TITLE (EDIT) Overwhelming Experience Of A College Freshman
DESCRIPTION
Culture shock does not describe the feeling that a sheltered seventeen year old feels when he begins his first week as a college student, 1968. [349 words]
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Looking for work, a sturdy woman who spoils, a great cup of coffee, and friends who are incredibly funny (not necessarily in that order)..live an hour north of NYC, enjoy gnoshing and listening, love, love, love to write [March 2007]
AUTHOR'S OTHER TITLES (4) Destination Unknown (Short Stories) Her life is a never ending journey in search of something that she will never find...brief moments of intense pleasure lead her to believe that she is on the right path [391 words] [Erotic] My Wife And The Invisible People (Short Stories) My ex-wife is very kind and thougthful to people who do not really exist.... [225 words] [Humor] The Kent State Tragedy- Its Impact On Me (Short Stories) About to flunk out of college, a horrible tragedy saved my academic life and kept me from going to war. [305 words] [History] Vic Voegelin And The Iwo Jima Letters (Short Stories) A recent news story triggers memories of a fine man who taught us honesty, thoughtfulness, and compassion. [311 words] [Motivational]
Overwhelming Experience Of A College Freshman Greg Dinunzio
Nothing prepared me for going away to college. Coming from a conservative background, curfews, limited dating experience...a big night out for me was star gazing in the backyard. I was never a great student, not even a good one....but attending college was rule number one in my family.
I was 17 years old and the ultimate clueless guy. In September, 1968 I arrived at the campus of Oneonta State University in mid New York State, a gorgeous autumn campus. In the first five minutes, I saw more beautiful young women then I had ever seen in my life. All the dorms surrounding my dorm (Hays Hall) were female dorms....after my folks leave, a very tall guy walks into my room....his name was Neil....first person I met on campus....we became friends, and are still close friends today.
Strains of Steppenwolf's classic "Born to be Wild" are already blaring out of dorm windows....upper classmen stop by to introduce themselves...'no curfews.....no accountability.....girls.....beer blasts......girls.....freshman hazing'....I was totally, completely numb.
When scuba divers ascend too quickly from deep water, they are at risk of suffering the bends. I had an extreme case of the bends...from no excitement and relatively little freedom to massive excitement and unlimited freedom. A recipe for disaster for a wide eyed 17 year old.
1968 was the crossover point....from crew cut sharp college guy to long haired druggie dude. I was still caught up in the older, traditional model. Freshman hazing week....'Frosh! Where's your beanie?'....Right here, sir!.......Freshman March of Death...'Frosh, 30 pushups...'Yessir!'......'Frosh....carry this young lady up the death path!' ....The young lady was no Thumbelina, but she was piggybacked for the entire uphill ride....the first week was filled with orientation meetings, dances, mixers, get to know you events, all including alcohol (New York state drinking law was 18 then....I was close enough).
A sea of pretty faces...I looked at the faces of my new buddies...they were just as numb as I was....some fellows left sweethearts home....they were more numb. The days were sunny and warm, frisbees floating thru the air....the nights were cool and crisp, hope sprung eternal.
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