Rebecca Dailey (XXV)
I’m late again, and this time, I’m sopping wet. My clothes cling to me as I rush down the hallway. Rain pours down outside and soaks through my jacket. Quickly, I head toward a class not offered normally, trying to make up for the lost time. My shoes squelch loudly as I walk across the carpeted floor. It’s a Friday, though, and after Chapel, I will be passing out the Houghton STAR with the other teammates. It’s a huge moment, and I can’t afford to miss it. I have to get this article out today—it’s integral to the legacy of Houghton. The piece I’ve been working on is something bigger than just words on a page. It’s about preserving the spirit of the university for generations to come.
But here’s the thing: I’m not from this dimension, or at least, not this one exactly. I’m from another, one slightly different but still tied to Houghton in its own way. Over the years, I’ve traveled to thousands of versions of Houghton University—each with its own quirks, traditions, and mysteries. In some, the campus feels familiar, while in others, everything is entirely foreign. I’ve seen Houghton evolve in countless ways, but there’s one thing that remains constant: the elevators. These machines are not just ordinary lifts; they are a unique and highly useful invention of humankind.
However, the elevator in Chamberlain is different. It has an ability unlike any other—this particular elevator has the power to jump between dimensions of Houghton University. It can transport me to alternate versions of the campus, each time offering new insights and new experiences.
This is fun and all, but when I have studies to attend to, it becomes a significant hindrance. As a double major, I simply cannot afford to miss classes in my dimension. Balancing multiple courses and managing rigorous academic expectations is already challenging enough without the added complexity of interdimensional travel. Unfortunately, my professors in my dimension are not exactly understanding when I explain my absences, especially when I tell them that I was in another dimension. Trying to convince them that attending class in a parallel reality doesn’t quite count toward fulfilling the requirements of my course load here is becoming increasingly difficult.
Moreover, the scheduling issues are a nightmare. In my dimension, my classes are at set times, and my professors are reluctant to allow me to skip them for something as seemingly trivial as interdimensional travel. The class offerings in this dimension rarely align with the timetable in my dimension, so even if I do attend classes here, it doesn’t count toward my degree. As a result, I find myself falling behind in my studies, and the stress is beginning to take a toll. It’s hard to maintain my academic performance when I’m constantly juggling between worlds, trying to keep up with deadlines that don’t always line up.
However, it is of the utmost importance that this reaches everyone. Chamberlain’s elevator may someday reveal another dimension to others unknowingly. The implications of such an occurrence are beyond what any of us can fully comprehend. An elevator, a simple piece of technology, could potentially act as a portal to a realm or existence that is entirely foreign to our current understanding of space, time, and reality. If such an event were to unfold, it would not only challenge the laws of physics, but could alter the very fabric of our perception of the universe.
This revelation could have profound consequences, both for the individuals involved and for humanity as a whole. Imagine an unsuspecting passenger stepping onto Chamberlain’s elevator, only to find themselves transported to a place or dimension that defies all conventional logic. I myself found the disorientation, confusion, and fear immeasurable when I first began to interdimensional travel. But beyond that, the discovery of another dimension could fundamentally change the way we view our own world.
Thus, the necessity of ensuring that this information reaches everyone becomes apparent. We must prepare for the possibility, even if it seems far-fetched, so that no one is caught unaware or unprepared should such an extraordinary event occur. The future may hold answers we are not ready for, but we must remain vigilant and informed. ★
