only a boy in a story

McNearney's & Co.-

Hello from Cincinnati! It's been fun reading everyone's "scoop" the past few days so I figured I owed everyone my own little anecdote of Patrick's life as of January '08. I wrote this in my pajamas- forgive me if it goes astray...

So let's see. As to date I'm the only one to post who is not a college graduate so you may think my life is full of drinking on Tuesday nights, beating Halo 3, and having hot wing eating contests. Sadly, it's far from the truth. Now in my junior year I'm starting to really evaluate where I've been and where I want to go- which is of course fun, scary, stressful, and exciting all at once. I've had quite the extensive life for a twenty year old if you ask me. I've made some tremendous friendships, made the dean's list, become president of a student club, gathered two executive mentors, worked a small part-time job for a wireless company, and am an RA [you know...one of those guys that puts on corny programs and listens for alcohol. Don't worry- I'm "cool"]

This past summer I had a less than easy time finding a job and somehow or other ended up landing at a nonprofit summer camp for underprivileged teenagers. Now, I am probably the total opposite of Gerard here as I more or less despise camping (my bed in the AC works just fine, thanks) ...but I'm glad I had the experience nonetheless. I got to eat government camp food three meals a day (boy do I miss those biscuits and gravy), sing songs before every meal, got 1 day off a week, and lived in a cabin with eight boys who think farting is somehow cool...all for something like $8 a day. Like Kanye says, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Ha but seriously it was an amazing time to get away from the cellphone-commercial crazed world and to not only live what summer is all about but to also get to have fun with teenagers who thought you were cooler than Britney Spears (pre 2003 of course).

I'm continuing to cook [Julie has proof] and loving it. I cooked dinner for a Christmas party in December for 30 people by myself and had a (tiring) blast. Still not sure how that does/will fit into my future but I have no doubt it will show up, atleast eventually. Two paths I'm also looking into is event planning and nonprofit work. I'd enjoy doing all three tremendously.

This summer brings some exciting new things as I'm going to Maastricht, Netherlands for a month for a study abroad program. Following that I move into an apartment with my best friend in Cincinnati. And not long after, should be working for a new HR company in the area.

I'm also a big fan of reflection and of blogs (more so reading than writing) so I thought I'd leave you with something I put on my blog earlier this month to talk about the upcoming year since I had (and continue to have) high hopes of it for myself and everyone else. I think hope can do a heck of alot of good. I hope you'll take it to soul.

So, in 2008 I keep many of the same messages. Go for it. Go be that starving artist you're afraid to be. Go out on a Tuesday night. Stay up and talk with a friend 'til 4am. Take pride in the little stuff. Open up that journal and get poetic finally. Volunteer. Suck it up and travel. You were not born here to work and pay taxes. You were put here to be part of a vast organism to explore and create. Stop putting it off. The world has much more to offer than what's on 15 televisions at TGI Fridays. Take pictures. Scare people. Be the change you want to see in the world.

Shake up the scene.

[oh, almost forgot. Go Obama.]

-Patrick
iwaswrong77@gmail.com