In late April, I took a break from school to visit one of the nation's best-known and most-fabled destinations: Massachusetts' Cape Cod. Invited by a friend with a beach house, I dropped my books and headed for the historic oceanfront.
On the drive there, I couldn't help but think about summer. As every college student knows, summer internships and work experience are practically as necessary as a degree in finding a job later.
But thoughts of careers and employment were erased when I stepped out of the car at our destination and heard the soft sounds of gulls, the light crashes of waves and the ocean breezes whipping through the marshes. The ambiance was like a soundtrack played from hidden speakers all over the tiny town.
We decided to stop at the only corner store to get food for dinner. But as we did, two women were locking the door. "Sorry, but until Memorial Day, we close at 3 o'clock." It was 2:55. We walked to my friend's beach house empty-handed. Gazing at the ocean, I found I couldn't distinguish it from the sky.
The mini-vacation was wonderful, but soon it was back to school and final exams. Those are over now, too, and I am back home in Duluth.
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I imagine many college students are asked the same questions when they return home for break: How do you like it? What are you studying? Do you think you will come back to Duluth when you graduate? The first two questions are pretty easy to answer, but I have trouble with the last. I love Duluth. I have lived here my entire life. Unfortunately, it's no secret the city has trouble attracting and keeping young professionals. Duluth isn't a small town, but it's not a big city, either.
All this got me thinking about my visit to Cape Cod. I realized I liked my getaway not because it was to a place ripe with rich history or because it was an Atlantic Ocean destination with favorable weather. I realized I liked Cape Cod because it reminded me of Duluth. Of course, the gulls here seem to scream, the frigid waves sometimes smash, and the wind takes out the power lines. The differences between Duluth and Cape Cod are abundant, but small, subtle similarities abound.
I realized, sounding like a parent talking to a child, that Duluth can still be whatever it wants. The city could become an economical powerhouse with developments in technology and entertainment. Or it could be known for its beautiful scenery and relaxed attitude. Though I'm skeptical the two could coexist.
Now, does this new appreciation for the prospects of Duluth help me answer the question from parents, friends and others about where I plan to settle in 10 years? Not really. But there's a certain relief in knowing there's a possibility I could return to this incredible city, possibly giving another generation the chance to reap the benefits of life in an incredible huge town. Or in a small city. Or in whatever Duluth decides to be.
David Hafferty is a 2008 graduate of Duluth's Marshall High School, where he played hockey. He recently finished his freshman year at Harvard University after serving last summer as a citizen representative on the News Tribune editorial board.
