Clerisy

I'm very Midwestern.

I'm not too fancy. I'm pretty easy-going. I try to get my work done. I don't cause a fuss for anyone. I use the word "fuss." I have no sense of entitlement. I'm polite to people in food service. I'm polite to people in general.

My Midwestern identity was really formed during college. A lot of my friends went to big colleges like University of Illinois and The Ohio State University. Although my friends had the same sort of sensibilities, they allowed me to meet some people who were clearly taking the higher education experience for granted. People who prided themselve on never going to class, or not even knowing where the library is. People who tell you to drink before noon to help cure the blues. Men who treat women like shit, and women who let themselves get treated like shit. My parents didn't go to college, so I grew up with the idea that higher education was a privilege not to be squandered. Partying is definitely a part of that experience, but it should be more of a reward for a hard week of class instead of the entire cirriculum.

Another thing that really informed my personality was having a really good friend at an arts college in the city. I was able to constrast our experiences in the same field. I got a real sense that I was getting a more well-rounded education, taught by passionate instructors. The big-time New York City college sounded more like it was a lifeless cirriculum taught by people with notariety instead of any sort of instructorial skills.

I'm proud to work hard, earn my rewards, and not ruffle any feathers. Then again, New York is making me want to ruffle feathers.