Day 1

I left for class a bit early so I could drop off my rent, hand in my physical/immunization forms to the nursing secretary, and print out syllabi for my anatomy and anatomy lab classes that will meet tomorrow and Friday, respectively. At the second apartment complex I lived at in Missouri, rent HAD to be turned in on the 1st of the month with no grace period. Even though my new rental agency graciously grants the extra few days, I am now very aware of the 1st of the month because I still feel like a late fee could be looming!

But I digress. After handing in my paperwork and successfully finding the printing station in the library, I enjoyed free coffee from the cafe and waited for 2 p.m. to roll around.

It wasn't hard to get back into the swing of entering a new class, surveying my classmates, and waiting for the new professor to distribute papers and call roll. The only aspect that made me uncomfortable were the number of desks in the room. All very small and close together in rows, I felt like I was in coach on a full flight. I can only imagine how my large male classmates were feeling!

Right at 2, a kind-looking, older man came into the room, told us he was 77, and keeps teaching because he believes in why he is there.

Then he said, "Today is when we find out where the bear shits in the buckwheat," and walked among us to distribute our syllabi. He also asked who in the room were nursing students because he liked them best. I was happy to be among those raising their hands!

Of course right when he walked by my desk, he clipped his foot on the front leg (Wasn't I worried about how close together the rows were?) and went lurching forward, grabbing at my classmate sitting in front of me and to the left for support. After which, he announced he had a hip replacement the previous year and felt like he may have dislocated it. Great.

After going through the syllabus in its entirety, we started making name plates out of note cards to sit on our desks and writing information about ourselves and our education on the inside. He asked about everyone's class level and who had already finished college, because it was noted on his roster. I told him I had graduated from main campus in 2008.

We were free to go after completing our note cards. On my way out, he asked what my major was and I told him, "Dance," to which he replied, "Couldn't make a living out of it, could you?"

I showed him my ankle and was glad I had written my professional dance background on the inside of the index card. Why do I feel like I spend my life proving to people their first impressions about me are wrong? I should have told him I received one of the college's highest graduation honors.

Guess he'll have to make do with the excellent work I plan on turning in for him.

Until tomorrow! Up next: anatomy and physiology I and contemporary social problems.