NAU has grown up, and fast too I might add! Flagstaff didn't seem to change much, just a few things here and there, but NAU has changed dramatically. They even moved the bronze Louie that used to be in front of the bookstore. They added on to our central student union, by adding actual fast food places. They got Einstein's, Jamba Juice, Starbucks, just to name a few. They now have a new Sophomore residence hall where our crappy quad used to be, and now they have nice turf fields that are on the south side of campus. It's exciting to think that Mark Thompson, Colleen's cousin will carry on the great NAU tradition and attend next year!
It was good also catching up with an old friend. Colleen and I got to see one of my best friends and former room-mates, which is a special bond you don't share with many. We met up with Nate at the Wine Loft to play games, drink wine and catch up. It is good to hear that Nate's doing well...and reading the blog, living in Flag, going back for his Engineering Degree to do something he actually wants and likes to do. I said it with him and I'll say it here, I think it is awesome to go after your passions no matter how long it takes you in life to find it because even though the course may change sometimes the rivers always reach the sea. I'm very happy for Nate to discover his passion and to go for it. I think there is far too much comparison drawn upon one another in the Echo Generation. We were the first generation told we could do anything and that we were special. And although I agree with those statements, I feel we were almost led to believe that it would all just come to us so quickly or perhaps our parents just spared us the gorey details of how difficult it is after college. We all wander aimlessly right after school because although we picked something out of thin air, I think it takes something picking us before we settle down with whatever it is that our passion is. I for a year dealt with my own uncertainties surrounding my career path and my job goals and my life identity because so much of it was portrayed to us in school that all you needed was a major and after that it was cake.
What a great education system we have, they churn out products destined for the industrial machine, but ill-equip us with the tools of trade in which to make those choices. I know the 1800's are a little out-dated when I speak of this, but apprenticeships are so seldom heard of these days. I know there are trade-schools which do offer hands on in your field (which is great), but I think colleges and universities need to partner more with there local industries and companies to help students realize before they take that final plunge at the end of year four or five into the pool we call the real world, to really come to grips with what major it is that they've chosen. I think we're owed maybe a little bit more of a nudge towards that so we can discover if education, or business, or political science isn't what we thought it would be. I guess the only advice I can offer is to work in school, network (x3), and try new things so at least you can single out a few things before the call to action comes.
In retrospect, we all would say I might not have chosen this path. There will always be a difference though between knowing the path and walking the path.
Anyways on a lighter note below are the lyrics to The Battle of Evermore by Led Zeppelin; just because I think it is wonderful poetry to one of my favorite set of books and movies (LOTR).
Battle of Evermore
Queen of Light took her bow
And then she turned to go,
The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom
And walked the night alone.
Oh, dance in the dark of night,
Sing to the morn-ing light.
The dark Lord rides in force tonight
And time will tell us all.
Oh, throw down your plow and hoe,
Rest not to lock your homes.
Side by side we wait the might
Of the darkest of them all.
I hear the horses' thunder
Down in the valley below,
I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon,
Waiting for the eastern glow.
The apples of the valley hold
The seeds of happiness,
The ground is rich from tender care,
Repay, do not forget, no, no.
Oh, dance in the dark of night,
Sing to the morning light.
The apples turn to brown and black,
The tyrant's face is red.
Oh the war is common cry,
Pick up you swords and fly.
The sky is filled with good and bad
That mortals never know.
Oh, well, the night is long
The beads of time pass slow,
Tired eyes on the sunrise,
Waiting for the eastern glow.
The pain of war cannot exceed
The woe of aftermath,
The drums will shake the castle wall,
The ringwraiths ride in black,
Ride on.
Sing as you raise your bow,
Shoot straighter than before.
No comfort has the fire at night
That lights the face so cold.
Oh dance in the dark of night,
Sing to the mornin' light.
The magic runes are writ in gold
To bring the balance back.
Bring it back.
At last the sun is shining,
The clouds of blue roll by,
With flames from the dragon of darkness
The sunlight blinds his eyes.
And then she turned to go,
The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom
And walked the night alone.
Oh, dance in the dark of night,
Sing to the morn-ing light.
The dark Lord rides in force tonight
And time will tell us all.
Oh, throw down your plow and hoe,
Rest not to lock your homes.
Side by side we wait the might
Of the darkest of them all.
I hear the horses' thunder
Down in the valley below,
I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon,
Waiting for the eastern glow.
The apples of the valley hold
The seeds of happiness,
The ground is rich from tender care,
Repay, do not forget, no, no.
Oh, dance in the dark of night,
Sing to the morning light.
The apples turn to brown and black,
The tyrant's face is red.
Oh the war is common cry,
Pick up you swords and fly.
The sky is filled with good and bad
That mortals never know.
Oh, well, the night is long
The beads of time pass slow,
Tired eyes on the sunrise,
Waiting for the eastern glow.
The pain of war cannot exceed
The woe of aftermath,
The drums will shake the castle wall,
The ringwraiths ride in black,
Ride on.
Sing as you raise your bow,
Shoot straighter than before.
No comfort has the fire at night
That lights the face so cold.
Oh dance in the dark of night,
Sing to the mornin' light.
The magic runes are writ in gold
To bring the balance back.
Bring it back.
At last the sun is shining,
The clouds of blue roll by,
With flames from the dragon of darkness
The sunlight blinds his eyes.
