Having successfully survived midterms of my first semester since transferring from a local community college, I took a few moments to reflect upon some thoughts that have been bouncing around in my mind.
1. I was very relieved to learn that, much like at St. Louis Community College, I don’t actually have to read all the stuff my professors assign. I was a bit concerned upon transferring from UCLA (the University Closest to Lindbergh Avenue) that my grade point average might be in for a massive dip here at Saint Louis University. So far my first semester here has not been too bad. In fact, I am doing pretty well. We’ll see how the next two years go.
2. Do any other commuters and/or new students get that Deliverance, “You ain’t from around here, are ya boy” feeling occasionally from those who live here on campus? Maybe there’s something about me that just scares people off. But I have found it a bit disconcerting how stand-offish people can be. I must admit, though, overall the students here are pretty nice. I’ll take us over Washington University kids any day.
3. Anyone else feel let down that their college experience, at least to this point, has been nothing like Animal House or Road Trip? Maybe I’m the only one.
4. Bonding with my fellow students moment No.1: Watching the early reports of the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11 in the Busch Memorial Center, while at least 75 students circled around the big screen in disbelief. It was nice to see different people, who normally might not mix, sitting together feeling the same thing.
5. Bonding with my fellow students moment No.2: Laughing my butt off today watching Austin Powers II: The Spy Who Shagged Me, with fellow students one afternoon last week in the BMC.
6. No offense to my instructor, because I do enjoy the class, but after being raised a Catholic altar boy and receiving a Marianist high school education at Chaminade College Prep, I think studying religion with a few fundamentalist Christians in my Theological Foundations Class has given me the “extra umphh” to make the transition from recovering Catholic to confused agnostic. The verdict is still out on whether that is a good or bad thing. More to come on that later.
7. My shameless ploy to get female attention by tattooing my body in order to better fit that “bad guy” role that I know those girls love so much appears to have been a miscalculation. Maybe I should have pierced something instead.
8. Is anyone else really looking forward to Nelly’s appearance here at SLU a that fine example of Jesuit tradition? I guess it could be worse.
9. Has anyone tried hijacking or hitching a ride from one of those golf carts? Every day I get closer to attempting.
10. With serious high school football programs like Hazelwood East, Parkway Central, and CBC in town, why doesn’t SLU have a football program? People would come to play. People would come to watch. I have to imagine it would be good for both the university and the students. It’s a win-win situation.
Well, there you go. I am enjoying myself here and hope that all of you do to, no matter how much time you have left here. Life is just too short not to.
Brandon Decker is a junior studying
philosophy and theology.
