A Guide to Magic · 11:22pm Apr 29th, 2015
So a long time ago, I was just some kid in Mexico City trying to decide what to do with College.
I always knew my passion was writing, but I tried other things first. I studied Computer Science for a little while, and Communication Sciences... I tried being a teacher and got a degree to teach ESL, then I realized that really wasn't for me. Teaching well requires a very special type of person and it wasn't me. Then I studied a bit of Graphic Design. It was fun! I thought I would've stayed there but, just for kicks I applied to study a double degree in Creative Writing & English Literature in England. Because, why not?
So, when I got offered a scholarship I was surprised. Here was the chance I was looking for. But, I would have to leave my friends and family behind. My comfort zone. My usual places to lurk. My D&D crew. My anime crew. The kendo/kenjutsu team. Any girl I had any romantic interests in, the food... my books... a lot of stuff, alright?*
Anyway. It was scary. Chase my dream and see it to fruition or stay back there and finishing studying whatever I ended up studying. Sure, it was safe. And I had a home, so no rent. I wouldn't have to worry about food either and I would only need to cook if I wanted to. But, that was not what I really wanted.
In the end, I took a deep breath and basically explained what had happened in a rush of energy to my parents and sister. They gave me their blessing to do what I thought would be best, even if they would miss me.
Do I wish, I had stayed behind and learned something else? Nah.
I do wish I had learned more things, besides my passion back then instead of right now, but, hey. I loved every second of being in another country, so far away making it work on my own. So, why am I writing this?
Because I just read an awesome story by Bookplayer: A Guide to Magic in which Apple Bloom deals with something slightly similar. It brought a lot of memories back for me, but more importantly, it's a really great and realistic story too. Going away from home into the unknown is a scary thing for anyone. Or, if not scary, at least stressful. You never know the first time you get somewhere how your actions are going to reverberate through your life there and beyond.
Maybe you'll be a loner. Maybe you'll become Vice President of the Japanese Culture Society despite being Mexican/American. Maybe you'll flunk out of Writing Comedy. Or maybe you'll perform in several places with stand-up routines that don't pass the test of time. Maybe you'll simply fade into the background. Or maybe you'll be surprisingly popular despite the fact that you never were before. Who knows if you don't try?
The bottom line is, stories like A Guide to Magic are few and in between in showing situations like these in a way that feels so natural and real. I'm honestly glad I read it. If you've left home to go to College far away, you know what AB is going through... and if you're considering what to do with your life... you know what AB is going through.
Go read!
* Note Edit: I did take my Tailmon plush though.
So inspirational
Anyone who wouldn't take their Tailmon plush with just isn't right.
Already planning on looking at that fic, hopefully I'll have some time tonight.
I second the recommendation. It's a story that shows hesitations and considerations when going through making a decision like this.
Also, just because: I hope whatever comes your way works out for you, or at the very least teaches you new things.
I quite liked the Writeoff version, but I haven't had a chance to read the one posted here.
Damn, I'm glad this wasn't just me. How'd you deal with the fallout of having wasted all that time and money, though? :(
3029821 I made it back teaching CEOs and CFOs in Mexico some English before despair set in 100%
3029826
damn D:
Thanks so much for this blog post, and for sharing your story. You've had a really interesting life, you know, and I'm glad you can appreciate the experiences, even when they don't lead exactly where you thought they'd go.
I'm really glad you enjoyed my fic. I write for the times when I can make people feel like that.
Ha, my to-read list is growing faster than I can read it.
I studied English Literature & Culture for a few years. I took a few months during that time to net myself a couple of points in creative writing also, but not nearly enough. I wish now I had just gone for it, as one of my best friends from that time did recently become published. I remember him looking up to me as well.
I have a fun little writing project going on here and if that helps me get back into it, then maybe I'll move on to write some more for myself. I need to build up a little momentum.
3030033 Your story was fantastic! Thank you for writing it and for bringing back good memories!
It does sound very familiar to how I'm feeling now.
I'm taking an English -Creative Writing Major right now, but I still feel unsure about things. Some/most of it is mired in my complete reluctance to (in my mind) "give up" the hobbies that I enjoyed since I was 3 years old, especially if such hobbies (currently just Videogames and reading) aren't completed to my liking. And some of it is the massive amounts of self-doubt and self-loathing I hold for myself because I have at least half-a-dozen story ideas, and I've only officially published one of them (which was just a one-chapter, barely-over-1k-words short story. And I do get that authors often have a good amount of ideas that they can't either get to because of impracticality, the idea just not working, another project requires more attention, etc., but it just feels so frustrating that I have all these but I can never muster the courage to just put the damn things down into an actual story format. It makes me question why I'm bothering to major in that kind of thing in the first place.
I...guess I'm just too afraid to mess up what I've been doing for so long?