20

It hit me a couple of weeks ago as I was sitting at soccer practice watching the new freshman descend upon  campus in droves as they moved into the dorms.

20 years ago I moved to 219 E. Church St, Oxford, OH 45056 to start my freshman year of college.

No idea why it resonates with me that way.  Maybe because those four years in Oxford living in the Evans Scholar house were some of the defining moments in who I am?  Probably.  I just know that seeing those kids unload their cars hit me like a 2x4 and caused me to think back on those times in ways that being at my 20th high school reunion didn't.

Just seems like yesterday though.

A Sign of the Apocalypse?

One of the few positives of being a professional vagabond over the last 16 years is that I have friends/colleagues all over the country working in various settings of athletic training.

One of those friends sent me an email with the subject of "WTF?" yesterday and after I stopped laughing I just have to share it (names/details have been changed to protect the stupid):

Subject: book list

Hello, my name is XXXXXX XXXX and I believe you are my adviser. I am interested in majoring in athletic training and am looking forward to starting college this fall. As I have registered for classes already, I assumed that I would be sent a book list by now or would have been able to find it easily online. I do not want to order books though the school and would appreciate it if you could send me one or tell me where to find what books I need. It would also be appreciated if you could get back to me by Friday morning because I am leaving this weekend and will be out of town until right before coming to school.

Thank you for you help,


XXXXXX XXXX

What's wrong with this email you may be asking?  Let me list the reasons:

• This was sent over the summer, when my friend isn't in the office since it's summer!
• Why would this young person believe that just because they were randomly assigned to my friend as an adviser that they would be provided a list of needed books?  Oh that's right because every other summer of their educational life they've been given a "Back To School" supply list!
• Why would their randomly assigned adviser know what classes they've registered for?  Why would their randomly assigned adviser know what books are required?  How do you find out that information?  That's right, attend class the first day and read the goddamn syllabus.
• To me the best line is "It would also be appreciated if you could get back to me by Friday morning because I am leaving this weekend and will be out of town until right before coming to school." because it shows how this generation of children (because while they are trying to be adult-like they're clearly still a child) expect instant resolution to things.  It's absolutely ABSURD to think that my friend is going to even respond to this email

To all my friends who have children:  Please stop creating children like this. This is just one example!  Another is the college kids I deal with who are unable, or unwilling, to be active participants in their own health care decisions!  If you're a college senior (21 or 22 years old) you shouldn't need a parent to hold your hand when you see a doctor about your sprained ankle or when I ask you to contact a physician you've seen in the past to obtain a copy of your records and you look at me and say "I'll ask my mom" it takes every ounce of my self control to not punch you in the face.

We as a society are doomed I'm afraid.