Goodbye 2011... I am Prepared for the Next Stage of Life

22 years, I've lived.  It's a lot and at the same time, it's not a lot.  It could be a lot if my life was cut short all too early.  This year had many twists and turns... and towards the end, at least for myself I am being ushered into a new stage of life.    Bear in mind I desire to be that "normal" person, but I'm long realized that will never happen.  Even then, "normal" is relative as a state of mind as much as people try to determine success. 

Many people are content with being normal... or subordinate to the position in life they've been given.  Some people are given a change to extraordinary, to do things to be remembered or least be content with knowing they did the right thing.  Somehow through all these years, I've gotten some of both.  Indeed as I reflect on the year, I wish I could be the better man.  I could say I'm probably the most boring or simple man somebody has met.  This 21st year of life has been met with, "So why don't you go out more often?" or "Why still single?" or "Do you have any fun?"  The thing is... I don't have an answer to any of them.

I confuse myself as a myriad of characters of me.  Some days, I feel intelligence, others, I'm horrible at school.  I look organized, but sloppy time management.  Wishing to somewhat social, content to type my thoughts alone on a computer.  See so much potential, but wasting away in jobs that go nowhere.  Look happy and smile, but just trying get through the day.  I know these are the same old problems I've faced in past years and it comes and goes.

I've never been a man of first impressions really well.  People who've known me long enough know this.  I know I come off as a cold, calculated cynic, while my version of a sense of humor takes awhile.  I know I don't socialize with other people much or the topics I talk about are not typical of a 22 year old.  I would rather be dealing with Minecraft or Skyrim than with people sometimes. 

The funny thing is that I start 2012 with a challenge to myself to go well beyond my comfort zones.  I decided to set myself with college classes dealing with Physics, Chemistry and Math.  I mean, I'll be dealing with numbers for the next three months, I should come out much smarter, right?  I know I've flipped-flopped in trying to see what I'm interested in life... then I realized I can't be satisfied with this world and what it offers.  I know it's God, this void I keep seeing.

I am interested in the acquisition of knowledge, I know I'll be learning for most of my life now.  I yearn for every kernel of it.  Computer Science, interested... Engineering, interested... Political Science, interested... Economics, interested... History, interested...  I have a hard time pinpointing what I enjoy the most, actually I enjoy all of them equally, although I don't have time for all.  This problem has dogged me for years.  "What do you enjoy the most Roger?"  I mutter, "All of it... err, Engineering."

It has been interesting 2011 for all the events that happened.  We finally got Bin Laden and the Japanese tsunami are the few things etched into my mind.  I think I finally stopped caring about how fucked the global economic system is (yeah, it's horrible secretly, I know!).  Plus most importantly folks, we got football this season instead of a non-season of moody people not knowing how to get loose on Sunday.

I think the precious thing of the year was two weddings I got to attend, although one was much sooner than I expected.  To Naomi Sunderland and Staci Howard, I cannot express how much those wedding were amazing.  Amazing, yeah.  Plus, the congratulations and the honor to attend.  Then wearing the suit... always cool.  You really do not know how much I enjoy wearing a suit... if I had multiple suits, I would like lounge in them.  But alas, I must be content with my black suit.

Now those not totally given my blessing of knowing what I plan all the time (I know, I'm a secretive person).  You are wondering what the next stage of life I talk about.  Well, first off, it's definitely not about graduating college, even community college.  This stage I've long avoided to hopefully complete school but I see my time has expired in this path of school for now temporarily.

The 2012 year begins the my stage involving the United States Air Force.  I've told a very select few along with the family knowing it.  I have joined officially awaiting a job placement.  Those wondering about timeline to basic training is probably June 2012, enough time to keep doing school.  I finally have felt content with this decision, know full well what to expect. I knew how to finance community college, but when it became time to transfer, I didn't know how to.  Plus, working retail sucks and the jeep is a well-known vehicle on borrowed time. 

Anyhow, yeah.  This is exciting to exit civilian life and join the Chair Force (yeah, let's roll in the jokes).  I've learned that success is relative to being fully content in life.  I'm just hoping to leave the world of young adult immaturity behind, I know I need my dose of reforging character. 

So yeah, Bring it 2012!