Journal 9

Allison Rood
Topics in Literature
7/1/2010

My juxtaposition photograph depicts upper-class students staring at the incoming freshman going through orientation. I found this to be appropriate for many reasons. First of all, the incoming students and the outgoing students provide the opposed age rage of college campuses. Next, these incoming freshmen are probably so excited to start life as a college student. They will get to go to parties, drink underage, have sex, and live on their own. Unfortunately for them along with these fun activities come undercover cops, blacking out, alcohol poisoning, STDs, unplanned pregnancies, being broke, and working minimum wage jobs. So these two parties represent the levels of experience of the college student, which are the new versus the seasoned veterans of college life. I remember my orientation in 2005 when I dressed in my nicest clothes and did my hair trying to make a good impression. Now, as a student going into her 6th year of school I look down on those silly freshman the same way they looked at me so many years ago. They are so hopeful, and they have no idea of the challenges they will face. Perhaps they will get mono and be hospitalized in their 2nd quarter of school, having to get emergency surgery. Perhaps they will need another procedure during their second year, followed by unhealthy relationship after unhealthy relationship. Maybe then they will get a staff infection and viral infection that won’t allow them to eat for a month and be bed ridden for 2, followed by failing out of their major of course. And alas they will end up in a new major, but must spend another 2 years figuring it out. This was my college experience, and I would have never wished it upon anyone, but what do these incoming students really know about college life? They are clueless as to what college life will entail and will face many challenges that will perhaps corrupt their crystal clean slate. The older students have gotten their hands dirty, but have been able to move on and continue their college career. If only those silly freshmen knew what was to befall them come September.