I hated reading Barbara Kingsolver’s “The Bean Trees” in middle school, but the first chapter’s title has always stuck with me: The One to Get Away.  Living in New York and attending NYU, I am accustomed to being among the ones to get away.  We’re the ones that aren’t in UCs or at Rutgers, we don’t live at home.  The best, brightest, and boldest move to New York, hoping to make it here and therefore anywhere.  We’re competitive, hard-working, a city of elites.  

I spent my spring break in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming; aside from the obvious differences between New York City and Jackson Hole (populations of eight million vs. eight thousand for one), I was challenged and inspired by a different kind of ones to get away - my fellow students that were recruited to the NPS/SCA Spring Break Academy are incredible in their strength and courage, in the hardships they have faced and endured, in their depth of character.  And instead of fighting for theirselves (I’m not saying all y’all that are my NY friends are terrible people.  Except for those of you that are), they’re fighting to serve, to give back as they go and not once or after they’ve “made it.”  They’re determined to not let their past be a crutch, but remember where they came from.  They recognize the value of opportunities and seize them, and know the importance of setting precedents and being role models.  I probably don’t intend on pursuing a career with the NPS but consider myself blessed to have been in the presence of great peers this past week.

edit: It’s not about being the one to get away (duh), it’s about being the ones to go back.