3 years and still looking forward

This past weekend I went home so that I could attend my sister's graduation party. Although the beer was plentiful and free, I decided to control myself and chat with the partygoers. It turns out that I hadn't seen most of the people there since... MY graduation party. I graduated 3 years ago! All the little ones are in school now and some are even playing sports. Even with the years flown by, everyone seemed the same. We reminisced and talked about jobs, like usual. It seemed like I went off into the future and then came back and was telling everyone about it. It was like Random Lake stood still for the last 3 years as the rest of the world, including me, kept moving.

I tried talking to some very passionate people about my future. Everyone was a deer in headlights. My entire life I've CONSTANTLY heard everyone talk about how college is over-rated or how so-and-so got a job laying brick after 4 years of school or how they did fine without college. For them to hear that I'm doing well and I'm going to Japan and working in my field was mindblowing. It was like the thought that someone they knew could succeed outside of Random Lake had never struck them. At home I feel it's me against the town. I don't back down, but it does get tiring.

With all the above negativity towards my home town, I definitely get more ambitious after every trip back. It keeps me movin' on, if nothing else than to not end up there.

(I think I also picked up townie phrases again)