Hello. My name is Travis W. Gillison. I am currently a student at the University of Southern Indiana (USI). It is an average-sized school, with enrollment this year around 8,300 students. It is located in Evansville, Indiana, which is at the southernwest tip of Indiana. I am from New Whiteland, Indiana, which is about 3 1/2 hours from USI, and about 40 minutes south of Indianapolis. I am 19, and I chose to go to USI because of the cost. For those of you who live in Indiana, and are finding it difficult to finance your post-secondary education, look into USI. It has the lowest tuition in Indiana. To go there, and I am not including living expenses, (toiletries, groceries, and phone bills) I am paying approximately $2,400 a semester, which amounts to a little under $5,000 a year. That is very inexpensive, compared to other schools in the state (IU, Purdue, Ball State). The housing is spectacular as well. The main type of housing that USI has is apartments, that have four students, rather then two.
Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, couch, chairs and study desks, and a good size living-room. Compared to a matchbox-sized dormitory at a college like IU, these are heavenly.
I am a freshman. I was unable to attend college when I graduated, because I ran into financial trouble. I was unaware that USI even existed, until a former co-worker informed me of the school's prescence. Needless to say, after visiting the campus, I chose to go. Enough about USI, though...If you wish to know more, just click on the link below the photograph.
I do not have a lot of interests. I have not declared a major, but I am leaning toward a communications degree, with emphasis in radio and television. I am a huge movie buff, and I would love to be involved with behind-the-camera work of a motion picture, or a television program. I think that would be a career that would offer opportunities like no other. It also has the opportunity of being extremely prestigious. I will admit it; I am greedy, and I think film or television could bring great wealth. After all, I would like to live in Malibu, which would not be possible on your average income.
I am a tremendous fan of music, hence the webpage. I play guitar, and have since I was about 14. My father plays also, and he had a tremendous influence on me. I play every single day, even if it is for five minutes, or an hour. There are a lot of people out there who assume that if you do not have some sort of prodigal musical talent, that you cannot play guitar. That is bullshit. If you have the time, and enough patience, and can play every day, you will develop the ability over time. I take it for granted that I have gotten to the point that I am at, but I am nowhere near where I would like to be. Granted, I will never be a Satriani, or a Stevie Ray, but maybe I can be another Adam Jones (guitarist of the band Tool).
I would love to correspond with anyone who is in college, and shares my interests. Just write to the address on the first page. If you wish to learn more about me, continue browsing this particular section within my page.
For more information on the University of Southern Indiana, go to their homepage.
I will be honest: College is somewhat like people make it out to be, but there are discrepancies. Sure, it's work, there are parties, and there are lots of girls (or guys, if that's your thing). But, people assume that the classes and the homework are just bound to take up so much of your time, and if you work, and have a decent social life, that you basically don't have time to do anything else. This is highly exaggerated....
College does involve work, but I've always said that college is 40% education, and the other 60% is the life. The College Way of Life, as I've crowned it, is a laid-back and extremely fun social existence. I have broken down college into eight basic principles....
The College Way of Life
1. Procrastinate....Hold everything off as long as possible. Everybody procrastinates, but no one person can honestly say that they have mastered it until they go to college. It's insanely easy to do, but you have to put some real effort into making procrastination a thing of fun. I have honed it into an artform. I do everything at the last minute, but that doesn't necessarily make for a quality deficiency. I am making good grades, and shall continue to do so (since I am paying for 85% of everything).
2. Parties....I admit that I do not drink that often, but I have been to a lot of parties. The word party does not necessarily mean "alcohol," but it's pretty damn accurate. I just go, because it's so cool to meet new people. I used to be quite shy, and parties are an excellent way of meeting people, (not to mention playing Matchbox 20's "Push" for chicks) and it is an opportunity to enjoy life like never before. Sure, you can have parties back home, but they don't emanate the amusement of a college party.
3. Sleep Late/Stay Up Late....I have this one pretty high above some of the other principles, but that is because it is one of the guiding forces of my life. I have always been a night owl, but it sucked to be one back home, because all of my friends went to bed at the time that I was most wired. In college, however, there are lots of people who do the same thing....To give you an idea of what "late" is....On usual....Stay up until 2 or 3 am on weekdays, and get up around 12 or 1 pm....Sure, I have early classes, so that's not always possible, but sometimes I just skip class (see principle no. 5). On weekends, there are no limits....
4. Get Involved....College offers opportunities like no other institution. I am currently the films director for our student organization, Activities Programming Board, which is the main organization that coordinates a lot of the fun programs on-campus, such as movies, comedy acts, and homecoming events. There are fraternities and sororities of course, but I despise them, so I won't support them....
5. Skip Class....This is a must. If you want to sleep in, or you are behind in a different class, skip the class you are about to go to. Or, if you just don't feel like going, skip. Make sure, however, that you know the attendence proceedings by heart, because some classes have rules where a third abscence will cause a deduction in your grade. Lecture courses, however, usually don't even take attendence.
6. Sex....Sex is a prodigiously broad topic, so it is difficult to generalize....However, it is such an integral part of college life, it had to be mentioned....
7. Alcohol....Okay, let's be honest....For those of you who do not drink, how often have you at least tried alcohol? I don't drink, but I can, and will; if there's stuff I like, I'm doin' it....I'm mainly referring to screwdrivers, Jack Daniels' coolers (I know, girl drinks), and Bacardi Limon....Don't try Everclear!
8. Experimentation....College is the time in a person's life that they must do things that they've have never tried before (and have been afraid to)....For the most part, the cliques are gone from college, so the fear of thinking about what others will think is gone. What kinds of things should you try? Well, pierce something, a tattoo, color your hair....Dress completely differently....What have I done, you ask? I have both nipples pierced, my navel pierced, and my hair is now black, with burgandy roots (I am a blonde). I plan on getting a tattoo, my eyebrow pierced, and maybe my labret (just below the bottom lip) pierced.
My life is really pretty simple. I don't abide by much authority, and I always feel that if someone has to be told what to do, they probably can't think for their own anyway....I don't care what people think of me, and I don't care what people do....There are a lot of socially offensive people in this world, but it doesn't stop people like me from making all the money!
I hate trends. Some of the things I do may be considered "trendy," but that's an assault on my opinions, rather then an actual attack to my attitudes, which bother me the most. I find my attitude to be rather laid-back, but strongly supported by my beliefs. If you disagree with things I do or say, fine...Just be prepared to back yourself up....I don't like whimps. Life doesn't call for the meek....The world calls for the eager.
A good friend of mine, Dave [last name omitted], has always fought for what he believes in, and I have always respected him for that. He has encompassed a lot of hate for the world in me, but that's because he merely brought it out, rather then caused it. I am glad he did. He's not afraid to tell people what he thinks, and some people are afraid of him. Good. I'm sure he'd like to know that. He's not some sort of recluse, but he prefers to be left alone. That's the way I feel.
Since I have been in college, my very lifestyle has changed dramatically. I don't have to worry about waking up in the morning and hearing Mom and Dad complain about whatever it is I did the day before....I don't have to do anything I don't want to. I can skip class occasionally, and not worry about anybody saying anything. I can cuss and talk anyway I want to, and I don't have to worry about anybody hearing me....That's a plus! I have a rather vulgar mouth....Defending my personalities requires the occasional obscenity....
I wish to correspond with anybody who agrees with any of these "philosophies".... If you wish to further the cause of "trendkilling" as Pantera eloquently puts it, I strongly advise you to contact Atropo, because he would love to hear from you. If you would like to talk to me about anything, please feel free to write my school address, or my home address.