How does change happen?

It wasn't long before I found myself at Kale once again, ready to face whatever second semester would bring. Even before making it to Flack Hall, I spotted all of my favorite people. Patrick was by my side as I dragged my suitcase back to my residence hall, and I found Joe, Andy, and Hayley hanging out in the dining hall. Gerard and Frank were in front of the Greek Friendship Society house, welcoming the other members of Delta Omicron Gamma back to campus. I found Laura buying her textbooks, and Pete was sitting on a bench outside of the Shufflebottom Center, eating a slice of pizza and playing with his fidget spinner. The only person who was missing was Brendon, but if I didn't see him during the day, I would surely see him at night.

I crunched through the snow until I made it to Flack Hall, where I found a few other freshmen returning from Winter Break. I hauled my suitcase upstairs, making sure that I wouldn't slip and fall like I had when I was moving into this dorm for the first time. I took slow, careful steps, and I made it to the top with all of my stuff without tumbling down to the bottom.

I took all of that as proof that I had changed as a person over the last semester. If I was the same person that I was at the beginning of the year, I would have fallen down the stairs again and lay there on the first floor, waiting for Patrick to rescue me. Instead, my college experiences had made me stronger, so that I could mount those stairs without any problems at all.

After we both unpacked our suitcases, I pulled up the Course Catalog on my phone and asked Patrick, "Do you know what you're taking yet?"

"I think so," Patrick said. "I still need to discuss it with my adviser though."

"Me too, but I can't decide which science class to take," I said. I already knew that I was going to take Morals, Values, and Ethics, Ancient Philosophy, and Public Policy, but I also had the science requirement to fulfill. There were too many science classes at Kale, and I couldn't figure out which one would be best for a philosophy major who knew nothing about science.

"I'm taking Inorganic Chemistry II and Principles of Ecology," Patrick said. "Maybe you can try one of those."

"I can't be in Inorganic Chemistry II when I haven't taken Inorganic Chemistry I," I noted.

"I suppose that's true," Patrick said. "Principles of Ecology doesn't have any prerequisites though, and I heard that Andy's taking it this semester. Maybe you'll have one of us."

"I'll do that then," I said. I looked at the clock and saw that it was time for my meeting with my adviser. "I should go," I told Patrick.

"I'll see you soon, Ryan," Patrick said. I climbed down the stairs again and walked to the Shufflebottom Center, trying not to slip on the ice that covered the sidewalks. A few minutes later, I made it to the Shufflebottom Center, where Professor Romero was waiting for me.

"You're Ryan Ross, right?" he said. I nodded, and he said, "Come on in to my office." I entered Professor Romero's office and took a seat while he pulled up some information on his computer. "I see that you've successfully completed Introduction to Philosophy, Great People of Mathematics, Advanced Piano Studies, and your Freshman Writing Seminar."

"That is correct," I said.

"I also see that you are planning to major in philosophy," Professor Romero said. "Do you realize that it is practically impossible to get a job with a philosophy degree?"

I glared at my adviser and said, "For the record, I have a job."

Professor Romero rolled his eyes and said, "If you are interested in continuing in this field, I would recommend beginning your history of philosophy sequence and taking at least one other philosophy course. What would you like to take?"

"I'd like to take Ancient Philosophy and Morals, Values, and Ethics," I said.

"You were interested in Metaphysics last time we spoke," Professor Romero said. "What changed?"

"I thought that I wanted to know what was real and what wasn't, but I realized that none of that matters if I don't know what's right and what's wrong," I said. "If my life is real, and there's no way to know that for sure, then I need to know how to live it to the fullest..."

"I really shouldn't ask you questions anymore," Professor Romero said. "Anyways, you should also get a few more of your general education requirements finished. Your Freshman Writing Seminar, humanities courses, and math course are complete, but you still have two social science courses and a science course to take."

"I'll take Public Policy and Principles of Ecology," I said.

"Both of those are excellent choices, although I would always recommend another math class just for fun," Professor Romero said. "Since you took Advanced Piano Studies last semester, you could take Piano Performance Theory this semester."

"I'm not interested," I said.

"That's fine," Professor Romero said. "Are there any other classes that you'd like to take?"

"I think that's all," I said.

"Excellent," Professor Romero said. "I'll see you later, Ryan."

"Bye, Professor Romero," I said as I left his office. In the end, I was happy with my new classes. I would get to learn about philosophy in two different classes, and Public Policy and Principles of Ecology didn't sound too bad, especially if Patrick and Andy might be in my science class. If I had trouble, they could always help me. The best part of my new schedule was that I would only have to play piano at the Aubergine, and I would never have to have Professor Leopold looking over my shoulder again.

That night, I went to the Aubergine a little bit early. Brendon grinned when he saw me, and he said, "Hey Ryan. Did you get the gift that I sent you?"

"I did get your ice cream," I said. "It was a little bit melted, but I loved it anyways. It was so nice of you to send me something."

Brendon walked to the other side of the room and picked up the brand new microphone that I had sent him as his holiday gift. "Thanks for this, by the way," Brendon said into the microphone. "I definitely needed a new one. You're the best."

"Brendon, you do not need to tell the entire bar about your holiday gift," I said.

"Why not?" Brendon said, still into the microphone. "It's kind of fun. I feel like I'm the supreme ruler of the Aubergine or something."

By that point, everyone in the bar was staring at the two of us. I ducked over to the piano bench and played a few simple chords. Meanwhile, Brendon was busy saying movie quotes into his new microphone and making funny faces. I couldn't help but laugh a few times, despite his silliness.

Eventually, Brendon got bored with playing around and came back to me. "Ryan, what did you do today?" he asked me as he leaned against the piano.

"I signed up for classes," I said.

"What classes did you sign up for?" Brendon asked.

"Ancient Philosophy, Morals, Values, and Ethics, Public Policy, and Principles of Ecology," I answered.

"Why didn't you sign up for theater?" Brendon asked. "I bet you'd enjoy that."

"No, that sounds like something you'd like," I said.

Brendon smiled and said, "I guess you're right. I wish that we had some classes together. Then I wouldn't have to wait until I get to the Aubergine to see you."

"It's not too late to switch your classes around," I told Brendon.

"Are you guys talking about your schedules?" Spencer asked as he entered the room. I nodded, and he said, "I'm so excited to take History of Modern Architecture. A few of my friends have said that it's a tough class, but I can't wait to take it."

"Good luck," I said. "That sounds like a hard class."

"Thanks Ryan," Spencer said. "Are you two ready to go? It's almost nine in the afternoon, and we still need to set up the drum set."

"I still need to warm up my voice," Brendon said.

Spencer rolled his eyes and said, "Ryan? Will you help?"

"I'll help you out," I said, and the two of us set up the drum set while Brendon sat in the corner, finishing off his drink and daydreaming. I couldn't help but wonder what Brendon was thinking so hard about. After all, there were only a few things in the world that could make him float off into space like that. It was a common occurrence for people like me, but I had always thought that Brendon was a little bit more grounded than I was.

After we set up the drum set, Brendon, Spencer, and I started our show. The microphone that I had bought Brendon made his voice echo throughout the Aubergine, and it was clearer than ever. I accompanied him on the piano, but it was obvious that Brendon was the star of the show. For that night, I was content with being in the background, especially when Brendon had that goofy smile on his face. I told myself that I would do anything to see that smile again.

The next day, I had to go to both Public Policy and Principles of Ecology, since neither of my philosophy classes was offered on Mondays. As it turned out, Patrick and Andy were both in my class, so I sat between them during the lecture. The three of us decided to be in the same lab group as well, so hopefully the two science majors would be able to help me ace the class.

I had a break after Principles of Ecology, while both Patrick and Andy had classes, but I managed to meet up with Patrick for lunch. "How was your class?" I asked him as I devoured a sandwich.

Patrick groaned and said, "Statistics isn't that bad, but you wouldn't believe who's in it."

"Who's in your statistics class?" I asked.

"Do you remember the guy who stole my hat and glasses and put both of them on the M.C. Moneybags statue last semester?" Patrick said. "He's in my class, and he sits right behind me."

"For the record, his name is Pete Wentz," I said.

"How do you know him?" Patrick asked.

"He's in the Guyliner Club," I said.

"That explains a lot," Patrick said. "Anyways, he's driving me nuts. I told him to stop talking so much in the middle of class, and he told me to 'turn down the patitude!' What is wrong with him?"

I couldn't help but laugh at that one. "Did he really say that?" I said. "I'll have to ask him about that at the next Guyliner Club meeting."

Patrick rolled his eyes and kept eating, and the topic of Pete Wentz didn't come up again for the rest of the day. After lunch, I headed off to the Beiju History Center for my Public Policy class. I had far worse luck with that class than I did with Principles of Ecology, since I was confused right away. I suppose that my views on modern policy issues just conflict quite a bit with both my professors and the rest of the class, but by the end of the first lesson, I was completely lost.

Despite my troubles on the first day, I still felt optimistic about my second semester at Kale University. Kale was a magical place, and I couldn't wait to spend more time there. If the first few days of my second semester were any indicator, Kale had also changed me for the better. I had met so many wonderful people and had many great experiences, and I already felt like I was becoming a better person. I just couldn't wait to see where second semester took me.