Epiphany in the Mountains

I lived in Italy for 4 months studying Roman civilization at the best undergraduate Classics program in the world; yes, I am aware that I am a major geek, but it was fun traveling around Italy and having lectures about history on site!

 

I am sitting on the coach bus driving in a group of mountains somewhere in the countryside of Sicily. I am listening to my new Black Eyed Peas CD as I read the book, "Mystic River." The song "Let's Get Retarded" comes on. "Hey, this is a pretty catchy song..." I pick up lyrics really quickly when I realize what they are saying. "HEY KELSEY!" I shouted. "THERE IS A SONG ABOUT GETTING RETARDED ON THIS CD!" She rolls her eyes at my sophomoric sense of humor, laughs, and goes back to her book.

 

I put the song on loop (don't ask me why I got such a kick out of the lyrics) and my mind starts racing again: I was a junior in college. What was I going to do with my life? Be a doctor? I kept putting off my pre-med requirements because I enjoyed taking courses about Classical civilization and art history more than taking a bunch of dry science courses. I love kids and wanted to be a Pediatrician. What to do?! Then look out the window: the sun was setting; its rays create a dancing light show of amber and golden rays against the silhouette of the olive groves dotting the Sicilian countryside. In the distance juts a titanic Greek temple, cracking the smooth skyline against the horizon.

 

As the lyrics "Let's get retarded!" are blasting in my ears while admiring this phenomenal work of art, it dawns on me: I can't give this up. This is way too much fun to give up for a bunch dry science courses. The lightbulb went off: I would become a Latin teacher...

 

The bus stops. We're at our destination.