Existentialism is a school of thought that I cherish greatly. It is one that most commonly is reserved for people who reach middle age and have a mental breakdown when they realize that they’ve potentially wasted too many years away on a life they never actually wanted; thinking too much on what they SHOULD do and not on what they WANT to do. The latter of these is what brought me to Lane Community College. I want to be a photographer–a photojournalist specifically–but in the grand scheme of things I want to do something both creative and internally fulfilling that supports the betterment of all life. We all have our own descriptions of what that may be, which is exactly why I take other people’s advice with a grain of salt. What was/is the right path and successful move for you does not equate to the same for me or anyone else. I think that really sums up my journey through life and personality. I have a “everything in stride” outlook on most challenges and I march to the beat of my own drum. I am this way because it is the only way to ensure my own happiness and I encourage everyone I meet to do the same. Obviously compromises have to be made–I’m not a selfish person–but compromising too much can be detrimental. It is better to walk with someone rather than be walked on or alone.

Anyhow, quickfire details about my life:

• I have a cat, her name is Miku
• I love technology and look forward to the greeting our robot overlords
• I can sew, though not with extraordinary skill
• I’m a Browncoat, shoutout to the Firefly fans
• Certified Weeaboo, all day, every day

By: John Adair

I am not the average student.

That’s not to say I don’t have to follow the same rules. But rejoining school at the age of 36, three days after getting married has made this quite an experience for me. 

I grew up in the DC area and moved to Eugene in 2015 because I needed to get out of DC. I think some people are starting to see why I needed to leave, but Oregon has its own set of issues. While being here my life has taken a drastic shift from being a Chef, to being a paid writer. 

In 2020 I was awarded a Fellowship with Google to write for Eugene Weekly. In many ways when I got that fellowship my life changed. I had always been a writer, oftentimes fiction, but I had never been recognized for anything. It was often just random blurbs about nothing, but Eugene Weekly changed everything. It’s an outlet I’m fortunate to have.

I also have hella pets. Three dogs, a cat, and a bunch of fish. I can’t really say that’s not normal for a student, but I find most students are renting rooms and don’t have the space. I remember my first term I was in class talking about 9/11 and how it affected me, as I was a junior in High School at the time. Half the class hadn’t even been born yet.

That’s not to say those people aren’t important, because they are. But what it does say is I don’t have to hold myself in some type of competition with my student peers. It’s likely our lives are completely different. Our experiences have shaped us to be who we are, and I know being a black man from DC is different than anything Eugene has to offer, and vice versa. Which I personally enjoy. I like the differences in people, it makes stuff interesting. 

Here are photos of my pets. I look forward to this term.

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