THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 12, 1994 TAG: 9408120058
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FEONA HUFF, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
FRESHMAN YEAR in college is a fragile year - a time of mental, social, academic and financial adjustment.
There's the matter of time management - classes can start as early as 7 a.m. or last as late as 10 p.m. There's the financial burden, not only of tuition but also of having to spend a few hundred dollars on buying books instead of a few dollars renting them. And get used to waiting in in line for everything - to buy books, to register for classes, to see financial aid officers, to have lunch.
Plus, the population of students on many college campuses is huge. The largest area high schools have about 2,000 students. Some schools like Virginia Tech have more than 20,000.
In this environment, freshmen can expect to experience victories and defeats. Instead of thinking of these things as obstacles, I tried to look at them as challenges - challenges to overcome and learn from. Along the way, I learned the true meaning of some tired old cliches.
Being a part of a campus newspaper, I eventually learned this: ``Everybody must pay his dues.'' I began writing for The Spartan Echo first semester. I was enthused about writing but my stories were not published. Many times I stood in the newsroom puzzled, wondering why this was happening to me.
A good friend encouraged me to continue writing, advice that carried me into second semester when my stories started getting published. I earned the reputation of a hard-working reporter. In the end, my self-esteem was uplifted.
The cliche, ``Hard work definitely pays off,'' also took on new meaning.
From the moment classes started, I was determined to make the Dean's List, an honor that requires a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 with no C's. I trained myself to read the material and study for tests. I never skipped class. My work followed me everywhere. Many times I would do my homework in my hanging partners' dormitory room.
``What are you doing now,'' one would ask.
``I'm writing my English paper,'' I said.
``We have a genius in the house,'' they would joke.
I may not be a genius, but I made it into the Spartan Alpha Tau Honor Society, a freshman and sophomore honor society.
The phrase ``never judge a book by its cover'' also took on meaning during freshman year.
After months of waiting, I finally met this guy I had seen around school. From the moment I saw him, I wanted to get to know him. After we met, my interest in my old boyfriend evaporated like morning dew.
The new man seemed so thought-ful, respectful, talented and attentive that I broke up with my boyfriend of nine months. Our relationship seemed perfect - at first. But later, I decided that this guy had style but no substance and dumped him like a huge spoon full of thick grits.
I apologized to my ex-boyfriend for my sudden 180-degree turn. However, I don't regret the experience because I learned from it. My perception of college men was that they were all serious-minded and sincere. Don't be easily swayed by a good-looking, sweet-talking man. Before you get with a guy, check him out. Basically, don't judge a book by its cover. MEMO: Feona Huff is a rising sophomore at Norfolk State
by CNB