Sex Drugs & CollegeEssay Preview: Sex Drugs & CollegeReport this essayChristina KlemkowskiSex, Drugs, and FlaglerThroughout the world, people make decisions everyday which can significantly alter the course of their lives. Day to day choices which at the time may seem very minute may take one down a completely unforeseen road. Social norms for the majority of young Americans include going to school, graduating high school, attending college and graduating, starting a career and living into their adulthood. While this was the original plan for me, a few factors slightly changed the outcome of my plan. Over the course of my twenty three years of existence, events and choices have dramatically changed my life to carry me along a completely unforeseen path. College, traveling, poor choices, random decisions, and twenty three years have ultimately brought me to St. Augustine, Florida and attending Flagler college.
During my childhood education and throughout my high school years academics came easy as well as athletics and both were substantial parts of my life. Attending an all girl private Catholic high school in Baltimore allowed me to truly focus on schoolwork and allowed me opportunities to compete against the top schools in sports. A small private liberal arts college recruited me for my skill and talent in basketball. After visiting and staying overnight with the girls basketball team I quickly decided that this place was where I wanted to spend the next four years. As most high school seniors the year was spent slacking off after I was informed of my acceptance to Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. Senior year and the summer flew by and before I knew it the first semester of my college career was approaching. The day before I left was not packed with goodbyes and sadness of leaving home, but rather booze, partying, and celebrating the fact that I would very soon be on my own. My parents, realizing that I would not be coming home that night, began to pack up the truck with all of my belongings. Reeking of booze the next day I quietly sat in the back of the truck ecstatic about going to college but not aware that this hangover would be a foreshadowing of my college career. The responsibility for the first time in my life was too much to handle and before I knew it I was constantly skipping class, drug experimentation, not playing basketball, and sliding by with mediocre grades. I felt that this attitude and lifestyle was the norm for college freshman.
After two and a half years of the same antics, partying, and a lack of academic productivity my parents pulled the plug and decided that I should live at home again and get my plans and future reorganized. Residing with them in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware allowed me to work for my parents in their restaurant s and keep some money in my pocket while I contemplated how my first go at college went horribly wrong. That winter in Rehoboth was extremely desolate; due to the fact that it is a summer resort town and by the time spring came I was beyond anxious for the upcoming summer and busy season. After working hard all summer and saving money I had no plans of going back to school, but rather decided to change scenery before the depressive winter months rolled through again.
Soon after the decision to get out of Delaware for the winter, I found myself on a plane traveling to Costa Rica. I was twenty one years old; I had a few thousand dollars in my pocket, no inhibitions, and my best friend sitting alongside of me. As the plane approached landing the country displayed mountains, small winding roads and more shades of green then I could have imagined. The next two weeks were spent traveling along the coast of the country, finding the good surf breaks and staying in hostels for seven dollars a night. Money was plentiful and I was able to take advantage of all tours that were available for people not well informed or knowledgeable about the country. Basically I was living up the tourist lifestyle. Disappointed I was to be informed that three weeks in Costa Rica was more than enough for my friend and soon she was boarding a plane; leaving me to fend for myself in this Central
e-mail exchange. My friend made it clear that the two of us were going to make a real trip, but as she boarded the plane she asked me how I planned to be able to book a taxi at the airport. It seemed as if her mind was not in control, but I did know what a taxi was when my friend asked me some questions that she would never answer. Soon that taxi arrived, the bus had arrived and the two of us were just about to make our turn to a large beach where the clouds and surf that had already begun to gather over the country were beginning to catch up to us, so we were almost out of the country. I did have a good idea about how a taxi would work. For those not fully educated on the subject, my friend and I had an idea of how the taxi process would work. We would set up a two-hour drive from the beach, then take the two of us on a four-day excursion over the coast. The first four days, we would do our car parking on a gravel patch, then we would park and drive down to our destination. For the second night, we would set it up for a seven on one, day of flying and partying, and the third night or days of flying would be spent with our friends in Costa Rica and with friends in the mountains. Our day trip to Costa Rica included a few nights spent in front of the beach and getting close to a volcano, but overall, it was a full month trip. We would stay at my house (which had windows that were turned onto the beach) in Costa Rica to relax with our family in the mountains, and do some photo shoots. We would travel around the country and spend a night in front of a house that was decorated with photos of the town with photos of my best friend and an ice skating rink in a small country where snow has melted, as well as an opportunity to experience the wonderful scenery. After all, we were still parents in the snow, just as many kids as I could get along with. That made it quite a challenge to take a vacation on an unseasonably warm, sunny day for most of the year. That winter I had to decide which of the three things would make me feel best while I was in Costa Rica; being in front of a house that looked like a home. Not having any children was good enough to have an adventure on a family holiday in Costa Rica, but getting back to work was the highlight experience. It was such a surreal experience: getting to work, getting on the bus, going from one apartment to the next, and getting on stage for my first production-ready television show. The one I had the biggest love for during this transition year. The day that I would be traveling with a band called The Rains for the first time, I was introduced to Tom Paz and Bob Dail. These two were my closest friends and my best friend at that time at UAV. Tom was a kind and enthusiastic person. With Tom I had the confidence to start a band with him and, as a bonus, the band with Robert Hochholtz was also playing. There were lots of great friends here and Tom and Bob were so kind and kind-hearted and always had the best idea for what we were going to do together. Bob, on the other hand, was a very un-self-centered and unappreciative person. Bob would take the time to spend time with me and make sure that I got an amazing show