Slippery Rock University - Saxigena Yearbook (Slippery Rock, PA)

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StKitmuie Bryan sing to ■ing o s le it oy. st. Take the example of the friend I made, Ed. Now Ed is not that special or dynamic, but we both can relate to each other. Ed wasn't much for talking, but he sure loved to walk and listen. Me? I wasn't much for walking, but I do love to talk. Thus in the day-to-day battles here we eventually were tossed together. Actually I just tagged along one time while he took his nightly walk. Since that time, no matter what the trouble is, no matter how blue we've felt at the day's end, we've still managed to find something in that day to chuckle about. This is what I believe moves many of us: those special times with those special people. And perhaps this is one of those things that makes college fun and memorable. But then finals came and I cried. I didn't want to return home in failure. I had worked hard, and it was as if I could not find the power I needed to make it through. I looked to my upper classmen with questioning eyes and received horror stories that hardened my heart. I thought of leaving again, and I really almost did, but that fool before thought he needed to stay and stick it out to the finish or exhaustion whichever came first. Fortunately it was the finish. Thus I hod survived one semester, probably the hardest, certainly the maker of memories. But now I had four weeks to take it easy and enjoy Christmas. This break started off exciting as my family and I got together after a long separation. Then it began to drag as Christmos wos over, and I had little to do. I was fortunate ond went to see my old friends and classmates in Florida. It was exciting to be able to walk into my high school a free man, on odult, and chat casually with teachers and administrators as old friends. Of course there were those that I wrote to and longed to see; in particular my sweetheart, Judy. Yes, I did discover that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but there is nothing like being together again to make that old heart thrive. Somehow all my old friends had a new found respect for me since I was now in college. I took advantage of that and enjoyed myself totally while I wos with them. 23

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But time, that old two faced friend and foe, stole away from me again and brought me to face the spring term with the look of a veteran and the confidence of a pro. I had been this route before, and this time I was ready for it. I took stock of my situation: I was a freshman with one semester in, few friends, and little that I enjoyed at the Rock, and I set out to chonge all of that. The friends seemed to gather for the effort. No, I guess it wasn't so hard to find people who cared after all. I met transfer students, first time students, and real old pros from 18 to 28, oil of them I could call friends. It was great! Then I began to become more involved with those activities thot I really enjoyed. I was tired of watching from the sidelines and began to really find thot little something for myself. I began to utilize my outlets for my creativity and thus found the going easier. Things weren't so bad after all. I still hodn't learned what I wanted to do, and this certainly wasn't the breeze of high school, but we all learn to adjust. I remember writing to Judy, If you could only see me now. I've come so far and done so much in so little time. I could look ot this place with guarded optimism now. I might actually make it. I can also remember looking around and seeing that I wos finally catching up to those who readily made it thot first semester. Once that started happening the whole depressing world I wos in caved in around me. You couldn't stop me now. I wanted to do everything, experience everything, and know everyone all at the some time. Tomorrow would be too late since I was living in the fast lane. Thus the winter of the second semester just came and flew on by. Then it was spring time with midterms and carefree days. The midterms? They were easy. The living? It was easy too with bike rides in the ofternoon and long walks in the evening. I began to discover that college, like high school, could be laid back too. It didn't seem long after midterms that finals rolled around. This time no horror story could scare me into biting my nails all night. I knew what they were all about and how to prepare. I remember feeling as though I faired pretty well through that round of tests. I didn't know what my grade was, but I had that gut level feeling I had done well. Then it was summer that loomed ahead. I said goodbye to my friends, put down my work, and traveled tongue in cheek back home. It would be a long summer, but the fall would be here soon. Just before I left I looked out over that campus that I remembered being so big before. Look, it wasn't so big after all. Thus I om just one of the countless others who went through this life experience. The work that I've done this year I'll never forget. Just as the pain I've experienced is for ever burnt upon my mind. I've come, we've all come a long way in realizing ourselves, what makes us, moves us, delights us, and downs us. That old man? The one who said good things ain't easy neglected to tell me that they become easier when you share them with someone. The going here at the Rock was only as tough as you chose to make it. I chose in my first year to make it a lot tougher on myself than it needed to be. Now I hove learned, have friends, and know thot tomorrow promises to be always brighter for me, because I made the right choice. I came to school, and the world goes on. The future has already planted its seeds in my life, and I am forever forced to move forward. Thaddeus Paul Sheppeck