Why are we here?

In tenth grade, I had a biology teacher. This was a teacher I was not particularly fond of, however, he often presented this quandary to the class - "why are we here?" It is a very profound question and one I contemplate often. Why AM I here? During high school biology, this teacher was merely using this as a platform to encourage good study habits and classroom participation. We were there to learn, make something of ourselves and continue our educations. We were preparing for adulthood and practice makes perfect (and mistakes were easier to clean up at 15 than, say, at 30). Even at such a young age, I found myself entranced by such philosophical topics. What is the meaning of my existence? What is the point of existence, at all? Also in tenth grade, I wrote my research paper (more like a thesis for me that year) on thought. I read countless works of the great thinkers: Aristotle, Socrates, Plato. Thus, I began my great era of thought...the paper, after all, was arguing that thinking is a sixth sense. Thought is not a learned behavior, nor inheritable. Thought was something we are born doing; something which we never cease. It was only natural that I constantly thought about the big questions in life. Questioning was commonplace for me - ask Mom about how I didn't believe the woodstove was hot until I tested it out for myself. Or how, no matter how many times people would tell me differently, I'd do something my way and fail miserably (I still do!). In seventh grade, I questioned the existence of God - a mortal sin for a Catholic school student - but, it wasn't without merit. Thankfully, I heeded the advice of a wise Parochial Vicar that encouraged me to 'keep it on the down low' until after Confirmation (side note - it wasn't that I didn't believe in God, necessarily, but evolution made much more logical sense for my brain; I do believe there was some semblance of a Creator at the dawn of all). So, when I reached tenth grade and was challenged with 'why are we here', I had already given this some thought. At that point in my life, I was in that particular moment to do well in school, get into the college of my dreams (which, a few short months later, I found out was Hood), and pursue something I loved (at that point, was no longer Biology). With each passing year, the answer to this question evolves and, sometimes, even changes altogether. Asking 'why am I here' to oneself at 15 will be answered nothing like it will be at 20, 25 or 30. By 20, the question was answered with the somewhat obvious, and well-rehearsed, 'I'm going to finish my degree in good standing and land the job of my dreams'. I may have finished the degree, but the Honors program will refute the 'good standing' and I landed a job; one that, at the time, was not even close to the dream. At 25, I had reached a point of security and satisfaction in my work. With almost 5 years in my position, I concluded I was happy where I was, but still missing something. It was not too long after this age when I returned to school to pursue my Master's degree. Was that why I am here? Probably not, but at the time, it seemed like to what I was being called (not intentionally using this relgious metaphor). It was at 25 when I was faced with the reality that my childhood ideas of adulthood were far-fetched, at best, and I didn't seem to be on the track to marriage and parenthood by the ripe 'old' age of 28. I had only recently moved out on my own, bought my current car and adopted a little guinea pig I named Rascal (shortly after the untimely death of Snickers, that is). If my life-long aspiration was to be a mother, why the heck hadn't I made more of an effort to promote myself toward that goal. Looking back, I wasn't anywhere near ready. I had fallen in love and had my heart torturously ripped from my chest. Part of me was so afraid to love, figuring I'd only end up heartbroken. And I didn't, for quite some time after. In the interim, I plunged fully into graduate school and revisited one of my childhood passions - soccer. Retrospectively, I wish I could have continued playing through high school and into college. This pastime is one I can't imagine my life without now and I find as many excuses as I can to bring it more prominently into my life. Oh, and I fell in love again. And yes, I lost love this time too, but in doing so, I found myself in a way that I hadn't ever quite known. There was this whole other me dwelling deep inside myself, one I had surpressed for so long. I found me. The me that is beautiful just the way I am. The me that is desireable without wearing makeup, or even clothes. There was a me that was capable of compromising my life to share with another; a me that enjoyed having someone else be a part of it. Ah, but all good things come to an end and while it was quite sad in the moment, it is what it is and it was good (again, no religious parallel intended). And now, I'm 30. And with the recent passing of Rascal - staring death, quite literally, in the face - I find myself sitting and pondering, why am I here? I had begun to think over the summer, following the completion of my Master's degree, that my life was just beginning. Yes, I said beginning. The life I have dreamed about is just beyond the threshhold...I have achieved all things personal to me - an education, financial indepdence, emotional stability, being comfortable physically - and now life is about to begin. The why I am here question is on the verge of being answered...I am thisclose to finding out. What will become of Melissa Lyn Carter? Who will she be? How will she make her mark in this life? Stay tuned. It looks to be one hell of a ride.