Jack of all Trades, Master of None
February 7, 2024
Writer: Alanna Madry
Editor: Chava Makman
I am currently a Biopsych, Cognition, and Neuroscience major, planning to pursue a double minor in Entrepreneurship and Art and Design. Prior to this, I toyed with majoring in Environmental Studies due to my love of the outdoors and adventure, Film for my appreciation of comedy and old Hollywood, or even Pre-Med because of how I enjoy helping others. If there is one thing I am, it is all over the place.
I have always found myself envious of the people who fit neatly into categories, knowing exactly what they want to do. Whether they are world-class athletes or computer science enthusiasts, it always seemed as though everyone around me knew exactly their talents and how to use them to find their place. While I swam, played lacrosse, did improv, volunteered at hospitals, sewed, dabbled in photography, hiked, ran feminist organizations, baked, swung a tennis racket, played the ukulele, read Architectural Digest, and sang, trying to see what stuck, I always felt awkwardly spread thin. Disappointment followed me after each attempt at finding my “thing” resulted in no more than a new hobby that I liked.
Alanna Madry, the ______, remained unfinished.
This past October, during one of my nightly Pinterest scrolls, I stumbled upon a quote by an author named Jerico Silvers. It read, “It’s my goal to have no final form. To never be defined. To never stop exploring, learning. To experience life as long as I am alive.” These simple words plastered on an artistic backdrop helped unravel the years of string that had been suffocating my unruly passions. Seeing this quote brought me back to a conversation I had with my mom years prior. We were discussing a friend who was an incredible athlete and what would happen if they ever chose to retire from their sport after years of blind devotion. While we took turns admiring the ease of life that can come along with having your identity labeled across your forehead, my mom reminded me that being wrapped up into a box with a pretty bow is the exception, not the rule.
The majority of people in the world live within the gray zone of interests; consciously or not, they curate a beautiful concoction of things that make them feel purposeful and fulfilled. For me, I’ve learned this mixture consists of interior design/architecture, psychology, modern art, female leadership, animals and children, holistic wellness, fashion, writing, comedy, and travel, amongst countless others. While unconnected, each of these things lights a spark in me.
Since beginning college, my appreciation for unpredictability in identity has grown. Currently, I am on the social media team for my sorority, a satire writer for the Every Three Weekly paper, a campus ambassador for The Women’s Network, and of course, a writer for Hopelessly Yellow: four involvements that are distinct, yet feel perfectly aligned to me.
My final form is ever-evolving, and, while it has taken nearly two decades to appreciate that beautiful fact, I finally do. Whether you see yourself as a category person or not, I guarantee your soul is too unique to be placed in one category. Neat and tidy is overrated anyway.
