The "Long-Awaited" Sequel

When I published my first post to this blog on July 23, 2018 I said that I would try to post my thoughts "somewhat regularly" on here. I lied. But it's better to be late than never so here we are.

I did an Instagram poll to ask my followers what they thought would be a good topic to write about and after "multitudes" of suggestions, I decided to write about the awkward stage of life I'm in between college and being a "real adult." I've never really thought about how strange of a time it is until I really started thinking about it and how just plain weird it is. 

I graduated from college in May 2017 but I didn't really graduate since still lived and worked at Shorter almost immediately following graduation. At the time, I didn't think it would be that big of a deal since I didn't think it would affect my life all that much. I was right about the fact that it didn't change my life very much but I didn't realize until later that it would turn out to be incredibly unhealthy for my personal transition to becoming an adult. My job should've been a part-time job at best and I was still spending most of my time with students in my office or in my apartment basically living the college life but not going to class. I definitely wasn't prepared for what life would be like when my job and my whole lifestyle was over unexpectedly. Though I learned a lot from my experience with it, I wasn't prepared to be an "adult" who has to do everything for himself. Once I moved back home, I began looking for full-time jobs at different places like insurance companies, car dealerships, office buildings, and lots of other things but I either wasn't qualified or just didn't want to do the jobs because I knew I wouldn't enjoy them. Finally after a month of looking for jobs that I didn't even want, I decided to make an adult decision and make a change that only I could make. 

I decided to become a substitute teacher and applied to get my Masters degree so that I could eventually become a History teacher which is what I knew I should've done with my life all along. I was too stubborn and too rebellious against myself to actually do what I knew deep down all along when I was still in school. After lucking out and getting a long-term sub job teaching sixth grade social studies last school year and absolutely loving it, I thought I had finally turned a corner and stopped doubting myself...and then I doubted myself. I applied and interviewed for a few full-time teaching positions over the summer and didn't get any of them which automatically threw me into panic mode because I don't like being rejected for anything. I just assumed that one of them would work out for me and I wouldn't have to struggle with money or anything. I started looking around for other jobs that had nothing to do with teaching because I lost hope way too quickly. I finally just had to get it all out and re-evaluate everything until I realized one of the most valuable lessons of beginning adulthood. NOT EVERYTHING WORKS OUT THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO.

Finding and actually working aren't the only things that have made this stage of life difficult but also finding out where I fit in socially. College is all about making connections and building friendships. I knew that I could always find someone to call to go to Applebee's for half-price apps or watch a movie with at any time of the day or night. I learned real fast that those kind of things don't happen for an "adult." Not only was I not within walking distance of all my closest friends, but I just didn't want to do anything besides work, eat, and sleep. I went from having to force myself to take a break from people long enough to do homework or sleep to now forcing myself to go out and be sociable so I don't become a hermit. (Which doesn't sound like a bad lifestyle in all honesty) 

The year that i've spent in between college and "adulting" has been the hardest year i've ever had. I've made so many drastic changes in my life and how I do things and it's been difficult to figure out what I need to keep and what I need to let go of. It's so awkward because I still feel like a kid but I go to work and pay rent. It's really weird to be in a spot where friends that I had in high school and college are all at different places that I am in. I have friends that are married or are getting married, I have friends that are still in college long after they thought they'd be finished with it, I have friends that got their dream jobs straight out of college and I have others that are still looking for their first one. People say that college is when you finally figure out who you are. I'd like to think that this stage of life is the tutorial on how to be this person...except the tutorial is really hard and its different for everyone. I'd love to be done with my Masters and I'd love to have a full time job as a History Teacher but again, growing up is hard and like I said before, not everything works out the way you want it to. I've heard people say that "getting old ain't for wimps" and by golly they're right. 

On a much less serious note, I'd like to actually do something with this that isn't such a serious soul-searching sob story but the last time I said that, I didn't say anything until six months later. I'll figure something out. To those of you out there, thanks for reading. Everyone that knows me knows I love attention and this is no different. 

The First Cut Is the Deepest...at least that's what Sheryl Crow said in that one song.

Hello, Internet!

My name is Brice Duke and I've decided to write down and publish some of the numerous thoughts that race through my head on a daily basis. Before I get started, I think its important to explain who I am and what i'm about...even if most of if not all of my readers will be people I know.

As of the time i'm writing this, i'm a 23 year old college grad who is about to start graduate school for a Master of Teaching at the University of West Georgia so that I can finally achieve my dream of being a high school History teacher. Fun fact about UWG; this is my 4th college/university that I've attended since I graduated from high school in 2013. Yes, its been as tiring and frustrating as one could imagine transferring schools so many times in such a short amount of time. I'll probably end up telling that story eventually if this blog actually advances past the first installment.

I got the idea to start this for several reasons; none of which are particularly profound or significant. I just got a new computer so I need an excuse to use it while also getting the opportunity to write down some of the thinks that I think about everyday and I can tell someone else other than Bennett, the poodle that lives in the house with me. As you can imagine, he doesn't have much to say when I ask him what he thinks about things ranging from Russian spies in the White House all the way to the struggling 2018 Atlanta Braves bullpen. I also would like to think that I enjoy writing a good bit. As a history major during my undergraduate career, I typed more words than i'd ever care to admit. However, there is also a somewhat therapeutic quality to typing for me. I also believe that its important as an amateur historian to record anything that you can for the future. I have a feeling that the Declaration of Independence wouldn't have meant as much if we would've just called King George III on the phone and said "We're through." Voices can only carry so far; writing is permanent.

I'd like to think that this will be a platform that I can express my thoughts on any and everything. I hope I can help educate people on stuff that matters as well as things that don't. I also would absolutely welcome questions that I could answer. I consider myself someone who knows a little about a lot of things and its important that humans help each other. I'd like to apologize in advance as well for my hot takes on things such as sports, politics, news, and basically anything else I talk about but this is my blog, dadgummit. I also will use plenty of bad puns and pop culture references that are incredibly lame...you have been warned.

I don't really have much of a plan for how often I'll write but I want to use this as a way to document my journey towards finishing my Masters, becoming a teacher, and also becoming an adult while dealing with the incredibly awkward stage of life i'm in being out of college but definitely not feeling like an adult...even though I have bills to pay. God has put me in a unique position during this season of life that i'm in. I've been tested to my limits so far in 2018 and I know its only going to get more difficult between starting school again but also being a substitute teacher during the day and learning how to deal with kids but I know that it's only going to help me in the long run. James 1:2-3 says "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." I know that hard times are ahead, but my God is bigger than any problems that I could possibly face.

Before I finish, I'd like to say a few things that I like and don't like as of July 23rd, 2018.

Like:
There are only 40 days until college football is back.
I'm starting as the new trivia host at the Rome Mellow Mushroom on Tuesdays at 7!
I live less than 2 minutes from a Zaxby's and it still hasn't gotten old.

Don't Like:
There are still 40 days until college football is back.
My car got broken into last week. I'm missing the quarters and earbuds they stole.
Buying groceries is incredibly expensive. Adult life isn't all you think it'll be when you're a kid.

Also, my first bit of lame humor came in the title of this post. For those of you who don't get the reference, i've attached the link of the song.

Hope to see everyone again soon! Go Dawgs!

-Brice