So I was sitting in class and the teacher said that our first post was to be a short introduction. Two hundred and fifty to six hundred words. Initially, this seemed too small of a restraint. Only two hundred and fifty words? That hardly seemed enough to summarize my dreams, desires, interests, history, fears, and quirks. Then I sat down to write. The blank canvas in front of me was daunting. How much did I really know about myself? How much was I ready to share with a room full of strangers? I wasn't sure what exactly was deemed appropriate for an English Class introduction. Though I was bound to spill some sentimental secrets into future assignments, was this information worthy for the whole world?
I tried writing about pets, favorite ice cream flavors, movies, hobbies, but it all felt inconsequential. The most defining aspect of my personality that I could come up with was the ever-present pursuit of freedom. College has taught me a fair share about freedom from filial restraints, but not as much as the city of Tempe has. I grew up in an extremely rural community. My nearest neighbor was a farmhouse two miles away from my home. Now, my nearest neighbor is on the other side of a thin plaster wall. The sheer number of people astounded me, but so did the scale. While back at home, you could walk forever and not find anything, here every step just takes you closer to something else. I've wasted entire days on a skateboard, a bike, or just on foot, floating towards everything and nothing.
On the topic of wheels, I can't help but find myself smiling behind my monitor. There aren't many places to skate where I'm from. Here, I've found enlightenment on the back of a fiberglass-bamboo composite. The fluidity of motion, the speed and weightless effort embody the flighty feeling of freedom flawlessly. Skating has become a pastime and even a way of life.
