First year away is a
By Darryl Law
learning experienceONE more year of school over and done with. Wow! I'm finally done with the first year of college. What did I learn? That is the question everyone's asking.
Well, let's see, I learned how to ski, I memorized the pizza delivery number, I can tell you how much a grande mocha at Starbucks costs, a hundred different ways to procrastinate and when not to start a paper -- midnight.
Seriously, I learned a lot. Graduating from Iolani, I was set up with an excellent background for continuing my education. The only problem is that the first quarter was very easy.
Why was this a problem? Being the cocky guy who thought that I learned all of that subject matter in high school, I guess that I slacked the winter quarter. Boy did it show on the grades. The spring quarter I figured it out and was ready on the get go.
Probably the biggest thing that I learned in college is how to be an individual and more about social interaction.
No, you don't have to go and drink every night the first week of school. Don't worry about sitting by yourself in the cafeteria that first week either. Even though it seems like everyone at your college knows everyone else and you don't know anyone, that really isn't the case.
People appreciate someone who doesn't come across as a fake, and it's OK to be a little different. On the mainland, they're curious about the Hawaii thing.
SOCIAL interaction is not restricted to partying. Social interaction also means learning to live with others. There will be people that you do not like who live in your dormitory hall. Get over it. As for roommates, either you hate the guy or he's OK and sometimes your best friend.
I had a horrible roommate the fall quarter. But you decide. All he did, and probably does, is watch TV. I talked about going to a concert. He showed interest, so I asked him if he wanted to go with me. He said, "I have no way down there." I said, "We can take a taxi." His quick response: "I don't know the number." From there I just shut up.
First of all if he really wanted to go he would have found a taxi. Otherwise the number for two of the main taxi companies in Denver are 777-7777 or 333-3333.
I guess I would have to put part of the blame on his parents. Every night his parents would call at 8, on the dot. Once again, the conversation:
"Hey, do you want to go see a movie?"
"Yeah, what time?"
"8:30."
"Nope, I can't. You know, the parents."
Can't say that I didn't try. But that is how he lives, so I can't dis it.
I grew really close to my new roommate. The only problem is that he has decided to transfer to UC Irvine. We are basically opposites. I am rather dignified and mature. He runs around and climbs on top of the backstop acting like he is a monkey. When he eats, there is food everywhere after he is done, stuff like that. I have grown rather fond of this guy. The thing is, now I act like him, running around climbing on top of things.
So, I am writing this at 2 in the morning, the night after my last final. I am relieved to be done, happy to be coming home, but sad to be leaving all of these new people I met and the niche that I created for myself.
Here is the best advice I can give to the graduating seniors going to college: Like I mentioned earlier, don't worry about eating alone, after a while it'll happen anyway because your schedule doesn't fit with anyone else's. When packing, leave your five least favorite T-shirts at home. You'll get at least one new one before orientation is over. Finally, go with an open mind; you'll have more fun that way.
Darryl Law is an Iolani graduate who is studying
Travel Industry Management at the University of Denver.Rant & Rave is a Tuesday Star-Bulletin feature
allowing those 12 to 22 to serve up fresh perspectives.
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