Tuesday, July 15, 2003
at 9:42 PMWhen I Sit, You Shall Sit
Aunt Pam dropped me off at Meramec Community College in order that I complete the Accuplacer assessment test. After wandering through the hall of the building in which the assessment center was purpotedly located, I entered the English department office and inquired for directions. The lady directed me up the stairs.
I penciled my name onto the list and sat on a bench, awaiting further instruction. The register lady came out to ask me if I had applied (she did not have my name in her computer); I informed her I had applied online. After she ascertained I had applied, a little balding man with glasses and a beard (they were on his face; he did not have them in his hands to give us) collected the other kids who apparently did have their names on the list. He sent them back to a little lab room. I waited outside while he checked that they had room for me. They did.
So I took the mathematics placement test. This did not take too long. The data the computer spit back at me upon my completion of the test indicated that I scored within the top 96 percentile of students taking the arithmetic section and the top 84 percentile of students taking the elementary algebra section. That was when it first hit home to me that I am entering a junior college. Anyhow, the course I should take is intermediate algebra- MTH140.
The proctor handed me a course enrollment booklet, signed my printed score, and sent me off to another building (where I would meet with an academic advisor). I picked up a registration packet, took a number (56), and sat at a table. A little grey-haired lady walking around the tables gave me a couple of packets after I told her I intended to major in journalism at The University of Missouri. These packets proved most useful moments later when one of the advisors called my number.
This counselor, contrary to most other counselors with whom I have previously interacted, provided me with competent, up-to-date information. In our short time together we determined which courses I should take and when my classes should be. I am to take three classes, all of which fall on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays beginning at noon, one, and two. I love community college already.
The advisor explained that journalism majors need nothing beyond MTH160 (college algebra) and a statistics course to satisfy the mathematics requirement. MTH140 will count toward my GPA when I transfer, and I should be able to take MTH160 next semester. Beginning this year, apparently, I only need to take microeconomics; macroeconomics is no longer required as a prerequisite. This pleases me.
I settled upon Biology/Human Sexuality as my non-lab science credit. Krista recommended this course. It appears more interesting than "Earth Science" or "Oceanography", at any rate. I could count it either as biology or as psychology credit, and my advisor said I would have to sign on for psychology credit at first, but that I could have my instructor change me after a few weeks (the drop period). She said it would be the largest of the three classes, which does not particularly suprise me. I know there'll be some entertaining characters in this class.
I called Pamela at her office, but as she still had further work to conclude, Chris swooped in to pick me up instead. He gave me some legal documents he printed off of the Internet pertaining to the establishment of in-state residency and the requirements of a minor petitioning for emancipation. The biggest thing in that regard that I can do for myself right now is to acquire a full-time job. This I have not yet done satisfactorily. Upon my arrival home I whipped out the St. Louis Post-Dispatch classifieds, circling promising prospects. Tomorrow I'll build my resume.
Around four o'clock Josh came over to take me to see "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen". I might have enjoyed the film more had I read some of the novels; the only one I had read was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Regardless, it was a fun film. No one in it is going to get an Oscar, but it was delightful nonetheless.
Joshua took me out to eat at some steak joint. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, with a baked potato side and two glasses of Coca-Cola. Josh had a top sirloin, french fries, and a small salad. He drank stuff, too.
We arrived back at Pam and Chris' around 8:20 p.m. For the next two hours I babbled intermittently to Pam as we sat in front of the television. She could not escape me because she was nursing The Cabbage. Heh-heh.
It's past my bedtime.
