College Life
By Shanna, age 17, California
As interesting as my first couple of months have been, I've learned to get the hang of college life. My first tour of Loyola Marymount University had me so spooked I almost threw up stepping out of the car ... at least until an interesting dog came along.* Freedom is the only word to describe how liberated I feel after graduating high school. Every day, more and more, I'm beginning to love being a college student.
It's very different - people give you your space. Your professors don't dig into your personal issues which can affect your grade. This is what I've always wanted, and so much more - teachers who leave you alone. Knowing that I'm not a child anymore is the best feeling in the world, as is knowing my professors came to work because they wanted to teach us adults knowledge, not because they had to.
Everything, from the ocean breeze that blows to the weirdest old lady walking through the campus whistling the Andy Griffith theme song, is just as kind as can be. The close feeling of friendliness is the next best thing to waking up to Christmas presents on Christmas morning.
Editor's Note: I believe Shanna is referring to the encounter she describes in "Hot Dog Freshman" (SDM, Sep '09).
