Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Swing and a miss

 

So, I totally blew my First occasion paper. Every one else in the class shared some very personal or deep stories about themselves I wrote a bad movie review. I think I totally misread the room. I am listening to the stories and occasions my classmates are talking about, and I shudder. The young women around me in this class are very open at least on paper. Listening to some of their papers felt intrusive. Some of the topics have a bravery that I would like to think I have but was never tested. they also so come from very different places. I feel unconnected by age and gender in this class like there is no one I can look at and nod at with shared experience.  I know my nature and as a parent and guardian I want to help, discuss, support, but I know that is an intrusion as well. So here I am, the older male in a room full of young women I do not know personally, feeling the need to defend my gender. I know the last thing any of them need is a heroic male figure to save them.

 The next paper will be better. I think I kept it light because I do not feel comfortable sharing things about myself and who I am with people I do not know well. I do not seem trusting these days. I don’t know why. There are so many things that I could have wrote about. My issues with time and why I never feel I have enough of it. why I joined the army and my tribe. What it’s like being a dad with an adult child and how to feel pride and disappointment all at the same time. I can talk about my addiction to roleplaying and how it helped and hindered my education and gave me family. So many things. I should write the next paper on why I came back to school, what I get out of it, and how I feel about being in classes with kids that grew up with the internet and never had to make a mix tape off the radio.

 High point of the day: having a few good conversations with my manager, my instructor, and my wife throughout the day. 

Low point of the day: Realizing that not only do I have no ambition, I have no idea how to get it.

What I learned: I think I never lost my addiction to Role-Playing Games. 

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