| Show Start your campaign to get hi hiby by Nance Nanu Hanson When I first came to I felt overwhelmed by bythe bythe bythe the size of the campus the pace of the classes and the sea of unfamiliar faces I had been employed as a drafter in what I thought was a secure job The crunch of 1982 suddenly left me laid off and feeling doubtful about my future So coming back to school was not an easy thing for me to do Most of the students were several years younger than I was Their tastes in music clothing and leisure time activities were very different I felt really alone alone alienated alienated from the mainstream of life Im I'm not nota a joiner Ive I've never been one to get into a club because its it's where the important people are I join very few clubs and those I do join are the ones I feel are tive So I didn't get turned on about joining the various various various var var- ious clubs on campus I did get slightly involved with the Women's Center as a volunteer As I got more acquainted with students in my classes I wanted to know more people I decided to try something I hadn't done before As I walked across the quad Id I'd pick out a person I didn't know and say hi Sometimes I got suspicious looks only rarely did someone turn away or ignore me Best of all usually they said hi back After a while I began adding Hows it going People began pausing for a short chat or walked along with me to talk By the end of the year I said hi to so many people my friends were convinced I knew everybody I hadn't limited myself to just greeting students I included faculty staff vendors and other warm bodies A side benefit that I hadn't expected was when I required the services of these people I seemed to get the help I needed faster than students who weren't known Also my self-image self improved and I became even more willing to talk to people Its It's like dropping a astone astone astone stone in the water and watching the rings expand in all directions Not everyone likes me that me-that that would be unrealistic But with a larger circle of acquaintances to choose from it sure makes campus life more interesting and less lonely j 1 1 I |
