Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / May 2, 1995, edition 1 / Page 2
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May 02,1995 2 Campus Opinion Editorial: Senior leaves with fond memories and regrets by Melissa Massengill When I was asked by Christina Peoples if I would do the honor of writing the senior editorial for the last edition of the Herald, 1 asked her if she could find someone else to do it. But since I am the only senior who has attended Meredith from start to finish, I was doomed to do my duty and say good-bye on behalf of all graduates of 1995. It’s not that 1 didn’t enjoy my years at Meredith, it’sjustthatl thought I could get by and get out of here without thinking too hard about what this school means to me because 1 knew I would get a little teary-eyed and melancholy if I reflected too much. But alas, I was doomed to think, reflert and record some of the most beautiful memories I will ever have. As I sat down at the Mac to com pose the farewell address, my mind first wandered to why I chose this college in the first place: the boyfriend. I decided that Meredith was close enough to travel home and back every weekend to see him. Mistake number one. The relationship didn’t last, and it wasn’t until my junior year that 1 real ized what opportunities Meredith could offer me. So what did Meredith College give me? Well, 1 can remember two times in my life when I hated this place. The first was as a freshman when I discovered the horror of not being able to have my boyfriend see my room the entire academic year. 1 hated that part of this college. The second was when I started smoking at the end of my freshman year and was effectively banned from my room, the class build ings and the cafeteria. I was the outcast banished out into the cold, the humid ity, the rain, the snow, the mosquitoes the 95 degree heat. My hatred turned darker. But remembering what my mother always said, “Stupid is as stu pid” no, no, no, wrong proverb! Here it is; If you think long enough, you can find a bright spot in the worst situa tion. But finding that bright spot is just half the solution. You must take that bright spot cherish it, be thankful for it, and learn from it. Well, after I stopped moping around about the man thing, I realized that having no men in the dorms at Meredith College was one of the best things to happen to me be cause I got the chance to interact with three of the strongest, warmest women I have ever met: Holly Lennon, Mary Beth Neace and Tricia Ayscue. When 1 stopped moping about the smoking thing, I opened my eyes and discov ered that being banished to the porch of Joyner Hall was one of the most enlightening experiences I have ever had. I got the chance to introduce Pam Bencke to Mexican Pizzas at Taco Bell, discuss the major vowel shifts in Old English and the joy and pain of child birth from Patricia Barrett and Betsy Stewart. Perhaps the most wonderful part was listening to Dr. Frank Grubbs (perhaps the last of the true Southern gentlemen) tell me how he actually met and talked with my favorite au thor William Faulkner at the Univer sity of Virginia years ago. This story will remain with me always as a lesson that if you truly listen, you will learn things that will make a difference in your life because everyone has their own story to tell. There are a few other things I learned from the faculty at this institu tion. I believe that 1 have had the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest and best professors who are truly masters of their academic do main here at Meredith. Dr. Sarah Gil bert taught me to always remember my audience. Dr. Louise Taylor taught me to communicate my purpose clearly. Dr. Janice Swab taught me to revere my environment. Dr. Don Spanton taught me how to effectively reach my goals. Dr. Brent Pitts taught me that no matter the language, some things are universally known. Dr. Rosalie Gates and Dr. Julia O’Brien taught me to respect the mysteries and myths of cultures different than mine. Dr. John Creagh taught me to not take myself too seriously and that sarcasm is definitely an artform. Dr.JoGuglielmi taught me the rhythm of calculus. Rod Cockshutt taught me the power of the written word and the preservation of my integrity as a journalist. Dr. Robin Colby taught me the excitement of hitting paydirt in my research. Dr. Eloise Grathwohl taught me to always re member the old ways — the courage and strength of the hero, the loy^ty of men, the glory of battle, and the riches ofsacrifice. Dr. GaryWalton taught me that a B-t-f is NOT an A, and that everything we find in this world is connected someliow with everything else out there. You just have to think in as many different ways as you possibly can to find those connertions. And Dr. Betty Webb. For anyone to truly under stand howmuch this woman has taught me, I have to begin by telling a little anecdote. The last few days of my sophomore year I finally went to her and told her that I had decided on a major. This was after I had chosen and discarded a biology, chemistry, reli gion, mathematics, business and French major. I was going to become a paralegal, and I was excited about it. After shrieking in horror at my deci sion, Dr. Webb looked my squarely in the eye and said, “Melissa Massengill, you will NOT become a paralegal. You are too bossy. ” So I became an English major — the same major I had decided on before I began college—and haven ’t regretted that decision for a single moment. Dr. Webb perhaps taught me the greatest lessons of all: I had a voice and must use it. Being bossy was good. Standing up for what I believe in was even better. But being strong enough to change my beliefs if I found it necessary was the best of all. And as for regrets, I have three of them. The first is that when I sit with my class on the lawn of the amphithe ater May 14, there will still be some faces that I’ve never seen before, and some names that I won’t know. The second is that there will still be some professors that I haven’t learned from, and some classes that I didn’t have a chance to take. The third is that I didn’t become more involved with activities. I kept saying that I would become more involved next year, next year and next year, and I never did. This last year flew by with my missing Corn- huskin’, STUNT, Derby Days, Greek Week and the rest. But I was too busy snapping pictures of football, basket ball, soccer and baseball games, writ ing stories, editing my work and laying it all out forthe town of Garner to read and think about each week since Au gust. 1 was too busy struggling to juggle a full-time job, credit hours, projects, presentations and papers to even notice the changing seasons. And now it’s time to say good-bye. Before I go, I want to urge underclassmen and graduating seniors to do three things forme: Reflectonwhatyou’velearned here from teachers, friends, classes and yourself. Talk to every single woman in your class at least once be fore you leave. Participate in every thing you can while you still have time. Now that I look back, 1 realize that Meredith College has taught me how to be a strong, articulate, intelligent woman. But the biggest regret I have about this school is that now, in just a few days, I will be driving through those front gates for the last time as a Meredith (rollege .student. I will always return as just an alumna. Meredith College will always be a part of my life, but it will never be as magnificent as it is at this last moment when I am still a student of the class of 1995. Editor's Note: My time as editor has flown by so fast. Granted, there have been many times when I have wanted to tear out my hair and fling myself into a trash truck to avoid going to that office and staring at that computer again. There have only been three reasons why I have been able to stick with it: my fantastic staff, my love of journalism and the Herald, and my desire to deliver information to the campus in the best manner I know how. I want to take this opportunity to say hats off to my crew of dedicated journalists. These women aU exhibit the necessary qualities to succeed in the news business: drive, intelligence, and compassion. 'They deserve all the good things that life will bring them because they will work hard for them. I also want to say welcome to the 1995-6 Editor-in-Chief Clarky Lucas. She will do an excellent job next year. Please give her your support.
Meredith College Student Newspaper
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May 2, 1995, edition 1
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