Today I was reviewing my academic transcript from the first college I attended, a private Christian liberal arts university. I took undergraduate classes there for five semesters, with a double major first in English and Business, quickly changing to a double major in English and Home Economics. (My mother was ecstatic about the Home Economics...I did it for her). Writing was my first love, so I always knew I would major in English or a more specific writing field.
The beginning of the transcript mentions four required college courses in particular: English I, Social Studies, United States History, and Biological Science. I had already CLEP'd-out of English and Social Studies during the fall of my senior year in high school. I remember agonizing over the decision I had to make: should I test to waive the History and Biology courses, which was free and resulted in no credit, or was I knowledgeable enough to CLEP-out of the courses, paying the fee and receiving credit hours if I passed the examinations? I waived. I should have CLEP'd.
College was expensive, especially a private university. So I got a job in a newspaper office downtown, and I joined the school's work-for-tuition program, performing tasks such as working at the front desk of the main girls' dormitory and being a resident hall assistant. I also typed papers for other students. I remember one night before a young man's paper was due, he would run from his dorm to mine (after both dorms were supposedly locked down) and pass written pages to me through my bedroom window and I would pass typed pages back to him. Luckily I was on the first floor that semester, or I wouldn't have made nearly as much money!
My first semester I took Art, Old Testament Survey, Business Intro, General Chemistry, Home Economics Orientation, and Health & Hygiene. Including my two CLEP'd courses, I had 22 credit hours at the end of that semester. It was a respectable start.
In my second semester, I began to be interested. Now I could get into my chosen field. I completed English II, Practicum in Journalism, and Drama & Poetry, as well as New Testament Survey, Clothing I, and General Psychology. In the short May term I added Christian Life and Beginning Tennis. Nineteen more credits for a total of 41. Not bad for my first year of college.
My third semester taught me that I was on the right heading. I took Shakespearian Drama, English Literature I, and Advanced Composition. I also completed Bible Doctrines I, Textiles, Introductory Foods, and Nutrition. Now I was finally taking English courses that I could "sink my teeth into." And I learned that, of the many facets of Home Economics, I was most interested in nutrition.
Then over Christmas break, I had the delightful opportunity to accompany a small group of English majors and our English professor to New York City, to attend many Broadway plays and even to be in Times Square on New Year's Eve. (The trip was fabulous, although I was very ill and although New Year's Eve turned into a terrifying experience). But I received college credit for this wonderful adventure, and I was now up to 61 hours.
College began to be really tough. I was trying to take 20 credit hours a semester. I had two majors and no minor. I had three jobs. I had very few friends. My social life was a disaster. And my tuition bills weren't being paid.
My fourth semester contained only one class that I really enjoyed: English Literature II. I was also interested in Meal Management. But Introduction to Philosophy, Organic Physiological Chemistry, Clothing II, and Growth & Development of the Young Child just didn't do it for me. In the short May term I took Public Speaking. Now I had 82 hours.
My last semester was horrible. I had a terrible, on-going conflict with one of the staff, who was very hateful. I kept receiving past-due notices from the Bursar's Office. I couldn't hold down my jobs. I took American Literature I, Household Equipment, Health & Safety in the Home, Techniques in Selected Areas of Home Economics (nutrition), and Principles of Sociology. But I had to withdraw from Grammarian, Design & Color, Physical Fitness Concepts, and Interpersonal Skills & Peer Relationships. I only completed 12 semester hours, taking my total to only 94. And I was expelled from school for non-payment of tuition.
By then, I had been convinced that the only way I could make a living with a major in English was to teach. And I did NOT want to teach...which is incredibly ironic considering how my life turned out.
So when I left the university that December, heading for another state, my plan was to establish residency while working for a year, then attend state college. The state university had a well-known program that was specific to food, nutrition, and institution administration.
The snow was softly falling as I drove down the highway. I was leaving the only college life I'd known. My windshield wipers slapped back and forth, and Dan Fogelberg was singing on the radio. And then, right on cue, the snow turned into rain.
"Same Auld Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg
