Tune-In

In history this week, I learned about Timothy Leary, the man that coined the famous quote "Turn- On-Tune -In-Drop-Out." What was astounding to me was the influence he had on a generation that was not his own.

He was a Psychologist and Professor at a prominent university who became a leader in the collegiate society. He had direct involvement in experimenting with LSD and the use of other drugs. Exploration and study of the mind was his intention while taking a psychological trip with the use of drugs.

From an outside perspective, this phrase almost implies that society should: Turn-on

(to drugs), Tune-in (pay attention to life) and Drop-out (step out of life when you want to; you do not have to be responsible). This seems to be the opposite of what a scholar would instruct his students to do with their life; destroy your mind with drugs and live in fairy land.

I can not even imagine a Professor in this day and time at USAO quoting this slogan to their students. Yes, the mind is a very sacred and important organ to be explored and filled with knowledge. It is also a very delicate part of our physical being. We are what we fill it with. Our minds should be filled with the beautiful, wonderful, exciting and healthy adventures of life. I think of the mind as one of the greatest computers and artist pallets a person could posses and what I want to create with it is a gorgeous, colorful expression of beauty to bring happiness to others. My slogan, unlike Mr. Timothy Leary’s, would instead be “Turn On to Life, Tune In to the Mind of Knowledge and Creativeness, Stay Up and In School.”