The Road Not Taken.

This week, I'm teaching my students about symbols and symbolism - in life and in literature. In planning this lesson, I expressed to my cooperating teacher how much I loved Robert Frost and his poetry. She asked me why. I answered "Because the symbolism and the messages he writes about in his poetry always seem to find a way to impact me. His poems also tend to correlate with what is happening in my life." Smiling, she handed me a picture book filled with Robert Frost poetry. She recommended that I read through it and use it as part of my lesson this week. It was so hard to choose just one poem! They are all so good!

I did end up choosing one poem. This poem had me pondering for days afterwards, reflecting on the symbolism and the message Frost was sending to his readers. A simple but impacting message.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence;

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference. 

I asked my students what they thought Frost was saying through symbolism in this poem. I was astonished and pleasantly surprised as to how many of them caught on to the message and the bigger picture. Some of the answers they yelled out: "Uniqueness" "Don't be ordinary" "Don't be a follower" "Follow your dreams" "Be your own person." These are all superb answers and it warmed my heart how many of them were impacted by this poem, too.

Frosts message about following your own path - though maybe more difficult, results in a feeling of accomplishment and a life-time of happiness - makes me ponder my current situation in life. As I approach the end of my 2nd degree, I see the light of difficult life decisions approaching closer and closer. As well, family and friends are constantly asking what I'm going to do when I'm done school in the spring.

To be honest, I really don't know. I know I want to travel, and of course work with kids. But a part of me also wants to relax, go home for a while, and be me.

Take the road less traveled by...to me implies going out of your comfort zone; thinking outside the box. At the same time, I need to follow the path that sees me happy and enjoying my life. I can tell you right now, I am THE WORST at making decisions. However, the not knowing (for the first time in my life) is kind of exciting. My life thus far has been so planned out and nailed down in stone. Finish high school, go to university, summer jobs, get a BEd - all things that I've planned or been obligated to do. Now, this upcoming chapter in my life sees room for new beginnings, new traditions, and new territory. Scary and intimidating, but refreshing nonetheless.

So, here's to the unknown! But first, let's finish this degree :)

Someday

For as long as I can remember, I've always dreamt of taking a trip to Italy - Venice in particular. I just know from hearing other's experiences and doing research that the city of Venice would fit my persona and lifestyle so well.

I have a poster hanging in my room of the Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy (like that pictured above). I use it as motivation and a reminder to live each day like there is no other. You only have one life to live, so live it the best way that you can.

I remember about two year agos, my friend Katelin and I came up with this brilliant idea to save up our dollars and take a Euro trip. We would hit up London, England for Wimbledon: go to Somerset, England for Glastonbury; Venice, Italy to fulfill all my dreams; and maybe just for kicks travel to Greece for the architecture and beautiful scenery. The moral of the story is that we wanted to experience as much as we could and live life to the fullest. Well, you can probably gather where this is going…the trip never happened. Actually, when I think back, I don't recall it being brought up more then 3 or 4 times. I often sit and wonder what would have happened and how my life would be different if we had taken our outlandish suggestions a bit more seriously… (no regrets!)

My dreams and ambitions to travel to Italy still remain. In fact, as I sit and type this, I would love to pack a bag and set off on an adventure of a lifetime. I often hear of friends and acquaintances travelling and seeing what the world has to offer. Why can't I be one of those people?

So here I am, declaring to you that in the next 5 years I will live my dreams and travel through Europe. I will become one of those people who can just pack up and go, living day to day. I'm young, not tied down, and after I'm done school I have no serious education or job commitments. Just those darn ol' student loans - ugh.

**For those of you reading this, remind me that I posted this to the world wide web for all to see - then maybe I'll take these large goals and ambitions a little bit more seriously.