The "What If..." Post: Part II

Several years ago I wrote one of my favorite pieces on Critically Correct: The "What If..." Post. Today I return with a long-overdue Part II.

When: 2003
The Event: I signed up for English 111 in the 11:30am time slot as my very first class at BGSU.
The Fallout: I meet a friend who affects my entire social experience in college.

What Happened: Aryn and I met in English 111 on day one of college, and over the next five years, would get to know each other on and off as our lives crossed paths. She also inadvertently helped me meet Colleen.

What If... I did not take that particular English class? Would I have met Aryn? Probably not. We were not exactly two people who might have struck up conversation on the street as strangers. If I were not in that English class, I may not have met a whole new group of friends, experienced campus life through Colleen, or even drifted from Lacey more than I already did after our breakup. More likely than not, college may have been a considerably lonely experience for me.


When: 2004
The Event: I changed my college major from creative writing to computer science.
The Fallout: I put myself on a solid course of study that ultimately lead to me affording the job and lifestyle that I have always dreamed about.

What Happened: Throughout my early college years I debated what course of study to pursue and changed majors multiple times. In my sophomore year I finally decided to pursue my first love, computers.

What If... I stuck with the "easy path" and chose to finish my creative writing major at BGSU? Well for one I would not be where I am today. I might also have been in school two years longer, as the vast majority of writers coming out of BGSU stick around for an MFA degree. I would have done the same, but I would certainly have ended up not with a successful novel or two, but an ambiguous blend of short stories, novel misfires, or perhaps nothing at all. Could this path have been one where I live now as a starving artist? Quite possibly.


When: 2011
The Event: I left my job in Findlay to find greener pastures.
The Fallout: I find the perfect job, a great apartment, and reconnect with old friends over the best summer of my life.

What Happened: Growing tired of my consistent, stable life in Findlay - oh, and my job - I moved to a new job in Perrysburg. I ended up finding complete happiness. I also returned to my loves in life - hiking, biking, and seeing a wide variety of friends.

What If... I stayed at my job in Findlay? Well, for one, I might still be working constant weekends. My former company has undergone many positive changes since I left, but I do believe I would be even more unhappy now than I was when I left. In fact, Summer 2011 could have been the worst of my life. I would have been unbearably busy and always behind at work. This would have prevented me from learning all the new skills that I have picked up this past summer: HTML5, .NET 4.0, and additions to my PHP and JavaScript skills. I would not have made weekly trips to Cedar Point. I would not have rekindled my loves of hiking and biking. I might have been in worse physical shape now than in the spring - the Findlay area just is not conductive to my staying active. Most importantly, however, I would not be readily available to all my friends, especially the ones I care the most about. Whew.


When: 2003
The Event: Deciding between two amazing girls to pursue, I choose long-time favorite Lacey over Brittany.
The Fallout: I fall in love with my best friend; we eventually date but ultimately break up.

What Happened: Over the course of a year I grew very close to one of my Meijer pals, Brittany. By this time I was already a couple of years into my long-term crush with Lacey, but I did face a decision: which of these two girls - each whom I really, really liked - did I want to pursue a relationship? Despite some back and forth, I chose Lacey.

What If... I chose a path with Brittany instead of Lacey? Spanning nearly all of my young adulthood, seven years of my life were devoted to Lacey. Suffice to say, she was an important part of my growing up. Brittany could very well have been the same thing in my life. I might have stayed focused at BGSU better than I did when Lacey re-entered my life. I would almost certainly have started a family by now - assuming Brittany and I were in a long-term, successful relationship. I might not have ever worked or lived in Findlay for the sake of staying close to Britt. This list could go on and on. When presented with a binary choice as simple as "choose the girl," the possibilities for the road not traveled seem infinite.

B3 out.