2008 Woodie Awards
Don't follow set path; make your own sidewalk
Christian Ashlar
Issue date: 1/23/07 Section: Viewpoints
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It's the start of a new semester and everywhere you look, experienced seniors are navigating the campus like seasoned pros, juniors just wanting to get from one class to another, sophomores with a knack for campus maneuverability but still unsure and the hopelessly lost freshmen with that look of "I want to ask but I'm not a geek." Life on UTM is back in full swing and I have to say, it's good to be back!
As usual, something has caught my attention and I feel the need to write about it. Wrapped in this narrative is a meaning, and I hope that it will go without needing much explanation.
Wednesday morning, I walked from my apartment near Dominoes to school. Crossing the street from the once gas station, I headed up the knoll there without the aid of the concrete steps. I continued across the grass until I found the sidewalk where I continued to the small drainpipe just outside of the Business building. Then, as I was headed toward Humanities, I did the unthinkable. I abandoned the sidewalk completely and walked through the grass!
Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "How could you BE such a rebel?" or perhaps you're thinking, "Where is he going with this?" Either way, I have to explain the point behind this.
As I made my way to class, I received some stares and even a slight point from an obvious Freshman. I wondered if maybe my stylish orange sweater didn't match my equally stylish dark-tan khakis or if I'd left off an ear this morning.
Then, as I crossed the sidewalk to follow its curve toward the front of the building, the reason for these stares occurred to me.
It was the sidewalk, or rather, it was the lack of sidewalk. I hadn't been following the prescribed path for me and this was getting some very odd reactions. And here, the point looms!
When we first enroll in the university system, we may see our lives as a "sidewalk", prescribed by a teacher, parent, guardian or some authority figure. As we progress through our college career, we may even fear straying from that path just as I strayed from the sidewalk.
As usual, something has caught my attention and I feel the need to write about it. Wrapped in this narrative is a meaning, and I hope that it will go without needing much explanation.
Wednesday morning, I walked from my apartment near Dominoes to school. Crossing the street from the once gas station, I headed up the knoll there without the aid of the concrete steps. I continued across the grass until I found the sidewalk where I continued to the small drainpipe just outside of the Business building. Then, as I was headed toward Humanities, I did the unthinkable. I abandoned the sidewalk completely and walked through the grass!
Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "How could you BE such a rebel?" or perhaps you're thinking, "Where is he going with this?" Either way, I have to explain the point behind this.
As I made my way to class, I received some stares and even a slight point from an obvious Freshman. I wondered if maybe my stylish orange sweater didn't match my equally stylish dark-tan khakis or if I'd left off an ear this morning.
Then, as I crossed the sidewalk to follow its curve toward the front of the building, the reason for these stares occurred to me.
It was the sidewalk, or rather, it was the lack of sidewalk. I hadn't been following the prescribed path for me and this was getting some very odd reactions. And here, the point looms!
When we first enroll in the university system, we may see our lives as a "sidewalk", prescribed by a teacher, parent, guardian or some authority figure. As we progress through our college career, we may even fear straying from that path just as I strayed from the sidewalk.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
Niki
posted 1/24/07 @ 12:56 PM EST
Great story and point! It reminds me of my favorite quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. (Continued…)
Bob Zimmerman
posted 1/26/07 @ 6:52 PM EST
Ralph Waldo Emerson aside, I am superficially disturbed by your self-centered perspective on this "sidewalk" thing. The point seems to be an extrapolation of, and an analogy for life and social institutions. (Continued…)
Christian Ashlar
posted 1/29/07 @ 3:02 PM EST
Your point is well taken but I was going under the apparently erroneous conclusion that as rational beings, we could decide for ourselves when to follow "sidewalks" to our obvoius advantage and when to deviate from them to, as you're aware, Emerson said, "go instead where there is no path and leave a trail". (Continued…)
Christian Ashlar
posted 2/07/07 @ 4:54 PM EST
Thanks, Lexa - you nailed it!
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