Monday, February 13, 2012

The Future

It is an intimidating concept. We are only freshman, but right now our class is a knot of nerves over internships, classes, majors, study away...

Thinking about it, I begin to wonder about what this school is creating. It is an amazing adventure. But it is really messing with our concept of place and distance. After these four years, we will all be flung again to the corners of the world. This school is creating nomads.

I think we forget how cruel the world can be. We are all idealists, fighting for change. But then there are the moments where you are hit with the darker side of humanity. I am in a class on the 1960's, and we watched excerpts from the movie "Freedom Riders". The entire time all I could think was "How the hell can anyone think this is ok?"

There can also be a lot of cynicism here, because we can see both the light and the dark, and sometimes it seems like there is a lot of pressure on us as the "future world's leaders" to fix everything, and that is impossible. We can see our human limits. Honestly? I don't plan on being a world leader. I plan on volunteering, getting my hands dirty in building and making art in many forms. To some that might seem like a really simple goal. But I will be happy, and I will strive to make a difference, however small.

This environment here, at NYUAD, is amazing to be in. But it sometimes lacks realism, and I don't know how we will adjust to the "real world" after being here- because I don't think that is what we are living.

In the 'Sama bubble' it seems like time is stopped outside these walls. But it isn't. Life is still moving, and changing, and our roles have already changed so much from when we were in high school.

Time moves here though. There is the future that we are being encouraged to plan all out (oh, don't stress about it! But you do need to have a good idea about the next 3 years). I am (nearly 100%) decided that I am going to double major in Theater and Visual Arts, which makes my study away two semesters at NYU New York. They have darkrooms. And photo classes. And darkrooms. Whenever I think about that choice, I know I will love my classes. Yet the nagging, overprotective, hyper-realistic voice in my head is telling me I am not doing anything useful in my life. But I am. My useful is just a bit closer to the earth.

None of us really know anything about our futures. We are young. And my philosophy right now is to follow what I love and what I am passionate about and hope for the best.

<3

No comments:

Post a Comment