I love this song. I'll Follow the Sun was released on the Beatles' 1964 album "Beatles for Sale." It might be a stretch, but to me this song is about the way time is constantly driving life forward. Despite our best laid plans, none of us really knows what's up ahead. However, this song is a reminder to me that the future always holds promise, that tomorrow can always be better than today.
I'll Follow the Sun made so much sense to me this time last year. I was packing all of my belongings, bidding countless farewells, and throwing myself towards the future. I was so excited, and I knew that even though I had to leave treasured memories and friends behind, I truly was "following the sun" when I came to Penn State. I was bored in my small town. I was ready to be an adult, to get out in the world, to learn, and to accomplish. I counted down the days until my first year at college would officially begin. When I finally arrived, it was better than I had ever expected. It's funny though that amidst all my planning and anticipation for Penn State, I never thought about the day my first year at college would officially end. In one week, I'm going back to the place I chose to leave, and this time it doesn't feel quite so much like I'm "following the sun."
Marveling at how quickly freshman year has gone by, a good friend said to me, "You've gotten a dollar in change, and you've already spent one quarter. There are only three quarters left!" It's a sobering thought, and I couldn't help but fear, "Have I spent my first quarter wisely? Or was it all a waste of my first 25 cents?" So I decided to gather up all of my receipts from the past nine months, hoping to be satisfied with my use of the first quarter.
I spent my quarter on making the blue band. On learning to live on my own and on learning to live with a stranger. On joining the School of Music. On quitting the School of Music. On finding out how much I love psychology. On gaining TONS of knowledge. On sleeping through class. On learning to wake up for class. On marching my first pre game show in front of 110,000. On eating Canyon Pizza. On staying up for two days straight before winter finals. On writing blogs every week and rekindling my love for the Beatles. On learning about myself. On procrastinating. On making late night trips to Kiwi. On rioting. On singing the Alma Mater by candlelight. On meeting my best friends. On loving a person like I never thought I could. On having the time of my life.
All that for one quarter. I'm pleased with the way I've chosen to spend it, but I suppose that in a way, I'm sad that it's already gone. I wish I could hold on to it and spend it all again, but there's no sense in that. I'm plowing towards tomorrow whether I want to or not, and there's no reason it can't be even better than the past nine months. I love Penn State, "but now the time has come, and so my love I must go." Luckily, I still have three quarters left. The future always holds promise, whether that be at home this summer working, at Penn State next fall headed towards 50 cents, or years down the road. Leaving Penn State next week will be bittersweet, but I still have so much to look forward to! "Tomorrow may rain so I'll follow the sun."
"One day you'll find that I have gone, but tomorrow may rain so I'll follow the sun."
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