UCB Kismet

lopside · 04-30-2008, 06:09 PM

Right now I'm writing a short review of the film "Roman Holiday" for my mass-com class, (don't ask how Roman Holiday relates, the instructor is a bit dim). Doing research, I ran across this quote regarding leading actor Gregory Peck:

Quote:

When he graduated [from high school], he enrolled at San Diego State University to improve his grades so that he could earn admission to his first-choice college, the University of California, Berkeley. For a short time, he took a job driving a truck for an oil company. In 1936, he enrolled as a pre-med student at UC Berkeley, majoring in English. Since he was 6'3" and very strong, he also decided to row on the university crew. Because of his great stature, the Berkeley acting coach spotted him and decided he would be perfect for his play. He developed an interest in acting and was recruited by Edwin Duerr, director of the school's Little Theater. He went on to appear in five plays during his senior year. Although his tuition fee was only $26 a year, Peck still struggled to pay, and had to work as a "hasher" (kitchen helper) for the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority in exchange for meals. Peck would later say about Berkeley that, "it was a very special experience for me and three of the greatest years of my life. It woke me up and made me a human being."

Having been accepted only a few hours earlier, I thought this was a charming bit of random happenstance.

I'd be interested in hearing other people's acceptance stories. Have you told your loved ones? How did they react?

joehanus · 04-30-2008, 06:53 PM

$26 dollars a year?! Wow, that's pretty crazy you came across this.

lopside · 04-30-2008, 07:02 PM

I'm encouraged by the quote at the end. I just feel good about this whole situation.

I am interested in hearing about other folks though. Have you told your loved ones/parents yet? Did your momma cry? Was your girl/boyfriend ecstatic?

My mother is a professor. I phoned my mother at her office and she immediately began weeping openly, apparently in front of a student. She had to call me back once she got herself together. I was a high school dropout, and became a heavy drinker in my early twenties. She's confessed that there were times she assumed I'd end up homeless. My acceptance to Berkeley is more than she ever expected from me.