In college, I've learned to live like a homeless person. Four years of a top-notch education has taught me the best ways to get by in life for as little as possible (especially when that education costs around $160,000). During my time here, I have noticed the following things about myself:
- Will Work for Food (and Drink)
I mean it. As a photographer for The Chronicle for the past four years, I have gone to many boring and mundane meetings and taken photos for one reason and one reason only-there's a free dinner involved. GPSC meeting? Sure. Multicultural affairs dinner? When does it start?
I love working for the paper and sorely will miss everyone that I have become friends with here. And at the end of the year, I always make sure to take advantage of the all-you-can-eat-and-drink affair that they throw for us "volunteers." Trust me, if you see any Facebook photos, you'll know I took advantage.
- Free T-shirts (or anything else for that matter) are essential
I believe I have two to three weeks' worth of T-shirts in my dresser, and all of them were given to me for free. I have supported K-ville and the AOPi dodgeball tournament, lived in a dorm, lived in a quad and lived on Central.
Getting free clothing can be a very dangerous thing, however, for when supply cannot meet the demand, people get violent. I think I still have scars from the battle-royale that was the distribution of my "Sophomores! Duke Class of 2007!" sweatshirt. I need nothing but a free blanket or a beer stein to feel loved by this school. I like to look at all my free stuff, and then look at my bursar bill and curse the "activities fee."
- Fuqua study? Five minutes for one dollar? Awesome!
Instead of actually getting a steady job, I have decided that the best way to make money is to sign up for Fuqua studies. Try not to schedule classes on Friday, so you can pull some heavy cash with five 30-minute studies, each paying $10!
Those Bryan Center surveys? Even better. It takes one minute for me to bubble in some questions; one minute's work translates into a McDonald's snack wrap.
- Living in a tent, staying up late, wearing non-matching layers of clothes and then standing around a bonfire
'Nuff said. That either describes a Cameron Crazie tenting for two months or a homeless man using The Chronicle you're reading for fuel.
How can I complain about what I have learned during my four years of college? I now have the skills necessary for a life in graduate school! Furthermore, my time here at The Chronicle has been priceless. I have flown all over the country to watch our football team "compete" against powerhouses like Virginia Tech and Florida State. I have witnessed many speeches and performances that I otherwise would have missed because I was ignorant or "too busy." The friendships that I have made throughout the years will last a lifetime. The newspaper has given me many opportunities to explore the best our University has to offer.
Even though I might act like a homeless person, Duke has been a great home for four years. In that sense, I guess I don't need money to feel rich.
Weiyi Tan is a Trinity senior. He is the current sports photography editor for The Chronicle.
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