Nearing my final draft critque needed Forum

[Anonymous User]

The first year of middle school my group of friends, mostly girls, decided to change the world. We went around our school promoting peace, happiness and individuality; the latter by wearing ties and mismatched shoes just because we could. Together we called ourselves non-other than: the tree huggers, based on a teacher’s suggestion. Our time of peace was short lived, though when some of our male friends created a group called the jedis whose sole purpose was to destroy us. War raged for three years between our groups, pranks were pulled, trouble was caused but in the end no side was victorious.

In the end we graduated and went to high school, a place for maturity rather than silly games. During middle school our war was all that mattered. So much time and focus went into it that a few teachers encouraged us or even took sides. While it seems silly now to have devoted so much time and effort to a fictional war I realize now that is how my life should’ve stayed. Sadly I and many others lost our fight and sense of purpose throughout the standardized tests and college prep of high school. Even beginning college I was very much directionless despite having chosen a “reliable” major. It wasn’t until I spent a few summers back home and a trip to Dallas that I began to rediscover the drive I once had.

The first summer home from college I was allowed the chance to travel and volunteer instead of working, an opportunity I took without hesitation. Shortly after classes were out I was off to Dallas Texas with my church group for two weeks. We were told we would be helping with a prayer trail, but we were in for so much more. Our workday was from eight in the morning till four in the afternoon each day. We built the trail from nothing. The first week we cut trees and pulled weeds; this was the hardest work most of us had ever done and it felt as though we would never be finished. But, by the middle of the second week we had actually finished the trail early. With the extra time we had the opportunity to build a small amphitheater at the bottom of the trail, and make a repelling ropes course just for fun.

Before leaving we had one last night with our host families and although everyone was exhausted no one was ready to leave. It was such a small trail and a short time commitment for us but for those we were leaving behind it was a retreat and a much needed place of peace for them. Everyone was so grateful and excited about the trail, making plans for its use and future. It was then I realized I had went through an entire year of college thinkless. Making financial statement after financial statement and being told over and over again about the growth in the accounting industry; how I had made the right choice when I choose my major. I enjoyed my classes and exceled in them but I never felt that doing that day to day could make me feel fulfilled in life. I realized through Dallas that I wanted more; I wanted to help people and make a larger difference in their lives than just saving them a few dollars on a tax return.

After another year of college I was once again home, but this time with a full time job at our local bank. I was a floating teller; which meant I traveled all over our county filling in as people took their vacation weeks. I spent my first four weeks in our downtown office where I saw the same professionals day after day. It was a great environment to be in, I spent most of my day talking with the lawyers and judges and we rarely ever had a problem. The next eight weeks of my summer though, were spent five miles from the Virginia border in the middle of nowhere; a place called xxx. Here we were lucky to have twenty customers a day and since it was an all-female branch most days were spent gossiping and cooking.

It was the stark contrast of my time between these two locations that helped solidify my growing need to be able to make a difference. At xxx I encountered the true Kentucky stereotypes. From customers without clothes and shoes to customers in their late 20s and early 30s that couldn’t write and had to sign X’s instead of a signature. Coming from a smaller town I saw many of the stereotypes represented, but I also knew most of the time it was by choice. I had never met anyone who truly didn’t have shoes or couldn’t read and write until I worked at xxx.

It was after that summer that I regained my fight. I felt as though I was back in middle school ready to go to war for my neighbors and others. Many lawyers back home push our citizens to sign up on checks rather than bettering themselves. One attorney was so bold as to run an ad that said “Tired of working? Call …” It hurt me to see people with the bare minimum in life solely because no one ever took the time to show them that they could have more. Instead of advocating for change and working to show community members they have options many in power positions only wanted to placate the community instead of fighting for the chance of bettering it.

I foolishly thought for so long that growing up and maturing was about finding stability in life. Yet the more stable the path I took the less fulfilled I felt. Now that my life is on a rocky and unpredictable path do I finally begin to feel a chance at leading a fulfilling life. While many of my classmates already have jobs lined up for after graduation and are feeling stable in their lives I am making ten different plans and twenty different back up plans for my life. While they are comparing cities and jobs for the perfect life I am comparing schools and locations for where I can make the best impact. But, while I have hope for a brighter future they worry about the monotony that comes with a life of accounting.