I Must Be Mistaken.

Daedalus and Icarus, Oil on Canvas, c. 1620, Anthony van Dyck

  It is no secret that Professor Sexson's homework assignments are unorthodox to say the least. Being asked to "go hug a tree" or "pay more attention out there" are not uncommon requirements for this class. Despite their peculiarity, each of these tasks are centered around the concept of metamorphoses and our unexpected growth as students, people, and mythic detectives. Out of the laundry list of sapid missions that I have been sent on, one has always vexed me. "Go out and make a mistake". The task seems easy enough due to the vast amount of slip-ups I get myself into, but none seemed to fit the bill in my mind. It wasn't until now, with the end of the semester looming on the horizon, that it hit me. 

  My ENTIRE semester has been a mistake.

  I understand that this statement can come across as pessimistic or defeatist, but I mean it in the best way possible. I guess I relate my experience this semester to that of Icarus (without the whole crashing to your death fiasco). What I mean by this is that my cumulative mistakes were all made to teach me about balancing my personal and scholastic life and the proper way to fly in the middle of both. 

  Before I left the safe nest of Colville Washington, my mother gave me advice that I wrote off due to it's simplicity. My mother told me, "Have fun and study hard, but don't do too much of either". After reading Ovid's Metamorphoses, this advice reminds me of what Daedalus told Icarus before they took to the skies. "Remember to fly midway, for if you dip too low, the waves will weight your wings with thick salt water, and if you fly too high the flames of heaven will burn them from your sides" was the warning presented to both Icarus and myself. And like Icarus, I didn't listen. 

  At the beginning of my classes I was adamant on being the best. I would spend hour upon hour in the library or in my room studying. As my grades and knowledge rose up and up, the more burnt out I was becoming with education and the scholarly process. To counteract my dwindling desire to learn, I thought it would be beneficial to take a break and live it up a bit. I took a figurative dive down from my school work and into the party scene. The more partying I did, the more weighed down I felt and it eventually lead to my inevitable string of illnesses. 

  Thankfully I was able to take the hint nature was giving me. I am in the process of balancing my flight path in order to grow as an intellectual. My mistakes gave me lessons in life and the way to live it, so ultimately...I think I did my homework.