Purposes

I guess you could say that I aspire to be the Amy Adams character in "Julie & Julia", even though I can't stand Amy Adams and how perky she is. But I do like how, as she was doing something challenging and fulfilling, she used her blog to really self-reflect and find purpose.

So I guess the purpose of this blog is to serve as my self-reflection; to serve as a checkpoint for my sanity; to serve as my vent, my release. I certainly know I will need something like this as I progress through the five intense weeks of Teach for America Institute and then the two life-changing years that lie ahead.

But that wouldn't be the whole story for the genesis of "Go West, Young Man".

(Those of you who know me well know that there is, as always, a vanity aspect to this.)

I received such positive feedback about my email listservs from when I was abroad junior year (shout-out to GLOBE III 2010!) that I knew I had to do something like this during my TFA experience. I loved sharing my adventures, I loved writing to you all and making you smile from afar. I want to entertain you, to connect with you all, to share my experiences with you.

And I distinctly remember one sentence I wrote on August 27, 2009, in my first email update, that still applies today: "I'm terrified of being forgotten."

This is my first foray into the blogosphere, so I'm not really sure where to go from here...but I guess that serves as a nice metaphor for my life right now.

I'm looking forward to updating you all as my adventures continue; I love and miss everyone.

peace and love from the grand canyon state,

pb