End of One, Beginning of Another (part 6)

Grades and Other Shocking Things

Report cards. Hmm. One was coming my way and at last I dared to hope that it would reward, and not devastate.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajc1/3693303191/

Students were to collect their grades at the Education building by a certain time, or the transcript would be sent home. This would not do! I wanted it for myself before anyone at home saw it (just in case). You may remember that grades and diligence and studying and turning things in on time had not always been the strong suit here. But since the year in New Zealand, motivations had changed, and college had become a joy. Studying was all part of one massive Goal, and each subject moved me a step nearer to it.

A friend and I arranged to meet at the Education building early on grade release day. She would wait for me at the bottom of the stairs while I made the trek up there to Dr. Strowbridge's office. She stood at the bottom, eyes closed, lips moving in a whispered prayer.

Dr. Strowbridge stood and welcomed me in, his cigar (as always) smoldering in one hand while shaking mine with the other. "So. You want to see how you did, eh?"

"Oh yes sir, I do. And then you must look as well."

Dr. Strowbridge had been a real cheerleader for me since the day I met him in September. As my advisor he knew the whole of my history, and had helped choose the course of classes.

And now he handed me the long thin envelope with Oregon State University stamped in the upper corner. Cigar smoke drifted up, and hovered somewhere over our heads as I tore it open, barely breathing. And then - at the top, there were numbers. GPA numbers. I strained to focus, being strangely afraid to see. But there it was, clear as day on that suddenly beautiful page.

"3.63... 3.63!!!" I shouted.

I thrust the paper in his direction, and Dr. Strowbridge gently took it from my hand. "Well now, that is good. That is great! A fine beginning. Congratulations!"

Thank you sir!" I blurted as I dashed out into the hall, rounded the corner, and saw my friend (eyes still shut) at the bottom of the stairs. "Sally!" Her eyes flew opened in expectation. She saw the paper in my hand and the smile on my face. "WHAT!! What is it?!"

"It's a 3.63! Can you believe it???"

She ran up the stairs as I lurched down them, meeting somewhere half way. We hugged and jumped and made all sorts of noise right there in that old Ed building. Then we ran through the cold air as fast as we could to the Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlor next to Safeway. Who cared how expensive their ice cream was? Who cared that we were both broke! That orange sherbet/chocolate cone tasted better than it ever had, that remarkable day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariaplus32005/3978739156/

Christmas would soon come, and I would have something tangible to show my mother. Something to reveal that Changes were afloat. Success was achievable. And I appeared to have broken the previously unbreakable patterns of the past.

It just goes to show you. People can change. They can love something they had not loved before. They can be given the determination to conquer the difficult, overcome the impossible. 

And stop fearing that it can't be done. Because it can.

See you along the way!

the SconeLady

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajc1/3693303191/">AJC1</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariaplus32005/3978739156/">Maria J Aleman</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>