The scariest thing about senior year at UCLA is the realization
that graduation is actually going to happen. And, judging from the
recent attempts of my friends and fellow fourth-year students to
act sophisticated, I realize that I’m not alone in my desire
to be a little more adult.
It’s as though we not only feel the need to abandon the
activities that marked our college social lives, such as Westwood
parties, and replace them with what we deem more adult
alternatives, but to dress the part, too.
For example, people I know whose appearances at arts events
usually didn’t go beyond rock concerts and movies are now
making their weekend plans reflect a more cosmopolitan taste.
Several friends of mine who I didn’t believe had a knowledge
of classical music extending beyond that of Bach and Beethoven have
made recent trips downtown to attend performances by the Los
Angeles Philharmonic. A few have even ventured out to art exhibits
around the city in lieu of watching TV hungover on a Saturday
afternoon.
But, the best example of seniors endeavoring to prove their
recently acquired sophistication is the sheer number of us going to
the theater ““ and I’m talking about people who until
now would never have set foot inside a playhouse by choice.
One of my friends with whom I have plans to go to the theater
even admitted that the last time she went to see a play involved
riding on a bus in fourth grade.
I’ve even noticed seniors dressing a little nicer for
class, abandoning what is unfortunately the college dress code of a
UCLA sweatshirt, jeans, and Rainbow flip-flops in favor of an
outfit that involves real shoes. I was stunned recently to hear the
word “slacks” coming out of a friend’s mouth when
she was discussing her clothing options for an event the following
night.
And, when I threw a party a couple of weeks ago, I chose to
refrain from having the typical college kegger or beer and nachos
party for a small wine and cheese party. I even decided it would be
more adult of me to use real wine glasses instead of red party cups
and resisted the temptation to buy Charles Shaw, the wine that has
gotten me through many nights at UCLA.
Last Saturday, I even decided to attend a friend’s
birthday party in West Hollywood rather than hit up the UCLA party
scene. It didn’t matter to me that this friend was a woman
with whom I had travelled to Africa over the summer and that she
was celebrating her 35th birthday ““ I was confident that I
was adult enough now to fit in.
I learned immediately when I got there and saw half the people
wearing cocktail dresses or suits that the staple college party
outfit of a black shirt, jeans and heels erred a bit on the
under-dressed side when it came to post-college soirees.
Then there was the fact that people’s ability to recover
from drinking declines after college, meaning that the case of
water bottles was nearly empty, while the Absolut was virtually
untouched.
And while I definitely had a good time at the party, I came back
to Westwood uncertain that I was completely ready to give up
Westwood parties and spend my weekends as a college student at
get-togethers where people on the guest list have gray hair.
It was then that I decided to look at my status as a senior in a
new way. An impending graduation means that we can have the best of
both worlds, enjoying the sophisticated arts outings and soirees
that may or may not make up life post-college, while taking
advantage of the next couple months we have to act like
irresponsible undergraduates with a penchant for cheap drinks.
Like tonight, I intend on
following an evening at the
theater with a good old WestÂwood party.
Have any advice on how Rodgers can act a little more adult?
E-mail her at jrodgers@media.ucla.edu.