I chose where to go to college based on a craving for McDonald’s, and that decision has determined everything in my life that has happened since.
It was spring of my senior year, and Dad and I were on a roadtrip to visit the two remaining schools on our list. He’d spent the past year researching possible career paths for me, compiling and narrowing a list of schools, and sending out my applications.
I had spent the past year thinking about Bryan as he became my boyfriend and then not my boyfriend and then my boyfriend and not my boyfriend again. Also, my prom dress.
But I had managed to write a college admissions essay about how my first cat and the boy who sat next to me in band class had died on the same day of seventh grade, forcing me to come to terms with mortality at the fragile age of thirteen. The writing of it had moved me to tears.
My dad deleted that essay, saying it lacked seriousness and focus. He re-wrote one, as me, about my firm commitment to my academic pursuits in the field of psychology. He sent that one out instead.
The two schools that didn’t reject me were Miami University in Ohio and Indiana University in Bloomington.
While in Bloomington, my dad arranged for Valerie, a cousin of a family friend, to take me out for pizza and give me the “inside scoop.”
Not that I had a lot of questions. Dad was always the one with questions on college visits. “What percentage of your students have job offers by graduation? Is there any career path that combines psychology and writing? Why on earth do the dorms have co-ed bathrooms?”
I only ever had one question, one that I kept tucked safely beneath my heart, unasked. How am I supposed to start a whole new life?
Valerie must have smelled my fear. Because I remember her assuring me that, by my third night at college, I would have forgotten all about my friends from home.
“I just can’t get over Miami’s ridiculous tuition increase,” Dad was saying as we drove out of Bloomington that last night of our trip to head back to St. Louis. We’d left Miami days ago, but he was still fixated on this. “Who do they think they are? An Ivy League?”
Meanwhile, I was thinking about French fries. I really wanted some. But I knew Dad wouldn’t want to pull over so soon into our trip. Unless… unless I announced that I had made a college decision at long last, which would be cause for celebration, which would call for French fries at a restaurant of my choosing! And, well, I was getting tired of hearing about Miami’s tuition. And that’s when I spotted a McDonald’s—red and yellow glory, tall arches like outstretched arms beckoning me home.
“I’m going to IU,” I said, interrupting Dad.
“Really?” he said, swerving a bit as he turned to look at me. “You just decided?”
“Yep,” I said, pointing to the left. “Look, McDonald’s! Turn in quick. Let’s celebrate.”
And we did.
I can’t wait to hear how it ends!
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I’m thinking this will be the opener to my new book, so there will definitely be more.
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I support this idea.
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Trust your life-changing decisions to McDonald’s; now that’s a strategy I hadn’t thought about 🙂
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p.s. I can empathize with your urge for French fries.
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Meh, it was just “okay”. Not worth the $11.50 for burger, fries and a tiny pop. Yes it’s relbflaile, but why the puny size? Not much selection (no chicken option) and not many seats. I only see this as an alternative to the subway if you already happen to be in cook st village – I don’t see anyone making a special trip to the village just to eat here. Not after having just left Fatburger. OMG. Now that place left me impressed!
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I highly recommend it- try it sometime.
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I love that idea! I think it’s probably as reliable as a decision made by carefully mapped strategies and endless research. So funny… my dad was the same way, and I was definitely focused on prom dresses, potential boyfriends and where my friends were going to school. I’m glad it all worked out. Can’t wait to read more!
BTW–My grandmother, cat and rabbit died within a week of each other… the first week of 7th grade. I can totally relate.
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I agree with that part about it being as reliable as carefully mapped strategies. I believe things happen as they are meant to happen, no matter how much or little we think it through 🙂
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Also worth noting, your first two words as a toddler were in a McDonald’s drive through window where you whispered, “french fries!”
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Yes, I recall- I recently wrote about that as well.
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I’m not surprised she whispered.
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I too had a father who encouraged strictly-impressive essays. Even if it meant writing them himself.
I’ve fixed his wagon by eschewing proper punctuation or complete sentences in all my writing now…
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Validating to hear I’m not the only one who didn’t write my college essays! Thanks for reading!
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Well, I happen to think that a craving for french fries is a strong impetus for a life-changing decision. So is bacon.
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Agreed.
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McDonald’s fries truly are capable of some great feats. Your life-changing college decision, my high blood pressure… Now I have a craving!!!
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Right? Fun fact: My first words ever were “french fries.”
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As a father who helped put two daughters through college, I found your story absolutely hilarious. I can’t wait for you next installment. I love your writing. French fries are pretty good.
Mike
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Thanks so much!
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Do you still have your original essay? I’d be interested in reading it. Maybe I just feel more drawn to it because I knew the boy in band too, who even though we weren’t close, still seeps in to my thoughts at random times some 13 years later.
And on a lighter note, I chose my college because the tour guide was really hot and had nice calf muscles. And he didn’t walk backwards while giving the tour, which for some reason really meant a lot to me at the time. There were also french fries at a local restaurant involved, although they were waffle fries and they were covered in sour cream, chives, and bacon. A place with great bar food and hot guys who are capable of talking to a group of people while walking the correct way?! This school is perfect!
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Unfortunately I do not still have that essay.
I totally support your decisions for choosing Michigan and probably would have done the same (except I was always kind of impressed when the guides DID walk backwards).
What does society expect when we are forced to make these big decisions with our 18-year-old brains? And to think- we were the “gifted” ones!
And those waffle fries sound awesome.
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French fries are a great impetus for decision making.
I wrote my college essay about my versatile duct tape skills, and still got accepted to the university of my choice. “Serious” essays are way overrated.
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Haha, nice. I’m currently trying to construct a Halloween costume out of duct tape…
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The key is to use something as a base/pattern, such as paper, wax paper, cardboard, or cloth. If you try to build it just out of duct tape, the structure isn’t there, and when you make a mistake, it’s really hard to separate duct tape from duct tape.
And that’s the great wisdom I shared with my university.
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Haha, thanks for the advice. I think I’m going to keep things pretty simple and just add duct tape to a black shirt, and maybe work my way up to something more complicated next year. I will remember your words of wisdom.
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Awesome post.
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Thanks! 🙂
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An answer from an expert! Thanks for conugibttinr.
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I have read several blogs recently I am new to this addiction… I totally loves yours…keep blogging please girlie!
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Thanks for reading! I will definitely keep blogging.
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I did. The grandchildren came to visit, and so did some of my frndeis, and my offspring sent me a $50 gift certificate for Amazon. So I was well taken care of. Should I admit that I spent the gift certificate finishing my collection of Buffy and buying one season of Angel? I never watch TV shows while they are on; I wait till they are off and somebody insists on showing me the DVDs of one season, and then I decide whether I want to buy the whole thing. That way I don’t get caught up in such a way that I get hysterical if I don’t get home in time to see my TV show, as a certain man who lives not very far away from me like ten feet used to do until I promised I would buy him all the seasons of The Closer! He now has them.Anne
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