Lessons and Excitement
I’m going to brag a little in this post. I guess that’s allowed in a blog. I read somewhere that all blog posts are just thoughts thrown out into the wild world of the interwebs, hoping for someone to eventually pick them up. What better to add than some cool experiences I’ve recently had?
Prindle Ethics Symposium
This past weekend I had the privilege of attending the Undergraduate Ethics Symposium at Depauw University’s Prindle Institute. Out of the nearly 90 entries, I Am was one of the 30 selected. First off, what an honor. But it doesn’t stop there. The conference is scheduled around workshops so we, as students, can all get around 40 minutes of discussion on the piece we turned in. It was such an honor to have our session lead by Steven Dietz, a playwright and professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Along with his keynote address on Friday night, he forced us as artists to ask the questions of ourselves that we had never thought of. With my piece, he asked, “Who needs to see this?” While I had thought about all of the people who I would want to see the short film, I had never thought about the people who need to see it. It made me realize, again, that the film had the profound ability to bring about change and to open minds. Qualities that I often forget about since it’s my project and I know all of the small errors that I wish weren’t there.
Most importantly, though, I met some amazing peers in all different fields, from English to Philosophy and Biology. I was touched by their thoughtfulness in exploring the many sides of the issues. I was impressed how each of us embraced the complexity of every topic. I was honored to participate in so many honest conversations. The conference reminded me to continually embrace an open mind and gave the ground to think about more ideas for upcoming films.
On a side note: I’m really excited to work with most of these people in the future. Check out my film buddy’s page: Clara Boland Vimeo
Awards
On a different note, each year SMPA generously awards students with scholarships for their excellence in journalism and dedication to the school. I was selected as one of the winners of the Sherman Page Allen Scholarship recipients. I am honored not only to have been selected a winner, but to accept it with my fellow classmates. For more updates on the School of Media and Public Affairs, see their twitter feed: @SMPAGWU
Top Left to Right: Award Certificate, Professor Osder and Sandi Moynihan
Bottom Left to Right: Director SMPA Frank Sesno, Professor Shanahan and Sandi Moynihan
Planet Forward Conference
Tomorrow will be another exciting media day. I’m running the camera for the Planet Forward Innovation Conference . You can follow the live stream all day long and catch the exciting panels! My piece on the Volkswagen Plant in Chattanooga is being featured too. Stay tuned for more updates about it later this week!
Paths of Dark and Light
Most of us seek a clear direction
A path with obvious shadows
With light at the end of the tunnel
In crisp focus.
Others enjoy the journey
Sometimes dark; sometimes light
With a fuzzy, unclear reason
Why each step
Can bring you to home
Refresh
“With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?” – Oscar Wilde
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Dedicated to an old friend
In Transition
I wanted to share one of my favorite photos from the Sara Snyder collection. There’s something about it that makes me feel like there is constant motion even if they are sitting. It only seems appropriate for the time:
Photo taken in Prague, Czech Republic
A Wave of Motion
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Waves move continuously
As if they are dancing
Sliding into a new position
With only a moments notice
Living in the Gray for 2012
Another year. Another semester. Here we go again. Only this time, I’m more excited than I have ever been.
I have tons of free time to be used to embrace every ounce of my creative energy. I’m planning an Independent Study for next year (don’t worry, I’ll be consulting all of you soon). I’m also working on a few short films and finishing up projects from last semester. And of course taking a full course load. I guess you can’t really call it free time then can you?
As usual, I’m taking gender classes and this week we have been talking a lot about the need for clear identity and having labels. We feel the need to define and align ourselves with particular communities. It makes us comfortable. When I originally thought about writing in my blog this week I was planning on giving that topic a shot. Then I realized I was pretty smart a year ago in my entry “I Am” from December 2010. Already wrote it.
Instead, I’m going to talk about the perfect world and what it’s taught me. I know this is far from realistic, but bear with me.
As many of my classmates have said, living in a world without neat, organized boxes to fit every person into would be wonderful. Judgement would be based upon the person, not the stereotype they fulfill. Anyone could happily float between identities and communities associated with them without contention.
Obviously, we don’t live in a perfect world. Nor does it seem like it’s going to get there anytime soon.
Thinking unrealistically is fun sometimes. And that is what daydreaming about the perfect world has taught me. I have the ability to make my world perfect. It’s my choice. All I have to do is live in the gray.
It is common in this terribly imperfect world that we choose between a) black or b) white. Two choices. Very limiting. Very definite. However, when the colors begin to swirl, they combine to make shades of gray. Some prettier than others, but nonetheless all unique.
My hopes for 2012 lay in the foundation of these blending of colors. To never accept an answer of either black or white. But find a shade that resembles both. Keeping an open mind that my creative energies will inspire others to see our pleasantly challenged world, not with minimal options, but the ability to express both black and white in a peaceful and collaborative way.
Volkswagen LEED-ing the Way
Thanks to the School of Media and Public Affairs, Bridgett Lynn and I got to go check out the new Volkswagen Plant in Chattanooga. The plant is the first Platinum LEED Auto Plant in the World. Here’s the video on Planet Forward
The piece also aired on the PBS Nightly Business Report. Stay tuned to see my post about everything I learned this semester coming shortly.
Time Changes Things
Right before I went to college, I went to Ann Arbor and found this cool little alley with a bunch of graffiti.
Over Thanksgiving I made the same trip to Ann Arbor. Three years later. Different weather. Different company. So much has changed, yet stayed the same. I’m different. Grown up you could say. But still the same. Bold, passionate, thoughtful. Still a little stronger but a lot more broken. And learning what it’s all about.
Naturally, change happens. I think it’s a good thing. For the most part. Like this wall. One layer after another; all added over time. It is still beautiful. Maybe even more than the last time.
Fall is Finally Here
On my way to watch the Veteran 10k at West Potomac Park, I ran into so many beautiful leaves. Here’s to a beautiful DC fall.
Your “7 Billion” Kitchen
For my Multimedia Reporting to Inform and Engage Class, we were tasked to make a video highlighting a statistic about the environment. It’s perfectly fitting for this week as we now have 7 billion people on the planet. Let me know what you think! Feel Free to join the conversation on twitter: #thinkfwd
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