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Looking back on my first semester of college, what do you think is the first thing that comes to mind? Parties? Late-night study sessions? Um, yeah. For me, it’s a bright orange parka.

Every morning that first semester, I’d get up before the sun rose to bundle up in that neon orange parka and walk a mile to my job on campus. (No, I’m not completely stupid; the buses just didn’t run that early!)

First, a little background about that parka:

• I used to be an “eclectic” and unique dresser in high school. I didn’t dress freakishly. But I was willing to take a risk, considering the tiny and conservative town I lived in.
• The parka wasn’t really that warm. And it was ORANGE. Not just regular, old, everyday orange. Hunting gear orange. And it didn’t even fit that well!
• Why did I still choose to wear it? At the time, I was very easily influenced. I’d let the opinions of others affect the clothing and style I wore. I think I became a bit more boring as a result. This orange parka wasn’t boring, so it was a bit of the real me hanging on to…well…me. Oh, and I didn’t have another jacket.

Okay, so the point is this: All American kids go through the entire secondary education thing by law. College, though…that’s a matter of choice. You’re choosing to attend, and you’re choosing to do your best to succeed and achieve whatever goal you might have. Along the same lines, I obviously chose to go to college. I chose to wake up at a ridiculous hour every day to work for only an hour and a half. And I chose to wear that stupid orange parka to stand out.

And maybe I’m reaching a bit with this, but I really think those frigid walks led me to understand the extent of my choices more fully. I was finally on my own and in control of all of the consequences of my actions – whether it was some extra spending money or extra hours of sleep.

So what if people are blinded by your jacket? You need to do what’s best for you and what will take you to where you want to be. As for slipping on ice as you walk in the dark…well, that’s why it’s good to have the jacket. Easier visibility!