I’ve recently been looking into some addiction therapy programs, and I’ve read some literature on their 12-step recovery processes. No, my drinking hasn’t gotten out of hand. I’m addicted to something else: Campus Cookies.
Step One: I admit I am powerless when it comes to Campus Cookies and that my life has become unmanageable. I just don’t know if I want to recover quite yet.
I recently realized how fanatical I was about the gooey goodness that is Campus Cookies’ chocolate chip slices of heaven while I was laying on the Lawn for two hours entranced in a devoted project to try to win more of them. The Campus Cookies Contest had consumed me. My mission was simple: draw the coolest design on a blank delivery box, Instagram it, drop a hashtag for the company’s advertising purposes and beat out any and every other joker who pretended to love those perfectly baked biscuits as much as I did.
You bet I was serious about this. On top of bragging rights, I would get a $100 gift card and some seriously sweet swag, including a hoodie that said “Get Baked.” Because Campus Cookies are my drug of choice, the reward could not have been more fitting.
So I set to the task and, with the help of the Rotunda, sketched out a partial view of the Academical Village with just the right proportions so when I took a step back, the box would appear to blend into its surroundings. As I worked, I encountered countless friends and enjoyed the prettiest of fall days. I felt satisfied because I was being creative and conveniently forgot about the two papers, one test and 90 pages of reading I had for the next day.
As I mentioned before, my life had become unmanageable. I had entrenched myself in far too many involvements and my grades were slipping because of it. While I’m aware studying more would have abated the problem, I chose instead to lay on the Lawn surrounded by Crayola markers, doodling.
In normal stories of addiction, this is where the patient is struck with an epiphany about the unsustainability of their current lifestyle. Instead, I had one of the best and most eye-opening days I have had at school.
When I was done with my drawing, I was approached by a guy in his mid-30s wearing hip glasses and suede shoes, carrying a high-tech video camera. I was in his way — he was shooting a promotional video for U.Va. and needed a clear Lawn for his ideal shot from the top of the Rotunda steps. Immediately interested in his work, I walked with him and we got to talking. I asked him about resources for videographers, photographers and graphic designers in Charlottesville.
To my astonishment, he knew every studio, lab and office I could get in contact with — a dream come true. I had spent the whole semester looking for ways to get involved with those things I loved, to no avail. It wasn’t until I stopped looking for what I wanted in the traditional scholastic setting that I found exactly what I had been seeking.
By pursuing what I loved through this miniature art project, I inadvertently ran into everything else I was passionate about. More broadly, I realized I was wrong to feel guilty about involving myself in so many CIOs that took time from school work. College is a time to pursue what you love and let it lead you to where you need to be. If Microeconomics wasn’t leading me to what I was passionate about, I didn’t need to feel bad about doing minimal work for it in an effort to make time for the things I truly enjoyed. And thanks to Campus Cookies, I’ve realized that is okay.
Rather than move forward, I think I’m going to stay put in step one of the 12-step recovery process. I recognize my life may feel somewhat unmanageable because of that, but the feeling of satisfaction that comes from passionate pursuits will abate the chaos. Everything will turn out better than expected. Don’t believe me? I’ll show you my gift card and hoodie as proof.
Lauren’s column runs biweekly Fridays. She can be reached at l.jackson@cavalierdaily.com.
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