University of Massachusetts Boston - Beacon Yearbook (Boston, MA)

Page 7 text:

The Eye of the Eagle Well, well. You've finally made it Didn't think you would, didja? Well here you are at last, finished with college and ready to take on the real world. This is where you can finally breathe a big sigh of relief and look ahead into the future. Congratulations, you deserve it. Now that it's over, l'll bet you're saying, 'Hey, that wasn't so bad. Of course, that's easy to say now that you've made that final stroll on to the plaza and accepted your degree. Now that you made it through the wringer that is the University of Massachusetts at Boston, it is probably easy to forget the blood, sweat, and tears it took to graduate. You may even be feeling a little cocky. But wait a minute. lt's not that simple, College represents a very important period in your life and it shouldnt be cast aside so quickly. Whatever reason it is that we came here, whether we came because our parents wanted or expected us to, because we want to get a jump on the career of our choice, or just because we want to better ourselves, the reality of getting through the day-to-day grind of higher education was apparent from when you stood in line at the Clark Center for freshmen courses right up to the time you struggled with your last final exam, Like it or not, college changed us. Whether it's those of us who took time out after high school to work or start a family or those of us who went straight to college at UMB, we indeed have changed as a result of coming here, Many of us aren't even aware of these changes. l'm sure that those who swear now that college Rudy winsian hasn't changed them will sing a different tune not even five years from now, let alone twenty, So what happens? What is it about college, and in particular UfvtassfBoston, that makes each individual who leaves a much different person than when he or she entered? There are probably as many answers to that question as there are students at UMB, But since we are all unique in some fashion, all clustered together in one tiny spot, maybe that is where part of the answer lies. UMassfBoston can boast of having one the most diverse student bodies of any major university in the nation. While many other public institutions strive to attract a wide variety of people, it's standard daily fare here at UMB. It is this diversity that effects a change on those who come here for the first time. While most of us have in some way or another led a sheltered life, in that we have not been exposed to this variety of people, coming to UMB compels us, if not . forces us, to slip beyond whatever pre-conceived notions we have about other people and look underneath the surface. We never had to do that when we were younger, Even as far up as high school, we always had our own friends and associates and never bothered to find out about those people we didn't know or understand, But at college there are too many things happening that involve a lot of people for one to keep to oneself, Whether it's a club or the newspaper or a theatrical production, life on campus can get pretty exciting. The only way these things get off the ground and become successful is because students, often strangers, who share common interests no matter what their background, come together and work toward a common goal. There are many examples of this sort of thing, The newly formed Film Production Club. The CPCS Gerentology Program. Network magazine and Howth Castle. The list goes on. 'Z' ny Continued - f ' g 3

Page 6 text:

Parked Beneath A Tree branches bare, bark gray and dry - the morning sun lends the windshield glass its warmth. Heat rising from the crimson hood blurs the reflection of a rippled sea, where hungry seagulls floating just out of reach of a small boy's rocks, rise and skim over the surface toward an elderly spinster tossing stale bread. - Stephen Sadowskl

Page 8 text:

There is indeed something about UMB that causes a change ii A in those who come here. We become more creative. We become more responsible. We become tougher. This is ' ' because more and more we find we have to make the decisions that not only affect our daily life at school, but our F - future as well. Remember those incompletes you had? Remember how you had to find a way to negotiate with your 'ff' professor on writing some paper to satisfy him? And how about that progress report that came unexpectedly in place of I a competency? Remember how you had to think of something J to hand in so your professor could clear the way for you to ' ' , graduate? This was no picnic. 1 Ah, those epic battles with the Bursar's and Registrar's offices. 'Im sorry, but I don't see your records here. Are you Z sure you've gone to UMass for three years? III understand X that the postal strike shut down the mail for five days . . . but we can't help that. As far as we're concerned, the check arrived two days late, so you still have to pay the S25 late fee. 'II don't know the answer to that. Let me transfer you. I'That's not my department. Try admissions. That's not my department. Try the cafeteria. From the student's view: Whaddaya mean, spell Smith? Why do I have to prove my gender? IlYou're telling me you don't accept American Express Traveler's checks? IlGive me one good reason why I should tell you if I own a car. Yeah, you've gotten tougher. These kinds of things just didnt happen in high school. But then you had the support of your friends at UMassfBoston, because they were going through the same hassles. Friends are important throughout your entire college career. They're going to pull you through the bad times, bring you down to earth during the good times. Good friends aren't just people who'll come through with a S3 bottle of champagne to your Adam West film retrospective party, a good friend is one who will show up at the party at 8:30 when the invitation says, despite the Adam West film theme. A good friend is one who would say, l'Sure, go ahead and borrow my Prince album CA better friend is one who returns it unscathedjf' A good friend is someone who is there when you really need him or her. Even if you need a hug. So while in the excitement of graduation everybody will promise to keep in touch, just make sure you hang on to those who you can count on, those who want to keep in touch with you as much as you do them. And deep down, you know you can tell the difference. We grow up in college. We think we're grown up at eighteen, and some of us are in actuality. But when we go to college, that's when we come to understand what it means. Bills, bills, and more bills. Rent. Car payments. Car repairs. Heating. And of course, tuition. But this is just the beginning. When graduation is through, the party's over. Life begins, Work. Marriage. CHILDREN. And possibly, just possibly, the desired result of our American Dream: a BMW. ! . S? . P . V' Q