Written by Ike Peters
Igraduated in 2008, and looking back on my Harding experience, I have one regret: that I did not get involved in Spring Sing and build the meaningful relationships associated with it.
Haha, totally kidding! I never think that! (high-fives self)
In all seriousness, there were a few things at Harding that I now realize I took for granted. Here is a list of things I wish I had done or known.
Spend money on stupid, useless things
Yes, I did have my share of stupid purchases. Example: I bought Black Beauty on DVD. Why? Cause I remember watching it as a kid, that’s why. But what I remembered after the fact was that I didn’t even like it when I was a kid. That is six bucks I’ll never get back.
Now I’m an adult. I have to think about saving and preparing for the future. All these things are good, and I’ll be glad I did it. But here’s the thing: In college, it didn’t matter at all. I should’ve bought that Arcade Fire album instead of bumming it off a friend. I should’ve gone to that Radiohead concert. I should’ve bought that sweet katana I saw at that pawnshop in Little Rock. And yes, pawnshop is one word. Boom.
Here’s the catch, though. You should keep up with what you’re spending, which is something I didn’t do and consequently, received a couple of embarrassing phone calls in the caf from my dad. So yes, spend money. Buy things you won’t be able to buy in the real world, but have some responsibility behind it. Be an idiot in what you purchase, not in how you purchase. Get it? Yeah, I thought it was clever, too.
Ask out any girl I thought was attractive any time I wanted
I’m married now to a beautiful and incredible woman. And now that I’m learning about marriage, I’m also learning more about women. And here’s what I’ve learned: they’re not worth the stress.
Allow me to clarify by giving an example, since I know that last statement sounded harsh (it was for effect, you see). I would literally stress over girls. Does she like me? Will she call me back? What should I say? Was that joke about child slavery funny? All these questions, and more, completely destroyed any confidence I had going into a situation with a lady-girl (as I liked to call them). I should’ve been more stressed about school or my own spirituality. Instead, I would lose sleep over some girl that ended up being pretty lame anyway.
If I had a time machine, I would first go see dinosaurs (duh) but then, I would go to my Harding self and slap him in the mouth. I’d tell myself to take it easy and just have fun. I’d also tell myself that you’re kinda fat and should lose some pounds, then go ask out Jane Ladygirl and show her the time of her life.
There are actually a lot of people outside of Harding
Yeah, I know. Crazy, right? But believe me, there are billions of people out here. Don’t worry; I won’t make any “Harding bubble” references. Instead, I move to call it the “Harding Lightning Dome of Mayhem.” Let’s hope it catches on.
Within this Harding Lightning Dome of Mayhem, there’s this rush to find a serious boyfriend/girlfriend that will ultimately lead to marriage. Well, here is my advice: slow your roll. Just stop it. Like a lot of things in the world, this is not something that should be rushed. Especially since marriage is kind of a big deal. Like Chaco’s.
According to my single friends, dating is much like it was at Harding. You meet people. You hang out. You find someone attractive so you ask him or her out. You go out. If it’s good, you go out again. It’s quite a simple process. So, if you’re leaving Harding spouseless, don’t worry. Yes, you have a higher risk of dying alone; a sad and useless oblivion meant only to create carbon dioxide for trees. But get this: when it’s Friday night, guess who the flaky friends are? Yep, your married friends. Overall, we married people are socially lame. We’re usually pretty poor starting out, so we can’t afford to go out all the time. I love being married, though, so shut up.
In conclusion
Overall, always do the following no matter where you are: Seek God, love others, and be true to who God made you to be. And never settle for less. Luckily, I have a wife who keeps me in check on all those things. The world is scary at times, but who cares, right? Everything is temporary and pretty useless when you hold it up to the light.
