Spring Break
Freshman Voices: Drexel's True Life Univ. 101
Alexandra Scheinfeld
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Ed-Op
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Entering my freshman year at Drexel, I realize that even after 12 grades of premium Pennsylvanian public schooling, I still have quite a lot to learn. No, I'm not talking about chemistry, psychology, or English (who actually needs to know that crap?). I'm talking about the truly important things; the life lessons that really count.
First of all, no one told me the fountain in the quad is only for looking at. I mean, there's no little wall around it; its pretty, and it was hot outside this week. Naturally I thought this fountain's sole purpose in life was to relieve me of the stifling heat.
Wrong. Public safety was all over that right away. I swear I don't think I've gotten such a tongue lashing since I glued the blocks together in kindergarten.
Second, we're not allowed to take food out of the cafeteria? What good is that? I can only eat so much at once, and those cookies looked mighty tasty. I just grabbed a few (ok so maybe it was more like 20) and was merrily on my way, but yet again I got another stern look and a finger wagged at me.
And to put the icing on the cake, I walked into the bathroom late Saturday night, and the floor was covered with none other than a hard-night-of-partying's worth of puke. Good thing I listened to my mom and wore shoes everywhere, including to the bathroom. Actually, now that I think about it, I need to wear shoes especially in the bathroom.
So ok, here's my question: sure we have University 101 to ease us into college life, but when will they teach us the really fundamental stuff, the real keys to academic success? The things that college is meant to teach us; what we're paying $47,254.97 for (that's the real number, I looked it up).
I think maybe the answer is that we need to learn by trial and error. Sure I've only been here a week, but I already feel years older.
I've already learned that the turnstile in Towers only works if the security guard has already scanned my ID. I've learned that not wearing flip-flops in the shower is like asking for a terrible incurable disease.
I feel that my week of experience has been sufficient to make me an expert on the subject, so to all the members of the class of 2011/12 I just want to say: don't stress. Do your work, carry your DragonCard everywhere, and try not to bother the bum outside the 7-11 too much. College life is entirely manageable… just so long as you wear flip-flops in the showers.
Alexandra Scheinfeld is a freshman majoring in nursing. She can be reached through ed-op@thetriangle.org
First of all, no one told me the fountain in the quad is only for looking at. I mean, there's no little wall around it; its pretty, and it was hot outside this week. Naturally I thought this fountain's sole purpose in life was to relieve me of the stifling heat.
Wrong. Public safety was all over that right away. I swear I don't think I've gotten such a tongue lashing since I glued the blocks together in kindergarten.
Second, we're not allowed to take food out of the cafeteria? What good is that? I can only eat so much at once, and those cookies looked mighty tasty. I just grabbed a few (ok so maybe it was more like 20) and was merrily on my way, but yet again I got another stern look and a finger wagged at me.
And to put the icing on the cake, I walked into the bathroom late Saturday night, and the floor was covered with none other than a hard-night-of-partying's worth of puke. Good thing I listened to my mom and wore shoes everywhere, including to the bathroom. Actually, now that I think about it, I need to wear shoes especially in the bathroom.
So ok, here's my question: sure we have University 101 to ease us into college life, but when will they teach us the really fundamental stuff, the real keys to academic success? The things that college is meant to teach us; what we're paying $47,254.97 for (that's the real number, I looked it up).
I think maybe the answer is that we need to learn by trial and error. Sure I've only been here a week, but I already feel years older.
I've already learned that the turnstile in Towers only works if the security guard has already scanned my ID. I've learned that not wearing flip-flops in the shower is like asking for a terrible incurable disease.
I feel that my week of experience has been sufficient to make me an expert on the subject, so to all the members of the class of 2011/12 I just want to say: don't stress. Do your work, carry your DragonCard everywhere, and try not to bother the bum outside the 7-11 too much. College life is entirely manageable… just so long as you wear flip-flops in the showers.
Alexandra Scheinfeld is a freshman majoring in nursing. She can be reached through ed-op@thetriangle.org
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