studied during my time there. I read the classics: Wuthering Heights, David Copperfield, Pride and Prejudice, The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, A Tale of Two Cities. The list is long, and that’s just the classic novels.
I read with furious abandon. I loved them all, modern classics as well. I wrote papers on the books I read, I wrote papers on writing, and I wrote papers on the basics of the English language.
I crammed a four-year degree into three years by doubling up on classes, and graduated at twenty-one with honors. When I walked across the stage, my dad beamed like a beacon on a dark harbor.
I remained single. I went through all three years casually going out with groups of friends. I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend. I went out with a few guys on dates, but nothing ever matured into a potential relationship. I think ‘matured’ was the key to that. I’d had a boy.
Now what?
I was pondering what came next in my life when I received a phone call that changed things for me in a big way.
“Louisa, it’s Professor Duncan.”
“Hello,” I said cheerily, but wondered why he was calling. “How are you?”
“I’ve seen better days, but I’ve seen worser ones,” he joked.
“Is everything all right?” He’d piqued my interest.
“Yes, yes,” he replied. “I’ve been thinking I need to slow down a bit. I’m not ready to retire, but I am ready to hand some things off. Are you interested in hearing my thoughts?”
“Yes, sir, of course,” I replied, anxiously.
“Will you join me for coffee at the campus café in the morning – say 8:45?”
“I’d be happy to. I’m anxious to hear what you have to say. I’ll see you then.”
When my dad came in from work, I was fidgeting. I had dinner ready, but I was wringing my hands, anxious for him to get there.
“Something smells good! What’s the occasion?” He flashed a wink my way, seeing Mom’s favorite apron tied around my waist.
“Well, I’m not quite sure, but I’m happy tonight, and I decided to turn that happiness into dinner!” I laughed. “I’ll tell you when we sit down to eat. It’s almost ready; go wash up.”
When we finally sat down, I was sitting on the edge of my seat. I felt my stomach flutter with anxiousness.
“Lulu, what is going on?” he asked with a smile.
When I replied, the words bubbled from me as I told him about the call from Professor Duncan.
“I have no idea what he has in mind for me, but I am anxious to find out!”
The next morning, I dressed for a casual business meeting, making sure my choice was interview appropriate. I wanted to be ready for whatever was about to happen.
“Good morning, Miss Welk. Thank you for joining me.” He motioned for me to sit down and waved for a young woman to come to the table. “A staff privilege,” he said with a smile.
We ordered coffee and made small talk. Once it was served, he began. I fiddled with the napkin in my lap, finally clasping my hands together to hold back the nervousness I felt.
“As I told you, I’m not ready to retire – yet – but I’m ready to scale back. Have you decided what’s next for you? Because, Louisa, there must be a next step.” He said the words so serious, so fatherly, that I set up straight to listen. “You have a talent that I’ve only found in a few students during my tenure. You could write the phone book and it would be an interesting read.”
“I haven’t decided what’s next. I keep going back and forth. To be honest, I needed a little time for me. I’ve worked so hard that I didn’t focus on anything but school.”
“I’d like for you to consider an internship at the university.”
“I’m not quite sure what that means, sir.” I felt my heart race.
“I’d like for you to work with me as a research assistant. You will assist in the curriculum, so I guess that means that you dig and I produce,” he said, with a smile. “There is no paycheck, but you can continue on at
I read with furious abandon. I loved them all, modern classics as well. I wrote papers on the books I read, I wrote papers on writing, and I wrote papers on the basics of the English language.
I crammed a four-year degree into three years by doubling up on classes, and graduated at twenty-one with honors. When I walked across the stage, my dad beamed like a beacon on a dark harbor.
I remained single. I went through all three years casually going out with groups of friends. I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend. I went out with a few guys on dates, but nothing ever matured into a potential relationship. I think ‘matured’ was the key to that. I’d had a boy.
Now what?
I was pondering what came next in my life when I received a phone call that changed things for me in a big way.
“Louisa, it’s Professor Duncan.”
“Hello,” I said cheerily, but wondered why he was calling. “How are you?”
“I’ve seen better days, but I’ve seen worser ones,” he joked.
“Is everything all right?” He’d piqued my interest.
“Yes, yes,” he replied. “I’ve been thinking I need to slow down a bit. I’m not ready to retire, but I am ready to hand some things off. Are you interested in hearing my thoughts?”
“Yes, sir, of course,” I replied, anxiously.
“Will you join me for coffee at the campus café in the morning – say 8:45?”
“I’d be happy to. I’m anxious to hear what you have to say. I’ll see you then.”
When my dad came in from work, I was fidgeting. I had dinner ready, but I was wringing my hands, anxious for him to get there.
“Something smells good! What’s the occasion?” He flashed a wink my way, seeing Mom’s favorite apron tied around my waist.
“Well, I’m not quite sure, but I’m happy tonight, and I decided to turn that happiness into dinner!” I laughed. “I’ll tell you when we sit down to eat. It’s almost ready; go wash up.”
When we finally sat down, I was sitting on the edge of my seat. I felt my stomach flutter with anxiousness.
“Lulu, what is going on?” he asked with a smile.
When I replied, the words bubbled from me as I told him about the call from Professor Duncan.
“I have no idea what he has in mind for me, but I am anxious to find out!”
The next morning, I dressed for a casual business meeting, making sure my choice was interview appropriate. I wanted to be ready for whatever was about to happen.
“Good morning, Miss Welk. Thank you for joining me.” He motioned for me to sit down and waved for a young woman to come to the table. “A staff privilege,” he said with a smile.
We ordered coffee and made small talk. Once it was served, he began. I fiddled with the napkin in my lap, finally clasping my hands together to hold back the nervousness I felt.
“As I told you, I’m not ready to retire – yet – but I’m ready to scale back. Have you decided what’s next for you? Because, Louisa, there must be a next step.” He said the words so serious, so fatherly, that I set up straight to listen. “You have a talent that I’ve only found in a few students during my tenure. You could write the phone book and it would be an interesting read.”
“I haven’t decided what’s next. I keep going back and forth. To be honest, I needed a little time for me. I’ve worked so hard that I didn’t focus on anything but school.”
“I’d like for you to consider an internship at the university.”
“I’m not quite sure what that means, sir.” I felt my heart race.
“I’d like for you to work with me as a research assistant. You will assist in the curriculum, so I guess that means that you dig and I produce,” he said, with a smile. “There is no paycheck, but you can continue on at
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