A Blog!

Hello! I have been thinking about creating a blog for some time, and with the adventures of this summer just ahead, it seems like a good time to start. So, here it goes.

Tomorrow is my last day of classes. I can't believe I am nearly done with my freshman year of college! It sounds so trite, but this year really did go quickly. First semester went very smoothly- nearly no complaints- but this semester has been literally life-changing. Here are a few of the most memorable moments of 2007 (so far):

-J-term: Joining twenty of my peers for the International Scholars Program (ISP) three-week course on American Identity through Art was absolutely amazing. Those were quite possibly the best three weeks of my life. We all bonded really well by reading Audobon, making ethnic dinners, riding the "crazy 8" bus into Baltimore City, playing board games and singing '90s pop tunes on long rides to seemingly random locations like Lancaster County, PA and the American Visionary Art Museum. I was finally able to see the city in which I had been living for months- Baltimore is amazing!!- and really, really connected with my classmates. What a cool group of people. One particularly motivated friend, Matt, organized a trip to an anti-surge-in-Iraq rally in Washington D.C. It was overwhelming and inspirational to be surrounded by so many politically-minded and peace-oriented folks. Everyone should try to go to a rally in D.C. at some point in their lives. The 15 of us set up camp between two trees on the national mall and danced for peace. Our boombox and mediocre dance moves drew more laughs than participation, but it was wonderful to be a part of that. The class was also very informative and encouraged me to pursue art as an academic interest.

-Working on the Quindecim newspaper staff: Although sometimes frustrating and/or discouraging, I enjoyed the work I did as a part of the staff. First semester, I began by writing one or two stories for each issue (we publish every two weeks). This semester, I wrote up to four stories an issue and did the layout for the calendar of events, the Sports section, and any other section that needed help. It felt great to do layout again! I took a course in news reporting with many other "Q-sies," which was also informative. It made me realize that straight news reporting is not something I'd like to do with my life- I prefer more humanistic feature writing. All in all, it was a great learning experience.

-Founding the Goucher Suicide Awareness and Prevention group: I'd like to think we were successful in forming this club on campus. This is an issue I feel very strongly about, and after educating middle- and high-schoolers on it last year, I was surprised Goucher didn't have an opportunity to discuss it. I teamed up with a counselor in the Health Center and a few driven classmates to charter the club. Our mission is to increase awareness and discussion of depression and suicide, making sure students know it is an issue and even some steps in preventing it. We hosted a successful Awareness Day, which included a film and discussion afterwards. This is a field I hope to work in for the rest of my life, or until suicide is no longer an issue!

-Making local and global connections: This sounds so corny and manufactured, but I really feel like I learned a lot about my city (or cities?), my country and the planet this year. Being away from home has taught me both what I value and what I dislike about the Pacific Northwest. I have found that I am very proud to be from Seattle, which I didn't realize until I left. Meeting students from all over the country (my closest friends here are from California, Kansas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts) has made me realize that this country really isn't too big. It seems like we all have friends that know each other and that we will all cross paths in some way or another in the future. Hearing about older students' time abroad has made me realize how ignorant and uncultured I really am, but it has also motivated me to sign up for two international trips: I will be studying AIDS/HIV and social policies in South Africa for three weeks this January, and I hope to study for a semester in Copenhagen, Denmark in fall 2008. And, thanks to my ISP class, I learned that globalization and postcolonialism are two issues that we confront daily.

-Getting involved in activities: I can't imagine my life without a plethora of club meetings. I have met some great friends and become a more well-rounded person through my activities. I'm really excited to work with the community service club CAUSE next fall, serving as Treasurer, going to Baltimore City with the Old Goucher Neighborhood Collaborative, and doing the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. I'm going to be a tour guide and overnight host for prospective students, which should be really fun. I hope to work at the Office of Communications next year, as well as continue my job in the Student Activities Office. I also like to go to Yoga Club, which my friend Maura will be in charge of next year. Serving on Orientation Committe has made me excited for orientation in August, because it seems like a great way to make a difference in someone's college experience.

-Academic pursuits: I've been able to balance different fields of academics this semester, which is something I haven't done in years. My Design Fundamentals class has been wonderful and it something I'd like to pursue. I may take a design class at the Maryland Institute College of Art next year. It felt great to take a dance class again, although dance is no longer much of a priority in my book. I am leaning towards majoring in Anthropology and Sociology with a minor in Art and Art History (such a mouthful!), but we will see if that changes as I take more major-specific courses. I'm signed up for two anthropology courses, two sociology classes, and art history in the fall! Topics that I find especially fascinating are the sociology of religion and the study of "graffiti."

-Finding balance: Balance, moderation and open-mindedness are three qualities I'd like to possess. I've had many first experiences here this fall, but I also feel confident in my decision to abstain from substances. I have been deliberately working towards being more spontaneous and open to change. My friends and peers have been great examples of this, proving that you can be a serious student and a fun, well-rounded individual as well. I suppose the true test of my newfound spontaneity will occur this summer: I am leaving in a week for a cross-country road trip with two of my closest friends, Matt and Laura. We will go through Pittsburgh, Chicago, Kansas City, Denver, Durango, Salt Lake City, and Yellowstone before attending the Sasquatch Music Festival in George, Washington, and finally making it to Seattle. And, crazily enough, I am leaving on June 5 to spend the summer in Boston. There, I will live with my friend Tatiana and hopefully get a job of some sort. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore a cool city and I am very grateful that I can experience this!

-Dealing with death: On April 1, Dana Flax- one of the coolest people I've ever met- was killed in a car accident. She was 18. Dana's death was a complete shock on many different levels, and I'm still jarred by the fact that I'll never see her toothy grin again. Although neither of us had been here too long, she had a commanding presence on campus that is already missed. One of the toughest situations I've ever been in was Dana's memorial, the day she died. I can't describe the pain and shock in that room. Being surrounded by literally all of my friends at Goucher and seeing them sob, weep and heave was downright frightening. Having to confront death is a lesson I could have gone without, but it's been more hopeful in such a tight-knit community. Every time I cross a street, I think of Dana. My heart goes out to her family and those that were closer to her- I can only imagine what they are feeling.


Hopefully, the next time I update this blog I will be on the move... West Coast, here we come!