Summer days have come to an end which means the return of classes, parties, social engagements, going into hibernation from January to April – you get the idea. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been feeling like one of those people from a Diane Arbus photograph, totally freaked out and petrified by the curveball life is throwing at me. Yeah, yeah, I know. College is supposed to be ‘the best time of my life and if I can’t enjoy anything now, then what are my hopes for happiness in my later twenties and beyond?’ Those words of wisdom from the bartender who served my virgin margarita; he, on the other hand, lived a colorful life being groupie No. 101 to Cyndi Lauper. I guess boys just want to have fun too.

I do realize the potential of what my life could become, but with the worries of a stable career, creating a future and becoming an actual member of society. I’m more frazzled than a mother hen looking for her chicks.

I basically decided that once I turn 21 and can legally enter Libertine, the hottest club in WeHo (West Hollywood for non-Californians), my life will be over. My youth will have dissipated into mundane rounds of boring jobs, the task of actually looking for a suitable boyfriend to bring home to my extended family and the responsibilities of bills, credit reports and getting old. Ugh.

But karma beads aside, I’ve decided to go on a journey of self-exploration. I won’t be taking a semester off to travel to an unknown country such as Tanzania, coming back a changed woman after dancing with wolves and discovering my inner chi. Although that does sound like a perfectly good time and I’m sure if I go, I’ll come back bearing cool gifts and tattoos from different African tribes. Unfortunately, my mother’s wail about me going to a far-away place (yet again) is scarier than a banshee’s shrill during mating.

Since I don’t want to awake that beast, I’ll be doing my exploration in the comforts of my trusty black MacBook, in the life of a student, of you, of me and of that guy wearing the teal Doc Martens. (Yes you. Those are not fashionable anymore; there is a reason why they were hoppin’ in the ’90s).

I’m no expert, but I intend to make the most of my exploration with frivolous fun, solemn blocks of solitude and gratifying relationships. I’ve already packed away my two elephant necklaces, with the trunks aiming toward the endless skies, representing good luck for my future pseudo journey.

As people in India say, ‘Namaste!’

Angela Hu is a sophomore public relations major. Her columns appear on Mondays and she can be reached at ajhu@syr.edu.

Published on August 30, 2009 at 12:00 pm