Have you ever played that "what would you bring on a desert island" game? I have. I must have played it a million times as an icebreaker, but it's also a favorite late-night discussion among my friends. Because these discussions usually originate while raiding the kitchen, the field is often narrowed to what food we would bring on the island and eat for the rest of our lives if we could only eat one thing forever and ever, etc.
Normally I consider myself something of a foodie. I like to cook, try new restaurants and know separating eggs means separating the yolk from the whites and not placing two eggs on either side of the counter, so you would think this would be a difficult decision for me. Of all the things I love to eat, how could I be expected to choose one thing? Yet every time I've been asked this ongoing question, I answer instantly with the same thing. If I had to choose one food to eat for the rest of my life, I would live on saltines.
I know what you're thinking - how bland, right? I used to wonder what that said about me too.
Surely it indicated that like my favorite snack, I was also bland, destined to spend my life speaking in monotone and obliviously calling out "Bueller? Bueller?" But then I started to think about exactly why I like saltines.
I don't like them because they're bland; I like them because they're basic. You can eat them any time. When you need a quick snack, when you need something simple because you aren't feeling well, when it's 3 a.m. and you need more carbs to stay awake for studying ... the list goes on.
All right, so again I feel like I know what you're thinking - when are you going to stop forcing us to read a column about cheap crackers and get to the point? Wait no further, here are my words of wisdom - not everything in life has to be complicated to be good.
I think we have a tendency to overcomplicate things these days. We revel in the intricate, the complicated and the ambitious. Students adopt an almost bragging tone when comparing how overwhelmed they are. We feel like we have to take 18 credits, have a stellar internship, go out at least three nights a week, always look picture-perfect and plan to save the world by the time we are 25 for our lives to be worthwhile.
Those things are good, but like any dish with too many ingredients, the result is far from appetizing.
As I contemplate my college career, my best experiences have been the things which started out simple and became something larger than I could ever have imagined. Relationships, which started out of necessity or convenience, have become lasting friendships, and activities, which started out as simple hobbies, have ended up shaping my plans for the future.
Starting small doesn't make you boring, it gives you a solid base. I like saltine nachos, and they make a great first layer for toffees, but I can always eat them plain.
Katie's column runs biweekly Tuesdays. She can be reached at k.mcnally@cavalierdaily.com.
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