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Rock-Climbing with WilSkills
Feb. 23, 2014—My first two WilSkills trips (Backpacking III and IV) involved a 40-pound pack and lots of walking, but my third trip involved ropes and scaling rock faces! This past weekend, I joined the great WilSkills for an excursion to Red River Gorge in Kentucky. I had never climbed before, not even in an indoor gym,...
Gathering a Drop of Water: A South Africa Summer
Feb. 20, 2014—In preparation for this summer's OACS Global Service project in South Africa, our group met for the first seminar.
Warren and Moore, Here I Come!
Feb. 11, 2014—Room selection for Moor College Hall at Kissam. As a result of a random lottery, I am the proud resident-to-be of a single in the currently under-construction residence hall at Vanderbilt University. And the best part is that I will still have the option to live at Kissam as a junior and senior.
A WilSkills-Wonderful Weekend
Feb. 10, 2014—This weekend, I had yet another WilSkills adventure. In a group of eleven, I backpacked the Spence-Russell Loop and part of the AT to Mollie's Field Shelter, a fifteen-mile round-trip. We hiked through rushing mountain streams, through frozen snow and through low clouds. We gave each other nicknames and threw snowballs.
‘s Book Club
Feb. 6, 2014—Since December, I’ve participated in the Dean’s Book Club on two occasions. The first book, a slim volume of poetry called Maybe the Saddest Thing by Marcus Wicker, confused me with its plenitude of hip-hop and pop culture references. There were a few poems, however, that I enjoyed, even though I knew I was missing...
Wilderness Skills 101: Backpacking
Feb. 2, 2014—This past weekend I joined nine other Vanderbilt students for a romp in the North Carolina woods. In short, we drove to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, hiked Saturday and Sunday morning, and then returned in time for the Super Bowl/homework.
Blair Salon Series: Singer-Songwriter Night
Jan. 18, 2014—This is my second time attending the Blair Salon Series at Dean Wcislo’s House. This particular Friday night was just as wonderful, and perhaps even better, than last time. When I attended in October last semester, the theme of the evening was “fairy tales,” including a piece from the musical “Into the Woods.” Tonight’s theme...
‘m going to South Africa!
Jan. 17, 2014—I'm so excited about my trip to South Africa this summer. The trip is sponsored by the Office of Active Citizenship and Service. Throughout the semester I'll learn about South Africa and service, and then for the month of June I'll be living and working in Port Elizabeth!
Winter Break, AWB-Style
Dec. 31, 2013—I'm so happy that I chose to spend the first week of winter break in Huntsville, Alabama! The purpose of the Alternative Winter Break trip was to learn about and help the community of Lincoln Village.
The End
Dec. 9, 2013—Finals week: It's stressful because I feel pressure to do well on these last projects, papers, and exams, but yet the process is straightforward enough that I am not truly anxious about it. Or at least, not as anxious as I thought I would be. First, let me distinguish between stress and anxiety.
A Plug for Biodiversity (and My Major)
Dec. 6, 2013—Dear readers, I have the best major. My introductory/foundational Cognitive Studies class, PSY-PC 1207 Minds, Brains, Contexts, & Cultures, just wrapped up with a final project about effecting social change. In the spirit of my second passion, Communication of Science, I integrated topics from my human biology class (BSci 105) to present the importance of biodiversity...
Running Buddy
Nov. 21, 2013—“You have a nose ring?” “Yeah,” I replied, surprised at these first words from my running buddy. Other girls were hugging, introducing themselves and high-fiving. She was overweight. She was struggling to clip in one of the strands of fake, neon-blue hair given to each of the girls, and she did not want to run...