To my dearly beloved GDub community,
Well, don't I have to start out with a massive apology?! I have left you all completely factoid-less for months now! I greatly apologize for my absence, but I got myself VERY caught up in the GW world and then trying to extricate myself from it for the summer. The good news? Since I've been a bit AWOL, there are tons of things I can write to you all about, so PLEASE keep checking back - the updates will be frequent here on out (seriously, though)!
I write to you now from my childhood bedroom on my last night at home before I'm back to the district. For anyone who knows me, it will come as no surprise that I am feeling disgustingly sentimental, as I always am at pivotal moments such as these. I feel like all of it should be eerily familiar, with the echoes of one year ago in the same rushed-hugs, spit-up goodbyes, loaded cars and tears on the driveway. But somehow, I feel not as if I am just going back to college once again, but that I am going home.
This is what I can tell you, and it is probably the best advice I can give anyone, as I'm sure you read this amidst breaks from stuffing your minivans or stocking the fridge in your dorm room. It is more important than talking to you about admissions or my summer job or how to get involved on campus. College is the first brand new world you get, and you never get to relive stepping into it twice. I won't give the "appreciate it, it goes too fast" sermon, as I know every friend, relative and estranged middle school friends' parents have told you. But truly, it is all very fleeting and this is the moment where you get to create your own new world. It's terrifying, it makes your stomach curl, makes you feel bile in your throat, but it is exhilarating and pulsing and like ripping off old skin. There is no other freshman year, and you can take that truth from me.
But, I digress - I do not aim to depress. Yes, you only get to be a freshman once, and while I encourage with all of my being that you live it the way you always wanted to live your old life, there is something to look forward to: being a sophomore. And I mean that. Because here I am, after a year that changed my life, and I truly feel like I am going home. I have a best friend as a roommate and a beautiful dorm-apartment to make my own, I live in the epicenter of Foggy Bottom like I had daydreamed of all through my freshman year, I am on the board of the theatre company that welcomed me with open arms, I have rehearsals this weekend and reunions with my college friends at night, I have an interview Monday for my dream internship along with my first slew of classes and gym routine, all amongst going back to talking to you all from behind my computer screen or walking backwards through campus. I have made for myself the most inexplicably perfected brand new world, and the only thing better than building it is now coming home to it.
As always, I am here, new freshmen, prospective ones as well, or the rest of the GDub community, so I give you my ears: write me at gmdepalo@gwmail.gwu.edu. To all the prospectives-turned-colonials I will be welcoming onto campus this weekend, we are so happy you've joined us.
Thank you GW for all I have gotten.
See you around campus,
Gina Michele
Showing posts with label opinion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label opinion. Show all posts
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
March Madness is Right Around the Corner
Howdy y’all! I swear I haven’t forgot about y’all, it has just been a busy start of the semester as we are hitting the most time intensive part of the basketball season with band on top of having this thing called college homework/ studying. But I’m back!
Both the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams are well on their way to the Atlantic 10 (or A-10 for those of you who know your conferences) Championship Tournaments. The men have defeated tough opponents in conference such as Charlotte and U Mass, rounding out with a 6-5 conference record, 13-12 overall. The Colonials will be facing the powerhouse Temple and Rhode Island later this month. While right now it looks like being one of the 64 chosen for the NCAA tournament might look grim, we are off to a good bid for the NIT or CBI and March marks the season of weird upsets, so who knows where the Colonials will go?
Our women have had a struggling season, but are pulling through here at the end. After going on an 11 game losing-streak, the women have pulled out 3 wins in their last 4 conference games, almost assuring them a spot in the A-10 tournament as well. With an 8-16 record, our women are defying the odds and making us oh so proud, especially with their 16-point win over U Mass this past Saturday. Again, who knows what March will hold for our ladies?I love my hoops and especially have fallen in love with the Colonials! We are getting ready to wind down our season and I am hopeful, as the teams are, for some tournament glory, but I know this year has been a building year for a future year’s success. If we make a tournament, I would more than likely get to travel with the Colonial Brass (the basketball band) and that is another reason you should join. FREE TRIPS!!!
If you have any questions, feel free to give me a shout and always remember HAIL TO THE BUFF AND BLUE!!!
Peace, Love and Hippos,
Brandon
brmoore@gwmail.gwu.edu
Monday, January 17, 2011
My Favorites
Today was my day of rest and relaxation. I caught up on emails, read for my classes, washed some dishes, put away groceries (which were delivered to my door) and watched my favorite shows. I thought I would share these favorites with you....
Pawn Stars-- As odd of a name as this sounds, this show is great! It is on the History Channel, which often does marathons. It follows the happenings of a Pawn Shop on the strip of Las Vegas. They get some really weird things from gold medals, jewelry, toys, and cars. It is interesting to hear the history about the items that come through the store.
How I Met Your Mother-- One of the funniest shows I have ever seen and it never gets old. This smart comedy is the story of Ted's life leading up to meeting his wife. The twist is that he is telling the story to his children (hence the name) and after almost 6 full seasons we still have not met the mother! If you are looking for a show to pick up this is the one! (oh and Neil Patrick Harris is the best!!)
American Pickers-- Another History Channel hit! Two men travel the United States to pick through junk yards, barns, houses, and anything they can find. They buy some items and resell them in their antique shop in Iowa. Again I love hearing about the history of the Americana items they find just lying on the floors of forgotten buildings.
Those are three of my favorite shows for now. Like Christine I also watched a lot of football this weekend and I will be sure to have my "Da Bears" blog before the big game this coming weekend!
Hope you are all staying away from this weird, icy weather we are having in DC. Remember, if you have any question please feel free to email me at kwollner@gwu.edu.
Kim
Pawn Stars-- As odd of a name as this sounds, this show is great! It is on the History Channel, which often does marathons. It follows the happenings of a Pawn Shop on the strip of Las Vegas. They get some really weird things from gold medals, jewelry, toys, and cars. It is interesting to hear the history about the items that come through the store.
How I Met Your Mother-- One of the funniest shows I have ever seen and it never gets old. This smart comedy is the story of Ted's life leading up to meeting his wife. The twist is that he is telling the story to his children (hence the name) and after almost 6 full seasons we still have not met the mother! If you are looking for a show to pick up this is the one! (oh and Neil Patrick Harris is the best!!)
American Pickers-- Another History Channel hit! Two men travel the United States to pick through junk yards, barns, houses, and anything they can find. They buy some items and resell them in their antique shop in Iowa. Again I love hearing about the history of the Americana items they find just lying on the floors of forgotten buildings.
Those are three of my favorite shows for now. Like Christine I also watched a lot of football this weekend and I will be sure to have my "Da Bears" blog before the big game this coming weekend!
Hope you are all staying away from this weird, icy weather we are having in DC. Remember, if you have any question please feel free to email me at kwollner@gwu.edu.
Kim
Monday, November 15, 2010
Exercise Activities and Clubs: Throwing Opportunity Away
One thing you may have heard about GW students is that we can be opinionated. Here's an example I wrote up (and it's serious).
Dear President Knapp and GW Administration,
I'd like to introduce myself as a big fan of your work in keeping GW near the top of my academic field of interest. In fact, across a broad range of issues on academia and student life, I can do so unequivocally.
But right now, I and more than 1000 other students have a big problem: the building plans for the upcoming Science and Engineering Complex, as a part of which the old K Gym on 23rd and H Streets will be torn down.
Why do we care, you ask?
Well, have you ever tried to practice Kendo in your dorm room?
As a member of the Exercise Science Kendo program at GW throughout my time here, I've been privileged to participate in the sport since my time as a freshman. Kendo, Japanese for "way of the sword", is a great way to decompress from the stress of class and work; it's given our team unique experiences and--listen up, Alumni-donations folks--will be one of my defining college memories.
After a tough period last year, the club's finally getting back on its feet with enthusiastic new recruits who'll soon be able to play for GW at intercollegiate tournaments.
Except, that is, for the fact that as early as next semester, and at the latest by next year, not only Kendo but many other EXSA classes and extracurricular groups will be without a place to practice. (I go into detail about available spaces after the end of this message.)
This will starve over a thousand students of fun, healthy social activities. There are two things that strike me as especially ironic about this:
First, one of the major perceived weaknesses of GW is lack of "school spirit". It's common knowledge that attendance at most Varsity games is anemic, and compared to most other colleges, GW-branded merchandise is not so common a sight on campus. The administration and the SA have tried for years to make GW some spirit, with what I contend is little visible result. This isn't their fault--it's because school spirit can't be manufactured. It has, like so many other forces with the power to shape society (read: the power to bring in more donations from alumni) to come from the ground up.
The EXSA classes and extracurricular clubs provide this spirit, in an authentically GW way. Yes, some folks will wave their pennants or whatever at the basketball games, and I am sure the memories of college they'll take away are as good as any of mine.
However, as the administration and student leaders well know, this sentiment is not as widespread as it should be. Kendo's been happening here for over a decade and has represented GW by playing Harvard, Cornell, NYU, Virginia Tech, the U.S. Military Academy, Rutgers, George Mason and many other worthy schools in tournaments from Virginia to Massachusetts.
To me, it just doesn't make sense to put the student groups affected here out of business while claiming that GW has to build school spirit. It just doesn't make sense to force massive cancellations in the EXSA schedule and undermine the quality of life of so many students enrolled in EXSA classes.
Second, this problem is a solvable one. Neither I nor any other student will ask that the SEC not be built, or that K Gym remain standing: even if those goals were desirable--and I don't believe they are--that ship, as they say, has sailed with the Board of Trustees' recent approval of the SEC. What it takes to solve this problem is this: a grant for EXSA and the extracurricular clubs, either of some dedicated space or of some booking rights in buildings shared with Athletics or Campus Recreation.
We are not asking for money--in fact, we as a club pay for the privilege of using GW space. Not one of us receiving an athletic scholarship or athletic support of any kind.
We are not asking for "prime" spaces during the week in Marvin, the Smith Center or Lerner. As it is today, Kendo practices happen 10-11 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays, 7-8:30 PM on Friday, and 1-3 PM on Saturday.
Do these sound like times when any but the dedicated and committed would show up for?
We are not asking for unfair or preferential treatment for some students. Clubs accept, and we teach, all comers from the student body and the GW community.
All we asking for is that the administration and student body leaders--both inside and outside the SA--support school spirit and the long-term interests of GW.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I and many others eagerly await your response.
Adam S. Humayun
Here's the list of spaces on campus:
Lerner Health and Wellness Center: good luck booking rooms--LHWC's group fitness classes have most available spaces taken up throughout much of the week. The earliest even a few clubs can get is often after 9. Imagine for a second what the situation will be once not only Kendo, but Tae Kwon Do, Aikido and whole host of other sports clubs have to compete with a full schedule of group fitness classes...you get the drift.
Lloyd Gym at the Mount Vernon Campus: Partially blocked off, and difficult to book space in for the same reasons as LHWC. Again, this problem is only going to get worse once K Gym is torn down and EXSA classes as well as extracurricular clubs are left to grab the scraps.
(Also, the basement ceiling is too low to swing a shinai, or bamboo sword.)
Charles E. Smith Center: Used exclusively by GW's Athletics department, this facility has two auxiliary gyms that would be perfect for accommodating the exodus of EXSA and club folks.
However, there seems to be a rule that non-Varsity players can't use these basketball courts, so they sit there, unused.
----
Questions? Comments? Let me know at ash1290@gwmail.gwu.edu.
Dear President Knapp and GW Administration,
I'd like to introduce myself as a big fan of your work in keeping GW near the top of my academic field of interest. In fact, across a broad range of issues on academia and student life, I can do so unequivocally.
But right now, I and more than 1000 other students have a big problem: the building plans for the upcoming Science and Engineering Complex, as a part of which the old K Gym on 23rd and H Streets will be torn down.
Why do we care, you ask?
Well, have you ever tried to practice Kendo in your dorm room?
After a tough period last year, the club's finally getting back on its feet with enthusiastic new recruits who'll soon be able to play for GW at intercollegiate tournaments.
Except, that is, for the fact that as early as next semester, and at the latest by next year, not only Kendo but many other EXSA classes and extracurricular groups will be without a place to practice. (I go into detail about available spaces after the end of this message.)
This will starve over a thousand students of fun, healthy social activities. There are two things that strike me as especially ironic about this:
First, one of the major perceived weaknesses of GW is lack of "school spirit". It's common knowledge that attendance at most Varsity games is anemic, and compared to most other colleges, GW-branded merchandise is not so common a sight on campus. The administration and the SA have tried for years to make GW some spirit, with what I contend is little visible result. This isn't their fault--it's because school spirit can't be manufactured. It has, like so many other forces with the power to shape society (read: the power to bring in more donations from alumni) to come from the ground up.
The EXSA classes and extracurricular clubs provide this spirit, in an authentically GW way. Yes, some folks will wave their pennants or whatever at the basketball games, and I am sure the memories of college they'll take away are as good as any of mine.
However, as the administration and student leaders well know, this sentiment is not as widespread as it should be. Kendo's been happening here for over a decade and has represented GW by playing Harvard, Cornell, NYU, Virginia Tech, the U.S. Military Academy, Rutgers, George Mason and many other worthy schools in tournaments from Virginia to Massachusetts.
To me, it just doesn't make sense to put the student groups affected here out of business while claiming that GW has to build school spirit. It just doesn't make sense to force massive cancellations in the EXSA schedule and undermine the quality of life of so many students enrolled in EXSA classes.
Second, this problem is a solvable one. Neither I nor any other student will ask that the SEC not be built, or that K Gym remain standing: even if those goals were desirable--and I don't believe they are--that ship, as they say, has sailed with the Board of Trustees' recent approval of the SEC. What it takes to solve this problem is this: a grant for EXSA and the extracurricular clubs, either of some dedicated space or of some booking rights in buildings shared with Athletics or Campus Recreation.
We are not asking for money--in fact, we as a club pay for the privilege of using GW space. Not one of us receiving an athletic scholarship or athletic support of any kind.
We are not asking for "prime" spaces during the week in Marvin, the Smith Center or Lerner. As it is today, Kendo practices happen 10-11 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays, 7-8:30 PM on Friday, and 1-3 PM on Saturday.
Do these sound like times when any but the dedicated and committed would show up for?
We are not asking for unfair or preferential treatment for some students. Clubs accept, and we teach, all comers from the student body and the GW community.
All we asking for is that the administration and student body leaders--both inside and outside the SA--support school spirit and the long-term interests of GW.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I and many others eagerly await your response.
Adam S. Humayun
Here's the list of spaces on campus:
Lerner Health and Wellness Center: good luck booking rooms--LHWC's group fitness classes have most available spaces taken up throughout much of the week. The earliest even a few clubs can get is often after 9. Imagine for a second what the situation will be once not only Kendo, but Tae Kwon Do, Aikido and whole host of other sports clubs have to compete with a full schedule of group fitness classes...you get the drift.
Lloyd Gym at the Mount Vernon Campus: Partially blocked off, and difficult to book space in for the same reasons as LHWC. Again, this problem is only going to get worse once K Gym is torn down and EXSA classes as well as extracurricular clubs are left to grab the scraps.
(Also, the basement ceiling is too low to swing a shinai, or bamboo sword.)
Charles E. Smith Center: Used exclusively by GW's Athletics department, this facility has two auxiliary gyms that would be perfect for accommodating the exodus of EXSA and club folks.
However, there seems to be a rule that non-Varsity players can't use these basketball courts, so they sit there, unused.
----
Questions? Comments? Let me know at ash1290@gwmail.gwu.edu.
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