Being a Pledge Father

This is taking up a large amount of my time this semester, but I honestly feel that this contribution to the fraternity is worth my time. Not only do I have the opportunity to form the mind and spirits of the next DU generation (who will be responsible for keeping my drinking legacy aflame), but I also give much to the brothers I am not personally indoctrinating, because the Pledge Father is essentially responsible for running all of the fraternity's pleasurable activities over the course of the pledge process (which in our case is likely to last through April).

Of course, as would be expected, the Weltanschauung of the Pledge Father is, and must be, strikingly different to that of the Pledge. The profundity of this difference can, I believe, only truly be understood when a brother has personally fulfilled both roles and his duties therein - an accomplishment of which I can now (at least partially) boast. Case in point: the sadistic pleasure that warmly flowered into a hearty chuckle as I crafted Dicktaters and adorned my wayward pledges with them is in stark contrast to the fear and embarrassment I recall from being subject myself to the same punishment.

Dicktater: a potato worn over the male genitalia, usually by way of a string drawn through the potato and around the waist, intended to humiliate pledges who feel they themselves can dictate the terms of the pledge process and therefore need to have the hierarchy of authority exemplified.

Minerva

Hegel said "the owl of Minerva first takes flight with twilight closing in." One way to interpret this is to believe that truth is only uncovered by way of historical reference and reasoning; the greater the part of history you can place under the lens, the more clearly you will see the undercurrent of meaning that, simply, explains.

Paradoxically, Goddess of Wisdom is driving me insane. I check this link:

Minerva

at least once every bloody day, visibly shaking with nervousness and anticipation at whether the desired "Accepted" will finally appear on my McGill law application, only to relax my muscles and collapse into a heap of relief upon seeing "Ready for Review" for the 54th time. It means I have not yet been declined - cause for moderate celebration.

I cannot keep this up much longer. I need to get into McGill. In any case, I suppose Minerva is aptly named: I need to keep telling myself that only after my admission will I know the outcome of my application. Regardless, I am finding it increasingly difficult to mitigate my emotional anxiety with this line of reasoning.

The Plan

It has, of course, been far too long since my last posting on my blog. Part of the reason for this has been the seemingly directionless struggle for a roadmap to the future of my life. My lack of a plan has overshadowed everything else I have tried to accomplish and enjoy this semester, and it would be a shame if this continued throughout the entireity of my last semester as an undergraduate at Penn. So, I am trying to efface the cloud of worry that hovers over my horizon by at least elucidating some sort of project for the future. Here it goes.

The ideal plan: I get into McGill law school, receiving my notice of acceptance by March (as foreseen the clairvoyance of my mom's animal spirit). The night I receive the acceptance will, of course, be one of excessive alcohol consumption. I enjoy the end of my final courses at Penn, remaining here until graduation to spend time with my friends, girlfriend and family. Then, since I know I am in law school and future employment is not an extreme worry, I would fly across the Atlantic to Paris, hiking the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage through France and Northern Spain, with my best friend Matt partaking in the formative experience. This would likely be a two month venture, after which I would fly back to Canada and move into a newly-found apartment in Montreal.

This is the trail:

Camino de Santiago route map from France

The slightly adapted plan: I have to at least work for part of the summer. During that time, I will hopefully either (a) live with Matt near Vancouver and work in finance or law there, or (b) work yet again for Nexen, whom I dearly love, but would rather avoid for a fifth summer. I'll try to work immediately after graduation and then do half of the Compostela trail (maybe starting in Pamplona for the running of the bulls) with Matt before going to McGill.

The sad plan: I don't get into McGill. I have to take on a permanent job (hopefully one of the training programs with Shell, Schlumberger or another large oil industry firm), and apply to law schools PROPERLY for next year so that all of my chances are not riding on one application and an ill-prepared LSAT.

Frankly, it would suck if I did not get accepted to McGill law.