Neophyte

Word of the Day Monday, March 29, 2010

neophyte

\NEE-uh-fyt\ , noun;

1. A new convert or proselyte.
2. A novice; a beginner in anything.

Elliot slid into an empty seat and fiddled with her pad of paper and pencil. She was always early to everything. A trait that drove almost everyone she knew a little bonkers.

Absentmindedly she started sketching a pile of boxes lying in the middle of the room. Slowly more students started to filter into the room. She looked up and smiled at them. They all looked so young and artsy. Fresh out of high school. Well, duh, she thought to herself. They probably are fresh out of high school.

She felt ancient at age 25. The ancient neophyte university student.

It suited her though.

Packing up her belongings from her mouther's house had been particularly satisfying. Her mother had been so excited when she had mentioned she was applying to colleges. No doubt she had been hoping Elliot would follow in her brother's footsteps and grace the family with another doctor. Her face had actually fallen in disappointment when Elliot had gleefully announced her acceptance to the Art Institute of Chicago.

"Mom, do you even realize how prestigious that school is?" she had asked incredulously. "Well, it isn't Juilliard now, is it? had been her mother's nasty reply.

Elliot continued doodling the boxes. The boy sitting next to her leaned over, "Are you working on the assignment?" he asked earnestly, a slight look of apprehension coloring his face.

"No, I was just the first person in here and didn't know what else to do with myself," she replied with a smile. He smiled back briefly.

Yes, Elliot thought, this was the right place for her. Africa would have been an excuse, following someone else's dream. She had floundered for years in the mucky expectations of other people's dreams. She was finally following the path she knew in her heart, just like the geese heading back north, was the one she should be following.