Lesley
Hello. You may not know me, but I have a story to tell.
I
led a very normal life for many years. I grew up in the little town of
Chelsea, Maine. I attended public schools: Chelsea Elementary, Hall-Dale
High, and the University of Maine.
It was during my sophomore year at UMaine when I first noticed a change.
By the time I had earned my degree, I was hooked.
I'm
what's known as a perpetual student. It's an unfortunate condition that
afflicts a small, dedicated group of individuals who cannot seem to break
free of the university system. If you worry that you may be a perpetual
student, or if you think you know one, read on--it may not be too late.
Symptoms
include:
-
shaking
hands (too much caffeine),
-
squinty
eyes (eye strain--late night reading),
-
garbled
speech (from reading scads of technical terminology),
-
signs
of scurvy (from a diet limited to pasta),
-
hunched
posture (from hours hunched over a computer or textbook),
-
tilted
stance (from carrying a loaded book bag on one shoulder).
If
you have most of these symptoms, then you may be suffering from this condition.
There is no known treatment for Perpetual Student Syndrome (PSS). Most
of those afflicted with this disease have it for the duration of their
lives, which is usually spent at some type of institution.
After
completing my master's degree in communication at the University of Maine,
I moved on to the University of Connecticut,
where I completed my Ph.D. in Communication in 2002 in the Department
of Communication Sciences. I am now a Professor at Central Michigan University in the Communication & Dramatic Arts department's Communication Area. Here I teach various courses in interpersonal, nonverbal, and gender communication, as well as quantitative research methods.
I realize
I may never escape this condition. As I have learned to accept it, so
can you. If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me. You
know that I'll be awake, at my computer, and waiting for your message.
Here are
a few links I enjoy during my free time at my computer:
