Two graduate students meet and develop a close bond but hold themselves back on letting it grow into something more. Can each of them get over their self-imposed limitations to seize the opportunity in front of them, or will this be a matter of wron...
Brooke Spencer stood in front of her closet trying to decide what to wear to her first commitment as a graduate student at Western Michigan University, a mixer involving the Department of Human Performance and Health Education (HPHE) at WMU's Student Recreation Center (SRC). Following a couple more passes through her outfits, she chose an olive green summer dress, then decided on a pair of black mid-height block-heeled sandals. Once dressed, Brooke went into the bathroom to apply her makeup and give herself a final once over before leaving her apartment for the SRC.
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Brooke (internal monologue): The last six weeks have been a bit of a nightmare for me, what with all the fights with Perry (Jorgenson, her now-ex) over my coming to Western for grad school, then not going with him to Paris for the Olympics (Perry was a competitor in Greco-Roman Wrestling), only to find out from Benny (Parris, fellow NMU wrestler) that he was playing fast-and-loose with the sleeping around in the Olympic Village. I'm GLAD I dropped him like a bad habit, but how do I give off a close-to-normal vibe when all I want to do is eat my weight in ice cream and get to Monday morning and the start of classes? Girl, this is a fresh start, without some alpha trying to dictate your life course for you. Now, let's go out there and enjoy the lack of commitment currently in our life.
Brooke exited her apartment, then made her way between University Arena/Read Fieldhouse and the SRC before walking the incline that would get her to the latter's third-floor entrance. She found the designated classroom for the meet-and-greet (3003) and grabbed a cup of punch, a couple of cookies, and made a nametag for herself before sitting down at one of the tables. A few minutes later, she was joined by one of the other students.
Jamey Webster: Let me guess. Just arrived and moved-in, and you don't know anyone here.
Brooke: Pretty good deduction. Are you a fresh-off-the-boat grad student as well?
Jamey: Grad student, yes, but not newbie-level. I started my MA during Summer Session so I could get a lay of the land and ease myself into life at Western before the undergrads flocked to campus. What program are you in?
Brooke: Exercise Science. You?
Jamey: Sport Management.
Brooke: We'll continue this after the profs finish. By the way, I'm Brooke.
Jamey: Jamey.
The coordinators for the six degree programs within the Department of Human Performance and Health Education spoke briefly about their areas of oversight, which was followed by holding impromptu advising sessions to schedule the students in attendance for their Fall semester courses.
***
A few of the students from HPHE went to one of WMU's favorite off-campus gathering places, University Roadhouse, for dinner. After the seven of them had placed their orders, the get-to-know-you session began.
