It seems that all of my Duke friends are away from home this summer. Most are in DC or New York City, living in subletted apartments for the duration of their internships with non-profit or consulting companies. Others are a bit further away: South America, Africa, Europe, either DukeEngaging or performing some other type of service. They are taking advantage of the opportunities and resources that only an elite university like Duke can offer and they are trying, in their own small way, to utilize their education and share their blessings in order to make the world a better place.
Where am I while all this world-changing is occurring? Good ole Lake Forest, Illinois.
By now I should be used to living at home all summer. I wasn't allowed to go to sleep-away camp; my family never takes vacations; even since moving to college, I have come home for almost every break during the school year (the two fall breaks I attended Common Ground are the only exceptions). I lived and worked at home the past two summers and, though it wasn't the most exciting couple of months, I survived just fine. But this year, living at home is really getting to me. I feel like I am passing up a lot of opportunities that I won't find again once I leave Duke. Everyone is going out an conquering the world while I'm practically back in high school again, living by my parents' rules and just trying to get a little extra spending cash.
But my pessimism is already starting to bug me more than the 'burbs are. This has the potential to be my best summer yet: I have a great job lined up and all of my high school friends are home. I'm old enough to really enjoy the beautiful city I live so close to and since I'm not paying rent, I'll actually be able to afford all the city has to offer. Chicago isn't any less valuable just because it happens to be close to my house. The city is full of cultural resources and learning opportunities, it just takes a little initiative to take advantage of them.
That is why I am going to blog this summer. I want to challenge myself to lead a life interesting enough to merit frequent electronic updates. When I sit down and think about it, plenty of my Duke friends are living at home and I want to prove that you don't have to be abroad to see something new or change someone's life. It's possible to have fun outside of NYC. It's just a matter of desire and action. If you want to do something badly enough, you will. Simple as that.
And I want to have a damn good summer.
So here it is: my summer of suburban survival. I hope I squeeze every last drop out of these three months. Hope the North Shore is ready, I sure am.
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