Paul and Adrian - 3. Chapter 3

“The first day of summer school was very exciting for me. I read the first chapter in our textbook so I could concentrate on the lecture, which I didn’t realize that the professor covers more than the first chapter at each session in a summer course. By the end of the 3 hours, my hand was sore, taking notes. I looked at Paul, and he was busy with his head down, writing like crazy.

“Paul, want to go and get some lunch?”

He agreed, and we went to check out the school’s cafeteria. The food was cheap, it wasn’t that bad if you were careful about what you selected. “I didn’t realize that we’d be covering more than one chapter in class today. I was lost, but I took a lot of notes.”

“Well, at least you read the first chapter. I’ll review my notes and read the first six chapters. Now that I know what to expect, I’ll be on top of it.”

Even though I read the first chapter, I understood it more now after the class. I think that’ll be the way in all of our courses. We’ll read, hear the lectures than reread.

Heading back to their dorm, “What class is being offered this afternoon?”

“I don’t know. I select this class since it’s what I needed to complete my freshman year. I don’t think I could attend both classes based on what we covered today. There’s a lot of preparation we’re going to need for this class.”

“If we’re roommates when the fall semester starts, I may need some coaching. I have a few AP classes but not enough to begin as a sophomore.”

“I’d like to be your roommate, and I’ll be glad to help you if you need it. If the library is open, there are a few passages in this first chapter I’d like to investigate a little more. I noticed at the end of the book, and there’s a reference for the footnotes.”

“We can go and check, but I’ll bet it’s always open. There are grad students that’ll need to be using the library for research.”

I want to be Paul’s roommate, he’s a good looking kid, smart, and we seem to be getting along rather well.

I hope that Adrian and I will be dorm mates the total time I’m here. I like him. He’s serious about school, so there is no joking around, so I know I’ll do well. I don’t need distractions.

“Look, the library is open as you thought. They open at eight and close at six.”

What is it about libraries, you can smell the books, and they are so quiet? I wonder if they soundproof them, you can’t even hear a chair being moved on the wood floors. I knew I’d be spending a lot of my study time here. I hope Paul will also.

“After that first day in class, we had developed a routine. Class then lunch, followed by spending the afternoon in the library studying. Paul was a serious student, and for me, that was perfect. I could sense a deep friendship developing between us.

As this summer course began to wind down, Paul and I began to study for Finals. We were rereading notes, rereading sections of text, and preparing that one test that would count the most for the overall course grade.

The final test day arrived. I took one look at the test booklet’s thickness and knew that it’d take me the full three hours. I glanced at Paul and saw his shocked look. High school finals were two or three sheets, not thick booklets. Opening the booklet, there was a question at the top of the page and space below to write the answer, no true and false. This test was designed to test your knowledge of the subject. The little extra studying in the library will now pay off.

I looked at Paul. I could see he was feeling the same way I did. If you passed this test, there would be no question that you understood the subject matter. I was glad that I enrolled in summer school. If I had waited till the fall to take this course, I probably wouldn’t have learned as much. Studying at the library was going to prove it was worth the time.

“Paul, how do you think you did?”

“I have a good feeling about it. Studying at the library and the additional material we read helped a lot. I think that was a good approach to studying, which I’ll continue to use.”

“I agree. I used the library a lot when I was in high school. I think it helped me in my AP courses.”

“When do you think we’ll get our grades?”

“I’m not sure. It’s going to take the prof time to read all of those booklets.”

“I bet he has graduate students doing that.”

“Do you think everyone finished the booklet?”

“Those who were serious about the subject, yes. I noticed a few were taking the course to just pass. Probably to fill in a course requirement.”

“We have two weeks before the next course. Are you going home?”

“No, I’m going to stay here, and now that I have an idea of what to expect for the next course, I’ll begin to read the book. I also need to find a part-time job. What are you going to do Paul?”

“If you’re staying, I might stay as well. I don’t need a part-time job, but that wouldn’t hurt. It would give me a little more spending money. I’ll call my grandparents this evening and discuss with them about staying.”