Alrighty, so it has been a good bit of time since I have updated. But some very interesting things have taken place in that time.
The weekend of April 16th was the weekend of CAL Day, which is a large open house for the Berkeley community. It allows upcoming accepted freshman come and sample the campus. Almost the same as A Day In The Life: Spel-bound. I had been excited for CAL Day all semester due to the fact that it was a large part of the reason I chose to come to Berkeley in the Spring instead of the fall. I saw pictures of a former domestic exchange student's experience of CAL Day and decided that it was something that I really needed to see for myself.
So, I met up with a friend of mine from my DeCal and decided to explore the festivities for a bit. It was pretty exciting because they had the marching band performing on Sproul. The Cal band is AMAZING in person. And the festivities were quite exciting. There were multiple band performances, the walk ways were filled with people and each department created a booth to represent itself. One of the most exciting things was the animal sciences department out on the lawn, allowing people to touch animals. I got to touch a HUGE turtle as well as a albino python (the same kind Britney Spears is famous for using at the VMAs... Let me just say. CREEPY!)
I didn't spend the whole day but I did enjoy most of the festivities of the day. During the same weekend, there was a special Hindi holiday called Holi. It's also called color fight. It is basically a huge water balloon/paint ball fight that centers around the god Kāmadeva. It was pretty intense to watch take place because there were colors, water and screaming constantly going. They played a lot of festive Hindi music and they kept the party going for hours... As I was walking to the event, I saw people covered from head to toe in colors, laughing.
I had never heard of Holi previous to this day, and I was really glad to be provided with the opportunity to experience something so new. Yet another new thing that I have learned from being at Berkeley. And I'm truly grateful each and everytime my eyes are opened to something new.
Another great opportunity that I had was to go to Cal's Relay for Life Cancer Walk sponsored by the American Cancer Association. I really wanted to participate because it used to be a tradition that my family would participate every year while we lived in St. Louis. My mom was always really passionate about going to these events, so I wanted to participate again to recapture some of those memories. Also, because I know that it is an excellent cause. I went with my RA and we walked the track, which was on Memorial Glade, in front of Doe Memorial Library. They had a lot of exciting events going on at the same time. There was a dance instructor who had a group dance in the middle of the track, there was a bead station that you could make a bracelet out of beads to count the number of times that you circle the track.
I also really enjoyed the Luminaria ceremony at dusk. There were multiple shared stories of experiences with cancer, by students as well as volunteers. It felt like people were able to release into the atmosphere hurts and anxieties that they had been experiencing. One of the most inspriational stories being that of an older woman who had cancer for nearly 14 years before she was diagnosed and has survived 11 years later to continue to tell her story. She makes sure to tour with multiple relays every year, sharing the experience with other cancer survivors.
During the luminary lap, we each carried glow sticks, instead of candles around the track. At the end, we tossed each of our sticks into a very talk "paper bag" (at least 7-8 feet high) that had a drawing of the Campinile on the front, baring the Cal Motto, "Fiat Lux" (Let there be light). It was a truly amazing sight.
As for the Royal Wedding... Ok ok. I was one of the ridiculous people up at 2am to watch the wedding on the internet. I admit it. It's shameful. Let's all just move on, ok?
It's finals week this week and my days at Cal are coming to a close. I know even now, I will leave this place a transformed person. I can barely recognize the scared, nervous and unsure girl who landed in California on January 11, 2011. Now, I know that I can travel the world, do anything and go anywhere. I have confidence in myself that I never would have had before. I was afraid of traveling to far away places, afraid of leaving home for the unknown. I was afraid to fall and land flat on my face. And even though that didn't happen, I know even now that if it had, I would have been strong enough to stand back up. Now I am ready to go, wanting nothing more than to explore more of the amazing world that God has created. I want to lay my eyes on as much of it as possible and experience as much of it as possible... I want to take the world by storm.
So, as always, I will leave you with a quote to think about for your own journey:
“I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery
depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.” -- Martha
Washington
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
A Couple of Exciting Experiences
It has been a good amount of time since I updated. And quite a lot has happened. But, there are two particular expriences that were pretty exciting for me within the last month. The first was going to the induction of my friend into her sorority. It was my first time visiting a sorority house, and I had always wondered what they were like. It looked pretty much like the greek houses that you see on the tv show, Greek, which was pretty entertaining.
During the ceremony, we had a lovely brunch a tour of the entire house. It's a lot bigger inside than it orignially looks on the outside. (I have always wondered how they house that many people into the building when it looks soo small!)
They had multiple bedrooms on three levels and a large kitchen and dining area. They also have a huge foyer,a study room, a piano room and a patio. It was a very nice house overall. After we had lunch, there was a presentation between the young ladies as they shared their favorite moments together.
I though that it was a very lovely way to spend the morning/afternoon and it was an experience that I would have never anticipated. That's why I thought it was important to share it. This trip to Berkeley has opened my eyes to so many experiences that I never would have thought I would experienced on my own. It made me glad that I decided to open myself up to the oppurtunity to be here.
Another really great thing that I was able to do is spend a couple of days at the Boalt Law School, which is Berkeley's Law School. It is a top 10 law school and it is number 1 in intellectual property law, which is my desired field of practice. The chance to get in contact with the first year class helped to answer some of my questions about what it will be like to enter into law school. The school was described as being like an old, comfortable couch, which sounds a little weird at first. But given the highly competitive nature of law schools, this can actually be a good thing.
Visiting the school made me more resolute in my desire to apply here for law school this upcoming fall. I have always wondered if I was truly capable of traveling this far away from home. Part of me even hoped that Berkeley wouldn't be everything that I dreamed it was so that I wouldn't get too attached to anything here. However, it has been all that I imagined and more. And it feels good to have had the time here to test it and see that Berkeley is not too big for me and that it will not swallow me up, but rather, that it is possible to achieve the things that I desire.
I was glad that I got the chance to talk to others who shared my interest and who could give me some advice on what I can be doing now to prepare myself for the future and for applications. Some of the best advice that I received was to start preparing my personal statement even now. One girl mentioned that it took her months to craft her personal statement. She also mentioned how important it is to the Berkeley community to take students who have taken so time off before they apply to law school. While that is not my intent, since there is nothing I desire more than to jump head first into my law school, it helped clarify for me the kinds of obstacles that I need to prepare myself for in the impending future. However, I also met a Spelman sister from the class of 2011 who went straight from Spelman into Berkeley.
That is the amazing thing about the Spelman sisterhood. Its spans the continent and hopefully, it is going global and it will soon span the world. I love the comfort of having a sister near by who can talk to you on the level without any games. And that, is once again, something that was provided for me by Spelman. I think some people get so caught up in the academics of the institution, that they miss the deeper embedded community that goes with the Spelman atmosphere. So, I would say that it is important to take advantage of every avenue of venue that Spelman provides. While she may be small, in comparison to the Harvard's, Yale's and Berkeley's of the world, she is a treasure chest hidden deep. It would be a shame to miss out on that treasure because it you are not paying attention.
Also, Spelman's 130th Founder's Day came and passed. In honor of the day, I wore my Spelman gear.
"Spelman thy name we praise,
Standards and honor raise.
We'll ever faithful be
Throughout eternity.
May peace with the abide
And God Forever guide
Thy Heights Supreme and true
Blessings to you.
Through years of toil and pain
May thy dear walls remain.
Beacons of heavenly light
Undaunted by the figt
And when life's raise is won
Thy Noble works is done
Oh God forever bind,
our hearts to thine."-
The Spelman Hymn
Written by Mrs. Eddye Money Shivery C' 34
During the ceremony, we had a lovely brunch a tour of the entire house. It's a lot bigger inside than it orignially looks on the outside. (I have always wondered how they house that many people into the building when it looks soo small!)
They had multiple bedrooms on three levels and a large kitchen and dining area. They also have a huge foyer,a study room, a piano room and a patio. It was a very nice house overall. After we had lunch, there was a presentation between the young ladies as they shared their favorite moments together.
I though that it was a very lovely way to spend the morning/afternoon and it was an experience that I would have never anticipated. That's why I thought it was important to share it. This trip to Berkeley has opened my eyes to so many experiences that I never would have thought I would experienced on my own. It made me glad that I decided to open myself up to the oppurtunity to be here.
Another really great thing that I was able to do is spend a couple of days at the Boalt Law School, which is Berkeley's Law School. It is a top 10 law school and it is number 1 in intellectual property law, which is my desired field of practice. The chance to get in contact with the first year class helped to answer some of my questions about what it will be like to enter into law school. The school was described as being like an old, comfortable couch, which sounds a little weird at first. But given the highly competitive nature of law schools, this can actually be a good thing.
Visiting the school made me more resolute in my desire to apply here for law school this upcoming fall. I have always wondered if I was truly capable of traveling this far away from home. Part of me even hoped that Berkeley wouldn't be everything that I dreamed it was so that I wouldn't get too attached to anything here. However, it has been all that I imagined and more. And it feels good to have had the time here to test it and see that Berkeley is not too big for me and that it will not swallow me up, but rather, that it is possible to achieve the things that I desire.
I was glad that I got the chance to talk to others who shared my interest and who could give me some advice on what I can be doing now to prepare myself for the future and for applications. Some of the best advice that I received was to start preparing my personal statement even now. One girl mentioned that it took her months to craft her personal statement. She also mentioned how important it is to the Berkeley community to take students who have taken so time off before they apply to law school. While that is not my intent, since there is nothing I desire more than to jump head first into my law school, it helped clarify for me the kinds of obstacles that I need to prepare myself for in the impending future. However, I also met a Spelman sister from the class of 2011 who went straight from Spelman into Berkeley.
That is the amazing thing about the Spelman sisterhood. Its spans the continent and hopefully, it is going global and it will soon span the world. I love the comfort of having a sister near by who can talk to you on the level without any games. And that, is once again, something that was provided for me by Spelman. I think some people get so caught up in the academics of the institution, that they miss the deeper embedded community that goes with the Spelman atmosphere. So, I would say that it is important to take advantage of every avenue of venue that Spelman provides. While she may be small, in comparison to the Harvard's, Yale's and Berkeley's of the world, she is a treasure chest hidden deep. It would be a shame to miss out on that treasure because it you are not paying attention.
Also, Spelman's 130th Founder's Day came and passed. In honor of the day, I wore my Spelman gear.
"Spelman thy name we praise,
Standards and honor raise.
We'll ever faithful be
Throughout eternity.
May peace with the abide
And God Forever guide
Thy Heights Supreme and true
Blessings to you.
Through years of toil and pain
May thy dear walls remain.
Beacons of heavenly light
Undaunted by the figt
And when life's raise is won
Thy Noble works is done
Oh God forever bind,
our hearts to thine."-
The Spelman Hymn
Written by Mrs. Eddye Money Shivery C' 34
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A little something exciting
I also thought that, (now that I have discovered how to share videos on here), I should post my project for my vitrual communities course.
Tip: Keep your eyes on the green lights. ;-)
Tip: Keep your eyes on the green lights. ;-)
Putting Our Bodies Upon the Gears
This is not meant to be a very long entry due to the fact that I have a gracious plenty of homework to do this evening. But I felt it important to address something that happened in my Politics and Social Change course today.
We spent the class period watching a documentary called Berkeley in the Sixties, which documents such incidents as the Free Speech Movement, the introduction of counter culture (hippies) to the campus and the protest of the Vietnam War.
I truly enjoyed this documentary for many reasons. First, coming back from spring break, I needed something to reignite my passion for this experience. Although it has been a great few months here in Berkeley, there are moments where I am weary for the comforts of hearth and home. But, in watching the documentation of this amazing time in Berkeley's history, I was reminded me of what drew me to the campus in the first place. I loved the idea of politically motivated and active students who are dedicated to making a change in the world. Often times, "change" and "politics" are looked at with a cynical eye, which is problem a large portion of the cause for a decline in civic engagement within our nations. It's refreshing to reflect upon a time where these things were unmarred by cynicism. When students actually did believe in their ability to make a difference.
Also, it's amazing to look back on the kind of passion with which they regarded life. It reignited a part of my passion to take in this experience for all that it is worth. I know that I am lucky. This is not something that could have been possible for everyone on earth. I know that this is not an experience that is for everyone. So, when my heart gets heavy, I need a reminder of just how big this step has been and why I wanted it.
Second, it was amazing to view the campus of Berkeley in the sixties. To look and recognize the buildings. Knowing that everyday, I pass through a place which is inhabited with the spirit of revolution. To know that I take up the same space that people such as Mario Savio took up. I am amazed, and I walk through now with a deeper appreciation for what exactly this all will mean.
So, I just wanted to spend some time reflecting upon that.
History is a very powerful thing. It has the ability to place us right in the midst of something that we may never see with our own eyes. It also has the power to inspire us for the future. To know that once, great things were in existence. Once, there were people alive so filled with passion... with drive. It connects us to a deeper appreciation and understanding of the balance of frailty and fervor that is humanity. I think that is why I was so deeply moved. For only a moment, I was not living in the year 2011, but I was existing at Berkeley during this volatile time.
So, I will leave you with the now famous/infamous words of Mario Savio:
We spent the class period watching a documentary called Berkeley in the Sixties, which documents such incidents as the Free Speech Movement, the introduction of counter culture (hippies) to the campus and the protest of the Vietnam War.
I truly enjoyed this documentary for many reasons. First, coming back from spring break, I needed something to reignite my passion for this experience. Although it has been a great few months here in Berkeley, there are moments where I am weary for the comforts of hearth and home. But, in watching the documentation of this amazing time in Berkeley's history, I was reminded me of what drew me to the campus in the first place. I loved the idea of politically motivated and active students who are dedicated to making a change in the world. Often times, "change" and "politics" are looked at with a cynical eye, which is problem a large portion of the cause for a decline in civic engagement within our nations. It's refreshing to reflect upon a time where these things were unmarred by cynicism. When students actually did believe in their ability to make a difference.
Also, it's amazing to look back on the kind of passion with which they regarded life. It reignited a part of my passion to take in this experience for all that it is worth. I know that I am lucky. This is not something that could have been possible for everyone on earth. I know that this is not an experience that is for everyone. So, when my heart gets heavy, I need a reminder of just how big this step has been and why I wanted it.
Second, it was amazing to view the campus of Berkeley in the sixties. To look and recognize the buildings. Knowing that everyday, I pass through a place which is inhabited with the spirit of revolution. To know that I take up the same space that people such as Mario Savio took up. I am amazed, and I walk through now with a deeper appreciation for what exactly this all will mean.
So, I just wanted to spend some time reflecting upon that.
History is a very powerful thing. It has the ability to place us right in the midst of something that we may never see with our own eyes. It also has the power to inspire us for the future. To know that once, great things were in existence. Once, there were people alive so filled with passion... with drive. It connects us to a deeper appreciation and understanding of the balance of frailty and fervor that is humanity. I think that is why I was so deeply moved. For only a moment, I was not living in the year 2011, but I was existing at Berkeley during this volatile time.
So, I will leave you with the now famous/infamous words of Mario Savio:
"There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart that you can’t take part! You can’t even passively take part! And you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus — and you’ve got to make it stop! And you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it — that unless you’re free the machine will be prevented from working at all!!
That doesn’t mean — I know it will be interpreted to mean, unfortunately, by the bigots who run The Examiner, for example — That doesn’t mean that you have to break anything. One thousand people sitting down some place, not letting anybody by, not [letting] anything happen, can stop any machine, including this machine! And it will stop!"
Saturday, March 19, 2011
My Best Week In Berkeley Yet...
Well, the past week and a half here in Berkeley have been really great!
My best friend from Spelman flew to California for her spring break and I got the chance to show here what I have been up to for the past 3 months.
When she arrived, the first place I took her was C.R.E.A.M. (Cookies Rule Everything Around Me) [Yes, it is a play on the rap song by Wu Tang Clan...] This is a place right around the corner from the campus where you can get homemade ice cream sandwiches for $1.50! They take the cookies out of the oven as you come and order them, which means they are still hot.
She was instantly addicted, just like everyone else here on campus. We also went to Doe Memorial Library to do some studying (just because she was on break doesn't mean that I was... Sigh)
Well, the next day, I took her to class with me. We went to Politics and Social Change Lecture and discussion. It was pretty funny when I explained to my professor what she was doing in class. He laughed a little, almost as if to say, "Your friend flew across the country for spring break, and you actually came to class..." which was pretty funny indeed. In all honesty, the thought of not coming to class didn't really seem like an option up until that point. (And by then, I was already there so... Might as well stay.)
During discussion, she was actually called upon to answer a question, which was pretty funny. She also started to meet and talk to the various people that I have been spending time with since arriving in Berkeley.
We ended the day with going to my Twilight Decal (she's just as big a Twilight fan as I am, so she really enjoyed herself.)
Once class was finished, we made a stop at Crepes-A-Go-Go, which is absolutely fabulous. (I can tell you now, a good portion of this particular blog is going to be about food in Berkeley. Because that is sincerely one of the best parts of being in Berkeley. THE FOOD!) I had and apple sauce and cinnamon crepe with powdered sugar and whipped cream. She had a nutella crepe with bananas and strawberries. We basically had breakfast/dessert for dinner. Ah, the life of college students...
On Friday, we went to my two classes, Yougartland and then Cheeseboard Pizza. Which was delicious. It was the best pizza I have ever eaten in my life. We went with my floor-mates, which automatically means it turned into an adventure to say the least. We ended up eating pizza in the median of the street... (Which was actually pretty awesome. If ever you get the chance to eat gourmet pizza on a median, do so. It's a near death, crazy nonsense that is worth it. Lol. [For my parents who I know are reading this... Obviously I lived. Which means you can stop worrying now. Lol])
Another great thing about Cheeseboard is that they have a live jazz band playing as you eat. So, they open up all the doors and windows until the whole street is flooded with music. And, it was one of the places that I was instructed that I MUST try while I was in California. I worked at a restaurant last semester, and the Chef and both managers/owners have all lived or spent a good amount of time in the Bay Area. They gave me a list of things to try, which I can publish later. And so far, all of their suggestions have been great. (If only I'd have known about the huge pillow fight in SF that takes place on Valentine's Day... I would have made a little detour there... So, if you come to Berkeley during that time, check it out.)
Afterwards, we went to CREAM again... Yummy *greedyface* And we went to Rasputin Music/DVD store to see what goodies they have. They had tons of movies and cds "on the cheap". (But it was all legal, I swear.)
Now, Saturday was the most awesome day! We woke up early and caught the BART to Union Square in SF and spent the entire day shopping. I am telling you, you have never seen a mall like the Westfield Shopping Center of San Francisco... It was beautiful. The design... the architecture... The stores... It was beautiful. We literally spent the whole day wandering around, trying things on and having a great time. Also, there happened to be a St. Patrick's Day Parade going on, which was pretty fun.
I have to say that overall, it was the best week that I have spent in California. It was amazing because, it's very hard to sum this experience up and describe it to others. But, to have someone share a little part of it with you... And, to have you best friend pick up and fly all the way across the country in order to visit. It's pretty amazing. It makes you feel special.
I'm glad that she came to visit and I'm glad we participated in so many activities together. There were a lot of things we did that I kept saying I was going to do but that I hadn't done because I kept thinking to myself "I have 5 months, it doesn't need to be done all at once." Like, going to visit the school's Campanile. (You must look this up on the internet. It's not possible to describe it in words. But basically, it's a large tower in the middle of campus that holds the bells that are played every hour. Also, everyday at noon, they play a mini-concert for the campus. So far, I have heard they have played some music by U2 and the theme song to Harry Potter... Which is pretty awesome.)
Other fascinating things that have taken place was taking my midterms. I took my midterm for Virtual Communities and it was pretty easy. Plus, he gave us extra credit for writing the word Mardi Gras at the top of our paper next to our names. Then, we learned about internet crime such as "Firesheep". I think it should have been renamed internet paranoia week. Because, it was enough to make you feel like the internet is NOT your best friend... But, obviously I have moved past these feelings because here I am blogging.
I also had midterms for my Sociology of Culture and Politics course.
I also managed to score really well on my first quiz in Society and Technology.
It's interesting to be doing so well as far as grades here this semester. Although it is definitely hard work to stay on top of everything, I have to say that, thus far, this is the best semester academically that I have had in college. I thought it would be impossible to adjust to the rigors of being at Berkeley. However, it's not only been manageable. (Although, I must admit, I was getting a little bit desperate for Spring Break. So MUCH reading... So much.)
This adventure in Berkeley has truly been worth it for me. It is teaching me a great deal. But the education seeps out of the classroom and into the aspects of my life. I have learned that, I am strong enough, courageous enough, to fly across the country and be successful. I don't have to feel afraid to "Go big or go home". And, I am glad that I have Spelman to thank for making this opportunity possible for me. I know that, had I gone anywhere else for my undergraduate years, I would not be on the path that I have found. And honestly, I know that any other one, would not have been as excellent or fulfilling.
I have the take the time to be slightly existential here...
Before Spelman, I allowed the people and the world around me to TELL me who I am. I depended on that external perspective to know exactly who I was supposed to be. Being at Spelman has been like someone handing the mirror to me and telling me, "Look and see for yourself who you are." I have been finding out who I am on my own terms. And being at Berkeley has been an extension of this discovery.
My only hope is that, I can take this gift and use if for others. It would seem like a useless gift if it stopped at just me. So, my next goal is to find ways to pass this gift of discovery on to others.
So, of course, I will close with my usual quote. And this one, I think, is perfect.
"I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time." -Anna Freud
P.S. I am only hours from turning 21!!!! And I will be spending my birthday in Palo Alto, California!!!! (
My best friend from Spelman flew to California for her spring break and I got the chance to show here what I have been up to for the past 3 months.
When she arrived, the first place I took her was C.R.E.A.M. (Cookies Rule Everything Around Me) [Yes, it is a play on the rap song by Wu Tang Clan...] This is a place right around the corner from the campus where you can get homemade ice cream sandwiches for $1.50! They take the cookies out of the oven as you come and order them, which means they are still hot.
She was instantly addicted, just like everyone else here on campus. We also went to Doe Memorial Library to do some studying (just because she was on break doesn't mean that I was... Sigh)
Well, the next day, I took her to class with me. We went to Politics and Social Change Lecture and discussion. It was pretty funny when I explained to my professor what she was doing in class. He laughed a little, almost as if to say, "Your friend flew across the country for spring break, and you actually came to class..." which was pretty funny indeed. In all honesty, the thought of not coming to class didn't really seem like an option up until that point. (And by then, I was already there so... Might as well stay.)
During discussion, she was actually called upon to answer a question, which was pretty funny. She also started to meet and talk to the various people that I have been spending time with since arriving in Berkeley.
We ended the day with going to my Twilight Decal (she's just as big a Twilight fan as I am, so she really enjoyed herself.)
Once class was finished, we made a stop at Crepes-A-Go-Go, which is absolutely fabulous. (I can tell you now, a good portion of this particular blog is going to be about food in Berkeley. Because that is sincerely one of the best parts of being in Berkeley. THE FOOD!) I had and apple sauce and cinnamon crepe with powdered sugar and whipped cream. She had a nutella crepe with bananas and strawberries. We basically had breakfast/dessert for dinner. Ah, the life of college students...
On Friday, we went to my two classes, Yougartland and then Cheeseboard Pizza. Which was delicious. It was the best pizza I have ever eaten in my life. We went with my floor-mates, which automatically means it turned into an adventure to say the least. We ended up eating pizza in the median of the street... (Which was actually pretty awesome. If ever you get the chance to eat gourmet pizza on a median, do so. It's a near death, crazy nonsense that is worth it. Lol. [For my parents who I know are reading this... Obviously I lived. Which means you can stop worrying now. Lol])
Another great thing about Cheeseboard is that they have a live jazz band playing as you eat. So, they open up all the doors and windows until the whole street is flooded with music. And, it was one of the places that I was instructed that I MUST try while I was in California. I worked at a restaurant last semester, and the Chef and both managers/owners have all lived or spent a good amount of time in the Bay Area. They gave me a list of things to try, which I can publish later. And so far, all of their suggestions have been great. (If only I'd have known about the huge pillow fight in SF that takes place on Valentine's Day... I would have made a little detour there... So, if you come to Berkeley during that time, check it out.)
Afterwards, we went to CREAM again... Yummy *greedyface* And we went to Rasputin Music/DVD store to see what goodies they have. They had tons of movies and cds "on the cheap". (But it was all legal, I swear.)
Now, Saturday was the most awesome day! We woke up early and caught the BART to Union Square in SF and spent the entire day shopping. I am telling you, you have never seen a mall like the Westfield Shopping Center of San Francisco... It was beautiful. The design... the architecture... The stores... It was beautiful. We literally spent the whole day wandering around, trying things on and having a great time. Also, there happened to be a St. Patrick's Day Parade going on, which was pretty fun.
I have to say that overall, it was the best week that I have spent in California. It was amazing because, it's very hard to sum this experience up and describe it to others. But, to have someone share a little part of it with you... And, to have you best friend pick up and fly all the way across the country in order to visit. It's pretty amazing. It makes you feel special.
I'm glad that she came to visit and I'm glad we participated in so many activities together. There were a lot of things we did that I kept saying I was going to do but that I hadn't done because I kept thinking to myself "I have 5 months, it doesn't need to be done all at once." Like, going to visit the school's Campanile. (You must look this up on the internet. It's not possible to describe it in words. But basically, it's a large tower in the middle of campus that holds the bells that are played every hour. Also, everyday at noon, they play a mini-concert for the campus. So far, I have heard they have played some music by U2 and the theme song to Harry Potter... Which is pretty awesome.)
Other fascinating things that have taken place was taking my midterms. I took my midterm for Virtual Communities and it was pretty easy. Plus, he gave us extra credit for writing the word Mardi Gras at the top of our paper next to our names. Then, we learned about internet crime such as "Firesheep". I think it should have been renamed internet paranoia week. Because, it was enough to make you feel like the internet is NOT your best friend... But, obviously I have moved past these feelings because here I am blogging.
I also had midterms for my Sociology of Culture and Politics course.
I also managed to score really well on my first quiz in Society and Technology.
It's interesting to be doing so well as far as grades here this semester. Although it is definitely hard work to stay on top of everything, I have to say that, thus far, this is the best semester academically that I have had in college. I thought it would be impossible to adjust to the rigors of being at Berkeley. However, it's not only been manageable. (Although, I must admit, I was getting a little bit desperate for Spring Break. So MUCH reading... So much.)
This adventure in Berkeley has truly been worth it for me. It is teaching me a great deal. But the education seeps out of the classroom and into the aspects of my life. I have learned that, I am strong enough, courageous enough, to fly across the country and be successful. I don't have to feel afraid to "Go big or go home". And, I am glad that I have Spelman to thank for making this opportunity possible for me. I know that, had I gone anywhere else for my undergraduate years, I would not be on the path that I have found. And honestly, I know that any other one, would not have been as excellent or fulfilling.
I have the take the time to be slightly existential here...
Before Spelman, I allowed the people and the world around me to TELL me who I am. I depended on that external perspective to know exactly who I was supposed to be. Being at Spelman has been like someone handing the mirror to me and telling me, "Look and see for yourself who you are." I have been finding out who I am on my own terms. And being at Berkeley has been an extension of this discovery.
My only hope is that, I can take this gift and use if for others. It would seem like a useless gift if it stopped at just me. So, my next goal is to find ways to pass this gift of discovery on to others.
So, of course, I will close with my usual quote. And this one, I think, is perfect.
"I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time." -Anna Freud
P.S. I am only hours from turning 21!!!! And I will be spending my birthday in Palo Alto, California!!!! (
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Fight for your Rights
I figure it has been about 2 weeks since I have had time to write anything. Which usually means that the weeks have been jam packed.
The most fascinating thing that has taken place recently is the strikes that started this week due to budget cuts in the UC public school system. This is the first time I have seen strikes and protests and I have to admit it was pretty exciting. Yesterday was the day of action. When I was walking across Sproul to get to my classes, I noticed that there was a crowd of people in front of Sproul Hall. As I read the signs, I realized what the gathering was about.
Once I arrived in class, I noticed that the number of students present was evidently depleted. It wasn't until I arrived in Society and Technology that I was informed about the implications of the budget cuts for Berkeley.
Budget cuts will inevidently lead to raised tuition, less classes, larger class section, reduced pay for professors, minimized office hours, reduces staff for cafeteria, abbreviated library hours, etc.
Due to the fact that Spelman is a private institution, all of our endowment comes from our own efforts in receiving grants as well as tuition. So, while we have had some tightening of "the purse strings", it has not been as devastating. Also, since Spelman is smaller, we have less students to manage.
Well, today, when I met up with my discussion section at Cafe Milano, the first thing my GSI said as he sat down was that students had cuffed/chained themselves to Wheeler Hall in protest. Well, I have my Decal class in their, so with the hour between my discussion and class, I usually, go to Morrison Library in order to get some quiet reading done. As I passed by Wheeler, I noticed there was a pool of students gathered on the steps of Wheeler and I saw the students who had placed themselves on the top of the building. They had covered the building with writing, protest banners and were shouting from a megaphone. When I passed the sides of the building, I noted that there were still some students in the building. However, my friend from my Decal text me to let me know that Wheeler had been closed down for "health and safety" reasons. I returned to Wheeler and noticed that police were situated outside as well as news camera. In the sky, there were at least 3 helicopters hovering overhead.
I met up with some of the girls from the Decal and we discussed the reasons for all of the madness. It was the student teacher of the Decal that informed me that, the night before, there was more than just a day of action. She showed me a copy of The Daily Californian, which is the independent student paper. On the cover, it hailed the title "Berkeley Joins Nationwide Protests for Public Education". The primary picture was a student being held to the ground by multiple policemen, screaming. She told me that the police had been unlawfully brutal in detaining 17 students who refused to leave Wheeler the night before. They used the plastic wrist restraints which left bruises upon the students. It was horrifying for to imagine that such a thing could happen to students on their own campus. Especially when non-students roam freely on campus, sleeping on benches, handing out papers about the end of the world and juggling tennis balls. And never once have I witnessed any of these people being handled in such an inhumane manner.
While on the outside, I laughed at some of the fact that I couldn't imagine such a thing happening at Spelman, I began to wonder, Why not? Why don't Spelman become so outrageous about the politics of the campus. I initially thought that it is because, Spelman allows it's students the open forum for expressing their thoughts through other means. Town Hall meetings with the Student Government Association; Open Office Hours with President Tatum. If we want to speak to our dean's we simply go into the office and make an appointment. And then, there is the Women's Research and Resource center with professors such as Dr. Kuumba who actually encourage us to be activists, even assisting us in "shaking up the system". Not to say that this is a better aspect of Spelman. More, the sociologist in me just began to wonder, what is the reason?
While watching the protests, I noticed students beginning to yell up into the windows of Wheeler Hall where I noticed a man standing. Apparently, he was trying to speak to the crowd from the window. Using taunts, insults and obscenities, the students encouraged the man to come down and speak into the megaphone. Eventually, he did, reading a statement that basically sympathized with the reasons for the strike. However, he condemned the fact that they chosen a methodology that prevented their fellow students from attending class.
While I agreed with this part of his speech, I began to wonder. There seemed to be no danger that I could tell. The protesters were loud, but the seemed to intend no harm. Was it possible that the school purposely closed the building to maybe turn the students against the protest as an effect of being prevented from attending class? (I must admit, Conspiracy Theory was my favorite movie at the age of 7. Lol. That might have a great deal of effect on the way I think...)
After awhile, I decided to leave the protest, due to the fact that I was slightly offended by some of the actions that students and protestors were being taken (smoking marijuana, threatening to throw objects at the school administrors and yelling obscenities.)
What's uncanny is that, in Politics and Social Change, we have just begun to discuss what factors can lead to a revolution. Although this is not a total revolution, it simply reminded about the concepts. It seems that, for all my years in college, the events that surround me coincide perfectly with the things that I learn about. I feel fortunate for this to be true because, it helps me to apply the concepts to real life experiences. This is probably one of the greatest reasons to be a sociologists. And there are some phenomenal Sociology majors in the world... (Michelle Obama, Gabrielle Union, Shirley Chisholm, and Maxine Waters.)
Everyone is called to do something. Whether is Chemical Engineering, Sociology, Biology, English...
Anyway, other interesting things have taken place as well. For instance, I spent yesterday evening at a friends apartment, trying authentic Korean foods. I had Kimbap (Gimbap), Kim Chi and pork bone soup. All of which were completely wonderful and delicious. I was glad that I finally tried something new, which I am not prone to doing very often. However, lately, I have tried many new things. I have allow California to come in and change things about me. And it's been pretty nice, to step outside of the someone that I thought I knew and get to know some newer things about me.
Until coming to California, I didn't know I had the guts, moxy, courage or fearlessness to hop on a plane and fly across the courtry. But I do and I did.
And, I hope that that courage follows me for the rest of my life. And I hope that it rubs off on others.
Last weekend, I called my mother and we talked about some heart aches that I had been feeling. Following the recent death of one of my Spelman sisters, I had really been shaken inside about what my life is about. Whether I was doing enough with the time that I have on earth. But, my mom reminded me of something that I previously had not thought about. She told me that, when you look back on life, and you share your stories with others, you never really reflect on the moments that made you cry. You thrive on the moments that your triumphed. And those are the parts of the story that influence others. But, I think it's important to fill in those gaps. To let other that look up to you that, there were moments when your cried. There were moments you weren't sure how to go on.
But she also said something to me that made me smile. She told me that one day, I would share my stories with others, and they would look to me the way I look to my professor, Dr. Spence.
One day, maybe I will get the chance to inspire someone else to not only think outsife the box, but live outside of it.
I can hardly believe it's already March. I am at the very middle of the journey, and I am excited to see what the rest of it will hold.
"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The most fascinating thing that has taken place recently is the strikes that started this week due to budget cuts in the UC public school system. This is the first time I have seen strikes and protests and I have to admit it was pretty exciting. Yesterday was the day of action. When I was walking across Sproul to get to my classes, I noticed that there was a crowd of people in front of Sproul Hall. As I read the signs, I realized what the gathering was about.
Once I arrived in class, I noticed that the number of students present was evidently depleted. It wasn't until I arrived in Society and Technology that I was informed about the implications of the budget cuts for Berkeley.
Budget cuts will inevidently lead to raised tuition, less classes, larger class section, reduced pay for professors, minimized office hours, reduces staff for cafeteria, abbreviated library hours, etc.
Due to the fact that Spelman is a private institution, all of our endowment comes from our own efforts in receiving grants as well as tuition. So, while we have had some tightening of "the purse strings", it has not been as devastating. Also, since Spelman is smaller, we have less students to manage.
Well, today, when I met up with my discussion section at Cafe Milano, the first thing my GSI said as he sat down was that students had cuffed/chained themselves to Wheeler Hall in protest. Well, I have my Decal class in their, so with the hour between my discussion and class, I usually, go to Morrison Library in order to get some quiet reading done. As I passed by Wheeler, I noticed there was a pool of students gathered on the steps of Wheeler and I saw the students who had placed themselves on the top of the building. They had covered the building with writing, protest banners and were shouting from a megaphone. When I passed the sides of the building, I noted that there were still some students in the building. However, my friend from my Decal text me to let me know that Wheeler had been closed down for "health and safety" reasons. I returned to Wheeler and noticed that police were situated outside as well as news camera. In the sky, there were at least 3 helicopters hovering overhead.
I met up with some of the girls from the Decal and we discussed the reasons for all of the madness. It was the student teacher of the Decal that informed me that, the night before, there was more than just a day of action. She showed me a copy of The Daily Californian, which is the independent student paper. On the cover, it hailed the title "Berkeley Joins Nationwide Protests for Public Education". The primary picture was a student being held to the ground by multiple policemen, screaming. She told me that the police had been unlawfully brutal in detaining 17 students who refused to leave Wheeler the night before. They used the plastic wrist restraints which left bruises upon the students. It was horrifying for to imagine that such a thing could happen to students on their own campus. Especially when non-students roam freely on campus, sleeping on benches, handing out papers about the end of the world and juggling tennis balls. And never once have I witnessed any of these people being handled in such an inhumane manner.
While on the outside, I laughed at some of the fact that I couldn't imagine such a thing happening at Spelman, I began to wonder, Why not? Why don't Spelman become so outrageous about the politics of the campus. I initially thought that it is because, Spelman allows it's students the open forum for expressing their thoughts through other means. Town Hall meetings with the Student Government Association; Open Office Hours with President Tatum. If we want to speak to our dean's we simply go into the office and make an appointment. And then, there is the Women's Research and Resource center with professors such as Dr. Kuumba who actually encourage us to be activists, even assisting us in "shaking up the system". Not to say that this is a better aspect of Spelman. More, the sociologist in me just began to wonder, what is the reason?
While watching the protests, I noticed students beginning to yell up into the windows of Wheeler Hall where I noticed a man standing. Apparently, he was trying to speak to the crowd from the window. Using taunts, insults and obscenities, the students encouraged the man to come down and speak into the megaphone. Eventually, he did, reading a statement that basically sympathized with the reasons for the strike. However, he condemned the fact that they chosen a methodology that prevented their fellow students from attending class.
While I agreed with this part of his speech, I began to wonder. There seemed to be no danger that I could tell. The protesters were loud, but the seemed to intend no harm. Was it possible that the school purposely closed the building to maybe turn the students against the protest as an effect of being prevented from attending class? (I must admit, Conspiracy Theory was my favorite movie at the age of 7. Lol. That might have a great deal of effect on the way I think...)
After awhile, I decided to leave the protest, due to the fact that I was slightly offended by some of the actions that students and protestors were being taken (smoking marijuana, threatening to throw objects at the school administrors and yelling obscenities.)
What's uncanny is that, in Politics and Social Change, we have just begun to discuss what factors can lead to a revolution. Although this is not a total revolution, it simply reminded about the concepts. It seems that, for all my years in college, the events that surround me coincide perfectly with the things that I learn about. I feel fortunate for this to be true because, it helps me to apply the concepts to real life experiences. This is probably one of the greatest reasons to be a sociologists. And there are some phenomenal Sociology majors in the world... (Michelle Obama, Gabrielle Union, Shirley Chisholm, and Maxine Waters.)
Everyone is called to do something. Whether is Chemical Engineering, Sociology, Biology, English...
Anyway, other interesting things have taken place as well. For instance, I spent yesterday evening at a friends apartment, trying authentic Korean foods. I had Kimbap (Gimbap), Kim Chi and pork bone soup. All of which were completely wonderful and delicious. I was glad that I finally tried something new, which I am not prone to doing very often. However, lately, I have tried many new things. I have allow California to come in and change things about me. And it's been pretty nice, to step outside of the someone that I thought I knew and get to know some newer things about me.
Until coming to California, I didn't know I had the guts, moxy, courage or fearlessness to hop on a plane and fly across the courtry. But I do and I did.
And, I hope that that courage follows me for the rest of my life. And I hope that it rubs off on others.
Last weekend, I called my mother and we talked about some heart aches that I had been feeling. Following the recent death of one of my Spelman sisters, I had really been shaken inside about what my life is about. Whether I was doing enough with the time that I have on earth. But, my mom reminded me of something that I previously had not thought about. She told me that, when you look back on life, and you share your stories with others, you never really reflect on the moments that made you cry. You thrive on the moments that your triumphed. And those are the parts of the story that influence others. But, I think it's important to fill in those gaps. To let other that look up to you that, there were moments when your cried. There were moments you weren't sure how to go on.
But she also said something to me that made me smile. She told me that one day, I would share my stories with others, and they would look to me the way I look to my professor, Dr. Spence.
One day, maybe I will get the chance to inspire someone else to not only think outsife the box, but live outside of it.
I can hardly believe it's already March. I am at the very middle of the journey, and I am excited to see what the rest of it will hold.
"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Caught up in a Whirlwind...
Alright, so we have been making quite a bit of progress on this adventure. There have defintiely been some major highs. However, within the last week, we had the first of the lows. The first of which being behind in reading in class. However, we will not focus on that part so much. Because, any good journey has to have some pitfalls, right.
I have been trying to catch up on my work, however, it is time for midterms, which means the same amount of reading, coupled with trying to prepare for quizzes/exams.
However, I can report that it has not all been rough. I took my first midterm in Sociology of Culture and I was completely nervous that I was not truly ready. I had been diligent about the reading up to this point, and have been doing every extra credit assignment thus far. (You ALWAYS do extra credit, because you never know when your going to need it... You can be flying high and then all of a sudden... And Extra Credit is what is going to pull that bacon out of the direct fire and put back into the frying pan.)
Anyway, I am happy to report making a 100% on that midterm!
Which is exactly what I needed to gain the confidence for my midterm in Politics and Social Change which is due this Thursday. It reminded me that I am not to small for this big adventure, which sometimes, I wonder.
Another major milestone came for me during this past week, in the discussion portion of my Politics and Social Change course.
This story is specifically for women who might be taking the time to read this... (Although this is written specifically to log my adventure with the intention of helping any other Spelmanite who might want to take a similar journey, I hope they are not the only ones who will benefit from this...)
Anyway, we were having a discussion in the course about whether or not the State (government) can be considered inherently capitalist or not. I will not tell you my arguement because that is not the important part. The important part is that, a classmate of mine disagreed vehemently with me about my perspective. Well, that in and of itself is not a big deal. However, it is to be noted that, I am the only female who was present in this discussion section. Also, I was the only African American.
Anyone who truly knows me knows, the thing I hate most in human relationships is confrontation and disagreement. I usually try to avoid it. But, anyone who is alive knows, avoiding it... is impossible.
Well, when my classmate disagreed with me, my argument kind of got lost in discussion. Other tried to argue both sides but, I was not able to speak up to support my own idea. And, that really upset me because, inside my own head, I had an argument to the statements, and they were not being voiced by anyone else. But, I felt afraid to speak them. However, I decided, I wasn't going to let fear be the determining factor in whether or not my ideas were going to be heard. So, I decided to argue. And, I am most proud of myself because, I argued until there was nothing left. The point wasn't really to be right, but to support my ideas. Which I did.
This is important because, often times, women's ideas get lost in translation, overlooked or spoken by a male and then praised. And, so many times, we allow this to be the case.
But, I have to say, being assertive does not have to translate into mean and nasty or the negative image that so many people have of assertive and outspoken women.
So, if there is a point in the next few days when you get the chance to speak out, I encourage you to do it. Your heart may race, and your voice my quiver, but, you say it. Why? Because your ideas are valuable. And no one else is going to speak your mind for you.
So, go for it. And, do not get intimidated by the person you a voicing them to. At the end of the day, they are just human too. God didn't make them any MORE than they made you. You just have to choose to use it.
Well, that's the insight for the week. And it was a point of personal growth that I felt deserved to share.
(And, I'd like to add that sense then, I have been speaking my mind so much, I can barely keep it to myself. And it feels really, really good. Like filling your lungs with air after coming up from underwater....)
So, get to it!
I'll close with this parting thought:
"To tend, unfailingly, unflinchingly, towards a goal, is the secret to success."- Anna Pavlova
I have been trying to catch up on my work, however, it is time for midterms, which means the same amount of reading, coupled with trying to prepare for quizzes/exams.
However, I can report that it has not all been rough. I took my first midterm in Sociology of Culture and I was completely nervous that I was not truly ready. I had been diligent about the reading up to this point, and have been doing every extra credit assignment thus far. (You ALWAYS do extra credit, because you never know when your going to need it... You can be flying high and then all of a sudden... And Extra Credit is what is going to pull that bacon out of the direct fire and put back into the frying pan.)
Anyway, I am happy to report making a 100% on that midterm!
Which is exactly what I needed to gain the confidence for my midterm in Politics and Social Change which is due this Thursday. It reminded me that I am not to small for this big adventure, which sometimes, I wonder.
Another major milestone came for me during this past week, in the discussion portion of my Politics and Social Change course.
This story is specifically for women who might be taking the time to read this... (Although this is written specifically to log my adventure with the intention of helping any other Spelmanite who might want to take a similar journey, I hope they are not the only ones who will benefit from this...)
Anyway, we were having a discussion in the course about whether or not the State (government) can be considered inherently capitalist or not. I will not tell you my arguement because that is not the important part. The important part is that, a classmate of mine disagreed vehemently with me about my perspective. Well, that in and of itself is not a big deal. However, it is to be noted that, I am the only female who was present in this discussion section. Also, I was the only African American.
Anyone who truly knows me knows, the thing I hate most in human relationships is confrontation and disagreement. I usually try to avoid it. But, anyone who is alive knows, avoiding it... is impossible.
Well, when my classmate disagreed with me, my argument kind of got lost in discussion. Other tried to argue both sides but, I was not able to speak up to support my own idea. And, that really upset me because, inside my own head, I had an argument to the statements, and they were not being voiced by anyone else. But, I felt afraid to speak them. However, I decided, I wasn't going to let fear be the determining factor in whether or not my ideas were going to be heard. So, I decided to argue. And, I am most proud of myself because, I argued until there was nothing left. The point wasn't really to be right, but to support my ideas. Which I did.
This is important because, often times, women's ideas get lost in translation, overlooked or spoken by a male and then praised. And, so many times, we allow this to be the case.
But, I have to say, being assertive does not have to translate into mean and nasty or the negative image that so many people have of assertive and outspoken women.
So, if there is a point in the next few days when you get the chance to speak out, I encourage you to do it. Your heart may race, and your voice my quiver, but, you say it. Why? Because your ideas are valuable. And no one else is going to speak your mind for you.
So, go for it. And, do not get intimidated by the person you a voicing them to. At the end of the day, they are just human too. God didn't make them any MORE than they made you. You just have to choose to use it.
Well, that's the insight for the week. And it was a point of personal growth that I felt deserved to share.
(And, I'd like to add that sense then, I have been speaking my mind so much, I can barely keep it to myself. And it feels really, really good. Like filling your lungs with air after coming up from underwater....)
So, get to it!
I'll close with this parting thought:
"To tend, unfailingly, unflinchingly, towards a goal, is the secret to success."- Anna Pavlova
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Jai Ho! (May Victory Be Yours)
This week has certainly been busy. Since I was on the retreat last weekend, I really didn't have a chance to be as diligent in organization as I would have hoped to be. But, it still turned out to be a rather enjoyable week. In my Virtual Communities course, we learned about cyber crimes and how they come from the internet into "meet space". Also, he said that we might not need the reader, which I was thrilled to hear!
The good part was that, after the retreat, there are many more faces on campus that I recognize and now I am able to talk to a few more people.
There have been two really great events that have defined the week for me. The first was going to a Moot Court Competition in which Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was a judge. It was my first time watching a Moot Court competition, and it was hosted and featured the Berkeley Law school, Boalt, which has produced some very influential attorneys. During the competition, it was fascinating to hear Justice Sotomayor speak. There was a passion for the law in her voice that reignited my own passion for my future law career. (There are moments when I waver on whether the law is truly something that I want to pursue because, often times, that careers causes sacrifice in so many other aspects of life. And there is constant conflict over whether those sacrifices are worth it.) What I noticed first was that, the two competitors were a Caucasian males. Then, I looked at the rest of the judging panel and it was a Caucasian male and female from federal court systems. It was amazing to watch the entire event be directed and almost revolve around this woman of color.
I think, often times, the power of women of color is overlooked. Not only by society, but by the colored women themselves. We become discouraged in whether we can truly make any kind of difference or whether we truly have a shot at such great opportunities. However, Justice Sotomayer seemed completely comfortable; first in her own skin, and then in the presence of others. She spoke with an intellect that was unparallel. She not only knew the law, but she was enraptured by it. She commanded the authority of the entire room. And I do believe that everyone present was in awe of her body of knowledge. It made me aspire to work twice as hard in my studies because, there is nothing in the world like being "on top of your game". And that is exactly what Justice Sotomayor was. She was unwavering, and certain of herself. And was not afraid to be authoritative about her knowledge. Her voice almost dared anyone to question her. And I think all women sometimes struggle with using this intonation.
In society and culture this week, we discussed an article about gender socialization throughout cultures and the presence of altruistic and egoistic personality traits. We discussed the fact that, sometimes, women waver between the two personalities because, they feel the need to be egoistic, due the the fact that the female roles that are typically associated with altruistic behaviors are degraded and underappreciated. So, rather than assume this position completely, they struggle to assume egoistic traits in order to have the more important roles that gain more social and symbolic capital. However, they are also chastened for this ambition because, according to their socialization, they are meant to be altruistic instead. Saying all this to say, Justice Sotomayor was not intimidated to be egoistic about her breadth and depth of knowledge. She did not shy away from being the authority on the panel. I believe this confidence comes from more than her titles: Princeton and Yale Graduate, scholar, judge and supreme court justice. While all the these titles are a part of who she is, her confidence is based on more than that.
Listening to her reminded me that, it is okay for a woman such as myself to be confident in not only herself, but in the knowledge and the presence that she has. It is okay to be sure of yourself and your abilities. She also reminded me that, you can only have that confidence from knowing that you have done the work it takes to be certain. I can only be the attorney/judge and eventual Justice of the Supreme Court that I desire to be by first achieving excellence right here, in the space I inhabit now. Because, my life is going to build on that place.
It was truly an awestruck moment for me when I realized that, there was once a moment in time when Justice Sotomayor was once only a dreamer, like myself. However, she was transported from dreaming to living the dream with prayer and hard work. (Well, I'll speak for myself on the prayer part. But, I will venture to say that, due to her Christian upbringing, prayer might have been part of her journey as well.)
The second amazing uplifting and amazing part of my week started on Wednesday. I was sitting outside of Dwinelle Hall, eating my lunch and listening to music when a young man came up to me and started a conversation with me. His first words were to share with me that God had spoken to him and told him to tell me that He loved me (God, not the boy. Lol) And, from there, we have a great conversation about faith and finding a place and group with which to fellowship. And he invited me to meet with his group. Tonight was the culmination of that invitation. We met with his group of friends at a restaurant and had dinner before Bible study.
I will be honest in saying that at first I was a little nervous because everyone in the group was of Asian decent, and I was worried I would stick out or be awkward. However, they were all truly welcoming and I was quickly able to make rapid connections with several of the group members. And soon, I forgot completely to feel any kind of self-consciousness. Rather, I just felt like a regular, accepted of the group.
One of the key moments of the evening was when one of the young ladies from the group asked me about my life as a Christian. She asked me if I had been a Christian all my life or was this the first time that I had been to church. I shared with her that, I was a Christian since I was young and that my mother was actually a minster. She asked me what all did my mom do within the church and I began to share about my mom. Then, she told me something that blew my mind. She told me how very lucky I was to have a mother who was in the church and how much she wished she had a mother who was involved that way. I literally had a brain flat line at that statement. My mom has been a minister so long (even before she accepted the official calling) I stopped seeing it as something that was truly a big deal. However, she started to share with me how, her mom had not been a Christian and that ,she had struggled to try and get her mom to try.
It began to sink in to me, how many advantages I have in life that I truly over look. It never occurred to me what my life would have been like if I was the one trying to influence and live a Christ-like life for my mother, rather than the other way around.
So, I have to say, the majority of the week was spent in a spiritual growth as well as a growth in self-awareness.
It has occurred to me, and even overwhelmed me several times, just how much I have been blessed in this journey. Sometimes it is all too much to truly think about. And rather than truly having something profound to say about it all, I can only FEEL my gratefulness and voice it with simply saying "Thank you". It feels like an understatement. However, I am sure that God understands what it is that I feel.
So, I'll close with these few words:
"You are the reason that I breathe. You are the reason that I still believe. You are my destiny. Jai Ho! No there is nothing that can stop us. Nothing can ever come between us. Jai Ho!"
(I know it is meant to be a love song. But, I feel like at this particular moment, those are the words that best describe the way I feel about my relationship with God through this journey.)
AASD Retreat
- What does respect look like/ feel like?
- Do you feel like you are respected?
- When is a time you felt most respected?
- When was a time you felt most disrespected?
- What are ways that we can show respect to each other in our community? What changes are we willing to make and what does it take to get there?
- Who Am I?
- How do I see Myself?
- What is my life's purpose?
So, I wanted to write about an experience that I had this weekend that was very powerful. However, to get to that part, I have to start the story from about a week ago.
About a week ago, I had lunch with a representative from the Black Student Union. She informed me that the AASD (African-American Student Development Office) was having a Retreat and Summit. It was meant to be a chance for African American Students at Berkeley to gather together and build a sense of community while discussing issues that needed to be addressed within the community on Campus. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would want to participate because I can be pretty shy and I thought that it would be strange. However, I went to the "Milk & Cookies" session for the Black Campus ministries. Again, at this meeting, the retreat was mentioned. I decided to look into it further. I registered for the retreat on Wednesday but I still wasn't completely decided on whether or not I would attend.
On Thursday evening, I had conceded to not going. Instead, I would spend the weekend getting caught up on my reading. However, on Friday morning, it just sort of came to me that I should go. And so I got up and packed my bags and had them waiting for me when I got back from class.
Well, at 3:00, I booked out of my last class back to my dorm and dragged my two bags and a package of Pocky Sticks to Upper Sproul to meet the rest of the group.
We walked to the BART station in Downtown Berkeley, which is not too different from the Marta in Atlanta. (At least in the systematic way.) We traveled about 25-30 min. from Berkeley to Walnut Creek. From there, it has been a great experience.
The overall theme of the summit was "Miseducation of the Negro"
On the first night, we heard from a panel of African American Cal graduates about what issues they felt the black community at Berkeley was facing. They spoke about the ways that many students had become complacent in their purpose as black students at Cal. They also reminded us that our education was not for out benefit only, but that it was meant to be a way that we could contribute to our community and give back. It was a very innovative discourse to hear from peers, rather than from faculty. It reminded me, as a Spelmanite, of the duties that I have to fulfill once I return to Spelman in the fall. I have a community of my own to uplift through positivity and to promote more of a sense of responsibility. It is important to understand that a degree from any institution is useless if you only use it for yourself. Your work has to mean something for others.
After this discussion, we had our first workshop: Miseducation of Women. It was during this session that the male students and the female students were split up to have separate discussions. In the seminar for the women, we discussed the topic of respect. We were asked first, to sit in a circle and each of had to express what we hoped to get out of the session. For me, the answer was a sense of community.
Coming from Spelman, a school with a legacy of community and sisterhood, it felt strange to hear the young women actually expressing the need for sisterhood among themselves. Then it dawned on me…
I have been calling Spelmanites, not Spelman students, but my Spelman Sisters for the last 2 and a half years of my life. It is this community that has come to define the majority of my experience at Spelman College. I have had experiences where I have been on the highways of Charlotte, North Carolina, but when I see a Spelman Decal or license plate holder, I can pull up along side the car and will receive a wave from my Spelman sister. Our community is not just on the campus. It is a network that goes all over the place. We congratulate each other. Greet each other. Promote each other. And we always strive to reach out to each other. So, I have never had to worry about community. (However, I do believe that there are definitely times when our sisterhood needs to be reiterated. I will not proceed to say MY Spelman is perfect. But I love my Spelman sister enough not to lie to them about the state of our sisterhood. And sometimes, it is important to remind each other what that is supposed to mean and the history behind it.)
Anyway, once we listed our expectations and desires for the group, we split up into 10 groups of five. In these groups, we were asked to answer the following questions:
In answering these questions, we delved deep into our hearts and were vulnerable enough to share honestly with one another. It seemed like a strange thing, but talking about respect is truly an emotional topic. There were some girls who could not think of a time that they felt respected. It was hurtful to hear that because, everyone should feel respected. What was even worse was that sometimes, the greatest disrespect came those that were often closest to the young women that were sharing.
After this time together, we joined back with the young men to reflect on what we had discussed. Afterwards, we left for our rooms to have various activities until we went to sleep. Although these discussions were great, the greatest part of the weekend was yet to come.
We started the next days Workshops with a Session called "Mastery of Self" with Baayan Bakari. During Mr. Bakari's talk, he talked about restoring the respect and dignity to the identity of black people. No longer thinking that being black was synonymous with ignorance, unattached attitudes and an aversion to success. But rather, we came from a people who lived with pride and dignity. He also asked us to ponder the following questions:
After this lecture, we had a keynote address from the Berkeley Associate Chancellor Linda Williams. This was a speech that I thought correlated perfectly with my experience as a Spelmanite. Ms. Williams is the first African American female cabinet member of UCB. Her advice and experience was amazing to hear. However, I feel like she is probably a speaker that we might not ever have at Spelman, which is too bad. There are some very subtle differences in what you are going to hear at Spelman v. University of California Berkeley. Although I love our administration with all of my heart, there always feels like this distance between where we are as students and our administrations. However, Ms. Williams was able to remove the distance between student and administrator in her speech.
After this as a student led discussion called Joys and Complexities of the Diaspora which was held by the Nigerian Student Association. The topic was to look at the ways that Africans viewed African Americans and vice versa. It was also to resolve the negative connotations that have come from words such as "African", "African-American", ",Black" and "American".
The most important part of the retreat series was at the end when we had our group bonding activity to close. There was a yarn "ball" introduced to the group and each of us had to wrap it around our wrist while sharing something that we gained from the experience. As we passed the yarn from person to person, there was a web formed so that each of us was bound to each other. When we had finished sharing, we each cut our part of the yarn and tied it to our wrists as a reminder of the connection that we shared and the community that we had to build upon if ever we needed on another.
The retreat was overall and excellent experience and a wonderful way to recharge for another week
Yet another fine week here at Berkeley has come to a close. And it has made me all the more sure that I am currently, exactly where I need to be. And, I know that I have MY Spelman, to thank for the opportunity.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Life in the Fast Lane...
WOOW!
So, the last week has been so filled with experiences that I've hardly had time to catch my breath. But in a good way.
My first week of classes at Cal have been really good, busy but good. All of my courses require a lot of reading on my part, but the good part is that professor's understand that their assignments are cumbersome, so they try to help you in conversation about the pieces that they have assigned. Each of my professors have a great amount of passion for what they teach and they are excited to pass the information on.
One new experience that I am having here is having a "sectional" apart from the actual course in order to discuss the material presented in lecture. My Politics and Social Change course is a lecture for 90 minutes in which there is not a lot of room for discussion. However, I have discussion with a GSI (Graduate student) who helps to break down the material that I have read.
Another advantage to the reading is that it is so cumbersome that the professors are usually a day behind in lecture than the reading you are actually on. This helps in case you were not able to finish all of the reading. (Another advantage is that the classes are so big that the professor doesn't necessarily notice if you don't have a response to the text.)
My Virtual Communities class meets once a week for 3 hours. Although that sound horrible, it really isn't because the information and the professor are really worth the amount of time you spend.
One of the problems that I am having is handling the amount of information that I have to handle. We have a sight called Bspace where professors post announcements about readings, assignments and extra credit. My Society and Culture professor wants students to read as well as respond to the readings in the chat room for extra credit. However, he says to only respond to the texts that truly resonate with us, rather than forcing ourselves to talk about a piece that we did not enjoy or do not have much critique about. This is a relief because it is hard to have a response to some of the pieces when they are so heavily laden with jargon and theories.
Another issue that I am having is knowing which classes that I need to buy a book/reader for. I still have readers to buy as well as a book for my Politics and Social Change. However, my good fortune about the price of readers has run short. :-( My readers for Virtual Communities is going to cost an estimated $150. Hopefully this will be the most expensive material that I have to buy.
Another problem I am having with my Virtual Communities class is that he speaks so quickly and changes slides so fast that sometimes it is hard to keep up with the amount of information that he is trying to get us to understand. Also, he does not re post his slides on the internet. But, to make up for this, he is willing to slow down for anyone who asks. (And this is a class of about 150 people...) Another interesting feature of the course is that, he has created his own internet sight for the materials of the course, separate from Bspace. This is slightly stressful due to the fact that I already have quite a few sights to keep up with, so it would have been nice if he'd have just created a class on Bspace. However, this might just mean learning how to juggle all the things that I need to know.
Another way to keep up with the amount of information is that, assignments to be turned in are not every course. Rather, the professors have scheduled dates when they wish to have assignments turned in.
One thing that I hope to do with each professor is schedule some time early in which to speak with them. I am a little nervous about how to write for professors here. Anyone in college knows that writing styles have to vary in order to accommodate the kind of writing that the professors hope to see.
Another interesting aspect to juggle is the idea of remaining social underneath the amount of work that needs to be done. Most students at Cal are equally busy and strive to maximize the amount of time that they have to get work done. However, the floor that I live on is very lively and animated and they keep things interesting. (Beyond the co-ed bathrooms... Lol.)
Over the weekend, the girls on the floor went out to dinner and a movie. We went to see No Strings Attached, which I highly recommend. An exciting aspect is that the theaters are less than 10 min. away from campus and approximately 10 minutes from my actual dorm. This is a great thing in case there may come a day when I want to slip away from campus for two hours and see a movie. (I am one of those strange people who likes to slip away and go see a movie by myself once and awhile. It's a good idea to take yourself out for awhile once and a while.)
Also, the black community at Cal tries to create an extra community in which to bond with one another due to the fact that the population of blacks is pretty small. They have black campus ministry Bible studies and also a communal retreat to step away from campus and connect. Also, every Wednesday, they have "Black Wednesday" in front of the Golden Bear Cafe from 12-2. Do not feel bad or like you are not being open minded by participating in this kinds of activities. It is excellent to embrace the diversity that is available here at Cal. However, every community does it's best to keep a strong relationship going on campus. There are many clubs and activities for the plethora of identities at Cal (Asian, Latino, GLBTQ, Christian, Muslim, Techies, Dancers, Cyclists...)
So, embrace the diversity and the tailored identity opportunities.
All and all, it has been an interesting 7 days and I hope that, as time flows on, I will get more acclimated to all of the things that are available.
As always, there are more details that I would love to discuss. Yet, I must get to work. Busy, busy, busy. At least we know my hands aren't the devil's workshop. Lol.
Oh, and it was a lovely surprise to find that yesterday, I had 4 packages in the main room yesterday. 3 from my parents containing my tv, dvd, books, movies and printer! (Finally, I can print without signing over the rights to my firstborn child!)
The second was a lovely coat from my grandmother. :-) I repeat the rule of the first blog. One of the most excellent features for travel is having an awesome family to back you up.
Also, here is the address to the class website for my Virtual Communities course:
http://lookingattehinternets.blogspot.com
I included this because this is a course with such excellent information that everyone can use. Check it out if you have some time!!
So, the last week has been so filled with experiences that I've hardly had time to catch my breath. But in a good way.
My first week of classes at Cal have been really good, busy but good. All of my courses require a lot of reading on my part, but the good part is that professor's understand that their assignments are cumbersome, so they try to help you in conversation about the pieces that they have assigned. Each of my professors have a great amount of passion for what they teach and they are excited to pass the information on.
One new experience that I am having here is having a "sectional" apart from the actual course in order to discuss the material presented in lecture. My Politics and Social Change course is a lecture for 90 minutes in which there is not a lot of room for discussion. However, I have discussion with a GSI (Graduate student) who helps to break down the material that I have read.
Another advantage to the reading is that it is so cumbersome that the professors are usually a day behind in lecture than the reading you are actually on. This helps in case you were not able to finish all of the reading. (Another advantage is that the classes are so big that the professor doesn't necessarily notice if you don't have a response to the text.)
My Virtual Communities class meets once a week for 3 hours. Although that sound horrible, it really isn't because the information and the professor are really worth the amount of time you spend.
One of the problems that I am having is handling the amount of information that I have to handle. We have a sight called Bspace where professors post announcements about readings, assignments and extra credit. My Society and Culture professor wants students to read as well as respond to the readings in the chat room for extra credit. However, he says to only respond to the texts that truly resonate with us, rather than forcing ourselves to talk about a piece that we did not enjoy or do not have much critique about. This is a relief because it is hard to have a response to some of the pieces when they are so heavily laden with jargon and theories.
Another issue that I am having is knowing which classes that I need to buy a book/reader for. I still have readers to buy as well as a book for my Politics and Social Change. However, my good fortune about the price of readers has run short. :-( My readers for Virtual Communities is going to cost an estimated $150. Hopefully this will be the most expensive material that I have to buy.
Another problem I am having with my Virtual Communities class is that he speaks so quickly and changes slides so fast that sometimes it is hard to keep up with the amount of information that he is trying to get us to understand. Also, he does not re post his slides on the internet. But, to make up for this, he is willing to slow down for anyone who asks. (And this is a class of about 150 people...) Another interesting feature of the course is that, he has created his own internet sight for the materials of the course, separate from Bspace. This is slightly stressful due to the fact that I already have quite a few sights to keep up with, so it would have been nice if he'd have just created a class on Bspace. However, this might just mean learning how to juggle all the things that I need to know.
Another way to keep up with the amount of information is that, assignments to be turned in are not every course. Rather, the professors have scheduled dates when they wish to have assignments turned in.
One thing that I hope to do with each professor is schedule some time early in which to speak with them. I am a little nervous about how to write for professors here. Anyone in college knows that writing styles have to vary in order to accommodate the kind of writing that the professors hope to see.
Another interesting aspect to juggle is the idea of remaining social underneath the amount of work that needs to be done. Most students at Cal are equally busy and strive to maximize the amount of time that they have to get work done. However, the floor that I live on is very lively and animated and they keep things interesting. (Beyond the co-ed bathrooms... Lol.)
Over the weekend, the girls on the floor went out to dinner and a movie. We went to see No Strings Attached, which I highly recommend. An exciting aspect is that the theaters are less than 10 min. away from campus and approximately 10 minutes from my actual dorm. This is a great thing in case there may come a day when I want to slip away from campus for two hours and see a movie. (I am one of those strange people who likes to slip away and go see a movie by myself once and awhile. It's a good idea to take yourself out for awhile once and a while.)
Also, the black community at Cal tries to create an extra community in which to bond with one another due to the fact that the population of blacks is pretty small. They have black campus ministry Bible studies and also a communal retreat to step away from campus and connect. Also, every Wednesday, they have "Black Wednesday" in front of the Golden Bear Cafe from 12-2. Do not feel bad or like you are not being open minded by participating in this kinds of activities. It is excellent to embrace the diversity that is available here at Cal. However, every community does it's best to keep a strong relationship going on campus. There are many clubs and activities for the plethora of identities at Cal (Asian, Latino, GLBTQ, Christian, Muslim, Techies, Dancers, Cyclists...)
So, embrace the diversity and the tailored identity opportunities.
All and all, it has been an interesting 7 days and I hope that, as time flows on, I will get more acclimated to all of the things that are available.
As always, there are more details that I would love to discuss. Yet, I must get to work. Busy, busy, busy. At least we know my hands aren't the devil's workshop. Lol.
Oh, and it was a lovely surprise to find that yesterday, I had 4 packages in the main room yesterday. 3 from my parents containing my tv, dvd, books, movies and printer! (Finally, I can print without signing over the rights to my firstborn child!)
The second was a lovely coat from my grandmother. :-) I repeat the rule of the first blog. One of the most excellent features for travel is having an awesome family to back you up.
Also, here is the address to the class website for my Virtual Communities course:
http://lookingattehinternets.blogspot.com
I included this because this is a course with such excellent information that everyone can use. Check it out if you have some time!!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The First Day of Classes as a UCB Student
Alright, now we get to the part that really matters. Education and classes. Which I can happily report are excellent thus far!
My first class of the day was Politics and Social Change at 9:30am. I was able to successfully wake up in time to get dressed, eat breakfast, and make it to class early. (Not super early, but a cool 10 min. I don't believe in being "on time" on the first day of any class. It leaves an impression...)
Anyway, the class was about 40 people, which is pretty small on this campus. (Never mind this is 8-10 people shy of my Con Law class last semester...)
I thought I would have been the student that traveled the furthest. However, there was a troop of students from Norway, then students from France, Brazil and Italy. So, North Carolina is the back yard compared to that.
I was expecting the format of the course to be drastically different than things I was used to. However, it was very similar to my Sociological Imagination course. And, the syllabus included texts and authors that I had been hearing about since high school.
The thing I have to say I loved best about this class for today would have been picking up the text. Instead of a formalized book, we have a "reader" which was put together at Copy Central, it is the size of a text book, and it cost me $43. Anyone who has been inside a college book store knows that this is the holy grail of pricing.
The proffesor was also very personable, and he was kind enough to cancel sectionals for today. (It probably would have been useless to have a discussion with us due to the fact that... we hadn't read anything yet.) However, there is one textbook that I must buy at the book store. However, it is less than $30, which is once again, a steal. (CHA-CHING!)
It was on my way back from this class that I got to thinking...
I had been having some self doubts about whether I was the caliber of student that it took to be a student at UCB. However, it dawned on me that I am a representative of everyone who has ever had an influence on my life. From my parents, my sister and my grandparents, to my teachers that I have treasured over the years. I am even a representative of the difficulties that have been set before me thus far in my life. And to doubt myself would have been to doubt this collection of experience. It was when I began to think of this... how I am a product of great people, and I am a representative of all they have poured into me, that I began to stop doubting myself. To have doubted myself, would have been to doubted them as well. Which I don't and I quickly put those thoughts to bed.
This is to say that, every person who has ever poured into your life is a part of your success when you make it to greatness. And when you get there, you pay them tribute by pushing yourself to be even more successful. So, for anyone who has those kinds of doubts, put them away, and go live your destiny.
As I decend from my soap box... Lol.
Today was club rush in front of Sather Gate. Joining clubs is an excellent way to meet new people and to make friends. This is a very important process and it should not be taken lightly. Especially when you are on exchange. I once heard the saying, "Your network is a symbol of your net worth." Now, I am using this out of the context that it was originally intended, but I think it applies. This means that there is a richness that is brought about to your life when you decide to surround yourself with good people. I will not go so far as to be specific about what "good" means here. But, the basic idea is to put yourself in the presence of others who will enhance your life. This being said, we will move right along in the description of the day. (I must be quick because my professor made up for canceling sectionals in the amount of reading we are supposed to do tonight... Yikes!)
My second (technically 3rd) class of the day was Virtual Communities and Social Media. I can already say that this is about to be one of the most fascinating courses I will take in my life. This is the kind of course you take out student loans and enter yourself into years of debt which will result in you eating Ramen noodles instead of Caviar and Trout Almondine for.
Althougth the course is 3 hours... and at night... I can honestly say, the time flies because the information is so fascinating. (The 10 minute breaks every hour don't hurt either.)
This is the kind of course that you go on Exchange for. Because it is information that might not be available at Spelman. I'm pretty sure that Spelman doesn't have a course like this because our department is pretty small. (Of course, this is not a negative statement about my love, Spelman. I will always be a Spelmanite in my heart first. No matter how many degrees come after it, which hopefully will be a gracious plenty.)
Anyway... The point is, classes here are excellent, engaging and fun. So, for Spelman students considering exchange, I suggest you make UCB your first choice. It's like nothing else....
Now, in the time honored tradition of higher learning, I must go study! But I will leave you with this...
"It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are."- e.e. cummings (He is truly one of my favorite poets.
(P.S. There are some truly talented kids at UCB. The girl next door is singing with acoustic guitar right now. She has the kind of voice that makes you open your room door to listen, not to tell her to kindly keep her "gifts" to herself.)
My first class of the day was Politics and Social Change at 9:30am. I was able to successfully wake up in time to get dressed, eat breakfast, and make it to class early. (Not super early, but a cool 10 min. I don't believe in being "on time" on the first day of any class. It leaves an impression...)
Anyway, the class was about 40 people, which is pretty small on this campus. (Never mind this is 8-10 people shy of my Con Law class last semester...)
I thought I would have been the student that traveled the furthest. However, there was a troop of students from Norway, then students from France, Brazil and Italy. So, North Carolina is the back yard compared to that.
I was expecting the format of the course to be drastically different than things I was used to. However, it was very similar to my Sociological Imagination course. And, the syllabus included texts and authors that I had been hearing about since high school.
The thing I have to say I loved best about this class for today would have been picking up the text. Instead of a formalized book, we have a "reader" which was put together at Copy Central, it is the size of a text book, and it cost me $43. Anyone who has been inside a college book store knows that this is the holy grail of pricing.
The proffesor was also very personable, and he was kind enough to cancel sectionals for today. (It probably would have been useless to have a discussion with us due to the fact that... we hadn't read anything yet.) However, there is one textbook that I must buy at the book store. However, it is less than $30, which is once again, a steal. (CHA-CHING!)
It was on my way back from this class that I got to thinking...
I had been having some self doubts about whether I was the caliber of student that it took to be a student at UCB. However, it dawned on me that I am a representative of everyone who has ever had an influence on my life. From my parents, my sister and my grandparents, to my teachers that I have treasured over the years. I am even a representative of the difficulties that have been set before me thus far in my life. And to doubt myself would have been to doubt this collection of experience. It was when I began to think of this... how I am a product of great people, and I am a representative of all they have poured into me, that I began to stop doubting myself. To have doubted myself, would have been to doubted them as well. Which I don't and I quickly put those thoughts to bed.
This is to say that, every person who has ever poured into your life is a part of your success when you make it to greatness. And when you get there, you pay them tribute by pushing yourself to be even more successful. So, for anyone who has those kinds of doubts, put them away, and go live your destiny.
As I decend from my soap box... Lol.
Today was club rush in front of Sather Gate. Joining clubs is an excellent way to meet new people and to make friends. This is a very important process and it should not be taken lightly. Especially when you are on exchange. I once heard the saying, "Your network is a symbol of your net worth." Now, I am using this out of the context that it was originally intended, but I think it applies. This means that there is a richness that is brought about to your life when you decide to surround yourself with good people. I will not go so far as to be specific about what "good" means here. But, the basic idea is to put yourself in the presence of others who will enhance your life. This being said, we will move right along in the description of the day. (I must be quick because my professor made up for canceling sectionals in the amount of reading we are supposed to do tonight... Yikes!)
My second (technically 3rd) class of the day was Virtual Communities and Social Media. I can already say that this is about to be one of the most fascinating courses I will take in my life. This is the kind of course you take out student loans and enter yourself into years of debt which will result in you eating Ramen noodles instead of Caviar and Trout Almondine for.
Althougth the course is 3 hours... and at night... I can honestly say, the time flies because the information is so fascinating. (The 10 minute breaks every hour don't hurt either.)
This is the kind of course that you go on Exchange for. Because it is information that might not be available at Spelman. I'm pretty sure that Spelman doesn't have a course like this because our department is pretty small. (Of course, this is not a negative statement about my love, Spelman. I will always be a Spelmanite in my heart first. No matter how many degrees come after it, which hopefully will be a gracious plenty.)
Anyway... The point is, classes here are excellent, engaging and fun. So, for Spelman students considering exchange, I suggest you make UCB your first choice. It's like nothing else....
Now, in the time honored tradition of higher learning, I must go study! But I will leave you with this...
"It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are."- e.e. cummings (He is truly one of my favorite poets.
(P.S. There are some truly talented kids at UCB. The girl next door is singing with acoustic guitar right now. She has the kind of voice that makes you open your room door to listen, not to tell her to kindly keep her "gifts" to herself.)
Saturday, January 15, 2011
"I Shall Not Pass This Way Again": A Lesson In Having The Gusto To Tackle Oppurtunity
So, I have been here in Berkeley for 5 days and it has been a crash course... I've been having a really good time thus far. People from the Berkeley are very friendly and willing to help. When I had to get out of my cab in order to check into my building, I had far too many bags to carry up into the complex at one time. My driver volunteered to wait on the curb with my things until I was able to come get them. And then, when signing in, one of the students helped me to move all of my stuff into the registration hall until I could get the chance to go see my room.
Once I had moved into my room, I met my RA, who was very kind and cheerful.
Also, I had to go to the UCB campus to get my ID and welcome packet. Its important to have the id here on campus because it is basically your key to everything! (Dining in all of the campus and residential dining facilities and restaurants) a bus pass, your swipe cards to enter your building at night, a bus pass and your library card! So, it is practically an essential to your everyday life. Also, I took a brief tour on my own with a map of certain sights on campus. I was able to find the memorial and main (gardner) library and finally take a picture of the Sather Gate, which is one of the most famous images on the Berkeley campus.
It's a bit of an adjustment going from a campus where I can get to everything in 15-20 minutes and usually a lot less to a campus that it takes 90 minutes just to tour half of!!!! But, I also like the campus because it is beautiful and each of the building house an incredible opportunity.
Another adjustment is going from an all girl school to not only a co-ed school, a co-ed dorm but a co-ed floor in my dorm. It's a little awkward at times, considering all men other than security guards must be off Spelman's campus by 12... But, I think it will be nice to make some male friends here. That can be pretty difficult for me at Spelman because I usually get caught up in all things on Spelman's campus that I don't really take much of an interest in things anywhere else. So, that should work out pretty well.
Another great feature of my housing unit is that they are having a weeks worth of Welcome Activities. (Spring Admissions at Berkeley are quite common. So it's nice being the only new person. And it's nice to get in on all the new people activities.) The first night of activities were a movies and hot chocolate event. We watched Inception which is one of my favorite movies of all time. (Gotta love Leo and Anti-gravity fights!) Also, my RA invited me to dinner with her and a few other people at Crossroads (the eating facility near my unit). So, the first day was pretty good overall.
The second day I went on a tour of the campus and had a great time! I learned a lot of great facts about Berkeley, such as how many elements in the periodic table were discovered by Berkeley. Also, about the participation and rebellion that took place on the campus during the Free Speech Movement of the '60's. Also, I went to meet with the academic advisor for my major today and visited the entire Sociology department. So, I feel like I made quite a success of the time I had on my hands. Then, on Thursday night, two of the residents on my floor invited me to hang out with them for a while. It was my first time taking the city bus anywhere and for a first experience, it was truly not that bad. The prices for fare were the same as a trip on the Marta, which is cool. It's easier to make an adjustment when you can find the similarities between something that you are used to. After we returned to campus, we went to the evening Welcome activity which was Game night at Crossroads. Also, I learned about late night, which is a time in the cafeteria where you can order what they have available and it stays open until about 2am for students with late schedules.
On Friday, I decided to measure the amount of time it would take to get to each of my classes. The lucky part is that it only takes 7 minutes for me to get from my housing unit to the campus. And the farthest I will have to walk for a class is a little under 20 minutes. So, I guess its the equivalent to the stairs in Giles that it takes to get the the Sociology department. :-) Also, I spent time at the days welcome back activity which was going to a pretty famous pizzeria, Zachery's/ This is meant to be deep dish pizza that is better that Chicago. Now, I will not confirm or deny that claim. I don't want anything to do with such controversial statements. Lol. Anyway, there was also a Rockband and Video game night.
These last few days have been so jam packed, I wanted to say as much as I could about them.
The most important thing I have learned about these last few days is never to doubt your own capabilities. If I had listened to all the little voices and doubts that I have about attending a school like UCB, I never would have come on this journey. And I would regret that because I am growing to not only like UCB, but LOVE it. I love that there is so much to do here. There are so many ways to get involved. For instances, there are courses here called DeCal's (Democratic Eduaction and Cal courses). These classes are taught by students on a topic that they find facinating. For instance, there was a course last year on Harry Potter and at the end of the semester, the students were able to have an actual Quidditch match on the lawns of the campus. This semester, the have courses about James Bond, Harry Potter, Female Sexuality, Christian Love and Yoga. The one that I am planning to take... The Sociology of the Twilight Saga! (I am so excited!)
There is so much to do here, I a can hardly wait for the academic year to begin so that I can pounce on all of the chances for inclusion that there are here on campus.
While I am homesick in some ways, missing my friends at Spelman and certainly my family, I am having such a great time discovering The Bay Area that I am able to put those thoughts off and enjoy myself!
Once I had moved into my room, I met my RA, who was very kind and cheerful.
Also, I had to go to the UCB campus to get my ID and welcome packet. Its important to have the id here on campus because it is basically your key to everything! (Dining in all of the campus and residential dining facilities and restaurants) a bus pass, your swipe cards to enter your building at night, a bus pass and your library card! So, it is practically an essential to your everyday life. Also, I took a brief tour on my own with a map of certain sights on campus. I was able to find the memorial and main (gardner) library and finally take a picture of the Sather Gate, which is one of the most famous images on the Berkeley campus.
It's a bit of an adjustment going from a campus where I can get to everything in 15-20 minutes and usually a lot less to a campus that it takes 90 minutes just to tour half of!!!! But, I also like the campus because it is beautiful and each of the building house an incredible opportunity.
Another adjustment is going from an all girl school to not only a co-ed school, a co-ed dorm but a co-ed floor in my dorm. It's a little awkward at times, considering all men other than security guards must be off Spelman's campus by 12... But, I think it will be nice to make some male friends here. That can be pretty difficult for me at Spelman because I usually get caught up in all things on Spelman's campus that I don't really take much of an interest in things anywhere else. So, that should work out pretty well.
Another great feature of my housing unit is that they are having a weeks worth of Welcome Activities. (Spring Admissions at Berkeley are quite common. So it's nice being the only new person. And it's nice to get in on all the new people activities.) The first night of activities were a movies and hot chocolate event. We watched Inception which is one of my favorite movies of all time. (Gotta love Leo and Anti-gravity fights!) Also, my RA invited me to dinner with her and a few other people at Crossroads (the eating facility near my unit). So, the first day was pretty good overall.
The second day I went on a tour of the campus and had a great time! I learned a lot of great facts about Berkeley, such as how many elements in the periodic table were discovered by Berkeley. Also, about the participation and rebellion that took place on the campus during the Free Speech Movement of the '60's. Also, I went to meet with the academic advisor for my major today and visited the entire Sociology department. So, I feel like I made quite a success of the time I had on my hands. Then, on Thursday night, two of the residents on my floor invited me to hang out with them for a while. It was my first time taking the city bus anywhere and for a first experience, it was truly not that bad. The prices for fare were the same as a trip on the Marta, which is cool. It's easier to make an adjustment when you can find the similarities between something that you are used to. After we returned to campus, we went to the evening Welcome activity which was Game night at Crossroads. Also, I learned about late night, which is a time in the cafeteria where you can order what they have available and it stays open until about 2am for students with late schedules.
On Friday, I decided to measure the amount of time it would take to get to each of my classes. The lucky part is that it only takes 7 minutes for me to get from my housing unit to the campus. And the farthest I will have to walk for a class is a little under 20 minutes. So, I guess its the equivalent to the stairs in Giles that it takes to get the the Sociology department. :-) Also, I spent time at the days welcome back activity which was going to a pretty famous pizzeria, Zachery's/ This is meant to be deep dish pizza that is better that Chicago. Now, I will not confirm or deny that claim. I don't want anything to do with such controversial statements. Lol. Anyway, there was also a Rockband and Video game night.
These last few days have been so jam packed, I wanted to say as much as I could about them.
The most important thing I have learned about these last few days is never to doubt your own capabilities. If I had listened to all the little voices and doubts that I have about attending a school like UCB, I never would have come on this journey. And I would regret that because I am growing to not only like UCB, but LOVE it. I love that there is so much to do here. There are so many ways to get involved. For instances, there are courses here called DeCal's (Democratic Eduaction and Cal courses). These classes are taught by students on a topic that they find facinating. For instance, there was a course last year on Harry Potter and at the end of the semester, the students were able to have an actual Quidditch match on the lawns of the campus. This semester, the have courses about James Bond, Harry Potter, Female Sexuality, Christian Love and Yoga. The one that I am planning to take... The Sociology of the Twilight Saga! (I am so excited!)
There is so much to do here, I a can hardly wait for the academic year to begin so that I can pounce on all of the chances for inclusion that there are here on campus.
While I am homesick in some ways, missing my friends at Spelman and certainly my family, I am having such a great time discovering The Bay Area that I am able to put those thoughts off and enjoy myself!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
"When and Where I Enter...."
After a very LONG day of travels, filled with canceled, rescheduled and late flights, I made it to Berkeley, California. I haven't been to campus yet, but I am staying at a hotel a mile and a half away.
I'm starting to get a little nervous... I have avoided allowing myself to overthink the decesion to come on this journey. Now I am here, and I am allowing a few of those thoughts in.
However, I have already seen some of the benefits of coming on this adventure. Yesterday, from my plane window, I saw two things that I never thought I would: The Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. Without going on adventure, you don't get to explore and discover.
I'm still pretty excited to see what this adventure is going to hold for me. Classes start next Tuesday, so I have 6 days to do a little exploring in my new surroundings. Which is good for me, so that I can get the hang of local transit and what is available to me.Of course, like any great American, I must find the closest Wal-Mart!
One of the purposes of starting this blog for me was to long and track my journey so that, if there are any other Spelman students that are contemplating going on Domestic Exchange, they will have a sort of chronology of someone's experience. In that spirit, I must first get down to bra$$ tax...
Be sure to plan well in advance for your travels. Be aware that, travel can get a little pricey. Figure out the date that you would like to leave for your destination AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. This will help in alleviating some of the cost of a ticket. In my case, I have flown from one side of the country to another (literally) and my ticket was less than $200 because I planned well in advance. I would highly recommend Southwest Airlines if you can because they allow you to have 2 bags for free if you meet the weight requirements. The next bag is $50, but for those of you who are able to minimize, this will not be an expense you need to worry about.
Another important aspect of travel is knowing where you will land, who will pick you up and how you will reach your destination. My mother was able to find a really good Airport Transit company called Bay Porter Express. I was able to get from the airport to my hotel for $30 (if was supposed to be $25, but there was a $3 excess baggage charge and then $2 tip.) Also, I was able to find a great hotel, only a mile and a half from the Berkeley campus for the evening for $119 + tax (which means it was really $130).
Anyway, the point is to be prepared when it comes to money. In my case, my mother and I worked out some financial plans the summer before I was to come. We saved all semester and now, we barely have to worry about a thing as far as finances. Also, my father has graciously lined my pocket before I left on the plane. (Another great tip to travel is having awesome parents!)
As the title of this blog says, "When and Where I Enter..." which I say for my Spelman Sisters. We all know exactly what that quote means to us! But it is so true. Where ever you are going, you are never going alone. I have not only brought my Spelman community with me on this journey. I have brought my friends and family with me. My mom has always talked about seeing the Grand Canyon and how much she has always wanted to see it. Yesterday, from my plane window, I took dozens of pictures of it, just for her. It was so, even though she has not seen it for herself YET, in some form, she has seen it.
Anyway, I must stop writing so I can go to my FREE continental breakfast and then proceed with my day. (See, planning is everything!)
I'm starting to get a little nervous... I have avoided allowing myself to overthink the decesion to come on this journey. Now I am here, and I am allowing a few of those thoughts in.
However, I have already seen some of the benefits of coming on this adventure. Yesterday, from my plane window, I saw two things that I never thought I would: The Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. Without going on adventure, you don't get to explore and discover.
I'm still pretty excited to see what this adventure is going to hold for me. Classes start next Tuesday, so I have 6 days to do a little exploring in my new surroundings. Which is good for me, so that I can get the hang of local transit and what is available to me.Of course, like any great American, I must find the closest Wal-Mart!
One of the purposes of starting this blog for me was to long and track my journey so that, if there are any other Spelman students that are contemplating going on Domestic Exchange, they will have a sort of chronology of someone's experience. In that spirit, I must first get down to bra$$ tax...
Be sure to plan well in advance for your travels. Be aware that, travel can get a little pricey. Figure out the date that you would like to leave for your destination AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. This will help in alleviating some of the cost of a ticket. In my case, I have flown from one side of the country to another (literally) and my ticket was less than $200 because I planned well in advance. I would highly recommend Southwest Airlines if you can because they allow you to have 2 bags for free if you meet the weight requirements. The next bag is $50, but for those of you who are able to minimize, this will not be an expense you need to worry about.
Another important aspect of travel is knowing where you will land, who will pick you up and how you will reach your destination. My mother was able to find a really good Airport Transit company called Bay Porter Express. I was able to get from the airport to my hotel for $30 (if was supposed to be $25, but there was a $3 excess baggage charge and then $2 tip.) Also, I was able to find a great hotel, only a mile and a half from the Berkeley campus for the evening for $119 + tax (which means it was really $130).
Anyway, the point is to be prepared when it comes to money. In my case, my mother and I worked out some financial plans the summer before I was to come. We saved all semester and now, we barely have to worry about a thing as far as finances. Also, my father has graciously lined my pocket before I left on the plane. (Another great tip to travel is having awesome parents!)
As the title of this blog says, "When and Where I Enter..." which I say for my Spelman Sisters. We all know exactly what that quote means to us! But it is so true. Where ever you are going, you are never going alone. I have not only brought my Spelman community with me on this journey. I have brought my friends and family with me. My mom has always talked about seeing the Grand Canyon and how much she has always wanted to see it. Yesterday, from my plane window, I took dozens of pictures of it, just for her. It was so, even though she has not seen it for herself YET, in some form, she has seen it.
Anyway, I must stop writing so I can go to my FREE continental breakfast and then proceed with my day. (See, planning is everything!)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
On My Way to Berkeley
So, this is the day that I travel to Berkeley, CA in order to spend a semester at the University of California at Berkeley. It's 5:28, and I am in Raleigh, NC, preparing for my flight at 9:05. Its pretty exciting to think that, in a matter of hours, I will be in the place that I have been dreaming about visiting for what seems like forever. I have some trepidation, being that I have never been this far from home. However, my nervous fears are outweighed by the fact that I am too excited to even sleep. I have set some goals for myself to accomplish while I am away, which I will share more in depth when I have more time.
Although I will miss my Beautiful Spelman this semester, I know that this is too great an opportunity to let pass me by. It is the first time that I can think of that I have taken such a large leap outside of my comfort zone. Spelman has become a secondary safety blanket for me. (Secondary to my family of course....) I have made friends into family at Spelman. However, I know that I will be able to do the same thing in Berkeley.
I'm looking forward to all of the adventures that lie ahead... I know that God will turn this into a blessing.
So, California, here we come!
"If you take a chance in life, sometimes good things happen, sometimes bad things happen. But honey, if you don't take a chance, nothing happens."
Although I will miss my Beautiful Spelman this semester, I know that this is too great an opportunity to let pass me by. It is the first time that I can think of that I have taken such a large leap outside of my comfort zone. Spelman has become a secondary safety blanket for me. (Secondary to my family of course....) I have made friends into family at Spelman. However, I know that I will be able to do the same thing in Berkeley.
I'm looking forward to all of the adventures that lie ahead... I know that God will turn this into a blessing.
So, California, here we come!
"If you take a chance in life, sometimes good things happen, sometimes bad things happen. But honey, if you don't take a chance, nothing happens."
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