Section Three Detailed Reading
Fresh Start
Evelyn Herald
1 I first began to wonder what I was doing ona college campus anyway when my parents drove off, leaving me standingpitifully in a parking lot, wanting nothing more than to find my way safely tomy dorm room. The fact was that no matter how mature I liked to considermyself, I was feeling just a bit first-gradish. Adding to my distress was the distinct impression that everyone on campus waswatching me. My plan was to keep my ears open and my mouth shut and hope no onewould notice I was a freshman.
2 With that thought in mind, I raised my head,squared my shoulders, and set out in the direction of my dorm, glancing (andthen ever so discreetly) at the campus map clutchedin my hand. It took everything I had not to stare when I caught my first glimpse of a real live college football player.What confidence, what reserve, what muscles! Ionly hoped his attention was drawn to my air of assurance rather than to myshaking knees. I spent the afternoon seeking out each of my classrooms so thatI could make a perfectly timed entrance before each lecture without having toask dumb questions about its whereabouts.
3 The next morning I found my first class andmarched in. Once I was in the room, however, another problem awaited me. Whereto sit? Freshmen manuals advised sitting near the front, showing the professorin intelligent and energetic demeanor. Afterdeliberation, I chose a seat in the first row and to the side. I was in theforeground (as advised ), but out of the professor’s direct line of vision.
4 I cracked my anthology of Americanliterature and scribbled the date at the top ofa crisp ruled page. “Welcome to Biology 101,” the professor began. A cold sweatbroke out on the back of my neck. I groped formy schedule and checked the room number. I was in the right room. Just thewrong building.
5 So now what? Get up and leave in the middleof the lecture? Wouldn’t the
professor be angry? I kneweveryone would stare. Forget it. I settled into my chair and tried to assumethe scientific pose of a biology major, bending slightly forward, tensing myarms in preparation for furious notetaking, and cursing under my breath. Thebottled snakes along the wall should have tipped me off.
6 After class I decided my stomach (as wellas my ego) needed a little nourishment, and I hurried to the cafeteria. I piledmy tray with sandwich goodies and was headingfor the salad bar when I accidentally stepped in a large puddle of ketchup.Keeping myself upright and getting out of the mess was not going to be easy,and this flailing of my feet was doing no good.Just as I decided to try another maneuver, my food tray tipped and I lost mybalance. As my rear end met the floor, I saw myentire life pass before my eyes: it ended with my first day of college classes.
7 In the seconds after my fall Ithought how nice it would be if no one had noticed. But as all the students inthe cafeteria came to their feet, table by table, cheering and clapping, I knewthey had not only noticed, they were determined that I would never forget it.Slowly I kicked off my ketchup-soaked sandals and jumped clear of the toppledtray and spilled food. A cleanup brigade came charging out of the kitchen, mopsin hands. I sneaked out of the cafeteria as thecheers died down behind me.
8 For three days I dined alone on nothingmore than humiliation, shame, and an
assortment of junk food from amachine strategically placed outside my room. On the fourth day I couldn’t takeanother crunchy-chewy-salty-sweet bite. I needed some real food. Perhaps three days waslong enough for the campus population to have forgotten me. So off to thecafeteria I went.
9 I made my way through the food line and tiptoed to a table, where I collapsed in relief.Suddenly I heard a crash that sounded vaguely familiar. I looked up to see thatanother poor soul had met the fate that I’d thought was reserved foronly me. I was even more surprised when I saw who the poorsoul was: the very composed, very upper class football player I’d seenjust days before (though he didn’t look quite so composed wearing spaghetti on the front of his shirt). My heart went out to him as people began to cheer and clap asthey had for me. He got up, hands held high above his head in a victory clasp, grinning from ear to ear. I expected him to slink out of the cafeteria as I had, but instead heturned around and began preparing another tray. And that’s when I realized Ihad been taking myself far too seriously.
10 What I had interpreted as a malicious attempt to embarrass a naïve freshman
had been merely a moment ofcollege fun. Probably everyone in the cafeteria had done something equallydumb when he or she was a freshman — and had lived to tell about it.
11 Who cared whether I dropped a tray, where Isat in class, or even whether I
showed up in the wrong lecture?Nobody. This wasn’t like high school. Popularity was so important; running with the crowdwas no longer a law of survival. In college, it didn’t matter. This was my bigchance to do my own thing, be my own woman — if I could get past my preoccupation with doing everythingperfectly.
12 Once I recognized that I had no one’sexpectations to live up to but my own, I relaxed. The shacklesof self-consciousness fell away, and I began to view college as a wonderful experiment.I tried on new experiences like articles of clothing, checking their fit andjudging their worth. I broke a few rules to test my conscience. I dressed alittle differently until I found the Real Me. I discovered a taste forjazz, and I decided I liked going barefoot.
13 I gave up trying to act my way throughcollege (this wasn’t drama school ) and began not acting at all. College, Idecided, was probably the only time I would be completely forgiven for massivemistakes (including stepping in puddles of ketchup and dropping food trays). SoI used the opportunity to make all the ones I thought I’d never make.
14 Three years after graduation, I’m stillmaking mistakes. And I’m even being forgiven for a few.
1. Why did the author have the impression that “everyone on campus was watching me”?(Paragraph 1)
2. Why did the author exclaim “What confidence, what reserve, what muscles!” when shesaw the football player? (Paragraph 2)
3. How many questions are used in Paragraphs 3, 4 and 5? Why does the author raisethese questions?
4. Why did she dine on junk food for the next three days? (Paragraphs 6-8)
5. Whatwas the key lesson Evelyn Herald learned during her first few weeks in college?(Paragraphs 10-14)
Class Activity
Group discussion: What lessons have you learnedfrom Evelyn’s experiences after reading the article “Fresh Start”? Share theexperiences when you first came to college.
