Volume 124 Issue 139
kansan.com
Friday, April 20, 2012
SPEAK
N.Y.-Not U //RACHEL SCHULTZ Her big city dreams shattered, Rachel found a different path to happiness at KU.
RACHEL (RIGHT) CREDITS HER FRESHMAN YEAR ROOMMATE MEGAN AS BEING A MAUOR REASON SHE STAYED AT KU KHER FIRST YEAR.
My street wasn't plowed, and as I drove through the skids and bumps to get to my house, I once again started to get butterflies in my stomach, as I had for the past two weeks. It was December of my senior year of high school and I had applied to only one college, New York University, 1,300 miles away from my small hometown in Kansas. I hadn't heard back and was getting the gnawing feeling that I wasn't going to get into the college I had planned my future life around. I turned into my driveway and stopped at the mailbox, as I had done every day for at least a month. This was the first time in my life I had been anxious about checking the mail, as I had meticulously crafted my resume and stressed over perfecting my application just two months before. I carefully opened the box, took out its contents and flipped through. Bill, bill, catalog, and an envelope addressed to Miss Rachel Schultz.
I started shaking. It was the small envelope. I had heard from people I had met upon visiting that the big envelope was
the telltale sign of an acceptance letter. I didn't even have to open it to know that what I was holding wasn't that. I started crying. Now it seems so trivial, crying over not getting into my dream college. But that's what I did. Most people from Hays go straight from Wee Friends Preschool through middle school to Hays High School, and on to Fort Hays State University. The town was self-contained; hardly anyone moved away. Although I respect the people who choose to make Hays their home for life, I knew that would never be me.
Maybe it was the movies, maybe I was looking to fulfill a cliché, but whatever the reason, I dreamed that New York was the place for me. I wanted to get away from the country music and conservative life I had led in Kansas to meet new people and try the big city on for size. How would I ever know what I liked if I didn't experience it all? I planned to go to New York and do something in theatre, whether it was to star in the show or write reviews from the audience, I didn't know, but I
did know it was far away from the only thing I had ever known, and that excited me.
People had told me not to do it. Advisers didn't outright said that the chances were slim to none that a small-town girl from a public high school in Kansas would get into an East Coast private school, but they made it clear that it wasn't likely. I wouldn't listen. I was determined to prove them wrong and get out of Kansas for a life I always dreamed of in a big city (so typical, right?). But holding that letter in my hand, I knew those plans were coming to a screeching halt.
I got in my car and drove straight to my mom's store where she was working. Normally I walk in and am greeted with big smiles from her coworkers and sloppy kisses from the store Labrador retriever, but today they must have known something had gone wrong, because they kept their distances. I had calmed myself down, but when my mom saw my face, she knew immediately what had happened, and I started crying again. I apologized to her and my dad for taking me to New York (twice), for visiting the school and for an interview the month before. I was actually ashamed that they had done that for me, believed in me so much, and that I hadn't made it happen. Other deadlines for schools had passed (and I hadn't researched any others anyway). My mom knew this, so of course, with a smile on her face, she asked, "So, KU it is?" I nodded, but I was still visibly upset from NYU's rejection. I told her to keep that letter, because one day it wouldn't bother me anymore and I wanted to see it again then.
The next few months, I did a little research about Lawrence and KU. To be honest, I was still reluctant to apply because I didn't fully believe that I wasn't going to spend the next four years of my life in New York. I finally applied online in April, got an acceptance later that month, and visited campus for the first time that summer at orientation, all the while planning to apply for transfer to NYU second semester of freshman year. I found out who I would be living with in June, facebook-creeped her for the next two months, and finally met my freshman year roommate, Megan, on an especially
hot afternoon on move-in day in August. It didn't take long to learn that she was in the same situation as I; she applied to her dream school but came to KU, a fortuitous coincidence.
Recruitment began, a week later I pledged a sorority and classes began, and over the next few months my skepticism faded and eventually I closed the application for transfer that was forever-opened on my computer. Somewhere between those first few days in the dorm, tiptoeing around each other and hiding our bad habits, and only a few months later, embarrassingly singing Taylor Swift songs and dancing up and down the hallways like idiots together, Megan and I became great friends. I know that a lot of why I enjoyed KU so much and decided to stay was that she and I got to figure out our new paths together that first year here.
In the back of my mind, I kept considering revisiting the application, just seeing if I got in, and then deciding whether or not to accept, but then I realized I didn't want to know. In a matter of weeks I had made my life here, made friends I couldn't imagine leaving, and realized how lucky I was that I didn't go to New York. I came to KU, fell in love with the campus and people, and over the next four years gathered a collection of experiences that I never would have had in New York City.
My life may not have taken the path I originally planned, but it's for the better. As graduation approaches, I'm sure I'll have to face rejection again. Searching for jobs, I know I might not get my first, second or even third choice, and that's even if I get asked back for an interview. I may not know where exactly I'll be this time next year, but I can say that that NYU rejection letter prepared me more for life than a lot of high school and college did, because it finally taught me that I'm not always going to get what I want, when I want to get it.
I don't know if my mom still has that letter, but I hope she does. I'm sure she opened it at some point just on the off chance I did actually get in. Even so, I still wouldn't regret my decision to come to KU. Whatever paths I end up taking from here on out may not be the ones I originally planned on, but they will be good ones nonetheless.
compromising the integrity of the icing. Students were invited to try the techniques themselves before chocolate and vanilla cupcakes were passed around.
The event was part of a recent series of cooking demonstrations hosted by Student Union Activities' culinary committee. A demonstration earlier this month featured Janna Traver, executive chef for KU Dining, who prepared Peruvian food.
Patrick Blanchard, a sophomore from Wamego and the committee's coordinator, said that the demonstrations aim to teach students useful techniques while introducing them to foods that might not already be in their culinary wheelhouse.
"We try to bring people and representatives from restaurants that display skills students would be able to take home some of the
Blanchard said that his personal favorite was the Sushi with Gusto demonstration even though it wasn't hands on. Attendees watched chefs prepare veggie, California and tuna rolls, which were then passed around the room.
Although Wednesday's demonstration was the last of the semester, Blanchard said that he hopes to see next semester's coordinator continuing the presentations.
"When they iced that cake, I've never seen somebody do that so fast and so well." Tretbar said.
But once she gave it a try, she felt like she could recreate the techniques in her own kitchen.
of the experts, as was Bea Tretbar,
a freshman from Wichita. Tretbar
said that she was initially intimidated by Yi and Munoz's decorating skills.
Edited by Taylor Lewis
Jennifer Yi, a baker at Billy Vanilly, puts the final touches on a six-inch cake with Amber Munoz's assistance during a demonstration at Impromptu in the Kansas Union Wednesday afternoon.
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CLASSIFIEDS 11 CRYPTOQUIPS 4 SPORTS 12
CROSSWORD 4 OPINION 5 SUOKU 14
by Anna Allen
(1) contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
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Today's Weather
Breeze. North winds between 10 to 15 mph. Skies look to be most sunny.
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LO: 35
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It's easy being breezy
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