I challenge you to adventures...

There are many things I would describe myself as, but of those would be

one who loves exploring (especially when it's outdoors).

I feel like I've lost that part of myself being at Penn.

In high school, my friends would go after school/after practice/one weekends and go exploring. Whether that meant a hike, discovering a new part of town, rediscovering our old haunts, etc. And I've been thinking that Penn makes me feel trapped sometimes. Maybe not Penn...maybe my friends at Penn.

We all study hard, play hard, but study harder. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are many of people who would explore...and maybe I just haven't found them (other than Amelia- but I don't see enough of her!).

I wanna go into W. Philly and visit the local restaurants, old bookstores, bars, w/e. I mean really...we go to school in this place- but yet- how much do we go out into the community. Yes, we do "community service"...but, if we think about it, in this time of financial crisis, how often do we put money into the local community. Or how about the fabulously colorful italian market. How many of us have grocery shopped there? How about North Philly with it's mixture of cultures...? Rather, we go into the "safety" of center city and "discover" all that it holds for us.

How about a hike, or a bike ride. Even if it is down the Schulkill River pathway thing...have we ever gone beyond the museum?

I don't know, personally, I feel like I'm missing out on Philadelphia. AND I'm missing a part of myself that loves to explore and loves to be out in nature. This is what I've been thinking about while here at home...with the lovely bike rides and runs I go on.

When I left for college I was determined to explore, discover, find out more about myself, and find out more about areas of the world I had never been too...even if the "world" right now is just Philadelphia...that is something and we can all learn from it.

So this next year...I will be one who loves to explore...and I welcome all to join in my adventures :D