Pilot

Chaminade-St. Louis
Esto Vir!

The decision to choose GW was a tough one. When it came down to it, I was deciding between a school that I had always felt comfortable with (Illinois) and a school that was completely different (GW). Ever since I can remember I wanted to study business. I was going to be an investment banker, make 6 figures out of college and live in Manhattan or Chicago. One thing that was always involved in my future plans though was travelling. I wanted to see the world. Not just your cliche travel spots (i.e. Paris, London, Rome) but the exotic, off the beaten path destinations that would really set you apart at the dinner table. So I was planning to attend the University of Illinois, a school that I had loved since day 1, whose athletic teams I live and die by and whom I have defended tirelessly for the past 12 years of my life. It seemed perfect, and then I got accepted into the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University. The number 9 school for international affairs in the country. Wow! Just like that I found myself doubting my decision to go to Illinois. I thought of all the possibilities that awaited me at GW in the nation's capitol. I could be surrounded by politics and government and different countries! I could live in DC for 4 years! But I could still not bring myself to turn my back on Illinois and my career path that I had felt so comfortable with. Then one day while talking to my father he mentioned that if he could do it all over again he would pass on the money of being a lawyer and become a teacher. This struck me because even though I loved the idea of finance and the professional world that came with it, the idea of travelling around the world and representing the United States was just so amazing. After that comment from my dad that was when I started to veer in the direction of George Washington. I just couldn't come to grips with telling people that I wasn't going to Illinois though. Then one night, laying in bed, I just thought to myself, YOLO. You only live once. I can see the world, I won't make the most money but I can see the greatest things that this world and study the subject that I had always excelled in during school. I can always still cheer for Illinois athletics and if DC isn't the right fit I can always transfer but who wants to live their whole life in their comfort zone? Why not take risks? So that is what I'm doing. Taking a risk. Travelling 13 hours from my home. Leaving my family, my dogs Zoe and Barney, and all my friends who are going to schools in the midwest and "taking my talents" to the Capital. The career path isn't a guarantee and at some points can be dangerous but you cannot tell me that some accountant is going to live a life like mine. I don't think he will be ever in a high pressure situation in which he has to burn all confidential documents at the embassy. (Thanks for the ideas Mueller) When I told everyone they were really supportive and encouraging. It seemed like everyone thought that GW was where I was supposed to be and I should be studying something in politics. Mr. Armon was one that was extremely supportive. Mr. Armon had been my history teacher for the past 2 years and we had grown a great relationship. I spent countless hours during my English class coming into his room to talk politics and current events. He was really supportive of my decision and said that he was hoping that I would choose GW all along. So I enrolled in The George Washington University in May and went up for orientation in June. I was shell shocked when I first got on campus. It just seemed so different then when I had toured. It had a weird vibe to it and I began to question whether or not I had made the right decision. I kept thinking of myself at Assembly Hall or at Memorial Stadium on game days and walking through the Business School at Illinois. I made a few friends during orientation and met my roommate Gerry. Gerry was a great guy and we hit it off right from the start. Finally, after seeing all the weirdos post countless pages of dumb crap on the facebook page their was at least one normal person there with me. However, besides Gerry, the friends I made their were nice. But they just didn't really seem like people I could develop long lasting friendships with. They weren't like the guys at Chaminade who I could just hang out with. As orientation drew to a close I regained my confidence and remembered that I had made a commitment to myself to go to this school and that it was just a new environment and these things take time. I am going to spend at least one year there and hopefully 3 after that but if it doesn't work out I can always leave. Then I was back in St. Louis, surrounded by my same friends, working at the same pool, and going to the same parties. This summer seemed to last forever. The only real contact I had with GW was with my roommates deciding what we were going to bring and choosing my classes but besides that it did not seem like my life was on the verge of a monumental change... Then this week came. This past week I really started shopping for dorm supplies and the pile of school stuff has grown larger in the corner of my room. Today I said bye to Lucas for the last time and that was when it really hit me that my days in STL are numbered. In 48 hours from me writing this most of my friends will be gone. Off to college for their first semester and about 7 days after that I will be too. Tomorrow is my last day at Forest Hills and while I plan on coming back next summer, It will not be like this past one. I hope I can say bye to my friends tomorrow before I leave for a quick trip to Chicago but if not I'm sure they will all do great at their university's and create lots of memories. This past week fall sports have started at Chaminade. It is weird to think that the school is going to continue without the Class of 2013. Everyone I talk to says that their is apart of them that would want to go back for one more year and I agree with them. I would do anything for another year at Chaminade but I am also worried that their would be a coup and we would overthrow the administration. Good luck to the seniors this year.. You have big shoes to fill. So here I am. Doing most things for the last time. Today I went to my last cardinal game with my dad. A 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. A very disappointing game but still a great time to talk to my Dad, something that I always enjoy. It's also my last day with Brandon and Pat and basically with everybody tomorrow. Pat will be a tough one to say bye to. We have been going to school together for 12 years and have carpooled for the past 2. It's not to often you see 2 juniors/seniors carpooling together but I can guarantee that none had as much fun on drives to school then Pat and I did. Some of the moments from carpool like regularly picking up Quinn late and the 34 tardy's and showing up to school at noon because we were "scared to drive in the snow" and many more are memories that I will remember forever. So while we may not be sharing a car every morning I know that we will be friends for life. This past week I met up with my best friend of grade school. We had not seen each other in around 8 years but we still talked like we saw each other yesterday. We did some catching up but their was no awkwardness like I was afraid of. That meetup made me realize how quickly time flies. It seems like yesterday he moved away and I was starting Chaminade and playing lacrosse for the first time. These next 4 years are going to seem like an instant. Seeing him also showed me that even though we are no longer classmates at Chaminade, we will always be friends and even brothers. So here we go, onto new adventures. While I am still not 100% sure about my decision, I am going to do it. DC here I come! I got the major I want, I got the dorm I want, I got the classes I want, I got the roommates I want. All I need is the grades and I'll be set! These next few days of getting ready to leave will be tough but before I know it I will be in DC starting college. So here's my blog in which I will be sharing my thoughts on living in DC and comparing it to St. Louis and quite frankly whatever else I feel like writing about. Every TV show needs a pilot so this is my pilot. Let's see if this goes anywhere...