Chicken Soup for the College Soul Read online

  * * *

  title : Chicken Soup for the College Soul : Inspiring and Humorous Stories About College

  author : Canfield, Jack

  publisher : Health Communications, Inc.

  isbn10 | asin :

  print isbn13 : 9781558747029

  ebook isbn13 : 9780585101569

  language : English

  subject College students--Conduct of life.

  publication date : 1999

  lcc : BJ1661.C26 1999eb

  ddc : 158.1/28/0842

  subject : College students--Conduct of life.

  Page i

  What People Are Saying About

  Chicken Soup for the College Soul . . .

  "Many of my most vivid memories and challenges happened during my college years at the University of Oklahoma. The mechanics of achievement that I learned have helped me move from being a student-athlete to an Olympic Champion and an achiever in the so-called 'real world.' Chicken Soup for the College Soul focuses on the critical years when we are setting the path for our future. I am sure readers will be inspired by the touching anecdotes that have made the Chicken Soup series so successful. I give it a 10.0!"

  Bart Conner

  1984 Olympic Gold Medal gymnast

  sports commentator

  "Chicken Soup for the College Soul is the hottest hit on college campuses today."

  Rick Dees

  Rick Dees Weekly Top 40

  "If you enjoyed my story of my experience at Notre Dame, you will love the stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul."

  Rudy Ruettlinger

  of the Tri-Star motion picture, Rudy

  "As a former college administrator for twenty-two years and the current executive director of an association focused on development issues for college students, I can recommend Chicken Soup for the College Soul as a valuable resource for students and parents. These inspiring stories provide insight into the types of learning so important to students as they prepare for life beyond college."

  Alan B. Davis

  executive director, National Association for Campus Activities

  "Absolutely amazing! College is such a critical time in one's life journey, and this book inspires, empowers, and guides anyone in college or entering college. This book has encouraged me to never give up on my dreams, no matter what."

  Elizabeth Randazzese

  president, Student Government Association

  junior, Rowan University

  Page ii

  "I attribute my success as a family man, football player and businessman to the inspirational principles found in Chicken Soup for the College Soul. I highly recommend this book to all young people everywhere."

  Roger Staubach

  chairman and CEO, The Staubach Company

  Heisman Trophy winner, 1963

  NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback, 1985

  Super Bowl MVP

  "College is such a unique time and can be such a uniquely wonderful time if a student is inspired to make the most of it. Chicken Soup for the College Soul brings to lifesometimes poignantly, sometimes pointedly and sometimes pleasurablythat the fullest trip through college is a wide-ranging exploration of curricular, extracurricular and personal opportunities."

  Gregory F. Hauser, Esq.

  president, National Interfraternity Conference

  "I am so glad to see the Chicken Soup series expanded to include college students. In fact, I first heard about these books from one of my own children, a college freshman. These are fun and happy books that help all of us in our daily need for practical wisdom and inspiration. I gladly recommend this newest book for the college student."

  Dr. Robert B. Sloan Jr.

  president, Baylor University

  "These heartfelt stories remind me how truly generous, caring, and dedicated many college campus leaders are today! And they inspire me, too!"

  W. H. "Butch" Oxendine Jr.

  publisher and editor in chief, Student Leader Magazine

  "The college experience, especially in today's fast-paced, technology-driven world, involves far more than what takes place in the classroom. Chicken Soup for the College Soul is not just a collection of stories; it is a compilation of the many experiences that students endure as they progress through this oftentimes challenging period in their lives. Some of those experiences are inspirational and moving, others simply amusing and entertaining. This book, no doubt, could be a valuable

  Page iii

  companion throughout a student's entire collegiate career, providing incentive, motivation, and reassurance that everything will work out."

  James H. McCormick

  chancellor, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

  "This latest Chicken Soup publication is a very readable and poignant reminder that the individuals who benefit the most from college are the ones who are open to new experiences and appreciate people who are different from them. This is must reading for college students of all ages."

  Paul M. Oliaro

  vice president for Student Affairs, West Chester University

  "I read this book toward the end of my freshman year at college. I laughed so hard (and cried, too) that my roommates thought I was crazy. Before long they insisted that I read the stories out loud so they could share in the laughter (or tears)."

  Lia Gay

  student, University of Kansas

  "Chicken Soup for the College Soul serves up a taste of what every student needs: love, hope, and encouragement. It will warm your heart, touch your soul and empower you to go for your dreams. Every student should read this book!"

  James Malinchak

  author, From College to the Real World

  "College is so stressful and so often you just want to get in bed and pull the covers over your head. Curling up with this book is the perfect medicine for 'a day in the life of a college student.' "

  Matt Boucher

  college student

  "This book captures the true essence of the college experience. Chicken Soup for the College Soul shares touching and inspirational stories about the most important lessons learned in college, the ones outside the classroom. Chicken Soup for the College Soul is a must-have during this pivotal stage in personal development called 'college.' "

  Jeremy Louis Harman

  director, Conference on Student Government Associations

  student, Texas A & M University

  Page iv

  "My college days were so filled with the unknown and the unexpected. Even after taking a year off as Miss America between my sophomore and junior years, I would still constantly worry about the wisdom of my decisions, the disappointment of new failures and the knowledge that giving up wasn't an option. College was a concentrated time for my young mind to learn how to react to challenge . . . and to teach myself in practicality the old saying, 'Success is never final, and failure is never fatal.' Chicken Soup for the College Soul inspires students to not just survive college, but to feast on the character-defining moments unique to the college experience."

  Sharlene Hawkes

  former Miss America

  "Some of the most moving and inspirational stories come from the experiences of college-age adults. However, your soul does not have to be college age to be touched and motivated by this extraordinary book."

  Grant Teaff

  executive director, American Football Coaches Association

  "Chicken Soup for the Col
lege Soul is the perfect recipe to keep us warm and wise during life's 'winter' moments. Just a few pages and our fire is relit, propelling us forward, once again, to go back out into the world and shine!"

  Cathy Lee Crosby

  actress, producer

  author, Let the Magic Begin

  "Chicken Soup for the Soul has done it again! It reminds us that a good deed, an act of kindness or simply sharing oneself honestly with others can be life changing."

  Derick Morat

  director of student activities & University Center, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California

  Page v

  Chicken Soup for the College Soul

  Inspiring and Humorous Stories About College

  Jack Canfield

  Mark Victor Hansen

  Kimberly Kirberger

  Dan Clark

  Health Communications, Inc.

  Deerfield Beach, Florida

  www.hci-online.com

  www.chickensoup.com

  Page vi

  We would like to acknowledge the following publishers and individuals for permission to reprint the following material. (Note: The stories that were penned anonymously, that are in the public domain, or that were written by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Kimberly Kirberger or Dan Clark are not included in this listing.)

  Common Ground. Reprinted by permission of Megan Narcini. ©1999 Megan Narcini.

  The Wonder Years. Reprinted by permission of William Morris Agency, Inc. on behalf of the author. Copyright ©1990 by Hugh Gallagher.

  Never Say Never. Reprinted by permission of Rosa Torcasio. ©1999 Rosa Torcasio.

  College Bound. Reprinted by permission of Dave Barry. ©1998 Dave Barry.

  Bloopers from College Admission Essays. Reprinted by permission of Richard Lederer. ©1999 Richard Lederer.

  Strange Scholarships. Reprinted from Uncle John's Great Big Bathroom Reader by The Bathroom Readers' Institute. Copyright ©1998 by Bathroom Readers' Press, www.bathroomreader.com Reprinted with permission.

  (Continued on page 337)

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Chicken soup for the college soul: inspiring and humorous stories about college /

  [compiled by] Jack Canfield . . . [et al.].

  p. cm.

  ISBN 1-55874-703-6 (hardcover).ISBN 1-55874-702-8 (pbk.).ISBN 1-55874-

  705-2 (audio tape).ISBN 1-55874-704-4 (audio CD).

  1. College studentsConduct of life. I. Canfield, Jack, date.

  BJ1661.C26 1999 99-22238

  158.1'28'0842dc21 CIP

  ©1999 Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.

  ISBN 1-55874-702-8 (trade paper) ISBN 1-55874-703-6 (hardcover)

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.

  3201 S.W. 15th Street

  Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190

  Cover redesign by Andrea Perrine Brower

  Book design by Lawna Patterson Oldfield

  Cover photo ©1999 Terry Wild Studio

  Page vii

  From our hearts to yours,

  we dedicate this book to everyone

  who has ever attempted to better his or her life

  through the pursuit of a higher education.

  Page ix

  CONTENTS

  Acknowledgments

  xv

  Introduction

  xxi

  From a Previous Reader

  xxiii

  Share with Us

  xxvii

  1. Getting in

  The Wonder Years

  Hugh Gallagher

  2

  Never Say Never

  Rosa Torcasio

  6

  College Bound

  Dave Barry

  9

  Bloopers from College Admission Essays

  Richard Lederer

  12

  Strange Scholarships

  Uncle John's Great Big Bathroom Reader

  14

  The Envelope, Please

  Rory Evans

  16

  If the Dream Is Big Enough, the Facts Don't Count

  Cynthia Stewart-Copier

  20

  Hani

  Jamie Winship

  23

  Inspiration Can Be Anywhere

  Cerie L. Couture

  27

  A Proposal to Myself

  Sarah Lockyer

  32

  2. Transition

  Good-Bye, Mr. Blib

  Beth Mullally

  36

  A Dad Says Good-Bye

  Joseph Danziger

  39

  College Talk

  Kimberly Kirberger

  41

  Page x

  The "No Hug" Rule

  Cheryl Costello-Forshey

  43

  Shoes in the Shower

  Lia Gay and Rebecca Hart

  48

  Deck the Halls

  Melanie Fester

  52

  A Letter from College

  Adam Christing

  55

  The Times I Called Home from College

  Scott Greenberg

  57

  The Long Road Home

  Lia Gay

  60

  Breakdown of Family Traced to Psych. 1 Student

  Beth Mullally

  64

  3. Lessons From the Classromm

  Undeclared

  Tal Vigderson

  68

  Making the Grade

  Varda One

  71

  The Good, the Bad and the Emmy

  David Wiemers

  76

  The Thought Card

  Hanoch McCarty

  80

  I Passed the Test

  Paula Lopez-Crespin

  86

  The Wicker Chair

  Eva Rosenberg

  89

  Dissed

  Mary J. Davis

  93

  How to Get an A on Your Final Exam

  Tony D'Angelo

  94

  A Compassionate Philosophy

  Kristi Nay

  98

  Library Science

  Jenna McCarthy

  102

  Your Legacy

  Tony D'Angelo

  108