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Adventure Is Out There

What happened when I forced myself to explore outside of my comfort zone

Megan Rust

Feb 17, 2017

Fort Hays State University

Megan Rust

This semester I've been working on a goal of mine. I have promised myself that I will practice self-care in every area of my life. I've lived a lot of my life sacrificing my needs in order to take care of other people and it was killing me. I was giving all of my time, energy, and power to other people and I didn't leave anything for myself. This semester has challenged me and changed me in incredible ways. I'm happier, healthier, and much more prepared for the trials life presents me with. One of the biggest changes I have made is forcing myself to get out of my room and do fun things in my free time. Staying in bed isn't good for me and I have the perfect schedule this semester to go out and have awesome adventures without feeling like I'm neglecting my responsibilities.

This Christmas I got an incredible camera (thanks mom and dad!!) and I'm determined to take beautiful photos as often as I can. I love the landscape of western Kansas and I want to share it with people who don't get to experience it the way I do. I've gone on two photo adventures this semester so far. The first happened on a Sunday afternoon when I just REALLY needed to get away from my Facebook feed. I went out with my camera with no real destination in mind and just drove until I found something that caught my attention. Four hours and many beautiful pictures later I was ready to face the next week with optimism and joy.

The second adventure was a little more planned. I have a goal of visiting every single roadside attraction on I-70 between Hays and my hometown before I graduate. I'm graduating sooner than I originally thought I was so I needed to get started if I was ever going to finish. So on an unseasonably warm February day, I traveled to Lucas, Kansas and visited "The Garden of Eden" (google it, it's really weird but cool), the "World's largest souvenir travel plate", the "Fork Art Park", and "Miller's Park". Lucas has a population of 400, but they are seriously dedicated to art and supporting artists. The people of Lucas even came together to build what would become the second best bathroom in America. The building is shaped like a huge toilet and the entire inside is decorated in mosaic art created by the people of Lucas. It was weird, but I loved every minute of it.

So this is my challenge to you, go on an adventure. Go do something ridiculous and touristy. Go explore something new. Make new memories. You won't regret it.

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Adventure Is Out There

What happened when I forced myself to explore outside of my comfort zone

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No one best represents the struggle like our favorite 90s squad.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

2. When there is only one section of a popular course.

3. Receiving the 18,000 emails reminding you to register ASAP.

4. When you need to see an advisor, but they are too busy/unresponsive.

5. Trying not to dress like a bum for your appointments with your advisors/department heads.

6. When you have a perfectly planned out schedule, and one class ruins it.

7. Carefully moving things around to accommodate a different class/section.

8. Waking up at 6:00 a.m. for your enrollment time.

9. Concocting a new schedule at your enrollment time after your original plan gets changed.

10. Getting into a class and filling the last available seat.

11. When all of your classes finally go through.

12. Realizing that you forgot a class that was a pre-requisite for everything else.

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

"Nobody living in one of the most influential nations in the world should be worried about making ends meet."

What is the current minimum wage at the federal level?

What are the benefits of raising the minimum wage?

What are the states that have set a $15/hour minimum wage?

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Because who understands your bitterness better than April?

1. When you have to provide an "interesting fact" for your first day ice-breaker.

2. When your professor is babbling on and on in his lecture.

3. When you edit your friend's paper and they get an A.

4. When it's 2 AM and you remember you have a test tomorrow.

5. When you finish taking the test and you're pretty sure you failed...

6. ...but then you get the test back and somehow passed.

7. When you've been up for 12 hours straight writing a paper.

8. And then you manage to stay awake in class the next day.

9. When you have to butter up your professor for an extra credit opportunity.

10. When you're assigned a group project.

11. And your group-mates are trying to chat about life instead of the assignment.

12. When it's your last class of the day and you're about to go home.

13. But then you remember rent is due tonight and the anger comes back.

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