In face of first-year
denial, it turns out
some change is good
I can’t remember a time when I
didn’t know I’d be college-bound after
my senior year of high school. While I
wanted to attend college, my internal
attitude about post-secondary educa
tion — the idea that college was a re
quirement, not a privilege — led me to
make the assumption that college
would be an extension of high school,
another step I had to take before begin
ning my real life. Relatives and friends
assured me of the life changing experi
ences I’d have, but I quietly blew off
uicru cuuiUMdsin. 1 wdb gu
ing to college to take cours
es and get a degree. I didn’t
sign up for any life changes.
Year one. Fifteen hundred
miles from home, I was giv
en but one housing choice:
the residence halls. As an
only child, I struggled with
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was a collective effort between the
University and my parents to force me
to live in a specially tailored hell with
the most irritating, idiotic, drunken
19-year-olds that could be found.
Luckily my roommate and I shared
similar feelings about our neighbors
and together we managed to avoid
every required dorm function. She
transferred after the first term. I made
no friends in the hall and as a result, I
started the next fall in a deceptively
nice-looking quad complex on the
south side.
My second year, my grades reflected
major troubles, and I changed my
path. Sharing cramped facilities forced
me to connect with my quadmates
and by chance, one of them became
my main squeeze: the man I will prob
ably marry one day. College was get
ting more interactive than I’d expect
ed. That summer, 1 got a local job
instead of going back to my home
town. My partner and I moved from
the quads into a real apartment. I’d be
gun to take charge of my real life.
My third year, I changed my ma
jor again. Then my senior year I
ADRIENNE NELSON
404 NOT FOUND
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looking to involve myself
in work more closely relat
ed to my future career. We
got a cat: a cuddly little
ball of responsibility. I sold
a car I’d owned for seven
years — a car that meant
more to me than I thought
any uujcci tuuiu. 1 gui a
small and discretely placed tattoo in
memorial. I was accepted to a grad
uate school closer to my home.
As I graduate, I’m thankful for the
opportunity and support my parents
and grandparents have given me in
this endeavor. They encouraged me
through success, disappointment and
difficult choices. My boyfriend’s fam
ily also needs thanks — they opened
their home and hearts to me because
my family is so far away. Anticipating
graduate school and a new home, I’m
excited to become involved in course
work, research and the community. I
will move on, and I will keep living.
4erald | Monday, June 6,2005
Slothower: Missing Eugene
landmarks — in moderation
Continued from page 19B
personally, the past four years
have been about as real as I
could handle. In days I’ll move
1,200 miles to Durango, Colo., a
gorgeous mountain paradise filled
with attractive, well-educated
young people like myself. There I
will continue to see what I can do
with language and information
while paying off an absurd amount
of student debt.
I’ll miss Mac Court, Espresso
Roma, college parties and foosball.
I’ll miss Eugene’s burnt-out hippies
and dreamers.
In high school, a wise teacher de
livered a solid but cliched piece of
advice for college: “Everything in
moderation.” To this, I would add,
“including moderation.”
Keep on rockin’ in the free world.
GREAT FOOD, NIGHT LIFE & POOL TABLES.
EVEN YOUR PARENTS WILL LIKE IT.
tuck in
ytuM/i gJmduution.
DISH
COMFORT CUISINE
TAKING RESERVATIONS
FOR GRADUATION CELEBRATIONS
Lunch M-F 1 1 am-3 pm
Dinner M-Sat. 5 pm-IO pm
Late Night Menu lO pm-late
959 PEARL STREET • DOWNTOWN EUGENE
541.393.01 58
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aHef
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