The Morning Walk

Coffee? Check.
iPod? Check.
Shades? Check.

I join a flock of twenty-somethings fleeing the parking lot and heading toward the main campus as if it were a giant magnet, and we were all little metal pieces being pulled directly toward it. A typical scene as we take part in the early morning rush to arrive to class on time where our sponge-like brain cells will absorb knowledge. Now despite what other lazy students believe, it is not a far walk from the parking lot to the classroom here at ETSU. Five to ten minutes max and you have reached your destination. (WVU on the other hand? Leave for class ninety minutes early). Still, in this ten minute walk there is plenty to see and one last chance to free your mind before the busy day of education begins. So what makes these items necessary for the short morning jaunt to class?

First off, coffee. That warm, bold refreshing beverage will caffeinate your senses during class and make you look super cool if you carry a Christmas travel mug in September.
Second, an iPod. Does this need any explanation? You MUST find the perfect tune to inspire your soul, and prepare you for a day of gaining knowledge. Pop those earbuds in and go, go, go!
Third, shades. Sure they will prevent the bright morning sun from burning your corneas but they will also provide a fresh worldview. There’s so much to see along the way! And it usually looks better while hiding under your favorite shades. It is also necessary that the shades reflect your specific personality. Perhaps this is your last chance for individual identity before retreating into the student masses of sameness and conformity!

After a refreshing morning walk, I arrive to class feeling relaxed and ready to take on the day. Then I notice that I forgot my backpack. No problem. More coffee, iPod, and shades time as I walk back to my car and retrieve the non-essentials items still in my car. :-)

When I leave home to walk to school, Dad always says to me,
"Marco, keep your eyelids up and see what you can see.” – from Dr. Seuss’s And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street