My Bucket List

By Eva Pfoertner

With my inevitable graduation from college quickly sneaking up on me I have been thinking about all of the things that I want to do after college an with the rest of my life, like things I want to see, places I want to go, people I want to meet, how much money I want to make. This line of thinking has led me to develop my bucket list. These are the top five things that I believe will bring blissful happiness and fulfillment in my life. I've listed them in no particular order of importance. All five are important to me!

1. Witness the legalization of gay marriage in the United States (Civil Unions): This is on my bucket list because this is an issue I am extremely passionate about. I truly believe that with civil unions being illegal in the United States it is a direct violation to the American peoples equality. This is something I think is so important for our society to accept. I understand (for the most part) why people are against civil unions, but I truly do not believe it is the governments place (or anyone else's place for that matter) to say who someone can and cannot love and be legally married to. With having so many friends that are either gay, lesbian, bi-curious or even trans-gendered I cannot find any explanation as to why these people, my friends, do not have a right to marry the person that they want. When I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain I was so impressed that their country had legalized gay marriage considering their serious ties to the Catholic Church. A friend later explained to me that it’s not about the church or the government, its simply about people who love each other that want to be together. With this explanation I could no longer find any reason as to why civil unions could not happen in the United States. If this happened it would be an extraordinary example to all other nations of equality for all people. I will forever be an advocate for civil unions in the United States
2. Make one million dollars of my own money from my own hard work: I know that these days one million dollars isn’t that much money in the grand scheme of things, but growing up I thought that if someone had one million dollars they would be set for life. I don't have one solid explanation for wanting this, but as an independent woman that will one day be very successful, I will feel so accomplished knowing that all of that money I earned is from my own hard work. I would be able to prove to myself that I am a financially independent woman and I don't need anyone else (especially a man) to take care of me or to depend on… I would also just love to have one million dollars!
3. See a woman become president of the United Sates: With already witnessing an African American become president (which I was able to cross off my list) and watching Hilary Clinton run for president and later become secretary of state in the Obama administration I realized that times are seriously changing and I think for the better. During the time Hilary Clinton was running for presidency I was 18 and did not realize that a woman becoming president would be more than just a president; it would speak volumes about our country, and break gender barriers around the world. In many countries women have become presidents and powerful world players. While women do play a huge role in our American society, it is still male dominated and sexism is an epidemic. Aside from being a serious feminist and gender equality advocate, I personally believe that women are the world’s most valuable untapped natural resource. Witnessing a woman become president of the United States would make me infinitely happy.
4. Step foot on every continent: There are 7 continents and I have been to 3 of them already! The continents I have been to include North America, South America and Europe, which leaves Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica (The four A's). With my aspirations to be a world traveler and informed global citizen I think it would be so great to say I have been to every continent (although Antarctica is going to be tricky…). Aside from my absolute love of travel and adventure, I don't just want to step foot on every continent just to say I did so. I want to step foot on these continents, knowing I will be fulfilling a goal and accomplishing something other than just saying I was there. In going to every continent I want to go with a specific mission to either see every country on that continent, help impoverished people, be a UN peacekeeper, study, teach, or just to simply backpack and be a tourist. No matter what mission I go to every continent and country with, I know that the mission will be meaningful and I will feel accomplished.
5. Fall madly in love and have a family: Almost every woman wants this! When I was little I wanted prince Harry to fall in love with me so I could become a princess. When I was 13 I wanted to have a dream life with Josh Hartnett. Now I just want someone that will make me laugh. This is probably the number one thing on my bucket list because more than anything in this world I want to be a mother. Before I find someone to spend the rest of my life with and have children I want to be accomplished and financially independent and comfortable. I also want to have a lot of life experience and travel under my belt before making the commitment of being a mother and a wife. I know that when I have children they will be the center of my universe and my own life will come second to theirs. I have been lucky enough to have a childhood people only dream of along with unconditionally loving parents who are still together. I want to be to give what I have been able to have and hopefully more to my children one day.