Once my show started, all the problems seemed to melt away. I got some chuckles and we were moving. What was funny, though, was the fact that every time I asked a question (classic comedy move), the students actually raised their hands and answered. It was strange.
I asked, who in here likes sports? A girl raised her hand and said, “I like one.” I knew she was dying for me to ask which one, so I did. “Cheerleading!” Not the answer I was expecting. Don’t you think it’s ironic, I said, that the one sport you like exists only because other sports are around in the first place? She didn’t get it, and proceeded to tell me about competitive cheerleading until I zoned out and did the whole, “Let’s move on!”
I also asked about majors, to which I received nearly a dozen students, one by one, relaying that info back to me. Sounds like you young adults need to know what “rhetorical question” means. Oh well. I also asked as a prelude to a joke if anyone had ever been really drunk and observed something so crazy, it sobered them up. Another hand shot up – “My buddy was drunk and tried to talk to a beaver.” I have nothing for that. Nothing at all. Good story.
Finally, what made me happiest was the sign up sheet outside the room. They had a sign up list for several events. In big, bold colors on individual signs were “PAINTBALL!” “COLUMBUS ZOO!” and yes, “WALMART!” Ah, Walmart. Every 18 year old’s perfect Friday night. I brought this up and one the student guides was offended. “It’s a great program for kids that don’t have cars!” I agree, but putting Wal-Mart in the same category as rock climbing and an amusement park? Come on, now. She was back on board. Then again, the Wal-Mart was in Appalachia. Forget the laser tag, let’s roll.