University of Wisconsin Eau Claire - Periscope Yearbook (Eau Claire, WI)

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Freshman Status: “Wet Behind The Ears” I began my freshman year with an eagerness some of my dorm-mates had never known or since forgotten. I moved into Murray Hall on a hot August day. During a summer of anticipation. I had told myself that being a freshman on any college campus would not be easy. Adjustments would have to be made. Nevertheless. I was eager to handle the responsibility, but not exactly sure what I would do with it. Perspiration streamed down my father's face as he hauled my trunk up the four flights of stairs. By the fifth box he was exhausted and said he'd have to rest. The car was still half-full. I suppose you could say as a rookie I was easy to spot with a ton of “necessary items. After summer orientation. I accumulated everything possible for my new room. A shock awaited me on arrival to the campus. A bare mattress, green drapes, beige tile floor and orange bolsters were to be my “home away from home. My mother just shook her head and muttered. Things haven't changed since I went to school Despite the tin foil on the walls, posters and bunk beds, it always seemed to look like a typical dorm room to me. What’s an RA? I quickly found that .as a freshman, a resident assistant lean be a matter of life or death. She (guided us en masse to each breakfast. lunch and dinner those first few days Gradually, we grew courageous enough to rough it with a friend to Hilltop. I now regret the words I foolishly said the first week of school. Why does everyone complain about the food? It's not so bad. I soon found out why. I lost 15 pounds my first semester. Somehow. I couldn't acquire a taste for warm starch and mystery meat combinations. It was just as easy to reject campus food as It was to discover the Street. All too soon I became a recording. What's your name? Where's your hometown? What's your major? Where do you live? What did you say your name was again? My responses were equally gratifying. Boy, I’m getting smashed but sure. I'll have another beer. “No kidding. They're really packing in tonight. I can hardly move! Call it freshman-fever but for those first few weeks, you couldrvi put a book in my hand I did learn the language of the campus. though. I think the trick was to place the word the In front of every word. For example. After going up THE hill. I'm going to THE mall and back down THE hill to THE street. Maybe it was maturity but homework and school began to gain importance after a while (Actually, it was prompted by my mid-semester progress report.) By October. I was an honorary member of the Billy McIntyre Society. Every weeknight, a stream of girts would head down to the library to study—too bad it wasn't always homework By November I stopped having bouts with homesickness, a strange disease which compels many freshman to write 1.000 letters and acquire $50 phone bills. By December. I realized the campus which stressed excellence had much to offer if you looked for it. People began to smile, stop and talk. I had survived my first semester at college! ■ Frathnan Statu 17