The Piano Knows Something I Don't Know

How does change happen?

How does change happen?

It wasn't long before I found myself at Kale once again, ready to face whatever second semester would bring. Even before making it to Flack Hall, I spotted all of my favorite people. Patrick was by my side as I dragged my suitcase back to my residence hall, and I found Joe, Andy, and Hayley hanging out in the dining hall. Gerard and Frank were in front of the Greek Friendship Society house, welcoming the other members of Delta Omicron Gamma back to campus. I found Laura buying her textbooks, and Pete was sitting on a bench outside of the Shufflebottom Center, eating a slice of pizza and playing with his fidget spinner. The only person who was missing was Brendon, but if I didn't see him during the day, I would surely see him at night.

I crunched through the snow until I made it to Flack Hall, where I found a few other freshmen returning from Winter Break. I hauled my suitcase upstairs, making sure that I wouldn't slip and fall like I had when I was moving into this dorm for the first time. I took slow, careful steps, and I made it to the top with all of my stuff without tumbling down to the bottom.

I took all of that as proof that I had changed as a person over the last semester. If I was the same person that I was at the beginning of the year, I would have fallen down the stairs again and lay there on the first floor, waiting for Patrick to rescue me. Instead, my college experiences had made me stronger, so that I could mount those stairs without any problems at all.

After we both unpacked our suitcases, I pulled up the Course Catalog on my phone and asked Patrick, "Do you know what you're taking yet?"

"I think so," Patrick said. "I still need to discuss it with my adviser though."

"Me too, but I can't decide which science class to take," I said. I already knew that I was going to take Morals, Values, and Ethics, Ancient Philosophy, and Public Policy, but I also had the science requirement to fulfill. There were too many science classes at Kale, and I couldn't figure out which one would be best for a philosophy major who knew nothing about science.

"I'm taking Inorganic Chemistry II and Principles of Ecology," Patrick said. "Maybe you can try one of those."

"I can't be in Inorganic Chemistry II when I haven't taken Inorganic Chemistry I," I noted.

"I suppose that's true," Patrick said. "Principles of Ecology doesn't have any prerequisites though, and I heard that Andy's taking it this semester. Maybe you'll have one of us."

"I'll do that then," I said. I looked at the clock and saw that it was time for my meeting with my adviser. "I should go," I told Patrick.

"I'll see you soon, Ryan," Patrick said. I climbed down the stairs again and walked to the Shufflebottom Center, trying not to slip on the ice that covered the sidewalks. A few minutes later, I made it to the Shufflebottom Center, where Professor Romero was waiting for me.

"You're Ryan Ross, right?" he said. I nodded, and he said, "Come on in to my office." I entered Professor Romero's office and took a seat while he pulled up some information on his computer. "I see that you've successfully completed Introduction to Philosophy, Great People of Mathematics, Advanced Piano Studies, and your Freshman Writing Seminar."

"That is correct," I said.

"I also see that you are planning to major in philosophy," Professor Romero said. "Do you realize that it is practically impossible to get a job with a philosophy degree?"

I glared at my adviser and said, "For the record, I have a job."

Professor Romero rolled his eyes and said, "If you are interested in continuing in this field, I would recommend beginning your history of philosophy sequence and taking at least one other philosophy course. What would you like to take?"