In honor of North Central Missouri College’s centennial, NCMC will spotlight 100 inspiring stories throughout the academic year. These narratives will showcase the voices and journeys of our alumni, students, faculty, staff, donors, and the communities that have shaped TJC/NCMC’s legacy. Each story is a tribute to the people throughout history who make NCMC extraordinary.
Tricia Key
1988-1992
A Sticker on the Back Glass
I wasn’t excited about going to college, but I knew it was the next step after graduating from Trenton High School. I never even considered going anywhere else. I had received a Billie Lewis Scholarship that covered my first semester, and that was enough to make the decision for me.
I was born and raised in Trenton, but I was a country kid. I had never attended events at the college, and I guess I took it for granted that we even had one. It was just there and something I didn’t think much about.
I don’t remember how students registered for classes in the late eighties, but I do remember marching into Geyer Hall, completely unsure of what I was doing. Linda Brown and Lee Ann Allnutt helped me set up everything. They were patient, kind, and incredibly helpful to a kid who didn’t know a thing about anything.
With my class schedule in hand, I went straight to the bookstore. I gathered my books and then bought a Trenton Junior College sticker for the back window of my car. That was the moment I finally got excited about going to TJC. It sounds strange, but it’s the truth.
When I was growing up, I had watched older kids, the ones I looked up to in high school, drive around town with those stickers stretched across their back glass. I always thought it looked cool. Now I had one of my own.
After the bookstore, I started looking for an apartment. I don’t remember why I never considered the residence halls—I don’t even remember thinking about them.
After seeing a few not-so-great places, I found a one-bedroom apartment on Chestnut Street, just a block from campus. Tom and Mary Klinginsmith were my landlords, and I was so excited that I asked Mary if I could clean it myself just so I could move in faster.
I loved that apartment. The location was perfect. So many of my friends lived in old houses that had been converted into apartments all around campus, just like mine. Between school, work, and friends, I only slept there. I had a tiny black-and-white TV with rabbit ears, and I never even bothered hooking up cable—it was rarely on anyway.
When the semester finally began, I was upset to learn that somewhere between registering for classes and starting school, the name had changed to North Central Missouri College. I had no idea why, and at the time, I didn’t care. I remember thinking, how could they do this to me?
I refused to remove my Trenton Junior College sticker from the back of my car.
I can’t remember my full class schedule, but there are a few classes and instructors I will never forget. I was completely overwhelmed by how much reading we were expected to do. Multiple chapters per class period? In high school, we spent days or even a week on a chapter!
One of my electives was a class where we watched, discussed, and critiqued movies. I remember thinking, how is this even a class? College electives were so much better than high school electives.
English had my head spinning. The entire class was focused on researching and writing one term paper—the longest paper I had ever written up to that point. And then there was speech. Marian Goodin was the instructor, and she was wonderful, but I did not want to give speeches. I didn’t want to be critiqued, and I definitely didn’t want to be videotaped so I could see what bad habits I had when speaking in front of an audience. I had many.
But then something unexpected happened. I wrote a speech based on a Madonna song. I don’t remember which song, but I do remember getting an A. That one grade changed everything. It gave me confidence, and suddenly I felt more comfortable speaking in front of others. I even started to enjoy the class.
Not all of my classes ended so well.
A friend talked me into taking an 8 a.m. accounting class with Pam Sager. Accounting is not easy for me, but my friend promised she would get me through it. She bailed, and I tried to make it on my own but even with Mrs. Sager’s assistance, I had to admit defeat. My heart wasn’t in it, and at 8 a.m., my mind wasn’t ready for it either.
Another friend and I signed up for an aerobics class that we thought would be a breeze. I can’t remember the instructor’s name, but she was serious. At the time, we probably thought she was “old,” but she was likely in her 30s and she could run circles around us 19 and 20-year-olds. During our walks around campus, she never thought we were moving fast enough.
And then there was math.
I wish I could go back and apologize to every instructor and tutor who tried—kicking and screaming—to help me finally pass College Algebra. Don’t ask me how many math classes I dropped. I won’t tell you the truth.
Through all the ups and downs, NCMC gave me a strong start. It gave me the confidence to leave my hometown, earn my degree, and see a little of the world. Eventually, I found my way back to Trenton. A few years later, my path led me back to NCMC—over ten years ago now—and I plan on staying put.
The faces of students, faculty, and staff have changed and continue to change, and the campus has grown and evolved. But I hope NCMC still gives students, regardless of their age, the same thing it gave me: the confidence to step beyond what’s familiar and broaden their horizons.
And when I finally sold my first car, the Trenton Junior College sticker was still on the back glass—a small reminder of where my journey began.
The centennial celebration will continue throughout the academic year, and NCMC invites alumni, students, faculty, staff, and our communities to be part of the story. We would love to hear your story about Trenton Junior College/North Central Missouri College. Visit the Centennial Website to submit your own story, memory, or reflection. Whether you walked the halls decades ago or are just beginning your journey, your story is a vital thread in the college’s tapestry, and we want to hear it.
Visit the Centennial Website to explore Trenton Junior College/North Central Missouri College stories, rich history, and discover upcoming events.
Photo: Tricia Key