OCR Text |
Show Page 8 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume IV, Issue V June 15, 2001 How to Matriculate—Without Getting Caught enough money to pay for one, we wouldn’t need a college education. By Howard Noel, From “The Front Porch” Everyone who has successfully passed through the ivy halls of our colleges and universities has had to do it. Some were better at it than others, but at one time or another, all were faced with the process of matriculation. My neighbor, Gilman, tells me of the time his college advisor asked if he had matriculated. He confessed to having had a beer now and then but all-inall was pretty quiet during his early college days. I guess Gilman had no idea what it meant to matriculate, or how important it was to his college education. I must admit, when first I faced the rigors of a college education, matriculation was not the first thing on my mind. Though I soon learned it should have been. As I entered the administration building of Weber State College – a small liberal arts college tucked away in the Rocky Mountains—I was truly unsure about how I would face this very real and inevitable aspect of higher learning. To this point in my life I had been tested on many levels. I had learned all the important dates in history, and even knew many of the events that happened on those dates. I had developed a vocabulary that would serve me well in the years to come (though with my handwriting as bad as it is, no one ever really got a good crack at testing my spelling). Even my math classes were a success. In fact I remember doing so well in one advanced algebra class, that they invited me back the next year to do it again. But now—faced with the awesome prospect of matriculating—I was overwhelmed. And to think I had to do it alone . . . a stranger . . . on a new campus . . . bereft of the reassurances of close friends standing by to offer support. It was almost enough to make me to forego my higher education and pursue my original dream of becoming the guy who puts those little plastic things on the ends of shoelaces. That kind of pressure I knew I could handle. At best, getting a college education is not easy. The money alone is daunting. Heavens knows, if we all had Then, setting matriculation aside, the whole idea of successfully completing the courses required is, at best, intimidating. In our house a scholar was a person who had more hardcover books than paperbacks. My brother, Frank, was the example of the family. I remember him telling our dad, “Of course I know how to spell ‘banana.’ I just don’t know when to quit.” I could identify with that. Uncle Merle, on the other hand, had a very practical approach to higher education. He used to say, “Education is the ability to quote Shakespeare without attributing it to the Bible.” Now I’ve stood in line to do a lot of things. But standing there, on the WSC campus—knowing that within the next hour, I would have to show them what I knew about matriculation—was almost terrifying. As the line grew shorter, I studied the posters and notices on the wall. “Sixty years ago,” one of the flyers noted, “I knew everything. Now I know nothing. Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance” . . . Will Durrant. “Boy don’t I know it,” I thought. I was next and my heart raced. As I came to the window, my shaking hands placed the papers and my check (or rather my dad’s check) in the hands of those belonging to a serious lady of about 40. She looked the package of papers over, shot an indifferent glance my way and stamped one of the papers, then handed it back to me. This did nothing to allay my fears. I was still waiting for that dreaded time. Breathing hard, I withdrew from the window and, as I inched down the hallway, I saw in dark blue, across the top of the paper, in all capital letters, the blessed word “Matriculated.” I had done it. And I didn’t even know I had done it. “This college thing,” I thought, “just might not be so bad after all.” Note: “The Front Porch” welcomes your suggestions and feedback. Please e-mail to porchnoel@aolcom. Take Advantage of Low Interest Rates Refinance or Purchase Now! Since 1977 Do I Need A Tetanus Shot? (NAPSA)-As spring weather rolls in, shoes and socks start coming off. Floods often occur across the country from heavy spring showers and melting snow. The good weather also kicks off the season to travel abroad. What do all these things have in common, besides occurring in the spring? They pose a threat for tetanus infection. You may already be aware that stepping on a rusty nail or a puncture wound could cause a tetanus infection, a bacterial disease that affects the nervous system and is often fatal. What you may not know is that tetanus bacteria can also enter the body even through a tiny pinprick, a scratch from an animal, splinters, bug bites and even burns that break the skin. “Your best defense against tetanus is vaccination,” said Kathleen Clem, MD, of the American College of Emergency Physicians. “Although vaccination has made this disease uncommon in the United States, too many people, especially infants and the elderly, still die from tetanus.” Tetanus vaccination is one of the recommended childhood immunizations and should begin during infancy. In most parts of the United States, tetanus immunization is required before starting school. The first time you are vaccinated, you will receive a series of five shots spread out over several months. Generally, children start vaccination at two months of age and the shots are usually completed by age five. After those first series of shots, you should receive a booster shot every ten years. If you step on a nail or suffer a wound that is deep and dirty, and haven’t had a tetanus shot in the past ten years, you need help fast. Seek medical attention immediately and rinse the wound with tap water. Do not cleanse with soap or apply antiseptic to a deep wound. Besides a tetanus shot, your doctor may also give you an injection of something called tetanus immune globulin, which acts fast to prevent infection. There is a small window of opportunity for the tetanus immune globulin to work, so don’t delay seeking medical care. Be aware of the first signs of tetanus infection. Also known as lockjaw, tetanus causes stiffness of the neck, difficulty swallowing, rigidity of abdominal muscles, spasms, sweating and fever. Symptoms usually begin eight days after the infection, but occur anywhere within three days to three weeks. “It is important to keep an immunization record for everyone in the family,” said Dr. Clem. “One of the main reasons people die from this disease is because they didn’t realize their vaccination had expired.” To obtain a free Immunization Record form, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Immunization Record Form, ACEP, 2121 K Street, NW, Suite 325, Washington, D.C. 20037. A Casual Eatery in Beautiful Ogden Canyon OPEN SEVEN DAYS: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner TAKE OUT ORDERS 750 Ogden Canyon ..................394-2421 Loft Style Condo Downtown, Salt Lake. In the historic Belvedere situated on the corner of state and South Temple across from ZCMI Mall This unit features a concrete and stainless steel design, comes furnished. Owner will pay down and closing costs all for $72,900. Mike Kener 699-4663 Wolf Meadow Large furnished 1 bdrm 1 bath condo Just a few minutes up Ogden Canyon. Use as a weekend getaway or as income property. Amenities include Skiing, Hiking, Biking Fishing, Golf, Tennis and Swimming. $72,900 Jimke Post 390-0080 MANSELL AND ASSOCIATES THE TRUSTED NAME IN REAL ESTATE Pete Bealba, GRI, CRS 25 year Valley Resident 10 year Valley Realtor 2580 North Highway 162 Eden, Utah 84310 Phone: 801-745-8800 Ext. 328 Fax: 745-1400 Cell-Voice Mail: 391-4100 E-mail: peteb@konnections.com www.move2ogdenvalley.com |