This story was originally published on my vet school blog, “Wet Cleanup on Aisle 5.”
Rah Rah Rass, You can kiss my OH DEAR, I’m afraid I got rather cynical there, just for a moment.
Yesterday I went to orientation at Colorado State, the esteemed institution that I will soon be attending in order to take a few prerequisites for vet school. If all goes as planned, I will start vet school there next fall.
Trouble is, there are only two orientations – one for incoming freshman, the other for transfer students and anyone else, most of whom are early twenty-somethings.
They really needed another orientation for old farts like me, who didn’t appreciate the overzealous Doogie Howser lookalike belting into the microphone, “How are you doing today?!” I believe the expected response was an enthusiastic cheer. I and the other assorted crew of non-traditional students stared on in disbelief. (No offense to the Doogie lookalike, who I’m sure is a very nice person.) There just comes a time in your life when the whole pep rally thing doesn’t appeal, probably because we have been negatively conditioned by years of business meetings to behave in a completely stoic and boring manner.
Which isn’t to say I’m THAT much of an old fart. I’m wearing a Sesame Street Band-Aid on my foot, and I sometimes sleep with a stuffed panda, for cryin’ out loud. But I digress.
The highlights of my day, in no particular order:
1) There are a couple of patches of corn growing next to the student center. Corn! How very unexpected and cool is that? I’m guessing it’s related to CSU’s beginnings as an agricultural college.
2) Meeting other older, commuter students. It’s so comforting to know there are others who are having a similar experience.
3) The stuffed Cam the Ram mascot in the bookstore, which, for some reason, I found rather endearing.
4) The tour of the student rec center, which is free to use and incredible.
5) Finding the sunny nook where my locker will be. (Now I get to have nightmares about forgetting my combination!)
6) Walking around campus and getting excited for this new chapter of my life.
The low points:
1) Inability to concentrate on the campus tour because Billy the tour guide’s name tag read “Class of 2010.” Technically, I am old enough to be Billy’s mother, and that’s all I could think about while he gave his spiel.
2) Being preoccupied with the possibility of discrimination based on my looks. I could pass for 18, easy. Which is great, most of the time. I just worry that I will be treated like an 18 year old, and that might annoy me… it’s probably a totally unfounded and ridiculous worry.
All in all, it was a good day. And maybe I really just need to loosen up, cheer enthusiastically along with the Doogies of the world, and relish the chance to be an 18-year-old again.
