MIZ-ZOU RAH!!

I have enjoyed Econ. thus far. Though, some of the concepts are hard to understand or wrap my mind around at times, the idea behind opportunity cost seems to be one of the easiest concepts for me to grasp from the class (I'm sure along with everyone else). Though we have dealt with examples from the economy's businesses and their opportunity costs, I have noticed that quite often I deal with "opportunity cost" almost everyday, and last weekend especially. 

A Little Background Info:

 Last week I was talking to a friend of mine that goes to University of Missouri, better known as Mizzou, and we were discussing how I needed to make a trip out there to visit friends. Let it be noted here, that I am from Missouri, I graduated high school there and have a lot of close friends out that way. After my high school graduation, my father's job transfered him (along with the rest of my family) to Pittsburgh. So my current residence is in Pittsburgh, but all my close friends are still located in Missouri and I rarely during the school year, but occasionally over the summer. Anyways, Liz and I were talking and I thought of the great idea to visit Mizzou the upcoming weekend (the previous one now). My crazy schemes in the past have never been successful, so when I mentioned this idea to Liz she said, "Oh, that would be nice, but you know it won't happen..." Having strict parents in high school lead to the demise of almost every master plan I ever tried to concoct back in the day, thus leaving me to be a dreamer of schemes... and my friends became realists knowing that my parents would always say "no."

Later that evening I got to looking at my work load for my classes and  started sorta day dreaming about the possibility of taking a road trip out to Missouri. I then came to realize that I had a real chance of visiting, as long as my parents gave me the "go ahead" and I was alright with missing a few classes (And by few I mean 4, including wonderful Econ - - Sorry Kyle! [I'm so dumb sometimes... missing 4 classes is not smart]). I called my parents and though they were not happy with the idea of missing my classes, they said that if I could drive the 8 hour trip, then I was  allowed to go. Long story short, I made it to Mizzou Wednesday night... 

The Reason for the Blog:

Relating it to Econ. Though Opportunity Costs deal with quantities of products, labor, prices, supplies, etc., I sort of molded the concept to fit the events that were happening with me. Because I was missing  classes, I had a lot to consider when making the trip. Opportunity Cost:

1.  If I miss classes, I will get to see my friends in Missouri - - the most important cost to me. 
2. If I missed Econ lecture I would not get to hear Kyle's great jokes (a close second, of course), but I would get a break and sleep in on Thursday... and be in Missouri. 

After arriving at Mizzou I had to think of who I wanted to see, when I could see them, what we could do, all these plans had "costs" to them. I will only mention a couple that stick out in my head, then I will stop boring anyone who has read this much of my blog.

•   I used to play basketball in high school, and that Friday night was Senior Night at my high school and I had a few friends that were playing in it. Anna offered me a ride back to my home town (since it is about an hour away from Mizzou) so I could go to the game, get to see people from my home town, and spend time with her. Also that evening I had a close friend that was having a party at Mizzou, and I knew a lot of people that were going to be at it... Ahh yes, the important decision in a college student's life: "To party, or not to party?".... The cost was If I went home with Anna I would get to see a basketball game and friends, but if I stayed at Mizzou, I would get to party with people I knew (not necessarily close friends of mine though). I decided to go back to my hometown with my friend, and do not regret the decision. 
• Lastly, the next night (Saturday) my friend, the same one that was hosting the previous party, was hosting another (that's why I didn't feel too bad going back to my hometown in the first place). The only problem with partying Saturday night was that I had to leave Sunday morning... and because of the excessive class skipping, I had to get to Hitchcock Sunday evening to work on a project due Monday, meanging I would have to leave extremely early Sunday morning to get back to OSU... Anyways the opportunity cost here being: I stay out late and have one last hoorah with my friends and drive back to Ohio  and possibly miss the opportunity to work on my project, or the earlier I get to bed, the earlier I could wake up, leave, and be less tired on the drive back. My decision? Lets just say the drive back was long, and horrible because I kept falling asleep.... but I did get back in time to finish my project. 
  

I guess I literally took the concept of Opportunity Cost and applied it to my life as what opportunities would I have, or be able to have, and at what cost would it be to receive them. Similar to the economic definition, but tweaked a little bit : ) 

Morgan Hurst

Econ 200

8:30 TR