Casey Campbell: A book can take you anywhere

Each month, we ask an Indiana Humanities friend or partner how they think, read and talk. We feature that someone in the “How do you identify with the humanities” section of our e-newsletter. This month, it’s Casey Campbell, a sophomore at Franklin Community High School. Casey was the 7th-9th grade winner of our Ag Essay Contest, sponsored with Indiana’s Family of Farmers. Read Casey’s winning essay, and read this year’s contest guidelines. 

Think: There is a flaw in my thinking. I think too much. Over thinking everything. But what is thinking? Thinking is to reason about, to ponder. Thinking is to decide. Thinking is to judge, or believe. Thinking is to expect, hope, or wish. Thinking is to remember, to visualize. When I think, I open up my mind to the whole world, do you? I think everything out. Maybe not always what comes out my mouth. But my actions, for sure. How will this help me in the future? What will I gain from this? Why am I doing this? Sometimes this is a wonderful trait. Other times I just need to see things for the simplicity.

Read: A book can take you anywhere. I can go from my cozy barn loft, to a mountain ledge, overlooking a river with Lewis and Clark. Books teach people so many things that they don’t realize. Even books like Harry Potter, my personal favorites, taught me that my family and those nerdy or unpopular friends mean the most in my life, and that I need them more than anything. When you open a book you open up the world.

Talk: I believe there is a fine line in talking, and rambling. You can get your ideas out into the world for us to see, we want to hear about them. But if you walk up to me on any given day and your conversation about last night’s party exceeds 6 minutes, it’s a safe bet I won’t care. Yes, communicate your ideas to the world. Explain how agriculture is important! But do we need to constantly be talking?