Adventure IS out there. Sometimes you just got to create it yourself and keep a keen out for it. Over Winter Break (02/07-02/10) I went home for a wee bit and brought my friend Christian along with me. My home is located in little ol’ Tipton, Indiana – population of 4,992 (thus about only 1000 more people than students at Hope College). It is a place full of corn fields. So, it is fair to say that we had to do a bit of searching to find the adventure, but we found it.
We first got to my house on Friday evening. We came home to a nice dinner and a then played some cards with the family. Then Saturday rolled around, or better labeled, Adventure Day. We woke up to some more good food and then set off. We first walked to a woods and explored in there. We then went to a silo that had a large connection to my childhood. Then we headed back to my house and walked on the frozen pool, which nearly gave my grandma and mother a heart attack. Then we went into town. We snuck into the high school, did some shenanigans, and then went t the park to adventure some more. We ended the adventuresome day by going to the Turbine Farm that was right besides my house and did some exploring.
All in all, it was fun. It also helped me realize something. Ever since I have come to college and the beautiful town of Holland, my enjoyment of Tipton, Indiana, has lessened. Holland has so much for my extroverted-self to do, where Tipton is a place that doesn’t really fit my personality. Due to that, though I do love being with my family, I have unconsciously had some negative feelings towards Tipton and thus slightly avoided it.
This break allowed me to let go of some of the disdain towards the town that I was born and raised. Sure, I don’t ever expect to live in Tipton after college, but I do now know this, Tipton is more adventuresome then I thought. I guess that maybe I just wasn’t looking in the right places or maybe even looking at all.
For more about me, follow me on twitter @hopejohnluke17 or on Instagram at johnlukehawkins. If you have a question you can email me at john.hawkins@hope.edu. Until next time!