About a year ago, I was invited by the CDO to meet with the Board of Trustees to talk about my summer internship experience that was funded by the college. Through this experience, I had the opportunity to interact with phenomenal, interesting, and successful Kenyon alumni and other amazing people in the Kenyon network who did not attend the college.
Some of the alumni studied similar subjects to what I do, and some of them studied in completely different departments. However, we were all able to bond over our respective Kenyon experiences, and I was able to learn a lot. As we discussed my short time at Kenyon so far as a sophomore, and as they reflected upon their formative moments, one of the most important pieces of advice they gave me was to try everything and take advantage of every opportunity presented to me.
I explained how I try my best to do that, but as I listed recent talks I’d attended outside of my own departments, meetings for organizations I was a part of, and extracurricular activities I took part in outside of the college, I realized I’d lost my spark.
Now, I’m not saying I’m no longer involved in the Kenyon community, because I do find time to participate in events. However, in comparison to my freshman year, I used to go to something new multiple times a week (sometimes every day) just because I was interested. If I saw a flyer or an ALLSTU advertisement, I would put it into my calendar and follow through with attending. Weaver Wednesdays during the fall semester hated to see me coming, because I would always be there.
Now, I go to mandatory weekly exec meetings, stick with a few consistent extracurriculars, and throw myself into schoolwork. Where’s the sparkle? Where’s the whimsy? I know I succeed in trying every professional opportunity presented to me (hence the Board of Trustees meeting and CDO-funded internship) like most Kenyon students do, but I, unfortunately, don’t pursue every potentially silly, goofy, or more chill opportunity.
If you’re one of those people who’s lost their spark too, I have a way we can both get it back: make an effort to pick out one fun and interesting event at least once a month (or if you’re feeling adventurous, once a week) and actually go to it. Whether it’s a Weaver Wednesday, an acapella performance, a movie night, a club meeting… just go. Don’t just think about it. Don’t just write it down. Actually go. Get your friends in on it too to hold you accountable. It’s always easier to stick to something if you have a buddy, but it’s good to let yourself be comfortable with being alone in a space too.
It’s definitely easier said than done, but I just know that my freshman-year self would be ashamed that my current self isn’t as adventurous as she once was. She would want me to keep trying everything, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.