Walking and Talking

The French family is educated. I graduated last Saturday the 14th, and I have been eating entirely too much graduation cake (thanks mom), but I have also had the time to skate, bike, hike around, and be generally active, so all is well. I have been avoiding the fondant anyway.

I am also already feeling more vulnerable than ever. It is the first time that I do not have a comprehensive goal in mind that I could describe in a concise manner. I thought the most introspection I would do in my life would be while I was working my way through the English program, writing essays that required me to critique the minds—the texts—of others while keeping myself in mind. Those essays were reader response types, which called upon the critic to transcribe his/her reaction to texts—the experiences/actions of the characters and what not—and examine that response through introspection in order to uncover the reasoning behind that particular response. The assignments were aimed aimed at provoking self-discovery and identifying inconsistencies in personal political belief, and after writing so many I really felt I had a firm sense of myself, which I could articulate.

I still identify myself with particular institutions—as I think we all do in this postmodern era, even if unconsciously—but one that defined a considerable amount of my identity, the Liberal Arts college at MTSU, is no longer a primary part of my life. Those responses were often rooted in my experiences as a student up to that time. Furthermore, I spent the majority of my time alone because of the ever looming essay, exam, and reading. Okay, the I usually looked forward to those things, but they took up all of my time, nonetheless. Now I am noticing that I have a lot of people around me that are interested in having me around, which I am grateful. Though pride almost keeps me from saying this, I need that community, because even, being the introvert that I am, sometimes isolation turns from fruitful solitude to loneliness. Whether it is from getting more sleep, an eruption of suppressed energy, or simply being excited about a fresh step, I have had a lot more energy than usual, and I have enjoyed the company of friends who help me channel it in a healthy way.

Skateboarding fixes a lot. Wallies and f/s disasters in particular fix everything.

To fill the time until I find something full time, I am currently in the process of finding a different part-time job to supplement substitute teaching (if that works out). Surely someone will have me.

I saw an eye doctor today. My vision in both eyes has worsened from 1.00 to 1.25/1.50. That matches up pretty closely to how I see everything else right now—less clearly.

For those of you who have gone through these early stages of post-graduate delirium, are you blessed with any thoughts that you would be so kind as to offer my still malleable brain?

My newest celebrity crush is Greta Gerwig. This is her as Frances in Frances Ha

I'll start trying to post pictures with these posts. Here is one of my graduation cake and a gift from my fat boxer, Lucy.

See ya.

Entitled to Nothing

In this blog I plan to discuss my new challenges that come with post-graduation life rather than my college experience, but, in order to get this blog on its tender feet, here is a little note about where I am now.

After nine semi-solitary semesters, I am ready to graduate. After I leave no prisoners on my three exams next week, I will be the first in my family to walk the line. In other words, as of next Saturday the 14th, the French family will be educated. It was a family endeavor, and they supplied a critical amount of financial and emotional support throughout the past four and half years, especially after I chose to move to Murfreesboro after a year of living at home studying at a community college. Knowing that I would always feels somewhat displaced and alien in my hometown, apart from my family to whom I am close, I migrated a couple of hours east to attend Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. I had been here but once in my life and knew not one person. After meeting a few friends—most of which I met through skateboarding, I came into company with the Western literary giants. Never did I suppose that I would become an English student, but that's the discipline in which I ended up pursuing a degree after I got over my fear of being an inferior student compared with my intellectual community. I didn't grow up with books in the house, but my failure to read was ultimately my own fault. Needless to say, I spent a lot of my summers and winter breaks devouring essential books of fiction and literary theory. I caught up, and I am graduating cum laude.

I am currently working a part-time job in retail, and I must say, the worst part about the gig is the radio station to which I am forced to listen. I can handle disgruntled customers, endure cleaning bathrooms, not cry (much) over minimum wage, and tolerate the wacky hours, but the music really gets to me. It'll drive me to hysteria, or something. My plan is start substitute teaching for the public schools in January to help with financial strain and combat the urge to wander around Nashville and spend money excessively while I find a permanent full-time j.o.b. 

I live in a house with two other guys, both of whom skate and are current Geology students. 

After desiring, for the last two years, to pursue a PhD in postcolonial literature or literacy and composition, I've changed my mind and taken an interest in book publishing. I'll be pursuing a job in that field instead. If I fail in my search, expect me to go to graduate school for a degree in it. The most widely used book-publishing guide available is already en route to my pad, aka Dad's House.

More to come. I promise. Keep learning. 

Listen to some Shad: 

He Say She Say