Every year on my birthday I record my thoughts on my progress in the last year.  In 2010, I wrote this:

I've changed in the last year.  Not intellectually.  Not maturity-wise.  Not because of college. What marked the change was working for Zinch in San Francisco.  Immersing myself in the startup community was the first time I'd ever found a group I could connect with socially and intellectually who were my own age.  I had a blast.  More importantly, I made new friends whom I'm sure I'll know for life.  I figured out what I want to do after college: I'll be going straight back to San Francisco and work for a startup.  The entrepreneurs I met are some of smartest, passionate, and mature people I know.  I'm humbled to be able to work amongst such amazing individuals. The other big event in my life was going off to Hendrix College.  I've enjoyed college, but I don't feel like my time in Arkansas has contributed to my transformation as much as my time in San Francisco did.  If anything, college changed was the fact that I no longer live at home.  I'd been away from my parents for four months in France, but I (and they) knew I'd be coming home following that sojourn.  When I left in August, I knew I wouldn't be coming back.  I said goodbye to the town, people, and community I grew up in.  Of course, I'm at my childhood home at the moment, but I no longer consider it home for I am only here for a temporary time--until January 18th. I look forward to finishing my first year of college and going back to work in San Francisco.  I'll be abroad in Fall, though I'm not sure where I'll be yet.  I'm excited to have the chance to live abroad again! Will I be in Ghana, Iceland, or Bulgaria? 

Last year I thought I was going to be studying abroad this Fall 2011.  I've certainly been abroad, but not for studying.  

As I wrote last year I did move back to San Francisco -- though earlier than I expected.  I didn't have the patience to finish my second semester of college.  I left in March and returned to California.

2011 has taught me that success is relative.  I crossed off 3/4 of the items on my bucket list.  I flew first class.  I visited five new countries.  I was on NPR.  I spoke on national TV.  I wrote for the New York Times.  I signed a book contract.  I fell in love.  I went sailing.  I spoke at conferences.  I achieved 1K on United.  

Mastering these goals does not mean that 75% of my life is over.  It means that I need to aim higher than national TV, higher than the New York Times, higher than Penguin Press, higher than love, higher than United 1K, higher than five new countries.

In 2011 I've I affected more change and impacted more people that I could possibly fathom a year ago.  My challenge now is to better myself.  There is always more work to be done of the world's biggest problems.  

The pressure to perform (and change the world) put upon those in "privileged" position is ridiculous.  I'm not going to change the world in the next two years.  What I've realized is that 2011 is just the start.  My 20s are the start.  After come my 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and if they cure aging, my 80s, 90s, 100s, and more.  

The relativity of success means the world is much larger than we can imagine.  That means I am much larger than I can imagine.  We may not be able to choose who we are.  But maybe, just mabye, can we choose who we become. 

Here's what some educational deviants do with their time when not in college.

Today, I flew to Los Angeles, Chicago, and back to San Francisco. 

Why, you ask?

I don't quite have an airplane fetish.  But almost.  I flew to Chicago for an hour today for the sole purpose of gaining miles. 

You see, I had 33,789 miles on American Airlines.  Those miles are of almost no use to me since I now fly exclusively on United since I will be hitting 1K (the top-tier stats) later this year.  Being 1K on United means free international upgrades, free checked bags, free lounge access, and countless other perks. 

Now on American 40,000 is enough for a free ticket to Europe -- and that's actually useful.  Last week I saw that American was running a double mileage promo from San Francisco and Los Angeles to Chicago.  So that means the 1857 miles between O'hare and SFO and LAX will be doubled.

Let's do the math:

((1857 + 1912) * 2) + 377 + 33789 = over 40,000 = free ticket to europe. 

For the flight to Chicago I paid $136.79.  

Not bad for a free ticket to Europe, eh?

If you want to take a dive down the rabbit hole of mileage running, check out FlyerTalk.com.