quite smaller scale, and much more enjoyable to watch. You get to see them pass more than once. At first it was interesting cause it was fun to see how they raced, and the pack was bunched. Then we got our first lapped team, which we cheered for. A few wrecks, some bad exchanges, and 120 laps later we had 6 teams on the lead lap. So from there on out it was awesome watching them race, their different strategies, and the exchanges. It all built up to a one lap sprint to the finish between five teams with the Cutters winning for a record eighth time.
Matt rode his bike up, Greg drove in Saturday morning, and we all had a splendid good time. It set the bar high for Little 5's still to come. But if they all can be this good, I'll be darn happy.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
A Cold and Broken Hallelujah
After witnessing the tragedy of the shootings at Virginia Tech, many questions still linger. People wonder why it happened, who could do such a thing, and how we can stop it from ever happening again. But among the questions there is plenty of which we can be sure. The amount of greif and sorrow one person can cause is extraordinary. It shakes us to the core, reminds us that life is very fragile.
However, the most impressive image that will last for me after this tragedy is not the pain, but instead the power of the human spirit. It began with the immediate outpouring of support from campuses across the nation. It sounds cheesy, but it gets the point across: "Today we are all Hokies." I saw the reports of the shooting from the very beginning when it was only 1 dead, but immediately I was drawn in by the fact it was a campus setting. The same envioroment I was in and soon would be heading out on. But it all came together when I saw images of the candlelight vigil the next night. That was one amazing scene. It spoke of courage, undefeatable spirit, and was an act that said this can not bring us down.
Like all tragedies, it only makes people stronger. It brings people together to face the ultimate end of death, but to celebrate the fact that life does go on. It is powerful to see this, but why must it take tragedy to bring this out. Just as no one can understand why someone could commit this crime, we should also stop and wonder why it has to come to this point. We all need something to believe in and stand for, so instead of finding ways to do this that tear us apart, people must look for ways to believe in something that brings us together. I say we start with the banning of handguns in this country.
It's shocking to see what has happened, but I can't say I wasn't numb to it most of the time. It's all to common for these things to happen, and it somehow never surprises me that much when it happens. Let's hope I don't have to feel numb to something like this for a very long time.
However, the most impressive image that will last for me after this tragedy is not the pain, but instead the power of the human spirit. It began with the immediate outpouring of support from campuses across the nation. It sounds cheesy, but it gets the point across: "Today we are all Hokies." I saw the reports of the shooting from the very beginning when it was only 1 dead, but immediately I was drawn in by the fact it was a campus setting. The same envioroment I was in and soon would be heading out on. But it all came together when I saw images of the candlelight vigil the next night. That was one amazing scene. It spoke of courage, undefeatable spirit, and was an act that said this can not bring us down.
Like all tragedies, it only makes people stronger. It brings people together to face the ultimate end of death, but to celebrate the fact that life does go on. It is powerful to see this, but why must it take tragedy to bring this out. Just as no one can understand why someone could commit this crime, we should also stop and wonder why it has to come to this point. We all need something to believe in and stand for, so instead of finding ways to do this that tear us apart, people must look for ways to believe in something that brings us together. I say we start with the banning of handguns in this country.
It's shocking to see what has happened, but I can't say I wasn't numb to it most of the time. It's all to common for these things to happen, and it somehow never surprises me that much when it happens. Let's hope I don't have to feel numb to something like this for a very long time.
The Worlds Greatest College Weekend
I am currently enjoying what is known as "the greatest college weekend", but we always manage to turn it into a whole week. Look back all week for picutres of the week of Little 500 and all that it involves.
For now, watch the movie "Breaking Away." It is a movie about the Little 500 shot exclusively in Bloomington, Indiana. If you need incentive to watch, it won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. I saw it for the first time tonight and it was a VERY good movie. Watch and as little as you can, be a part of the tradition of Little 500. Then get up here and actually be a part of it.
Hope your week is as good as mine!
For now, watch the movie "Breaking Away." It is a movie about the Little 500 shot exclusively in Bloomington, Indiana. If you need incentive to watch, it won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. I saw it for the first time tonight and it was a VERY good movie. Watch and as little as you can, be a part of the tradition of Little 500. Then get up here and actually be a part of it.
Hope your week is as good as mine!
Monday, April 02, 2007
Small Talk
College is a world unto itself. You never could quite understand what its like until you experience it, especially if you live off a campus in a town that is not your own. It is really like living with nothing but your peers, filling your time with the things that interest people your age. Here at IU, I live in an area of a few sqaure miles that is composed of 95% people that are within 4-5 years of my age. Thats alot of 18-23 year olds. And I like it that way.
This is my world. It is molded around my needs and interests. Yes, I love the parties, the sports, the lazy days, and sometimes even class. My favorite part of college though is definently my dorm floormates. If you think about it, they are your family for a year. Your with each other all the time; you eat together, play together, and live together. And of all the happenings on the floor a part I enjoy the most is the idle and usually completely useless chatter.
Idle chit-chat can happen anywhere: sitting on the john, brushing your teeth in the morning, on the elevator, in the hall, or in anyone's room you pop into. Its topics range from anything to everything, but its value is always the same. After it is over, it means pretty much nothing. Whether it is how you bombed that test you just took, a funny story you heard or experienced that day, or how drunk you were the night before, it is pretty meaningless. It was one inherently good value, though. It always makes you stop and talk with someone, and almost always provides of moment of humor and a smile. It fills those unused moments of the day with something good. And the weirdest thing about it, is that it only works in a dorm setting. Eventually, your gonna wanna talk, and most of the time you don't have much to say. So, just throw out some idle chatter. You'll most likely make someones day better.
And always make the effort to give me some, I love it.
This is my world. It is molded around my needs and interests. Yes, I love the parties, the sports, the lazy days, and sometimes even class. My favorite part of college though is definently my dorm floormates. If you think about it, they are your family for a year. Your with each other all the time; you eat together, play together, and live together. And of all the happenings on the floor a part I enjoy the most is the idle and usually completely useless chatter.
Idle chit-chat can happen anywhere: sitting on the john, brushing your teeth in the morning, on the elevator, in the hall, or in anyone's room you pop into. Its topics range from anything to everything, but its value is always the same. After it is over, it means pretty much nothing. Whether it is how you bombed that test you just took, a funny story you heard or experienced that day, or how drunk you were the night before, it is pretty meaningless. It was one inherently good value, though. It always makes you stop and talk with someone, and almost always provides of moment of humor and a smile. It fills those unused moments of the day with something good. And the weirdest thing about it, is that it only works in a dorm setting. Eventually, your gonna wanna talk, and most of the time you don't have much to say. So, just throw out some idle chatter. You'll most likely make someones day better.
And always make the effort to give me some, I love it.
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