I got a document frame for Christmas. I'd asked for it so I could hang up my college degree rather than have it sitting in the faux leather folder I'd been given when I'd graduated. While taking the degree out, I was surprised to find my transcripts underneath. I'm sure they arrived with my degree, but I'd forgotten all about them.
My surprise increased when I discovered I didn't remember several of the classes listed. Fall semester of my junior year I took a SOC 331 class, Criminology. HOLY SHIT! I took Criminology? I can't believe I've forgotten that. It must not have been too technical, because I didn't really have any precurser classes relevant to the topic. But, damn. I love that stuff now.
Then, I looked at my grade for the course. It was a "C." I had a straight B average for my college career, getting C's in 6 classes in my 124 hours of course work. The C classes show a definite trend. The two I had Freshman year were in the two classes I skipped the most because I was catching up on sleep. But, it was not because of crazy partying or the second hand pot smoke from Arnold during one of Steven and Bonnie's dinners.
Nope. It was because I was doing some God awful overnight shift at the radio station. I had a better shift during the summer and my sophomore year, so no C's. Junior year I'd moved up to the "big" station so once again, crappy shift with some C's (although, I think my C in Law And Communications also reflected the fact that it was a tough class and I'd been made PD that semester).
Summer and fall reflected a couple more C's, but then, when my time as PD was done and I was working only the 9-Midnight shift M-F, the C's once again vanish. On the plus side, I got 7 A's, although they were for some weird classes.
Injuries In Sport--I remember watching a slide show on eye injuries that was a bit disgusting.
Introduction to Film--(does this suprise anyone) One of the better Illini basketball players at the time, Doug Altenberger, was in my class, though I only ever saw him there once.
Forms Of Composition--I think this was the class where I wrote a paper on how lame the electorial college is.
American Govt. Organization and Powers--took it over the summer and I just remember it was warm in the room most of the time
Arts-Theater-Interpretation--get graded to go see plays and review them...hell, yeah.
English Lit. 1798-Present--get grades for reading great books and writing a paper on them...see above.
Persuasion and The Art...--this was a senior yr. speech comm class that I'm not really sure what it was on, unless it was that documentry film class I took.
I think I remember more of the concerts I saw over my college career.
Jane's Addiction-during an attempt to get out of the mosh pit, some guy accused me of going to Catholic school--uh, no, just tired of getting trampled by loser frat boys.
The Smithereens--got to meet them at the station, then after the show, ran into them at Steak N Shake where the drummer stole fries from my plate and remembered my name!
Soul Asylum--right up against the stage for this one, the guy two people down from me was throwing up into his empty pitcher in time with the music
REM--can't tell you how many times I saw them in college--stole a Green St. sign with my friend Ed in an attempt to get backstage, we got it into the arena, past security (thanks to my idea for how to hide the thing in Ed's coat!) and to the backstage area, but to no avail. Got to meet them later when I became PD. One of the best nights ever.
Then there's U2, The Bears, Jeff Healey Band, The Replacements, Violent Femmes, B-52's, Poster Children, and on and on.
While it would be nice to recall some more of my classes, I still wouldn't give up the time I spent at the station for anything. I probably learned more there than in class...or atleast, learned more of what I actually use in my life. So, the transcript will go back to where it was, behind the degree I don't really use but don't regret either.
No comments:
Post a Comment