PERSPECTIVES The Michigan Daily Thursday, April 13, 1989 Page 5 Facing the end of an amazing trip BY MICHAEL LUSTIG Fasten your seatbelts. The journey is about to end. I reserved my ticket well over four years ago, in December, 1984, and confirmed my reservation in May, 1985. During the summer of 1985, as I completed one journey, I prepared for another. I spent the summer packing my preconceived ,notions and ex- pectations about college, but none of those pre-college ideas of mine came near matching the adventures I have had. political science, I kept going back. I was dazzled into a delightful confu- sion by a lay over in linguistics. A look into sociology opened my eyes to some unpleasant, but important, things, while stops in history and classical studies showed me that people today don't always learn from mistakes yesterday. But the intellectual growth has come from more than hours in (usually) stuffy classrooms. (Visits in East Engineering and the MLB have usually been under adverse con- ditions.) A tremendous source of this I knew Michigan was a big place, and coming from a very small high school, this journey was similar to taking a canoe across the Atlantic Ocean. ing from a very small high school,' this journey was similar to taking a canoe across the Atlantic Ocean. The people of my stories have brought me new adventures every time I have picked up a pen. They have shared with me their own jour- neys, which sometimes made me cu- rious, sometimes jealous, sometimes angry, but I have always been will- ing to go on, even if I did not know the obstacles ahead. Return your chairs and tray tables to their upright positions. This extended journey I am about to end has also brought me tremen- dous personal and emotional growth. I have encountered the perilous upsl and downs of the dreaded R-word, re- lationships, which have at the same time made me hesitant and anxious; to face themmagain. Through various journeys, both real and metaphorical, I have crossed the trail of friendship, and its thrills and pains. To those who have shared the ride with me, thanks for taking the risk. I hope you found the trip as worthwhile as I have. Some of my adventures have been less than entertaining, but ultimately beneficial. I have encountered, and have been able to challenge, the evils of racism, sexism, and homophobia, and without The Daily as my guide, I could not have arrived at this des- tination in the condition I am in. This leg of the journey has also opened some unpleasant caverns in human behavior. Somewhere I stum- bled over intolerance, self-righteous- ness, disrespect, contempt, and plain hatred. You have to expect to some- times wade through puddles of mud if you're looking to frolic through fields of flowers. A few years from now, this grand tour will have faded into a few vivid memories and many hazy ones. I'll need my photo albums and other as- sorted mementos to remind me of this journey. I hope to keep in touch with as many of my fellow travellers as possible once we all go on our separate routes, because my travel- ling companions are the most vital part of my experiences. But I know some will wander off, leaving me with just their memories. Those thoughts will be nice, in a sen- timental, if less than fulfilling, way. Please remain seated until we came to a complete stop. Pass the cap and gown, it's time to get off. I really don't remember what I expected anymore; it might have helped if I had written them down. I didn't know that much about Michi- gan, except that they were supposed to lose football games (I'm from Ohio, and I was an Ohio State fan, but four years of Wolverine football have cured me of that.) It has been a journey of intellec- tual growth. I've taken side trips with some of the greatest and most influential tour guides in the world. I was so enthralled by my first visit to growth has come from a place called The Michigan Daily. The events I have covered, the stories I have writ- ten, the people I have met, will leave impressions with me long after I walk out the door of the Student Publications Building for the last time. This was not something I had ex- pected when I first arrived in Ann Arbor. I had never heard of The Michigan Daily (except in The Big Chill) until I got to campus. I knew Michigan was a big place, and com- The Universityof MIChigan Inancial Aid FALL & WINTER 1989090 APPLICATION DEADLINE MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1989 Look for these cer- tificates in your fa- vorite stores, and watch for the 1989 results 14th's in April Weekend To ensure priority consideration for financial aid* for the coming school year, continuing students must submit complete application materials by the priority deadline. A complete application consists of a 1989-90 Office of Financial Aid application form, the Financial Aid Form report (from CSS), student and parental copies of the 1988 Federal income tax returens, and other documents if requested. The Office of Financial Aid must have a complete application by: MONDAY, APRIL 17,1989 *University Grant, Michigan Grant, Supplemental Grant, Work Study Programs, Perkins Loan (formerly NDSL), and Stafford Loan (GSL). Magazine! OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday 8:15-11:45 and 1:00-4:00 QUESTIONS? Call usl 763-6600 __ Complete Travel Resource Center U of M Students ow you ca START, STOP OR MOVE ri ,sto e " v *.\Q9O\0s tot t.4 g Oi c ti So o G ,e 1AM5 d your phone service with one call. .j Now you can take care of all your Michigan Bell business with just one call. If you want to order new service, disconnect, or transfer your service, call us at no charge (long distance collect) at 1 458-9900 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. We'll act on your request right away. Call us today. It's the only way to take care of your phone business quickly, easily and accurately. Remember, the number for service is 1 458-9900. ,oooo ,, " °,N C° Q ass'P° asses ./' ! Travel arrangements for Trekking, Rafting, Sea Kayaking, Canoeing, Bicycling, Horsepacking, I