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opinion:
More to college
than studies
"Changes in
latitude, changes in attitude, nothing remains quite the same..."
-- Jimmy Buffet
It's finally over, officially and totally unless graduate school
comes-a-callin.' Or law school. But, that won't be for a while,
at least a year, if I go at all.
I think after footing
the bill for 10 years of college, my parents would go into
cardiac arrest at the mere mention of law school. That is
to say, life after Cal State Long Beach is a solo flight.
Kind of funny to
think that I now have friends who are doctors and spent less
time in school than I did. But, much to my parents' dismay,
if I were to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing.
I learned a great deal by not bolting through college.
People, politics,
money, parking and schmoozing techniques all came to light
throughout the time I spent here and at other colleges. And
those are the traits that can get me through life. Of course,
a Ph.D. is impressive too.
Just about the
only constant in my scholastic life has been communication.
So many other changes have occurred in my life -- attitude,
beliefs, and values -- that it's hard to remember who I was
10 years ago after graduating high school.
It's fuzzy to think
of whom I was when graduating from community college just
two years ago. But what I do remember were the experiences.
I remember the
frustrations, joys and sorrows school has given me. I remember
my brief stint selling Porsches, Audis and Volvos in a stupid
attempt to quit college. I remember quitting the dealership
and going back to school to study film.
I remember realizing
I was never going to be a Sedelmeyer or Hitchcock. I remember
arguing with teachers over one lousy point, only to realize
days later that it couldn't have helped anyway because the
teacher didn't give a damn to begin with.
But was that always
the case? No, some of them fought me because they did give
a damn.
But all that doesn't
really matter now. What matters to me is the fact that I am
outta here, working on a future in journalism, hopefully in
the automotive realm. Internships at places such as "Hard
Copy" and Motor Trend magazine are experiences I will
cherish most in my life. They gave me experience, connections
and a job after college.
I'm looking forward
to getting into a real job, making real money and being able
to stop mooching off my parents for money, food and cars.
I'm looking forward
to getting into a house and maybe some investments. I'm looking
forward to so many things. So many things that wouldn't be
possible if it weren't for those memories and experiences.
So, I suppose in
the grand scheme of things, it all does matter. The making
of bad films, the fighting with teachers who were brandished
the choicest of names and phrases after countless long-winded
battles, and the selling of European automobiles to try and
escape from it all.
All these experiences,
and others to numerous to mention, that went into getting
me where I am today and making me who I am today and who I
will become down the road are all priceless.
No matter how many
changes I go through, I will have those experiences, learning
curves if you will. Curves that will hone each challenge to
come from here on out.
So, in my last
hurrah at the only real newspaper at CSULB, I hold up my bottle
of Malibu Rum to those who helped me get where I am and become
who I am today. Thank you.
Don Weberg is
graduating with a degree in print journalism from Cal State
Long Beach.
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