Stories from an ordinary life

This one time at smart camp . . .

I guess since I've had this thing for a few days I should finally get around to explaining the title. As most of my friends know, I spent two summers taking college classes at Cornell University while I was in high school. They were life-changing experiences -- especially the first year. See, I was ridiculously miserable in high school, I couldn't wait to get away and never look back. So going to this amazing college where I finally met people on my level was like being able to really breathe for the first time. That first year was one of the only times I've ever felt like I truly belonged, and I made these wonderful, close friends almost instantly. Anyhow, I could go on about how great things were forever, but of course it all came to an end when I had to go back to Greenville and face two more years of high school. Suddenly it was like being in prison. I'd tasted freedom and I couldn't go back. I was seriously depressed. I wanted a tattoo identical to Angelina Jolie's that says "A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages."
A couple of my friends that year got sick of hearing me talk about Cornell and the friends I'd made there. One even accused me of not caring about him anymore. But time passed quickly and I was invited back for another summer -- this time for six weeks. That just happened to be the summer that American Pie came out, and since it mentions Cornell a few times, my friends there and I went to see it twice. So when I went home I had somehow developed the habit of saying "One time at Cornell." Well my Greenville friends started ragging on me and their signature tag whenever I mentioned my summer became "This one time at smart camp," thus the title of my blog.

That storytelling side of me has been the focus of my life ever since then. Although I'd known most of my life that I wanted to be a writer, those years at Cornell coincided with the birth of my interest in journalism. Although I don't think I'm particularly talented or creative, I think one day I'll find my niche. For now I feel like I'm just working a job that is interesting, pays the bills and keeps my writing skills in tune, but I won't be winning any awards or recognition with what I do. But hey, I have the rest of my life to get somewhere, right?

posted by This one time . . . @ 1:46 AM