I wanted to sleep tonight, but when
trying to meditate I became invigorated by an idea. That idea was
taking to the streets. My heart races at the prospect of owning a
megaphone and throwing more passion behind my words than I ever
imagine blogging could do. After all, I’m a showman. I love to
engage and challenge and argue. I, more than anything else, want to
be a very poignant and standing example of how I honestly think. And
let me tell you why.
I am not afraid to be wrong. I am
conspicuously honest. I am perpetually happy.
I think many of the details about
people’s lives become fairly irrelevant, at least for me, if they
manage these categories. Now, the idea that kept me awake was
::drumroll:: bitching about school on the road to Ballantine. I make
no secret of how much I despise being in school, my problem is, I
only have my, and a handful of my friends’ perspectives. So, how
exciting would it be to take oversized questionnaire billboards and
ask passer-bys their perspective? Quite exciting indeed. I already
have an opening speech lined up:
“Excuse me
ladies and gentlemen! My name is Nick P. and I am a senior here at
IU. To my left, I have a few oversized billboards with questions I am
desperate to get answers for from you. You may have also noticed this
handy dandy camera sitting here. This is to collect your stories and
perspectives of your time in school. You see, I have this problem,
and it’s illustrated in my first question up there. I hate fucking
school. So, I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, do you feel the same?
Now, before you think I’m just some stoner hippie who has snapped,
take a look at this list of things I concede. It reads: I concede
some teachers are amazing. I concede some students retain most of
what is taught. I concede that teachers, administrators, etc. are not
necessarily “evil” or of the mind and will to screw you.
God forbid I am unclear, for I am not
taking aim at your teachers, or your futures, or personal decisions,
I am making an enemy of a system of thought. I reject the idea that
it takes four years and forty thousand dollars for you to be a worthy
and productive member of society. I reject the idea that school is
living up to its purpose and ideals you expect from it. In the place
of what I reject I wish to forward some ideas as well. I am a
believer in dramatic and quick change. Efficiency. I believe that
passion fuels the best work. Therefore my goal is to work towards
enabling passionate and efficient people towards their goals. I want
to create a discourse that leads to results.”
If it has to start somewhere, why not
the random crazy haired guy with a megaphone? If ridiculous preachers
can garner a full page article in the IDS every year or every
semester, why can’t I bring the conversation to something I find
more relevant and potentially helpful? If I take a note from my time
working with Daniel, I want to get your school story. What are kids
saying about their classes, assignments, fears and passions that
can’t be answered on a survey? What is school teaching people about
life or themselves? And why shouldn’t we expect something that
takes so much time, effort, money, and sacrifice to play a role in
these things?
As with any idea that keeps me awake or
makes my heart race, I like to set it down, turn away, and see if I’m
just as motivated a day or two later. Before I jump into the
self-indulgent pageantry of yelling through a megaphone, I can just
set this idea here and hopefully glean some ideas on how to make it
better or more relevant before I hit the pavement. So, what do you
think?
