Post 18 - Allie Gregory

1. The number one thing I aspire to accomplish by the end of high school is getting my book published. I've been telling myself for years that I'm going to finish it. "Finish before I turn 16." Nope. "Finish by the end of sophomore year." Didn't happen. "Finish by Christmas of Junior year," oh what a joke. I'll do really well for like a week and I'll think that I'm really gonna do it this time then life gets in the way and aaaaagggghhh. So I don't know. But I'm determined to make it happen. By he time I graduate, I not only want to have finished the book to full length, but to have it edited and ready for publishing, if not in the process of being published. Lofty goals, I know, but eh. I'll work on it.
2. By the time I finish college I want to have a solid base set for what I'm actually going to do with my life. I know a bunch of things I'd like to do, but I'm not all that sure how to do them. I want to work in movies, but I can't exactly just apply to direct the new Star Wars movie straight out of school. Unfortunately. And I'm afraid I don't want to sit around until I'm 40, working prop design for commercials and waiting on an opportunity to arise. That's why I like James Cameron so much. He didn't work his way up; all he did was write a script. He wrote Terminator, and he sold the entire thing for a dollar with one caviot: they had to let him direct. It's bold, I like it. But if I'm going to do that I'll need really good material, which is something I'm willing to devote myself to in college. And if this doesn't work out for me? I'll find another way. But whatever I do, I don't want to leave college without some inkling of a plan.

3. I have a lot of ideas and plans, but the honest truth of them is that I don't know how life will turn out. Maybe I won't be a director or an author or even an engineer (that's my other option). Maybe I'll determine that my true calling is being a lawyer and I'll move to Australia, adopt twelve kids, and never marry. (I really don't like the sound of any of this but you never know...) So I'm not going to build my bucket list on goals that might change. (Even though I now I'll always want to get married). Instead, I'm going to give the rather stereotypical answer: whatever I'm doing, I want to be satisfied. And for me a big part of satisfaction is never being bored. I can't have a job I hate, and a life that doesn't excite me. Even being rich and never having to work ever wouldn't do it for me, because I want to live an adventure. Every day. I want excitement and joy and a day where I randomly decide to leave work, find my way to Florida, and meet my friend Helena there so we can fulfill our lifelong goal of wearing Minnie Mouse ears at universal, even if neither of us really have the money to do so. So yes, I want to be happy. But for me, happiness isn't a secure, boring job that dictates how I live my life. Maybe I need to work on feasibility... But for now I like my goals.