Follow the Red Brick Road

As I travel to new destinations, I try to make time to visit the local colleges or universities. This often provides hours of free entertainment as I wander along the pathways, admiring the structures and art that dot the campus. I could waste a way an afternoon exploring the depths of the periodicals within the libraries, or pass the time enjoying the free art museums and cheap college food. There is no better way to feel like a local than to surround yourself with hundreds of college students -- often times these are the people that will give you the greatest guidance on exploring their city. On a recent trip to Bellingham, I paid homage to my alma mater Western Washington University. Instead of bustling about as I did between classes, I took the time to really enjoy the sleepy summer campus in all it's glory.

Western Washington University is a stunning campus of brick and ivy splendidly mixed with the modern iron and steel framed buildings of recent. The campus dates back to 1893 when it was a women's college devoted to educating future teachers. Today the University is one of six publicly funded state Universities offering Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Washington State.

So - you may be wondering what the heck I studied at Western? If not, you are about to hear it anyway. I originally transferred to Western after having received my associate’s degree -- while still in high school I might add! At 16 I had worked as the editor for the community college paper and was working towards a degree in journalism when I transferred to Western. Well, as most students do, I changed my major after hearing horror stories of penniless journalists churning out articles like robots. So, I graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Psychology with plans to continue towards a Master's degree. I thought being a counselor would bring me the prestige and money that "society" expected of me. The downside: I wasn't happy. Writing and researching stories made me happy. Meeting new people and exploring new places put me over the moon.

So now we've come to the present. I gave up my plan of ever becoming a counselor and I now work as a nanny. Society may not look at being a nanny as a prestigious career, but I absolutely love my job. Not only to I get to play in the park most days, but I also have the flexibility to travel and explore, and thus, write this blog. So after my long-winded explanation I give you the moral of the story dear friends: Follow your heart, wherever it may take you. If you're happy - that is all that matters.

Oh, and while your traveling or even at home, get out there and explore a college campus. Hang out with the students who aren't afraid to be themselves and get in touch with who you were before you had to become a grown-up. We could all use a little bit of a reality check now and then.