Georges Life at the University - Essay Example

Top of Form Bottom of Form   Narration: George’s Life at the Narration: George’s Life at the George joined University last year. He vividly remembers the events. A typical small town boy he had travelled 300 miles by train to arrive at the campus. The night before he left his hometown his mother threw a party to send him off. In attendance were his Uncles, Aunts and cousins. His father had passed away two years ago. He remembers his mum shedding tears as she warned him against going Kevin’s way. Kevin was his first cousin who had joined the same University three years ago only to get hooked on drugs and drop out. The mention of Kevin’s name always made his stomach turn. He was like a big brother to him. They were and still are bosom buddies. She implored him not to waste the family’s scarce resources now that his Dad had passed away. His sister Mary, a year younger, was very supportive and stood by his side throughout the dinner. He felt like he carried the family’s burden on his shoulders. He woke up early the next morning and after prayers Mary and Mum escorted him to catch a cab to the railway station. Alongside them was his pet dog, Victory. Seeing him wag his tail, he felt a little a tear threaten to drop down his cheek. He was what George would really miss, more than Mary or even his Mother. The thought made him feel guilty and ungrateful. After the hugs he boarded the cab to the train station. On arrival, he met two former schoolmates Victor and Joseph. They were going to the same University. Though he could not say much about Victor, he had a loathing for Joseph because he came from a rich family and looked down upon others. George guessed Joseph did not like him either. Unlike George, who had taken a cab to the Railway Station, Joseph was escorted by his entire family in a posh limousine. George could not help feeling jealous, and he swore to himself that he would one day own a car that big. The train ride was largely uneventful as the three of them sat together. All seemed lost in their thoughts. George was particularly concerned about his future. His Dad, a Doctor, had always wanted him to follow in his footsteps. Medicine would have made the family proud, but that was not what he was going to study. He was an Arts person, and he had hoped to study law. However, his grades were not good enough, and he was going to study Sociology. As the train zoomed past towns, George felt relief as well as nostalgia. This was the first time he was going to live away from home. He felt sorry for his mum and swore to himself to do his best if only for her sake. She had struggled a great deal emotionally and financially after the death of his dad. The bakery shop he helped her operate did just enough to put food on the table. Life was a struggle, and he felt obligated to do something to alleviate her suffering and lift up the family. After six hours, the trio arrived at the University’s main town. The University’s shuttle bus was ferrying freshmen and to the campus. George at once noticed the sharp contrasts between his hometown and the city. Life was much faster here. Even Joseph with his rich background seemed lost for a change. He felt like he was beginning the most important part of his life. The University was located seven kilometers from the City Centre, and George was paired with Victor as his roommate. He felt a culture shock and was ill at ease with his surroundings. Little did he know that this just the beginning. University life was going to change him forever. George soon began student life. Initially, his life revolved around three things lectures, sports and his fellow hometown boys. An avid sportsman George spent a great deal of time in the college basketball court and the gym toning his body. Other student’s lifestyle was a template for unhealthy living. They consumed junk food, drank liquor, watched television and movies late into the night, partied with college girls and became flabby. You could see the toll in their eyes the next morning. George swore that he would not go that way. The first year was largely a matter of routine. It comprised of waking up at six in the morning, having breakfast at seven, lectures from eight to four, play basketball from four thirty, take a shower followed by supper at eight in the evening. He would after that proceed to complete the day’s assignments in the college library and retire to his room between ten and eleven at night. This was the procedure from Monday to Friday. The weekends, however, were different. He particularly liked them because unlike weekdays the college cafeteria would be open for longer hours affording him more sleeping time. Then there were the sports trips and tournaments. Most weekends the college would either host or travel for a sports event. He gradually grew so fond of the University environment that he dreaded the long holidays that marooned him in his small hometown. A fourth dimension quietly sneaked into his college life. George had noticed her glances during the college’s orientation day. He was surprised that a lady would look at him so boldly. He was not used to this. In essence, he was a shy guy, and he had not had a serious girlfriend before. He was brought up in a Christian background, and his strict mother took great exception to girl-boy affairs. His only indulgence with girls had been at the behest of his sister Mary who had introduced him to her friend Jean. Jean was more of a family friend than his girlfriend. He had never gone beyond holding hands with her. His brief experience had not prepared him well enough for the outgoing Anita, and he kept on avoiding her steady stare. He was scared when he learned that she was a city girl whose father was a famous city lawyer. Worse there was competition in the form Joseph his town mate who felt George did not deserve Anita. While George had the looks, Joseph had the money. When the time for lectures came, he was surprised to find out that they shared the same course with Anita, and it did not take long before they started talking. Her background sowed seeds of doubt in his mind. He wondered how a blue-eyed girl could fall for him a simple small town boy. Anita would often arrive ahead of him for lectures and book him a seat, and they would sit together throughout the lectures. Over time, however, he began to realize that he had a clear edge over Joseph and Anita loved him for who he was. He worried about what his mother would make of the relationship. His doubts were enhanced when Anita’s family visited her at the University. While she insisted that he meet her family, George was skeptical. This soon became a source of tension between the two and on their second visit he gathered the guts to meet them. He soon came to discover that while Anita’s father was an easy-going gentleman in spite of his fame and riches, her mother was choosier and in his opinion she turned rather cold after realizing his humble background. His misgivings did not stop Anita from her insistence, and once the first holiday came she asked to meet his family. This is what he had been dreading all along. They agreed that she would visit during the college holidays. But first he had to break the news to his mother. Initially, his mother was skeptical but after his insistence and a little intervention from Mary she mellowed down and approved the visit. After collecting her from the Railway station with Mary, they took Anita home. She seemed quite at home and to his surprise she quickly hit off with Mary. On return to the University their affair blossomed, and Anita was always by his side. The relationship had a mark of approval from both parents with the exception of Anita’s mother. In the second and third years, their relationship grew stronger, and they were often seen in the college library studying together. Whenever there were a basketball game Anita and her band of friends would cheer him wildly. He loved this. Joseph soon became George’s sworn enemy. The two were not in talking terms. He enjoyed lectures a great deal was always punctual for his classes. An early riser George particularly liked morning classes. Rising early had always been part of his life. Being the man of the house, he would rise early to open his mother’s bakery shop. His love for the course saw him build a good rapport with most of his lecturers except for one. He did not understand the reason the lady lecturer seemed to dislike him. Anita took it on light note telling him that the lecturer was in love with him. However, this did not satisfy his curiosity about the harshness the lecturer seemed to reserve for him. On one occasion, she admonished him in the lecture hall using particularly impolite words about small town boys. George was uncomfortable with anybody who reminded him of background. He always felt that had his father lived longer he would have led a better life. The end of the first year saw him post good grades and on arriving home his mother was very pleased with him. In his second year, George grades got better, and he was awarded a prize for the best-improved student in his department. He loved basketball since being introduced to the sport in high school, and he had the height for the game. All along he had been playing for fun, but when he joined University he became more competitive. The University had good facilities and was involved in many competitions. As a result, he became famous during his first year. This did not go down well with Joseph, but the girls loved him a great deal. Being a member of the first team was no mean achievement, and George tried hard to impress the basketball coach Mr. Freddie. The college had a tradition. Freshmen never made it to the first team unless they were exceptionally good. He was determined to change this even as he faced opposition from several quarters including established figures like the basketball captain Felix and several second and third years who kept on reminding him that he was not good enough. This, however, only served to inspire him more. He loved this challenge and with the exception of his classes and Anita, George would spend the rest of his time in the basketball court practicing. Three months into his first year he became the first freshman in the University’s history to feature in the basketball team although his chance came by default rather than design. Two regular team members clashed and suffered injury five minutes to the end of the game. George was one of the substitutes called upon. It was a game he would never forget. It changed his fortunes in the basketball team and the college. The opposing team was leading by six points. George sunk four points and made two assists to ensure the home team won. The cheering was wild and from then on, it seemed to him that everyone in the University knew him. He became the first freshman that year to feature in the University’s monthly magazine. Basketball changed his life in more ways than one. In his third year, he became the basketball captain and helped the University win several competitions. The University compensated paid college athletes financially for their participation. George was hence able to pay his college fees. Over time, the money was enough to take care of all his needs. He even managed to send some to his mother and sister. His fame propelled further and in his third year he was elected the Sports Representative in the Students Union beating his closest opponent by a wide margin Unlike richer students who could afford to be visited or go visiting during weekends, George was marooned in the college. At times, this made him feel inadequate, but he was not going to be a burden to his struggling mother. She would regularly call every Saturday evening, and he felt that was enough. He, however, dreaded these calls and what they reminded him. He did not like hearing her shaky voice. The more she worried about him, the more he worried about her. Mary was, however, proud of her small town brother who had joined a prestigious urban university. With time, his mother became prouder of her son’s accomplishments in the University. These helped calm her down. Reference Strike, K., & Moss, P. (2008), Ethics and college student life, Pearson/Prentice Hall. Read More