Chuck Conway

In Stories

One Month...

July 17, 2003 · 2 minute read

In one month I will be basking in the warm California sun and walking into the halls at Chico State for the first and last times…

My Journey to Chico

In the spring of 97 I was attending University of Alaska Anchorage(UAA), at the time I had a job with the University Grounds crew. It was a temp job, but it served it’s purpose. I usually worked with a guy named Bill, he was 25 or 26, had a kid and a girlfriend. He had been talking for awhile about going on “exchange” to another state for a year.

There’s a program called The National Student Exchange Program (“NSE”) it allows students from one University to attend another one without paying out of state tuition and going through the process of being “admitted”. But you can only use the NSE program a total of one year in your lifetime.

In early February of 97 Bill finally convinced me to visit the NSE coordinator at the UAA campus. I went in and talked to her, just trying to figure things out and if I could afford it and fit it into my life. After a couple more visits (by the time the third visit, I think she was getting tired of seeing me : ) ) I had decided to see what Chico State had to offer. So I called them up and ordered a catalog.

It took a little more coercing from Bill, but I decided that I would go. I filled out the paperwork and paided the 35 dollars registration fee and was awaiting approval. I had to pick 3 schools just incase that I did not get into Chico State.

My choices were:

  • Chico State
  • Humbolt University
  • University of Nevada Reno

Of course I got into Chico State, and the rest is history. Chico State and living on my own has changed my life. As all college experiences are they are some of the best times of peoples lives as with me I am no exception they have been the best years of my life.

A couple years after I left for Chico State I lost contact with my friend Bill. I often think of him and wonder what he is up to. Wherever he is, I just want to say thanks, for talking me into going on the exchange program it changed my life!