A Journey
A Journey, what can we learn from it? Do we tend to learn from the beginning, the middle or the end? Or do we need to go back to where we started to realize our destiny?
The next paragraph is from one of my favorite writers, Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist:
Santiago found his treasure back in the abandoned church in Spain (where the story began). He found a treasure chest filled with Spanish gold coins, under the sycamore tree. Even though Santiago’s treasure was placed in the same exact spot as where he started, it was his journey that led him find it. He realized the importance of actually putting effort into pursing your dreams. He proved that you get what you give and that everything comes full circle.
I would like to make a connection of this book and our book The Epic of Gilgamesh. As we all know Gilgamesh was a hero-king. His life changed when Enkidu came into his life. Gilgamesh learned so much from him but most importantly he also learned about himself. It was in the middle of his life (and after Enkidu dies) that he knew that in order to gain more knowledge he needed to go back to where Enkidu’s story began.
I’m going to be honest. When we started reading about all these epics, I questioned myself: “Why are we reading all these old stories?” But then I realized that we can learn so much about them even if they happened thousands of years ago. Today, we are going to experience these feelings and emotions. I sometimes question if college is the end of my journey or the road to my destiny. I learned that I shouldn’t think about the end but to think of the amazing things I can learn while I’m here. Who knows, maybe I’ll find my true passion while I’m doing an internship here in the States or when I go overseas. We had heard from our friends and professors that when they started college they all have had a major/goal in their mind. While in college they discovered new ideas, skills, majors. They (we) gain knowledge and this gives us choices to change what we want. And because of this they (us) changed their major a few times (who hasn’t?). I’m not saying that we only have one journey. I think we have many goals/journeys, but they are all connected to that moment when we can find out what we really want. Just like Gilgamesh, Uruk was his life, the gods and Enkidu were his college, and he learned that he needed to go back to where the story began.
I’d like to conclude by asking you a question: Do you think college is the end of your journey when it comes to find out your profession or do you think there is more?
We as humans are inclined to learn more and thus with time, our view of things change – this especially comes with today’s ever shifting world where you never know what tomorrow will be like, or in other words; what professions will be out there (which ones will be new and which ones will become extinct), what industries will the global market be focusing on, what your own ambitions will be like 10,15,20 years from now and etc. this list can go on forever.
I find that most student always say “I just want to graduate already” and it is something that bothers me because most think that their journey of learning and improving oneself ends, which is exactly the point when the end of your life starts (work). Big no! Whether we like it or not learning is part of life and that’ll continue all the way through. Since that is the case – college is not the end of the journey, but only an end of a small chapter to something way bigger.
I’ve also recently been to India, where I’ve met a lot of people trying to “find themselves”. I’m going to say no more – how funny is that 🙂 No, you don’t just go woop, check mark to “found myself” and “better person now” like its some xbox achievement, its a process that continues. The only balance in life is change.
Interesting post Enrique!
A journey is sequences of events that lead someone to either where they wish to be are where they currently are now. Journeys play such a role in everyone’s life, our whole life itself is one long journey, a path to better ourselves and dealings in life, whether to build financial security or just happiness as we grow older. The journeys others took such as the elderly, the youth learns from it before they potentially come forth to deal with it personally. From the experience and knowledge elders before us gained, prevents us from making the same mistakes or decisions the once did.From their own personal journey, wisdom was gained and wisdom of the past always gets past down to the future, the youth. Journeys are so essential in life because without experience you cannot truly grow as an individual. One must experience things to become wiser. Everything a person does is an event in a journey to where they should be, and one must embrace the experience.But at the end of every journey is an end, death. The intriguing thought of when the journey will end or if it can be prevented/ escaped is illustrated in “The Epic of The Gilgamesh” as Gilgamesh goes on quest to seek the answers of immortality.
Enrique, your post is extremely relatable to so many students. I started off as a biology major and changed to accounting. I’ve thought about changing to English a few times because I’ve always loved the subject and I’m passionate about it. I also work as a diamond grader and I am taking gemology courses which has absolutely nothing to do with my major. I don’t think that college is the beginning or end to anything but that it’s an opportunity to figure yourself out and what exactly it is that you are passionate about. It’s difficult because money is involved but there is opportunity to do so much more than focus on one subject (study abroad, clubs etc). From experience, I’ve learned that you can delve into multiple areas of study and figure out what you truly enjoy.
To: Lior Bey, M. Johnsandy and E. gutierrez2
Thank you so much for taking your time to read my blog and post a comment. Good luck on your journey.
And of course good luck to everyone on your journey.
Great post Enrique!!
I agree, in college we discover new ideas and skills, we gain knowledge and that gives us a choice to change what we want. College is about many things. You learn about specific subjects and the world in general, and of course you increase your knowledge through a broad range of new and different experiences. Many will argue that the purpose of college is to gain an education, not to prepare you for a career. This is very true. Consider the vast knowledge you have gained in all areas of your life, whether this is your first or last year in school. But no matter how many valuable educational and personal experiences you gain in the process, it’s hard to ignore the reality that appears after graduation. That’s why it’s so significant that you’re enrolled in this course right now. Your professors have an important job to provide you with an education and help you become a well-rounded, educated individual, which leaves you with the responsibility for keeping up with career issues.
This is a great comparison. I feel that when I graduate college I will be done with a chapter of my life, but the journey will remain far from finished. I am also considering earning a master’s degree, which is another journey in itself. The fact is that learning is a journey that never ends, no matter how old we get. This is why we must seize opportunities to experience new things when they are presented. And as we do get older, we will eventually have nothing but our memories.