Where I’ve been, where I’m going

I’ve seen many faces during my four years at IU. Most of these have washed quickly out of my memory in the sea of thousands.

However, some belong to people with whom I am very familiar: my friends, professors, students, coworkers and supervisors. I know a few of the stories behind these faces quite well. Maybe I know the story of their childhood. Or perhaps, at different times, I have seen how they react both to winning a game of euchre and to feeling cornered by life.

I realize how important these people are to me from how much I know I will miss them when they are gone. I hope they don’t disappear from my life entirely.

Then there are the faces that have become familiar out of sheer repetition.

They belong to people with whom I cross paths several times a week. Although we may have never spoken, we see each other often enough that when I look in their eyes and they look back, there is always a hint of recognition. Maybe we nod or smile at each other each time, maybe we don’t.

Neither of us has much effect on the other’s life, but that simply adds to a sense of familiarity within our community.

And finally, there are the faces of the nameless legends. Though I recognize them well, they have probably never even noticed me.

They are, above all else, mysterious and magnificent.

There is a young Asian man, perhaps a few years older than me, whom I only see when getting coffee late at night.

I recognize him by his black jeans and cowboy boots that match his long, black hair, all accompanied by the build of an NFL strong safety.

Although he always wears a friendly smile when talking with people he knows, his appearance is undeniably intimidating. I imagine he is some form of government secret agent, as he reminds me of the kind of guy who is just about to finally defeat James Bond, until he manages to come up with some clever technological way to escape death once again.

Overall, he gives me an impression of tremendous vitality and confidence.

There is a middle-aged woman who works in the Indiana Memorial Union Marketplace whom I will describe simply as “the lady who always wears the hats.” I don’t know why she always wears those silly hats, but I assume her reason is a good one.

I find her upbeat attitude and its effect of always making me smile unique for someone her age; I can’t help but be inspired.

There is an old white gentleman whom I often see walking somewhere between Willkie Quad and the Musical Arts Center. Dressed exquisitely with a long thick coat and a fedora-style hat, he uses a cane in each hand and walks incredibly slowly.

Each step seems to cause him pain. However, his determined stroll with head up and eyes forward projects unmistakable pride and wisdom. 

In these faces, nameless to me, I see myself in the years to come. I don’t know their stories, so I superimpose my own and wonder how I will appear to some young college graduate at such later times in my life.


E-mail: tylatkin@indiana.edu