What I Learned in Boating School

      Throughout a year of literature forced upon my reluctant self, I found myself lacking impression nearing towards the final months of my reluctance. It was at this moment that yet another novel was pitilessly thrown towards us, and I found myself unable to even purchase the book for reasons only I may ever understand. Working ever so diligently to attain possession of the book on its due date, I walked into class with Into the Wild displayed humbly in my crackly, dry hands. Prior to our actual odyssey of reading the book, an introduction was presented and I knew that this book would be somewhat of a replica of my idealistic yet all the more possible pitiful aspirations. Excited I was; expectant: not so much. I did, however, work to mask my appreciation of the novel for I feel as though if I, as a third person party, were to observe my own self expressing excitement towards the novel's plot, a questionable sense of irritation would come upon me. I find it rather difficult to explain why I found a liking in the story, or any one concept for that matter, and I understand that such an idea is somewhat vague. Yet I consider my refusal to explain my liking as an explanation itself. I took it upon myself to read the entire novel (which I still did not own) within the matter of four days; this may also have been a result of there being four days left to read it. And although I find it difficult to provide a reason for my liking, I can say that as a whole, what I enjoyed most about the novel was a pleasant irony: how a book that the school system I was reluctantly placed into initially forced upon me and the presence of Utah flowing past me led me to realize that I may not, as profane as it may sound, desire attending college (or university) myself. And as I currently scratch my head, I envision myself in ten years, standing in the middle of a barren farm field, one sock different from the next, doing the same. And as I ponder once more, I realize the novel had somewhat of another benefit presented to me; I felt just a tad less special upon its completion; I was not the only one who had the unimaginable idea that she could do whatever she wanted. Yet after reading the novel I realized, I could. I may even consider purchasing the book.