So, last night, I sent out a boatload of emails to different people I know, giving them the following question to consider: My life for the next 7 months.

I complete my college education in 1 week. Assuming that it will only take a few more weeks to tie up the loose ends, I will be completely free to do whatever for the next seven months, until I resume my studies.

Here are my criteria:

• Break even.
• Do something useful/interesting.
• Grow spiritually.

The beautiful thing about the next period of my life is that it's totally freeform. I have some flexible employment options. Thus, I don't have to have a job during this entire time. I could work like a madman for the first few months then spend the remainder doing something interesting. Or I could get a part-time job to cover basic roof-food-floor/futon while I do something interesting. Of course, I wouldn't mind finding a useful/interesting job either.

The Criteria

Break Even: roof, food, floor/futon

Useful/Interesting: Something that I can learn from, but which is really focused on others. Ideas so far:

Grow spiritually: preferably be near a good church where I can be really involved.

Do you have ideas for something I can do? When I spoke with Charles Murray earlier this year, he suggested I do something like he did. After finishing college, he spent several years as a Peace Corps worker in Thailand. He said it was one of the best things he ever did.

I don't have several years, but I have seven months. And even though I'm pretty aware of the world around me, I'm not very aware of the opportunities available for a newly-graduated English literature student with specialities in music performance/instruction, computer programming, multimedia production, parliamentary procedure, graphics design, and nonfiction writing.

Do you have ideas for me? Send me an email.