2008 Woodie Awards
Mid-South native pens book on post-college life
Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Entertainment
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All good things must come to an end, and like it or not, that means college will, too. Trading the laid-back lifestyle many students enjoy for a full workweek is frightening for some.
Joel Frey, a native of the Memphis area, felt the same way when he graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1996. He had a difficult time giving up the college lifestyle, and decided to write a book, Two Sides of a Cypress Wall, about his experiences in the real world after moving on from college.
"Part of growing up is figuring out who you are and, more importantly, they are figuring out where they want to go," Frey said. "That's the kind of view I hope people can take from the book."
His book, which can be purchased at JoelFrey.com, chronicles his adventures with alcohol, women, living in the dorms and making the transition from college life to adult life. He said his main purpose in writing the book was to get people to relate to the experiences he had making that transition, and if people relate, make them feel better about their new situation.
There are various stories in the book detailing nights on the Highland strip, the reaction after Memphis' football victory over the University of Tennessee in 1996 and trips back and forth between Memphis to Murfreesboro to relive his college days.
Frey, 33, said the hardest part was telling his story in a way that would relate to his target audience of college graduates or people in their mid-20s, an audience that is 10 years younger than him.
"That time in my life wasn't that long ago, and you find yourself thinking about college and thinking about still wanting to be in college even at my age," he said. "You never really lose sight of that amazing time in your life."
Frey graduated with a degree in journalism. He worked various odd jobs his first year away from school, and still lived with his parents because he could not afford to move out. He worked at FedEx and a hotel before getting a full-time position at Hardwoods Monthly.
Joel Frey, a native of the Memphis area, felt the same way when he graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1996. He had a difficult time giving up the college lifestyle, and decided to write a book, Two Sides of a Cypress Wall, about his experiences in the real world after moving on from college.
"Part of growing up is figuring out who you are and, more importantly, they are figuring out where they want to go," Frey said. "That's the kind of view I hope people can take from the book."
His book, which can be purchased at JoelFrey.com, chronicles his adventures with alcohol, women, living in the dorms and making the transition from college life to adult life. He said his main purpose in writing the book was to get people to relate to the experiences he had making that transition, and if people relate, make them feel better about their new situation.
There are various stories in the book detailing nights on the Highland strip, the reaction after Memphis' football victory over the University of Tennessee in 1996 and trips back and forth between Memphis to Murfreesboro to relive his college days.
Frey, 33, said the hardest part was telling his story in a way that would relate to his target audience of college graduates or people in their mid-20s, an audience that is 10 years younger than him.
"That time in my life wasn't that long ago, and you find yourself thinking about college and thinking about still wanting to be in college even at my age," he said. "You never really lose sight of that amazing time in your life."
Frey graduated with a degree in journalism. He worked various odd jobs his first year away from school, and still lived with his parents because he could not afford to move out. He worked at FedEx and a hotel before getting a full-time position at Hardwoods Monthly.