Tuition: 2,750.00Books: 550.00Parking at SHSU: Priceless.no wait.IMPOSSIBLE. Last Wednesday, I drove north from Spring to Huntsville to arrive at school early enough to park and find my way to my first class. After circling the South Paw parking areas, the Stadium green permit area, and various other parking lots, it became apparent that finding a parking place was going to be slower than the winding line at the Sam Police Station for parking permits. Finally, I headed into the neighborhood looking for any space large enough for my Corolla. Five blocks up from the campus, I saw a space, wheeled into it, looked at my watch and realized that I was going to be 20 minutes late on the first day of my first class. Now, I am a firm believer in first impressions and being 20 minutes late on the first day wasn’t going to endear me to my professor.The walk uphill reminded me that I really need to get into shape. I sauntered pensively into class, embarrassed as I worked my way down a narrow aisle to the only available seat in the back of the classroom. At 52 I am not your run of the mill, traditional student, so slipping in unnoticed was absolutely out of the question. The more I thought about the cost of going to school and the need to be in class on time, the more agitated I became. But, class was engaging, the professor entertaining and soon I began to dismiss my irritation. Wednesday was a busy day getting to my new classes and purchasing all my books. I have never taken a late 5:00 p.m. class before so by the time I headed the 5 blocks up to my car, I was ready to head home for a break. It was dark and cold and my backpack was heavier with new books than it had been early that morning with only a steno pad and pen. I jumped into my car, revved it up and turned on the heater. I clicked the stick into reverse and caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. HmmmSomething on the windshield. Tuition, books and a $58.00 parking ticket to top off my first day back at SAM.
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