This article is classified "Real"
End of grade 12. Looking through that lovely booklet on University
programs. Not knowing what I want to be when (if) I grow up. Suddenly
an entry catches my eye under the programs offered by York University in
picturesque North York (basically Toronto), Ontario Canada (not to be
confused with the York in England):
Space and Communication Sciences
Sounds neat, so I put it down as first choice, and add a couple of other
University's astronomy and physics programs. A few weeks later, I find
out that they've accepted me, and like a fool, I accept them. Only after
this unfortunate fact do I get informed that only one group of students
has started this program before my year. Now, true, they did get to be
the first guinea pigs, but enough bugs lasted through to us.
Huge work-load, bad ordering of courses, impossible professors. Of
course most of that got ironed out as I progressed - the degree changed
to a specialized honours from a combined (less courses) and the grade
requirement to continue in honours fell a point from a B+ to a B. I've
managed to stick with the combined honours - though they tried to
convince me to turn to a specialized honours, I had decided that I had
done the work for a combined and would finish it up.
The experience was interesting though harrowing at times. What I learned:
it's rewarding to know that I have lasted through the hard years (like
having hitched a ride with the Wright brothers...); I have gotten to
know my program director fairly well - from complaining to him (he's
really a nice guy, and since I like to think the best of everyone, I'll
say that he didn't *really* want to make University four (or five or six)
years of living hell for us). I've got a working knowledge of computers
and more physics facts tucked away than I know what to do with, plus a
four-year supply of expensive, sometimes useful, usually pretty,
textbooks, which unfortunately I won't be able to carry if I decide to
visit Andromeda or something.
I'll most likely still try out things that few people have done before,
but I'll definitely consult with those few people beforehand. The Guide
is helpful with this - all that knowledge that others have gained the
hard way, easily available... what bliss! Sometimes it is fun to look
before you leap - just make sure that you take a brief glimpse in
situations that might turn out to be landing you in a new house, one with
iron bars and a nice wheel to play on.