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Students from small towns learn to adjust
By John Jordan
Kansan correspondent
correspondent@kansan.com
During her freshman year at the University of Kansas, Stephanie Swenson's friends noticed she had an unusual trait. She waved at everyone.
"I didn't even realize I was doing it," the Concordia senior said. "It's just something I had always done."
Concordia, is a town of about 6,000 people. Swenson said there was one high school and not
"I loved growing up in a small town," she said. "It was a really neat experience."
much to do. But for Swenson, it was perfect.
Senior Annie Monfort grew up in Iola, another Kansas town of about 6.000 people.
For Monfort, Lawrence was an escape. Unlike Swenson, she didn't enjoy her small-town life. Whether or not they enjoyed it, students from small towns do agree on one thing about growing up where everyone knew their name—they appreciate it.
"I almost felt like I was raised by a town and a group of people rather than just my family," Swenson said. "I loved that."
To these students, growing up in small towns gave them a unique perspective.
Small town kids are quick to defend their roots, but even they admit living in a town with onestoplight is a recipe for boredom. The weekend activity of choice was cruising. No matter which small town, everyone participated. In Concordia Swenson called it "cruising the L" because that was
"Everyone would always stop at this one gas station, Ray's Conoco, to get a pop," she said. "The 32 ounce swigger. Thirty-two ounces of soda for 33 cents. It was the cool place to be."
the shape of the route. In Iola, Monfort said it was known as "square jamming" because the route was to go around the town square.
Senior Ty Pfannenstiel grew up in Ness City, population 1,500. In his senior class, there were 35 students.
For Pfannenstiel, the adjustment from small town to Lawrence wasn't difficult thing. He spent his first two years after high school at Garden City Community College, so he was used to a more urban atmosphere once he settled into the University. But the switch isn't as easy for some. Monfort said she was lonely during her freshman year.
For her and others who share her background, the simple things can be the most profound.
"I can go to Taco Bell at 2 a.m.," she said. "That was just amazing to me."
Local grads stay at home
- Edited by Kevin Flaherty
By Meredith Desmond
Kansan correspondent
correspondent@kansan.com
Graduates from Lawrence high schools have a choice most aspiring college freshman don't. They can go away for college, or they can stay at home for their first college experience.
Rachel Fredrickson, Lawrence High School graduate and junior at the University, said most of her classmates had one idea; to escape Lawrence.
"Essentially, everyone wants to initially get out," she said. "Spending 20 years in the same town can get a little old."
Fredrickson tried to leave. She was accepted to five nationally recognized art schools across the country, but chose the University because she could afford it. She said that attending the University made her appreciate her hometown more than she used to.
"You see it from a different view," she said. "Even something as simple as living in the dorms and
having a different window to look out of and seeing the same city."
Fredrickson's classmate, Julie Ellen, did get out of Lawrence. She is now a student at Oklahoma State University. Although she attends a rival Big 12 Conference school, it was never her goal to leave Lawrence, a city she said she loved growing up in.
"I personally did not want to get out, but I was given an opportunity to be somewhere else and I took it because I like an adventure," she said. "I am still a Jayhawk at heart, and always will be."
Juliann Howat said she was leaving Lawrence, but her reasons for not attending the University were unique.
Ellena said many of her high school classmates talked about escaping Lawrence, but never did
"My dad won't let me," the Lawrence Free State High School senior said. "He wants me to see the country, I'm trying to convince him because I really want to go to KU."
Elise Bolton, Lawrence Free State senior, will attend the University next year. She said that faculty and staff at Lawrence schools encouraged students to go to Kansas State University or Pittsburgh State University because they are in-state schools but they're not in Lawrence. She said she didn't understand why getting away from Lawrence was the general mentality among locals.
"There are phenomenal programs at KU," she said. "People here don't give it enough credit."
Students may go to college to get away from their hometown, but there's something about Lawrence that keeps people coming back, Fredrickson said. She said that although people from her high school went out of state for college, many of them are now at the University. She said she loved Lawrence but knew one day it would be time to go.
"I know it's going to be hard, but I owe it to myself to explore the world outside of eastern Kansas," Fredrickson said.
- Edited by Abby Mills
Rachel Fredrickson, junior, grew up in Lawrence. The industrial design major said she wanted to open her own consulting firm in a large city. "I've been here for 20 years," she said. "I love it to myself to explore the world outside of Lawrence."
SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART ARTIST LECTURE:
News. Now.
Willie Cole
Thursday, March 4, 7 pm
SMA Auditorium
Cole appears in conjunction with Conflicting Memories, a visual exploration of the tensions between mainstream and alternate cultural history. The exhibition is on view in the Kress Gallery through April 4.
This program is presented in part by the Kansas Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART
1301 Mississippi Street, Lawrence
785.864.4710 www.ku.edu-sma
above: Willie Cafe
Men, Spin, and Mask, Triptych, 1999
Spencer Museum of Art, Museum Purchase; Peter T.
Berthe Art Collection安业画馆, 2001.0055_01_03
Unity Church of
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