Unconventional Roots: New Beginnings

Back in December, I received an email from a college student who found my blog through a search on jobs on farms:

While I was looking through the Hawthorne Valley Farm website, it led me to your blog post from May 10th, 2011. Your post really connected to me, because while I am still in college, I already feel lost. I feel like there are many routes and directions I could take; all of which would be wonderful and exciting career paths.

I really admire the path that you took, in that you moved and fulfilled your dreams of travel and exploration. As I read through some of your other blog postings, I find a real connection to the kinds of things you are interested in, such as a love and deep value for a healthy lifestyle, a yearning for travel and exploration, and a “hunger” for pure, organic food. I guess I’m emailing you tonight because I am searching for the next step, and the possibility of being involved in a place such as Hawthorne Valley Farm has connected to me in a way in which I don’t yet understand; but just knowing and believing that this way of life is what calls out to me is enough to satisfy any unspoken explanation.

Would you have any advice for a soon-to-be college grad who has a deep love for good food, community, education, and travel?

Her email gave me the chills. I knew exactly how she felt, back when I was in college, for many years after I graduated, and sometimes, even still to this day.

UNCONVENTIONAL ROOTS

Over the next few months, I’m going to be sharing stories, tips, and ideas on how to live a more unconventional life through jobs, internships, travel opportunities, and other fun stuff.

This new series will delve into all kinds of unconventional positions and possibilities, and I hope that over time, many of you will share your stories and passions with living a less conventional life, whatever that means to you.

We’ll look at how to live with more passion (the Year for Happiness, anyone?), and how to let go of fears and do what you want to do, if possible. Or at least move in that direction.

I have gone in different paths, and have had lots of time to reflect on what I want to do with my life, which changes time and again, but I often come back to the same kinds of things: unconventional choices.

WHAT TO EXPECT

I’ll be sharing an Unconventional Roots piece at least once a month. There may also be book reviews that explore different paths, and blogs that show how people live in tiny houses, or people who blog for a living.

My hope is give some guidance to college students, high schoolers, and anyone who is looking for more. Especially the people who aren’t sure if they want to follow a typical path of college to full-time job to another full-time job, with maybe a grad school degree thrown in there somewhere.

We all live with expectations. I grew up feeling like I should get a degree in business or something else practical, and then looking for a job in that field, and maybe going on to more school.

Instead, I got a liberal arts degree in anthropology (which I adored, and still do), and went on to try jobs in a few different fields (that are all along the same lines, looking back on it).

What I’ve learned is that there are lots of options out there, and there are many different paths to choose, conventional or not. So over the next few months, let’s explore together, to see how the world can look a little different, how we can grow and learn in different ways, and of course, to be happy.

This series will be all about roots. And routes. It’s time for a new journey.

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