	March 1998

How to Succeed in College

Dustin Gill

Hello again. This is Dustin Gill witih another (award-winning) article. As you may recall, my last article was about my move from my home to a hospital to my own home. This time I thought I would expand on something I mentioned in my previous article. I mentioned last time that among all the great things my move back to the community allowed me to do, was the chance to attend college courses on campus. Assistive technology played a part in this story.

When I was in Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, I went to school in a van owned by me and the other two guys living here at my home. I used my computer to write my papers for the class. Other kinds of technology I rely on are my ventilator and my computer. The vent keeps me alive and my computer keeps me sane(mostly).

I attempted to take two courses by video at Catonsville Community College. As much as I tried to watch all the videos and read the books, I just couldn't do it. There was either too much noise in the area or it wasn't interesting to me because I always ended up falling asleep. It wasn't that I didn't like the subjects because I did have interest in them. I think the real problem was the guys on the videos who are experts talking continuously in a monotone voice. The reading was even more tedious as most college textbooks I've read are. Anyhow, I never completed either of the classes and really didn't care. I never attempted to take another course by video and probably never will again.

Before I left Mt. Washington or maybe a few days after leaving, I signed some papers(some of which I later regretted signing) for Kennedy Krieger Institution. Most of them were forms telling me what my rights are and other things. One of the papers I signed was an agreement that I would either get a job outside my home or be enrolled in and attending a college course. About a year later someone comes to me and tells me that if I don't get a job or register for school soon that I will be kicked out of the house and put in a nursing home. A couple months go by with me fighting not to go and them telling me I have to go or else. Eventually I lose the battle and get registered for Psychology 101 which is about a hour and 25 minute long class twice a week which was plenty for me.

The thing I hated most was having to be pushed around in my wheelchair. Ordinarily I operate my wheelchair with a sip and puff system, but when I started school it had been broke for about a month. So along with me paranoid about my looks, I had no independence. Luckily, a few weeks later my wheelchair got fixed which made things easier on me.

My first day of class was September 4th, 1997. I go to the college feeling nervous as all hell. It was the first time in four years that I had been in a classroom with other students. The professor of the class was nice enough. It took a couple of class sessions before the professor would talk to me and not my nurse. The class was often long and boring but eventually I made it through. I made it through the semester. I also made a new friend who I lost contact with, unfortunately. I never got a grade for the class either.

Well that is about all I have to tell you about the ghost of college past. The ghost of college present was going to be in effect, but certain people interfered. As for the ghost of college yet to come, I'll probably be going back this coming Summer or Fall. This is the ghost of Dustin Gill saying, "Until next time..."

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