Research Paper Essay, Research Paper
A weekend in East Lansing makes me appreciate A2
Being a girl born and raised in the great mitten state of Michigan, I couldn’t wait to graduate high school to get the hell out of here. But through some heavy parental convincing I somehow ended up in-state, here at the University, while the rest of my high school went to Michigan State University. And after a sketchy visit to State last weekend, I became vividly aware of just how much we are shaped by the colleges we attend.
Erin McQuinn
Playing With Words
My friend and I stuck out like sore thumbs in East Lansing. In our Michael Stars stretch-tees and black booty pants we were highly contrast to the standard American Eagle boots and big orange fleeces. I felt foreign – where were all the jean jackets and big hoop earrings? They were nowhere to be found. And what the hell was going on out on the dance floor? People weren’t dancing, they were trying to have sex while still wearing clothes. This was above and beyond grinding. It was so high school that I was just waiting for the principal to come in and break it up.
But perhaps the scariest part of the night was seeing some random guy running around in a black wife-beater. State isn’t a party school – it’s a continuation of high school for all the kids who grew up in Michigan. And boy are they bitter about it. Anytime that I told someone that I was from the University of Michigan, I heard a quick retort of “Oh yeah, I totally could’ve gotten in!” Not that I asked or anything, buddy.
Our parties are about 500 times better than theirs. And we don’t riot when we win (I’ll never figure that one out). But for some reason I definitely couldn’t see the boys at this party rioting. It didn’t look like they could do a hanging arm pull-up, let alone flip over an entire car. These were the boys who couldn’t climb the rope in gym class. Tall, skinny and wearing big leather jackets with shoulder pads. The really sad thing was, we were at supposedly one of the best fraternities on campus – I’d really hate to see the worst.
And whoever started the myth that State has “really hot girls” must not have been at the party I was at either. All the girls seemed terribly plain – not hideous, just plain.
I think they all went to K-mart together to buy the same off-the-shelf-box shade of blonde. Or maybe it was just because about 99 percent of them hail from “The Great Lakes State” – probably the second plainest state next to Idaho.
We are all products of our environments. At MSU I stopped to think for a moment how different my life would be now if I had gone for the green-and-white rather than the maize-and-blue (even our colors are more sophisticated). I would probably have more hiking boots and fewer Prada bags. And for once, I was actually thankful to my parents for making me do something.
So maybe I have become that “arrogant *censored*” that all the people who hate the University said I would be. Wait – I know I have. But not in the typical way.
I don’t cry when we lose a football game and I definitely could care less if a school’s ACT average is lower than ours. But all those people who have discovered “the softer side of Sears” and treat the frat dance floor like an under-18 club – that’s just wrong.
It will be a long time until I return again to East Lansing. I think Michigan State can be summarized by the sole factor that they think it’s super-cool to have one person dance in the center of a circle while everyone else claps.
- Erin McQuinn can be reached
via e-mail at emcquinn@umich.edu.
Другие работы по теме:
Apathy Towards Hunting Essay Research Paper Apathy
Apathy Towards Hunting Essay, Research Paper Apathy Towards Hunting When I was around eleven years old I wanted to go deer hunting more than anything else I could remember. There was one problem my dad would not let me go with out a hunter’s safety certification. So that year I enrolled in a class and got my certification.
Poem Fading Away Essay Research Paper as
Poem: Fading Away Essay, Research Paper as i gaze at the falling rain trying to get away from all the pain som uch tension rising in the air dying inside does anyone care
Romeo An Juliet Essay Research Paper hi
Romeo An Juliet Essay, Research Paper hi i need an essay about a character in romeo and juliet that demonsrtated maturity. in a well developed multi pagraph essay and say why you think the character’s maturity was greater than the other characters in the play.
Convo Essay Research Paper Can you believe
Convo Essay, Research Paper ?Can you believe that crazy girl Mom??, asked Brenda. ?Well she does love excitement and is willing to try anything like that.?, Explained her mom Bonnie.
Oh Really Essay Research Paper Oh Reallyyou
Oh Really? Essay, Research Paper Oh Really, you think i am a lark, the dogs they run and bark, but when i say to them, shut up shut up shut up, you say to be nice to them,
Drinking Age Essay Research Paper Drinking AgeWhy
Drinking Age Essay, Research Paper Drinking Age Why has America had so many problems with underage drinking? I think that there is way too much underage drinking by young adults in America. On the other hand, I don?t believe that it is their fault. I feel, that the lawmakers should lower the drinking age. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1986 forces states to enforce the legal age of 21 years old or lose matching highway funds.
Price Of Glory Essay Research Paper A
Price Of Glory Essay, Research Paper *A new movie called “The Price of Glory” is opening Friday, March *31,2000 all over. However, this movie will only be out for two weeks, if the
Shane Essay Research Paper Sometimes I need
Shane Essay, Research Paper Sometimes, I need you more than I need air And sometimes I miss you more than I will forever, never forget the times that we have shaared. The are priceless
Poem Belong Essay Research Paper Where I
Poem: Belong Essay, Research Paper Where I belong I am weak, I am strong I will fit where I belong don’t know where it is for now but it will come, if I allow tomorrow, I start a brand new day
Treatment Of The Prisoners In The Concentration
Camps Essay, Research Paper Interdisciplinary Research Research Proposal The Treatment of the Prisoners in the Concentration Camps The topic that I plan to focus on in my research paper is treatment inside different concentration camps during the Holocaust. I plan to focus on three different camps, but I have not narrowed down my choices yet.
Him Essay Research Paper I think about
Him Essay, Research Paper I think about him day and night The though won’t go away And, oh, how I would hold him tight every second of the day He is perfect, that is true, not an average me or you
Poem She Sat Essay Research Paper She
Poem: She Sat Essay, Research Paper She sat… helpless in her room praying to whatever god there may be to let her call to him. could god ignore such a painful cry?
Joke Essay Research Paper Well that sucks
Joke Essay, Research Paper Well that sucks that you had so many papers and tests due this past week, but at least you are done with school. How was your weekend and your tournament? My weekend was alright…On Friday night I got wasted and don’t remember everything which I have to stop doing. Then Saturday night sucked a little bit…we went over to Lindy Holway’s house and hung out, which wasn’t all that great…what did you do that night? Oh and then listen to this!…I went to the Pats game with Murph and Jim today, it was sooooooo awesome…Did you get to see it? We were all pysched up when we left, and then Jim and I fell asleep on the ride home, so you can see how much energy the game took from us.
School Essay Research Paper School Where
School Essay, Research Paper School! Where did they come up with that name? I guess because it rhymes with lame Now this rhyme you read will be quite corny Please don’t get upset, mad, or horny
Ode To Boys Essay Research Paper We
Ode To Boys Essay, Research Paper We like them But do they like us The ones we do never fuss They don’t stop in And we wonder why We stress, we bitch We sometimes cry
Crying Again Essay Research Paper The Sky
Crying Again Essay, Research Paper The Sky is crying again And i am crying again. When did it start? When will it end? How’d i wind up with out a friend? Tears from my heart cling to my soul.
Life Is Like Essay Research Paper Life
Life Is Like Essay, Research Paper Life is like a car. When it?s new, it usually works all right. As time drives by, it breaks down and needs repairs. Life is like a leaf. In its youth, it
Suicide Essay Research Paper Disagreeable or spoiled
Suicide Essay, Research Paper Disagreeable or spoiled? You decide! I was sitting with a friend of mine and we were wondering what we should do this weekend. She wanted to go the mall and I wanted to go to the movies. We
Hell Day Essay Research Paper Hell day
Hell Day Essay, Research Paper Hell day is a fun day where everything is like a burn day. If you would listen you could learn about this day and be apart of this day. If you are wise then you will relize that hell day is satans Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Playground Essay Research Paper I have
The Playground Essay, Research Paper I have a friend I used to know who had a playground where we would go The times we had are fresh in my mind but they are from another time