A question often asked

Why do we go to college?

It seems like a simple question, but the answer can be rather complex. Or perhaps it's just that there are multiple answers, none more correct or incorrect than the others. For example, I might answer that I go to college to not have to get a 9 to 5 daily gig just quite yet. Why do that when I can hang out for four more years having fun—maybe even picking up a few things from academia along the way? Or, if I were in a different mood, I might say that I actually go to college to watch the basketball team there.

These two answers represent two of the goal oriented paths a collegiate career might take, but how does that apply to our lives post-college? In response to that, I might say, like I heard someone else eloquently put it once, "Well, nobody goes to Duke to be poor." And that's probably true, right? I mean, we paradoxically accumulate financial debt by coming here, but for a lot of us, the image we see of ourselves post-Duke ultimately leads to a hefty bank account balance, with house and car attached. For me personally, it's this house and this car, but I have what might be considered extravagant tastes.

At least, that's how I matriculated, full of ambition not to be a more educated and complete person, but a wealthier version of the current me. I was set on driving through my classes with one eye on my GPA and the other on law school, the means by which I would acquire that house and car I have always dreamed of.

But somewhere along the way, I had an epiphany. I think many factors went into this realization but what it amounted to was that what I really wanted to do was be a creative writer and filmmaker. Unless they're one of the very lucky few, most creative writers and filmmakers do not own mansions and Italian sports cars: they struggle and get frustrated with bills and payments as they etch out a living in Los Angeles. I realized that I would be OK with that, just so long as I could write and pursue film projects without having to answer to some dude who more than likely kissed ass to get to his managerial position, but has less brains than a squirrel.

I know this is the very definition of cliche, but this was a huge thing for me, the realization that I should just seek my own fulfillment as a person rather than filling out the parameters set for me by anyone else, society included. This is why I chose to study English and history, and to get a film certificate, rather than go to law school. I know that for writers times can be very tough, and I will likely have to work some sort of day job to get by until something happens with my writing, but I'd take that over sitting at a desk 12 hours a day poring over things that don't really mean anything to me.