Ducks @ Oregon - University of Oregon

How this Duck Hatched

Peter E.

October 1, 2009 - 11:41 AM

"Why the University of Oregon?" my baffled friends, family members, and neighbors questioned when I decided on the U of O. My fellow desert rats in Phoenix could not grasp why I would leave Arizona, and when I did, to bypass the University of California system for of all places Eugene, Oregon.

While loyal to my friends and family, I was very eager to flee the 110 degree summers, strip malls, freeway traffic jams, smog, the dusty valley, a citizenry still clenching to Wild West ideals, and the big city. I could not wait to move to a place far removed from where I had grown up for 18 years. But I never voiced this logic, I usually answered with a casual shrug and quick reply as not to offend, "I dunno, I like it."

I first set foot on the University of Oregon campus a little over four years ago. My family and I were fleeing another brutal Phoenix summer to the Northwest, and we thought it would be prudent to tour some universities during our vacation. I had seen Oregon State, UW, and several other schools, but was not thoroughly enthused by any of my visits. However, as we exited the I-5, much like our predecessors Lewis and Clark had done years earlier on their expedition, there was a glowing aura surrounding Eugene-perhaps it emanated from the lightning yellow "O" on Autzen Stadium. I must admit my first impression was somewhat shallow seeing Autzen Stadium rising through the trees and later the historic Hayward Field, but the mystique of Oregon athletics gave me an immediate sense of pride that allowed for a deeper appreciation of the community. The campus' beauty with old brick buildings rising out of lush green foliage definitely gave the campus eye appeal, and the wide array of academic majors and the Robert D. Clark Honors College only added to my excitement. I returned home to Phoenix a Duck in waiting.

Four years later, I am happy to call Eugene and the University of Oregon home, and do not regret my decision for a moment. The culture, the people, the environment, and the academics constantly amaze me with new opportunities to better myself and enjoy a very high quality of life. To illustrate, just this last week I attended a concert at McDonald Theatre, a Ducks football game, honors college seminars, and hiked in the cascades. It's a hard life, but I manage.

However, I don't simply get to relax all the time (as much as I'd like to), and typically I'm busy with Honors College commitments-writing a thesis and directing the Clark Honors Introductory Program (CHIP) for freshmen-and I am a Campus Campaign Coordinator with Teach For America. I am also currently in the process of applying to Teach For America, and I hope to teach next year after I graduate. Nonetheless, I find a comfortable balance between work and fun, which I think is representative of being a coordinator on the snowboard club. As a coordinator I set up trips to the mountain, recruit new members, and set up events, but it pays off because at the end of the week you get to go snowboarding-a good amount of work for a huge return.

In the mean time, I look forward to the weekly events that make U of O spectacular: the Ducks beating USC on Halloween in Autzen Stadium, the fall harvest hitting Saturday Market, autumn color to start dotting the Willamette Valley, and the first snowfall in the cascades. Fall's a great time to be a Duck.