Firstly, I was raised here in the Greatest State. Some things that I value (to varying degrees) are: Jesus Christ, tiramisu, The Church, Buc-ee’s (which, for you foreigners, is a truck stop in Texas), Baroque music, and chocolate milk. I am the youngest of 3 brothers. All of us are at TCU, all in the same fraternity, and all of us are in Army ROTC. As you can see, I am a spectacularly creative individual.
I’ve been in a good mood pretty much since I developed a conscience. It’s not like I suppress my feelings or something, it’s just that if given the opportunity to choose my emotions, I will always choose to be happy. I’ve always struggled to convey this concept in words. Maybe I’ll figure out how to do that sometime. The point is that I’m very positive, and it makes me feel even better when I share my own God-sent gift of joy with other people. I am also highly logical and analytical. I view problems very practically and am able to take an objective standpoint on nearly everything.
In case this is starting to sound too serious and adult-like, let it be known that I drink 6 glasses of chocolate milk per day, watch SpongeBob, and am probably the dankest memer on CR. I hope this lil somethin’ somethin’ gave you enough of a grasp of who I am for now. I’m sure as time goes on you’ll get to know me much better.
My ‘Why’ for CR
A few of the friends I made when I got to TCU went on a thing called Cultural Routes, and they encouraged me to attend some info sessions for Honors Explorations. As someone who was waking up at 5am six days a week for ROTC, pledging a fraternity, and adjusting to college classes, all on top of living by myself for the first time, there was nothing I’d rather do than give up some of my free time to watch a presentation about something I didn’t know about. Don’t tell anyone, but I was kinda zoning out up until Dr. P started his presentation. After hearing his pitch on CR I was very intrigued, and seeing some of the alumni show up made me start thinking that this thing might be a big deal. Harris Podell (who went on CR last year) really hassled me about filling out the application, and I’m really glad that he did. I began to really understand what CR meant. I saw it for what it was: a once in a lifetime opportunity. That phrase gets tossed around a lot, but I mean it seriously. Never again in my life will I be presented with something like this. A whole month of immersive and intense exposure to foreign cultures in a setting designed specifically to teach me both about history and culture, and myself.
As far as my reaction to my acceptance, I misread the date that the acceptances were going to be released and thought it had passed, so I already thought I didn’t get it. When the acceptances for CR were sent out, I was out camping. Straight up in the woods bruh. So I was just out enjoying a lake and trees and deer and my friends and cooking on an open fire. I got cell service for about a minute and a half, so I got the notification for the email on my phone. I wasn’t supposed to be on my phone since I was supposed to “hang up and hang out” as one does, but for some reason I felt compelled to read the email anyway. As you’d expect, I was absolutely ecstatic, but I couldn’t call my mom or Harris or anyone who cared, so I just had to celebrate in my head until I got home. Also, I was a day late to do everything we were supposed to do, and I joined the group chat after everyone had already introduced themselves. bigga L if you ask me.
My Hopes for the Future
The more I think about the literal and figurative journey I’m going to embark on, the more excited I get for it. I want to squeeze everything I can out of CR and maximize its incredible potential to teach me. There’s so much that cannot be taught in a classroom, and first hand experience is the only way to get it. Seeing these cultures for myself will show me more than any textbook could. Beyond all the deep and nebulous stuff I’m not gonna lie to you, I’m excited to go to Europe for a month with awesome people and make close friends and have a lot of fun doing it.
As of now, the place I am most excited for is the Vatican. I am about as Catholic as they come, and I think it’s going to be awesome (truly awesome, not the overused definition of awesome) to see the architecture, art, and artifacts of the foundation of the largest religion in the world.
I can’t sufficiently express how pumped I am for my month long experience, but I know that I’m excited for this blog to continue. I like to write in a less formal setting, and I hope that I’m able to convey the life lessons and incredible experiences (in addition to all the little dumb things) that I pick up with my friends in Europe.
Until next time, adiós gang.
Cultural Routes 12 