Do you remember the old Choose Your Own Adventure books? They started in 1979, and for about twenty years they were very popular. In them, no two people were reading the same story. If you read it more than once, even your own experience would be different. You would read until you came to a point in the story where a decision needed to be made by the main character — and then YOU would make that decision.
I often think of these books in relation to our own stories. We do make some decisions that change everything – who we are, what we do, where we live.
Life’s decisions start way before this, but one of the first major ones that a person makes comes at the time when they graduate from high school. This is a decision that will have a major impact on how the adventure of your life will unfold.
Some choose to go to college. Some choose other paths to their adventures.
Many things go into this decision, but at the end of the day that is a yes or no question. The answer leads to new questions and decisions to be made.
Going to College
If your answer to the question of college was yes, you need to decide which college.
A lot of factors go into this.
- Is it close to home? (If so, is this a good thing or a bad thing for you?)
- Can you get scholarship assistance?
- Does it offer the kinds of things you are interested in studying?
- Does the school have a good reputation for high quality education?
Choosing A Major
- Many students get to college knowing exactly what they want to do, and what major to choose.
- Many others come with a vague idea of what they want to do – and find that their goals change once they get started. Yet others are interested in everything, and have to explore which direction they eventually want to focus.
- At times, majors are chosen because of advice or pressure from others who are trying to help guide us.
- Perhaps you get to college and discover that what you thought you loved is actually very different than you thought it was.
- The bottom line at the end of all of these choices is for you to find what you love and where your strengths actually lie.
Choosing Your Classes
At registration time, there are a lot of options. Which classes should you choose?
- If it is required for your major – Yes, but there may be flexibility in when to take it.
- If it is required for general education – Maybe. There are many different things that can fulfill those requirements and there is a lot of flexibility as to when to take them.
- Some classes are offered that are just things you want to know about! You have curiosity or a passion about that topic. This is a great opportunity to get started on your lifelong learning.
Attending Classes
The answer is yes.
- The only exception is when you are really sick – you need to get well, and nobody else wants to catch what you have.
- You are paying for these classes.
- When you miss, you are cheating yourself.
- You are also cheating others of your participation and insights.
- If you are just unmotivated, or too lazy to go to class, you might want to look back at those earlier questions to remind yourself why you chose to be in college.
Doing the work
At the end of the semester, faculty know what is coming.
- Some students will have done the work all semester, and be fully prepared for the final exams.
- Other students will have done just enough to get by, and they will be experiencing panic. Often these students start begging for extra credit points.
- Some students will suddenly realize that they have put things off and left things undone, and will realize that they are about to be rewarded accordingly.
To Go Or Not To Go?
At WVWC in just the last week there have been hundreds of activities, concerts, plays, ball games and events. Decisions have to be made about how many and which ones to attend.
It is also a busy time, in which people are buckling down to get ready for the end of the semester. Sometimes people really are too busy to go. Sometimes, they are just too tired. Sometimes, they just don’t know or just don’t go.
Here are just a few examples of things on the WVWC campus from last week:
A Luggage Drive will be hosted December 2nd through December 10th. The students in the WE LEAD Poverty Reduction Team are asking for donations of luggage (duffle bags, suitcases, totes, backpacks, etc.) and a variety of necessities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrushes, new small blankets, books, and new stuffed toys. You may drop off your items in the CCE (behind the Bobcat Den) on the second floor of the Campus Center. The opportunity to make a difference.
West Virginia Dance Company, in its 43rd season, presented the a new evening long work entitled “Love of Power vs. Power of Love”, which explored the choice between exerting power over others or acting out of love. The piece unmasks the divisiveness, isolation and intolerance that involves the misuse of power, and reveals the power of love to heal, unite and remind us of our shared humanity.
Art Opening in the Corner Art Gallery: Elizabeth Graham’s exhibit of photographs entitled “What Once Was” which is a visual display of abandoned coalfields in West Virginia.
Restorative Practices Conversation: an ongoing community exploration of Restorative Practices. In our time together, we will grow from our previous conversations on cultivating community well-being and accountability to discuss what constitutes mutually cared for, flourishing relationships, where we see restorative relationships in our community, and how to continue growing relationships like these on campus. All are welcome! Attendance at previous circle discussions is not necessary. Pizza will be provided!
The last general Student Senate Meeting of the semester. The opportunity to be involved and share your thoughts, opinions, and dreams.
Marching Band Concert and New Uniform Unveiling: The band has not had uniforms in decades. This week they unveiled the new ones. Were you there?
The Planetarium Show: Saturday’s show was a treat for the ears and the eyes. This show is similar to a laser light show with spectacular visuals on the dome as Tchaikovsky’s music plays in surround sound. It is not the same as being there in person but you can preview the show on Youtube. After the video, we will take a tour of the December sky. If the weather is nice, we will pull out the big telescope after the show and look at the Moon.
Hanging of the Greens: Each year at Wesleyan, members from across the campus community work together to cut, create, and hang wreaths and garlands that decorate campus throughout the holiday season. The newly created adornments were then hung in Wesley Chapel.
Lessons and Carols: The service feaured Christmas carols and musical selections performed by Wesleyan’s Concentus Vocum, Concert Chorale, Wesleyan Singers, and the Wesleyan Brass Quintet, under the direction of Dr. R. Daniel Hughes, associate professor of music and director of choral activities. Carols included arrangements by David Willcocks and Alice Parker.
To read more about the history of this event, please click here.
Here is a link to the service on Facebook Live. Credits to the WVWC Performing Arts folks!
Lighting of the Campus Christmas Tree
Decisons, Decisions: Choose Your Own Adventures.