First Week
It’s August 18, and I’m debating if there is any significance in today. I staggered out of bed at 7a.m. and had my usual burnt toast and coffee. I look about the same since yesterday; no births or deaths I can recall. According to On-This-Day.com, the formation of the Golf Writers Association of America in 1946 could be considered of some importance (sarcasm.)
Actually, there is something. I completed my first week of classes today at SMU. As a change-adverse individual, I consider this worthy of an entry.
I’ll admit it; I found my niche at Richland College. I was sitting pretty as the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, and wasn’t about to give it up. I purposely cleaned out my office the day before classes began at SMU, and my adviser practically pried the keys from my hands.
However, I’m glad I had the support of friends and family. For an entire week, I was reminded of how UNT begins on August 28 and UT Austin on the 30th.
According to a Dallas Morning News article, under a provision adopted by the Senate committee, many districts are now required to begin classes after August 27. This allows families to schedule vacations in late August, gives a boost to the tourism industry and saves the district money in air-conditioning.
I wish this also applied to private universities.
Despite all the heckling, I’m glad to say my fears of getting lost on campus, not finding a parking space and arriving late to class were not realized. I will admit, it feels awkward requiring a 10 to 15 minute walk to reach each class, and not having a mascot that lives in the lake.
I’m deciding to remain optimistic for week two.
posted by Nima K. @ 7:59 AM
2 Comments:
I agree with you about the early start dates! I can't believe we are already back in school, especially in this wonderful Texas heat!
I like how you tied transferring to a new school to the Dallas Morning News article.
But one fact about the article was unclear to me. The article said schools will abide by the Aug. 27th rule for the 2007-2008 academic year instead of this year.
Nice work overall. I give you an A.
Good post. And you did a great job of taking something personal and drawing out a bigger story.
BTW, the faculty senate has approves a new calendar for 2007-2008 that opens the year one week later than we have traditionally begun. And one of the proposal for 2008-2009 (which is not approved)is to wait until Labor Day to begin classes and end the year in mid-December.
There are a lot of quirks and implications built into schedule decisions. I would have liked to see you speculate about why SMU begins so early.
Good use of external resources. Of course you might have also cited some of the coverage about year-round school in South Dallas, but that might have jumped you into a whole other issue.
Good start. I'm glad SMU gained an accomplished writer, and I look forward to reading your future work.
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