Park University - Narva Yearbook (Parkville, MO)

Page 26 text:

King candidates: Mark Kulda (left), Cedric Kimes, Michael Alvarado and Matt Hart (above) King and Queen of Harvest Fest 1987, Alvarado and Liz Marchisello lead the first dance Photos by David Hall

Page 28 text:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF PARK A long road to paradise It had been an awfully long day in the car and Christy had had a real rough time sharing the back seat with her sister (J eanne just wouldn’t stay on her own si de!) Mom quietly peered out the window while Dad was deep in concentration determinedly able to study the map, take in all of the signs, and keep the car out of the ditch all by himself (there was no way he was going to let HER get him lost again.) We hit Kansas City, Mom turned around. “Girls! We’re almost there. Here, take these handi-wipes and freshen up,” she said in a hoarse voice (too much yelling at the girls, you know.) She threw away her own used handi-wipe as she turned back to the front, pulled down the viser mirror, and pulled out a big, red tube of lipstick. A sign! Park College 1 mile! Christy couldn’t have been happier if it had said, “Welcome to Paradise!” Anticipation conquered her. Christy broke out in a cold sweat. What if it’s awful?! In a last minute panic she imagined how Parkville and th e college might be. First, knowing it was close to the historic Santa Fe Trail, she envi¬ sioned Parkville to be an old western town from a John Wayne movie. Right behind Big Bob’s Saloon would be a half dozen big, old, dusty buildings; off to the side would be a big wooden sign with the name “Park College” burnt into it. No, it can’t be like that! Next, she imagined a small, but very modern town of which Park College was an extension. Every¬ thing was immaculate and looked “just right.” The neat wooden buildings were varnished with “just the right” stain, the people walked, talked, and dressed “just right,” and the sidewalks were so clean one could eat off of them. But, luckily, perfect is impossible. Then, her mind created a picture of Parkville as the bad side of Kansas 24 BOON SIANG LEE .T it CAT t f s J ' ■ S ' V- r ■t . ' • V ‘ i ! • Mi k Christy Schaschl City. She saw saggy brown build¬ ings with paint peeling off the sides, every window that wasn’t boarded up had a crack in it, and the whole two blocks of Main Street looked like they had missed their spring and fall cleaning for the last 50 years or so. Park College, she imagined, was a block behind Main Street. It had bigger buildings but was in the same condition. Most of the trees had been cut down and sold, and ragged children from the town wandered on to the campus hoping a generous college student would give them something to eat. These nightmares vanished as the real college came into view. “Oh, honey, look!” croaked Mom, “Isn’t it beautiful?!” Christy was just breathless. The campus sloped upward in levels with quaint brick and limestone build¬ ings nestled into the hills and a sprinkling of trees to make it com¬ fortable. A forest surrounded the campus like a mother’s protective arm around her child. The cute little town lay at the base of the campus. Released from all of her fears, Christy sat back in awe as Dad cranked the wheel around and to the right, and the car nosed its way up the side of the hill. The car stopped in front of a red brick monumental building. Here it is. . .Hawley Hall! They all got out, tired, relieved, and content, taking in the beautiful scenery, except Dad who looked like he’s just completed his final exams, but even he was able to relax after taking a minute to look around. An RA came down and met them with a smile, “Hi! Welcome to Park College! If you back your car up to that door, it will be easier to unload. I will meet you on the third floor!” They all grabbed a bundle and ascended the stairs to find their RA and a cozy little room with a warm smiling roommate Christy was sure she’d grow to love. From that day forward, through tours and introductions, impressions only got better. And, even the tears from “good-byes” to Mom, Dad and Jeanne couldn’t dampen Christy’s high expectations for a wonderful year at Park College.