Editor's note: During the 2004-05 school year, reporter Ernst Lamothe Jr. and photographer Robin Scholz will follow the lives of 42 students who have taken up residence on the first floor of Scott Hall on the University of Illinois campus.
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CHAPTER 33: The Finale: Lessons Learned
Things and People have changed
A year of college life has affected nearly everyone
BY ERNST LAMOTHE JR.
NEWS-GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
Published MAY 9, 2005
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Kat McDermont had trust issues.
Michelle Chapekis was skeptical of finding decent friends who would rival her close group back home.
Michelle Trommer had good grades and even better procrastination skills in high school.
But slowly, McDermont learned to lean on others, Chapekis learned there were good people outside Arlington Heights and Trommer learned the direct correlation between finishing work early and keeping those good grades through college.
Living a year on Scott One seems to have cured many problems.
Lessons learned
McDermont never planned to let any new people into her inner circle. Things have changed.
"It has always been hard for me to trust people before this year," said the freshman from New Albany, Ind., one of six out-of-state students on the first floor. "However, once I spent so much time with the people on Scott One, that all changed. I realized that it's OK to confide in new people. Everyone on our floor is so different and they all have adapted to situations in a unique way. By talking to people about issues regarding my family, friends or school, I was able to gain new insights that I would have otherwise not understood."
Tyler Keller learned a few academic and social lessons this year, from living outside a comfort zone to having an open mind about others. He also learned other lessons that will serve him well in life:
A) Waiting a month to do laundry is a mistake.
"This makes for a stressful laundry day and a smelly closet," said Keller, of Naperville.
B) Work out, eat healthy and keep yourself looking good.
"What's the point in meeting hot girls if you look like a fatty," he added.
But more than worrying about growing out, he learned to grow up.
"I mean seriously, I matured a lot and made so many friends. I think I have changed into a moderately immature teen-ager vs. the very immature teen-ager I was last year," said Keller. "I used to be bad at breaking the ice. Now, I just use this one joke, 'Hey, do you know how much a polar bear weighs? Enough to break the ice. Hi, I'm Tyler.' Works every time."
"I've learned that every year of your life is a new chapter and a new challenge," said Al Tak of Streamwood. "And the only constant in life seems to be inconstancy. Being thrown into another new and crazy phase of my life, I think I've discovered more of who I am. And realized that even the smallest of endeavors and accomplishments require a first step on your part."
His roommate had a different answer.
"I might be the least changed person ever after one year of college," said David Plumley of Hoffman Estates. "I'm a little bit better at managing time, a little more streetwise, a harder worker, but still the same person. Kinda boring."
The first semester was trial and mostly error for Scott One students. In a battle between going out and doing homework, it was a first-round knockout and unanimous decision for partying over trips to the library. Then midterms and final semester grades arrived and studying made a ferocious, George Foreman-like comeback in the second semester.
"Start doing work ahead of time, even if it isn't due until next week," said Trommer, as advice she would give to incoming freshmen. "Because chances are your next week will be very busy."
Special memories
Some residents might miss the quirkiness of residence hall bathrooms.
"The ceiling of our bathroom leaked all year. I reported it and nothing was done," said Emily Zak - of Arlington Heights. "Actually, it was pretty sweet because, by the end of the year, there was this big balloon of water sitting in the ceiling, just waiting to blow."
"The showers have two settings, off and thermonuclear hot," added Doug Forbis of Spartanburg, S.C.
Zak's fondest memories are girls on the floor turning her room into the TV lounge, watching movies, "Sex in the City" and "Full House."
"Our room was always this meeting place. Hmmm, I wonder if Michelle (Chapekis) having TIVO had anything to do with it," Zak joked.
But when the TV was off, her biggest lesson was being accepting of others.
"You're gonna meet a lot of crazy and different people in college. Embrace it!" she said. "You can't be judgmental or you'll end up lonely and in denial."
Straight from a "Full House" episode, that sounds like something Uncle Jesse would tell D.J.
A little romantic spark was found between two residents during the second semester, while others tried and fell short of finding a new boyfriend or girlfriend to usher into the summer.
With Ryan Frasier's projector, the Wednesday movie night in the women's study lounge was a highlight throughout the year. On Scott One, there was always something going on. No matter what time it was, there was always someone up and doing something good or bad, residents said.
"In high school, the school year blows and the summer is awesome. In college, the summer blows and the school year is awesome," said Forbis.
McDermont remembers celebrating her March birthday with the floor.
"We all had an amazing time getting ready to go out," she said. "Some girls surprised me by decorating the lounge for the big night. Even the girls that had too much homework to go out that night still managed to find time to come hang out with us in the lounge before we left. That night was so much fun, thanks to the Scott One girls."
"I will miss the girls just coming into our rooms for no apparent reason," added Chapekis of Arlington Heights. "I don't think that this year could have gone better. The people on this floor are amazing and I know for a fact that I'm going to keep in touch with them for many years to come."
Every Sunday, a few Scott One guys and other Scott Hall residents had a barbeque outside. They played songs on their guitars and it was a time to tell stories and wrap up a relaxing weekend.
There were countless pranks, including one night when two roommates went out of town, but accidentally left their door open. By the time the women came back, their rooms had been TP'd from floor to ceiling. After that, some of the women decided to lock their doors before they went to bed.
"This year has flown by and I have learned to be a part of every experience, because they are limited and probably will not come around again," said Erin Powers of Libertyville.
"I grew up with no brothers or sisters, and now I feel like I have lived my freshman year with a great group of sisters and some pretty great brothers too," added Trommer. "We really got lucky to be able to share our first year of college with such a great group of people. It has been an awesome, unforgettable experience."
Others have a special event or day that they will never forget.
"I remember in the beginning of the year when we all hardly knew each other," said Tak. "I was returning home from a night of fun when I saw Ryan (Frasier) and (David) Washburn. They had been talking so I sat down to join them. On the way back in, we saw a knocked-over trash can, which was a victim of drunken vandalism. Although we didn't want to touch the trash or the dirty trash can, we decided we should pick it up. This was our dorm, and just like the trash can was one of our floormates, we were there to put it back on its feet. I could tell if any one of us were to ever fall, we'd be there to help each other up."
The future
"We were so close all we had to do was bang on the wall or yell from our computers when it was time for dinner and everyone was ready to go," said Zak. "Next year we will all have our own apartments. It'll be sad not being in everyone's business every minute of every day."
The majority of women on the floor are not returning to Scott One, opting for apartment or sorority life. Some of the men are staying, but less than half.
Plumley will be back on Scott One again with two new roommates. He talked about the transition in the same way Bruce Weber might talk about next fall's basketball team.
"As a floor, the guys' side will be a little changed," he said. "We still got a lot of key contributors coming back and some new acquisitions that I hope will make some strong contributions."
Sure, the women will visit their male friends at Scott One next year. And the Scott One men will need no incentives to get away from the residence hall and visit their female friends in their apartments. If they're lucky, the Scott One women may even offer them some leftovers.
Still, they know it won't be the same. You only get to go through your first year on Scott One once.
But if it's done right the first time, that's all you need.
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