“Where do I go from here?” Some of us asked our parents this question when we graduated high school and come April 26, even more will ask this same question. We are expected to know what we want to do with our lives – at least at the beginning – and where we want to live.
- Jason Pesick
I have no idea where I want to end up. All I know is that I’ve planned to go to law school to delay making a decision on what I want to do with my life and at the very least, I need to decide where I’m going to live. Since I have trouble making up my mind, I’m hoping that by talking it out by making a list of the good and bad points of each city, I will come to a decision.
I’ve compiled a list of six places, where I potentially could live, based upon where I’ve been accepted for school or expect to within the next few weeks. I’ve listed my own “Pros” and “Cons” with each location, but I’m sure that more could be added.
Bloomington, Ind.
Pros: Great college town. It’s a party school masquerading as a college (is this a pro or a con?). The people love basketball. Every time I watch “Hoosiers” I will be glad I’m living in Indiana.
Cons: It’s in Indiana; can I really live in Indiana? I don’t want to be stuck in Indiana for the rest of my life. It’s a little too close to Amish country. It’s too flat.
Lexington, Va.
Pros: Better weather than Michigan. Suburban/rural setting will be soothing for any stress I might encounter. Very pretty area, picturesque even. It’s a rich with history. Close enough to the Atlantic Ocean for weekend trips.
Cons: Not close to a big city, or even a small city. It’s a little too close to West Virginia for my own comfort. I might be a fish out of water. I don’t think I care about how pretty it is or it’s history. It’s in the South.
Madison, Wis.
Pros: Great college town. It has lots of bars. It won’t suffer from a cheese shortage. It’s a capital city. The farmer’s market is fun. Great place for college sports, specifically the Big Ten. Only two hours north of Chicago. Seems like the perfect place for a Midwesterner to end up.
Cons: It is a little too much like Ann Arbor. It has lots of bars. How much do I really like cheese? After enduring winter all my life, I’m not sure I want to see another one, especially Wisconsin’s.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Pros: City has a lot to offer in the way of extracurricular activities. Strong sports following and strong sense of pride in the city itself. Big city means lots of jobs after graduation. It’s close to St. Paul.
Cons: Not really a college town. I don’t think I want to be stuck there all of my life. It’s too cold. It’s not quite the Midwest, it’s not quite Canada. The people like hockey too much.
San Diego, Calif.
Pros: Perfect weather year-round. Doesn’t suffer from a lack of beaches or battleships. Close to the Mexican border. It’s in California and it’s not Los Angeles.
Cons: Will the beaches be too much of a distraction? (Yes.) Not the best place for a person of many vices. For my own confidence, I don’t want to be the palest person in a city. Will I miss seasons? (No.) Might be a little too expensive to live.
Tempe, Ariz.
Pros: Much warmer than Michigan. It’s an expanding area; at least that’s what I’ve been told. Four hours south of Las Vegas. Nice suburban setting, with a good separation from Phoenix, without being too far away. It’s home to the Fiesta Bowl. Did I mention how warm it is?
Cons: It’s not just warm, it’s hot: 150 degrees in the summer. It’s deep in cowboy territory (I’m talking about full cowboy attire for many residents). Surrounded by desert. Campus looks more like a resort than an institute for higher learning (is this really bad?). Parking tickets are outrageous, assuming I’m not riding my horse.
With these options in mind, please help me decide where to live. It might be the biggest decision I have to make and I don’t want that kind of pressure. If you are going through a similar crisis, I would suggest you make a similar list, just make sure that Chicago doesn’t see that you think it has chubby ankles.
-Jeff Phillips would like to thank everyone that reads his column. He can be reached at jpphilli@umich.edu.