And/Or

In the past, I haven't really had the opportunity to explore that age-old question.  All my decisions seemed to be based on "or." For instance, I could go to school for journalism, or I could try my hand at marine biology.  I could stay inland in Ottawa, or I could move to the ocean.  I could travel to the east coast on holiday, or I could go west.  I could choose to get my education in the States, or I could stay in Canada.  Rarely did I get the chance to compromise between these choices and go for the "and" rather than the "or."

But this year, coming to the Nicholas School seemed to flip the switch between inclusive and exclusive opportunities.  Within the first few weeks I got an assistantship in the communications office, and suddenly I could blend my love of the ocean with my passion for writing.  The "inland or coast?" question became a non-issue, since I'd be spending my first year in Durham and my second year in Beaufort. Because of field trips and travel courses, in the last month I've spent time at the Pacific ocean and the Atlantic ocean (and gotten class credit for it, too!)  And thanks to the extensive "Nicholas School Mafia" and some valuable professional contacts, I may even get to spend the summer doing an internship in Canada, solving the U.S./Canadian education debate once and for all.

So after only a few months studying at Duke, I've come to realize that it is possible to have your cake and eat it too. And that, my friends, is a sweet realization.