OCR Text |
Show Forum Opinions April 19, 1994 The Graduation Blues: Was It Worth It? Roberta (Robin) Larsen , Ellipsis Editor . . At the beginning of this semester I didnt know if I had the strength to get Last, but not least, is Katie Coles. wasnt complete in my life. I wanted, to finish my education. I needed to prove to myself that I could do it. I felt like I would be a better person if I was better educated. Plus, I had to find a new career since I no longer can stay in nursing. Besides, I love learning. It makes me feel alive. I have discovered new talents that I nevqr knew I had. I have discovered that I am creative and can do things I never dreamed possible. Thanks to David Baddley, the photography instructor, I was able to overcome two of my greatest fears: fear of the dark and claustrophobia. There I was sitting in a closet in total darkness, fumbling and trying to load my film onto the reel. I could never have made it through algeAnotherincidentstands outin my mind I about a year later. was at my daughters bra without the help of Liz Herrick. What a house, and I was telling one of her friends worrierful teacher she is. She is an angel. If that I wanted to go back to school. She told a heaven she deserves to go. Then theresTy Harrison. Whatacon-ceme- d me that anyone can do whatever they want man. I learned so much in his envito. I thought to myself, Well that's not true. There are limitations to what we can do. A ronmental biology class. His class gave me person without financial means cant go to an acute sense of awareness, more so than any other class I have attended at Westminster. Westminster, or can they? I didnt want to go back to the UniverWhat qualified teachers we have sity of Utah. I felt if I tried to attend the U available to us at this college. Greg Gagne, again, I would never be able to complete one of the computer instructors, comes to my education. My experience there was mind, with his charisma and charm. And if anyone can get a shy person to unpleasant I just didnt like how huge and impersonal it was. The run from the parking speak at this college, itisMarilynScharirie. lot would exhaust me before I even arrived Fred Fogo is great. Hes a dont atclass. Plus,Idontlikewaitinginlonglines. worry, be happy kind of guy. Ive never I knew if I ever were going to get a degree, it met anyone with such quick wit French instructor Steve Haslam gets would have to be from Westminster. Shortly after that my mother died, and to know his students and recognizes their I was left feeling very insecure and alone. I accomplishments throughout their years felt I had to do something to better my life at Westminster. And who could forget the antics pf and decided to see if I could, in fact, attend Chuck Tripp. If you survive his SIMSOC Westminster. The following fall I enrolled. The first class, you can really learn something about if you allow yourself. day of class I felt like a kindergartner all political science Janine Wanlass is such a gentle soul over again. I hadnt been in school for over with so much knowledge of human nature 20 years. I was frightened and didnt know how to act And of course, I was late for my to offer her psychology students. talk And Nancy Panos Schmitt first class. I walked into Pat Aikins English can She even about I she said, Who dynamic teaching. class, which interrupted, and an make English major learn something areyou?Ifeltlikescreamingandrunningout about marketing. of the room. I was to discover whatabright No one can get students to piece woman Pat is. She knows her Shakespeare. Here I am six years later, and, thanks differentperiods of literature together like to everyone at Westminster, I will graduGeorgi Donavin can. Trudi McMurrin what a dear heart ate in June. I recently was offered a job in my she is. She has so much faith in her stufield, and when the boss told me my salary, dents. I didnt realize it at the time, but I my jaw dropped. I found I will be making am finding out more every day just how less money than I have been making as a much I learned from her publication, edd nurse. Now, I am thousands of iting, layout and design class. s Helen Hodgson can teach you more dollars in debt for tuition. Somehow, I thought that with a college degree in my about writing than yew ever wanted to know. hand I could become a yuppie overnight Taking a stress management class from experience. When the boss saw the look on my face, she Lois Powell is a totally stress-fre- e Sharon Walkington can inspire even said, Well, was it worth it to go back to a klutz to dance with grace in ballet college and get your degree? I thought long and hard, and decided Ray Ownbey is certainly a English professor. His classes are it was worth it. Absolutely. The reason I in Lets was school first the like, came back to get down to business and really place because it was something I always felt leam something from this literature. through. Now its like Im going through withdrawal because it will all soon be over. I remember one day about eight years ago clearly in my mind. I was with my great aunt on an excursion with the people from her retirement home. We were in this large van and were going to see the governors mansion. Anyway, we drove past Westminster. I told my aunt that I had always wanted to go to that college. Then I looked at her and said, Maybe I will some day. v Wennergren was very helpful with my graduation hassles. The staff who works in Shaw are also very helpful. Susan Heath is always there for anyone who needs her support, and she is very understanding. And thanks to Betsy Campbell I will graduate at the end of this semester instead of next. If I have missed anyone, I am sorry but you will always remain in my thoughts as' a fond memory. So, was it worth it? Id say so. I have made many personal sacrifices in order to earn my degree, and it has been a struggle and has been a long, hard six years getting through. But look what I have gained. I am now a better educated, more aware, more creative, more human being with a higher And I feel I can do anything I want to. Now I am starting to get the blues. I am saddened by the fact that this phase of my life will soon be over. Something I never thought I could do, Ive done, and now I hate to leave it all behind. Does she know her poetry or what? What an amazing experience it has been learning from these unique, bright and talented individuals. Going to Westminster has been more than an academic achievement for me. It has also been a great part of my social life. I have made some very dear friends at last-minu- Westminster whom I will never forget. I hope to always stay in contact with them. And the people who work in Bamberger. What about them? Arent they great? I have always been treated with kindness and respect when dealing with the employees at Westminster. Martha Vasquez, Nancy Caldwell and Lynn Allen are so helpful and personable. And Peg at the cashiers window is so patient and never gets upset, and she must have one of the most stressful jobs here. Having met thousands of students, she is still able to remember my name and treats me as a distinct individual. I find that remarkable. And thanks to toes well-rounde- Forum Staff Forum Editor Liz Peterson Copy Editor Lori Prawitt Production Manager Elys Bank Photo Editor Alex Ferguson Business Manager Mathew White Faculty Advisor Fred Fogo Staff Writers William Athey, Brian Cochran, Linda Dallimore, Tamera Evans, Angela Francone, Amy Friberg, Kenna Haas, Amy Naylor, Dave Neisler, Terresa Newport, Irma Noriega, Georgia Patience, Brian Pilling, Cheri Stringham, Anne Van Alstyne Photo Staff Jason Bringard, Tina Corey, Kim Herrmann, Paul Jones, Tapsa Kankkoncn, Jake Kilgrow, Alexandra Sanders, Cheri Stringham d, self-confide- nt self-estee- Hey Girls, This Is NOT The Place Terresa Newport Forum Staff Writer , tion to male bash and return to the focus of ttys editorial. The problem is that our Great Salt Lake (or should we say swamp) has been all fished out. At no other University in the world does one see little boys running around with gold wedding bands on their fingers instead of silver beer cans m their hands. So ladies, what are our options? We could tune into KBER each morning for the lesbian match-makin- g hour, start an allmale exchange student program with requirements such as ability to perform certain laborious tasks repeatedly, return toilet seat to proper position, and most importantly, look good in a pair of 501s at all times; or call the local St. Mary Abstinence Convent to check on available bed space. Ultimately, our quest for unmarried, heterosexual men will undoubtedly take us elsewhere ... see you at the airport. So were sitting in my office, my workmate and I, and Im listening to her complain, yetagain, abouthow there are no available men in Salt Lake City. I respond, Welcome to the party, Kim, unless you are temple bound (ha, ha) get a clue. Most of thfe time we appease ourselves with the rationale; Who needs a man? We have convinced ourselves that there are only a few times during the year when we could justify having one under foot Those times being when the needs to be hooked up, the Christmas tree put in a stand, and anything else we dont particularly care to deal with. Other than that, were pretty content with seeing just our own undies and socks on the floor. And now that weve gotten that off our chest, we shall try to refrain from the natural inclina What Are Your Plans For The Summer? Im going to Guatemala to do volunteer work. Erika Birch sophomore, business n low-pai- . te Im not Nothing anything. doing Eddie Bennett freshman, business N Playing with high school girls. Mike Park sophomore, biology Ill be tightrope walking over the Grand Can- i ly: Im going J i H. i school next year. yon. Adriane Petty freshman, biology i5w to work so I can pay Deana Grossman junior, international business T wA.. , The Forum is published evoy Tuesday. The editorial staff encourages letters from students (include major), faculty and all other readers. Address all publications to Forum, Converse Hall Room 205, 1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105. Submissions must be received one week before publication. Due to limited space, the Forum editors reserve the right to edit all submissions. Opinions expressed on the editorial or commentary pages are those of the writers and are not to be construed as those of the Forum, Associated Students of Westminster College, the College administration, faculty or staff. Mail subscriptions are $20 per year. Graduating and then going on a long vacation. Jed Astin " senior, aviation management . - or Forum Staff Writer photos by Tina Corey for |