The student sits outside on the grass at their community college, observing the campus on a fall morning. They describe the changing colors of the trees and flowers, as well as various students walking by and complaining about classes. Construction is ongoing at the school, with the loud sound of jackhammers disrupting students. The student also notices the running waterfall, decorated bookstore, and falling leaves, taking in the sights and sounds of the campus on this crisp fall day.

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Ashley Hyde
Jessica Frogley
English 2010
10, December, 2011
Observation Paper
Another Day at Salt Lake Community
My morning class just got out, I grab a quick coffee refill at the South Side Cafe and
snatch a seat outside to do homework for the rest of the afternoon before work. The sun has just
come completely over the graceful Wasatch Mountains. It hits the highest part of the trees, with
half of the tree still in the cold shade. The colors are still bright on the flowers that boarder the
stairs going into the college. The trees are changing from green to red; you can tell that fall has
begun in Utah.
I sit on the grass at the East Side entrance to the school; next to chain link fence so I do
not bother anyone with my cigarette. The grass is still wet from frost last night. I can tell after I
sit because my butt becomes all wet; yuck cold soggy bottom. I grab my jacket to sit on. The
grass is much more comfortable for homework to sit on then the cold concrete. My body gets
warmer the longer I sit with the sun at my back. The air is fresh and crisp; I love the smell of a
new day.
Students walk by to and from class constantly. Some stop to talk in passing to rehash
their class time from the day before. A young lady complains to a friend about her assignment
and the professor she is dealing with, “ I just wish she wasn’t such a bitch all the time” she says
to her friend. “After all it is a Dance and Culture class and we don’t dance” the other girl replies.

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A boy carries a backpack on his back and two large black bags in each hand. They look like
heavy instrument cases. He rushes to the door but none of the student surrounding the doors
hold them open for him.
Behind me construction sounds permeate through the school. Construction has been
going on at this campus for a few semesters now it seems. There is a unchanging sound of a jack
hammer that rings through my body. I hurts my head and disrupts my though process on more
than one occurrence. The construction workers, or the gazers I call them, seem small from this
view. It must be all the layers they are wearing for the fall season. It is the usual construction
worker profile, a hard hat, a big orange hooded sweatshirts and the dirty old jeans. They tromp
through the mud like cattle, talking amongst themselves over the sounds of the jackhammer.
Down the way, the water fall feature is still running. I am surprised by this because it has
been so cold at night. It must not be freezing down here in Salt Lake at night. The feature makes
a noticeable sound of a stream that put my mind at ease when I sit with my eyes closed.
Across the way, I see a large sign that reads “Campus Book Store” on the building that
once was a mechanic shop. It still smells of fumes when you go in there; makes me sick. The
outside of the ‘book store’ is painted for the Halloween season. Paintings of ghoulish creature
and red bloody hand prints cover the windows like something horrific happened inside. The only
thing that is horrific is the price of course books every semester.
A breeze has kicked in and it causes some leafs to fall. I sip my pumpkin spice coffee to
keep my insides warm, still with the sun at my back. The jack hammer seems to be getting
louder and louder the longer I sit here. I become frustrated with the fact that students have to

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hear this day in and day out while in class. My skin tightens up and I have the urge to get up and
walk away.