As I look back on the last four years, I have to ask myself a difficult question: what am I imparting in these communities, and what have they imparted in me? Who are the people that will survive the chilly distance of college separation?

It’s not an easy, laundry-list collection of things and people. Events intersect, new friendships blossom from those decaying, and a sense of permanence eludes me. That is what bothers me the most. Some tacit agreement in the community, which I admit is largely dominated by the AP track, speech kid, specific clubs, mentality, that  this is all temporary and nothing matters. That attitude motivates certain people to, perhaps, go out of their way to rekindle/create friendships, assume a positive demeanor, and genuinely cherish the last days. Certain people may instead choose to slash relationships they do not want, try a hodgepodge of things that seems now justifiable under the guise of a blank slate in three months, and in general adopt a #YOLO attitude. They aren’t mutually exclusive.

I think of it as a pretty decisive test. I will be leaving for Brown in three months, and the span of the United States will separate me from people I don’t want to distance myself from. It’s not a question of “Who will survive?” for me; rather, it is “Who will want to survive?”

tastefullyoffensive:

[via]

hahaha harsh

immaestro:

Wagner, The Ride of the Valkyries (from ‘Die Walkure’)

Jean-Yves Thibaudet (Piano)

thedailywhat:

Marriage Proposal of the Day: The planning! The dorkiness! The tears!

So imperfect it’s perfect.

[thanks, rob!]

ahlakes:

So my dad told me that there was a leak in the bathroom that I should check out. You win this round.