It's my first day of college! As my heart pounds and my palms sweat, I try to blend in, not to look like the typical gawking freshmen. My brand new backpack cuts into my shoulders as I hustle up the hill to my first class of my very first day at the University.
As a student in Psychology 101, I expected to be one of 100 or more and am not disappointed. The bell rings just as I breeze through the front door of the building, relieved to find the lecture-hall directly in front of me. I try to slip through the door quietly, but forget my keys are hanging off my backpack...they make a quiet "chink" as they hit the door.
The professor glances up to the back of the room where I stand, looking for a seat. He gives me a warm, reassuring smile, and I notice his twinkling blue eyes, broad shoulders, and slender waist. I thank the powers-that-be for a professor that's easy on the eyes, I know from high school how much easier it is to stay awake when I've got a reason. Coming back to reality, I relax and slip into a seat in the back row.
I gently set my backpack on the floor next to me as the teaching assistant walks from her place in the back of the room to hand me a syllabus.
The professor introduces himself as "Arnold Walker," explaining this is only his second year teaching and that he isn't yet used to being called "Dr. Walker." He grins infectiously as he says it, and you involuntarily smile back.
"Please just call me Arnold!" he suggests, crossing his arms and leaning back against the blackboard.
I squirm in my seat, wondering if referring to one's instructors by their first name is something I'll have to get used to, now that I'm in college. Why not? I ask myself rhetorically, I'm 18 years old, I'm an adult, and adults call each other by their first names all the time! Decision made, I skim over the syllabus, relieved to see only one textbook is necessary and that the longest paper is 3 pages.
This class will be okay, I tell myself. I know I can do this!
By now, the professor has gone through the basic information on the syllabus, and is wrapping up the first class by telling us about his office hours, during which he invites us all to visit.
"My office is 976 Psychology Hall, and you can see me between 1 and 4 Monday and Wednesday!"
I resist the urge to cheer as the bell rings and I get up, my position in the back row allowing me to get out the lecture-hall door ahead of the crowd.
I check my watch, noting that it is only 10 o'clock in the morning. I have time to pick up the textbook and still have lunch before I make it to Professor Walker's...er, Arnold's office hours.
I pick up the book, and head to the cafeteria for a slice of pizza, skimming through the book as I eat.
Before long, it's 1 o'clock, and I head back to Psych Hall, unsure what I'll say.
I find his office without much effort, and he greets me with a smile.
"I remember you! But you can't possibly have done the readings already, so I assume you must want to talk about something else?"
I smile nervously and nod, hoping he can take it from there.
He confidently takes the lead, telling me about the class and the people in it. On a slightly more personal note, he asks if I've made any friends here yet. I shake my head pathetically, wondering what he's getting at.
"How about a boyfriend?"
...now I can tell he's fishing! My heart leaps and I smile brightly as I shake my head, trying not to be too glad about my solo-status.
