In the years I've been in Charlotte, enjoying lunch a few times each week with friends was typical. Giving hugs to friends and family had happened every time we parted from a gathering. Because this was still the case during my last week in Charlotte, it didn't feel like I was leaving my home of four years. Everything that was usual for me in Charlotte was happening for the last time, in a while at least.
After a 15 hour drive from NC to MA, Boston greeted me with a drizzle of rain and the most concentrated group of welcoming people with impressive backgrounds I've ever met. I feel a little starstruck, hearing about the work that most of my peers have done before they came to NUSL. At the same time, it's very inclusive and my new friends have been interested in my background as well. The upper level students that I've interacted with have been giving me the inside scoop on my professors. It's going to be a great year.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Summer, where did you go?!
With the end of summer, there have been a new round of changes. Freedom schools is finished, I had my last Toastmasters meeting (finishing the competent communicator's series), my last show with The Flash Alchemy (a Charlotte band I play with), and I've moved from the Wright's home (a family that put me up over the summer).
Each morning at Freedom Schools, we started the day with breakfast, singing, dancing, and a read aloud guest. The point was to create an atmosphere of positivity and encouragement. It's called Harambee (Huh-Rahm-Bay). The day continued with reading and activities. With a group of ten middle schoolers, we finished a book each week. In many of the books, the characters encountered issues that come with being an adolescent in the inner city. Working optimally with each individual was a learning process for me. For some students, a little quiet reminder of how great they usually do was enough to stop a behavior from developing. For a few others, it seemed like all the consequences, incentives, and praise available to me were not enough. If I have gained one belief from this experience, it's that teachers and students have huge challenges in front of them and deserve all the support we can offer. After seven weeks of reading and being creative with behavior management, Freedom Schools is done and I'm on the cusp of my first semester at NUSL.
We've already been assigned a lot of reading. It's exciting, although I feel a little overwhelmed. In addition to reading a few cases in the orientation material, my professors have assigned anywhere from 15 pages to 137 pages for each class. Fortunately, I'm not alone.
I've been able to connect with some really great classmates over facebook and our school's social networking site. They feel the excitement and weight all at once as well. I've gained quite a few tips and resources from many of my future classmates already. I can't wait to meet them in person. Move in day is the 28th and orientation begins on the 30th.
Each morning at Freedom Schools, we started the day with breakfast, singing, dancing, and a read aloud guest. The point was to create an atmosphere of positivity and encouragement. It's called Harambee (Huh-Rahm-Bay). The day continued with reading and activities. With a group of ten middle schoolers, we finished a book each week. In many of the books, the characters encountered issues that come with being an adolescent in the inner city. Working optimally with each individual was a learning process for me. For some students, a little quiet reminder of how great they usually do was enough to stop a behavior from developing. For a few others, it seemed like all the consequences, incentives, and praise available to me were not enough. If I have gained one belief from this experience, it's that teachers and students have huge challenges in front of them and deserve all the support we can offer. After seven weeks of reading and being creative with behavior management, Freedom Schools is done and I'm on the cusp of my first semester at NUSL.
We've already been assigned a lot of reading. It's exciting, although I feel a little overwhelmed. In addition to reading a few cases in the orientation material, my professors have assigned anywhere from 15 pages to 137 pages for each class. Fortunately, I'm not alone.
I've been able to connect with some really great classmates over facebook and our school's social networking site. They feel the excitement and weight all at once as well. I've gained quite a few tips and resources from many of my future classmates already. I can't wait to meet them in person. Move in day is the 28th and orientation begins on the 30th.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Summer: A Seasonal Pregame to the Fall
In nearly the same week, I finished undergrad at UNC Charlotte and gave my last tour with the Levine Museum to a group of high schoolers. I feel surprisingly good about it, considering the sense of personal value that both experiences gave to me. It's the end of an era, but new challenges will follow. I'll be sharing my joy for reading at a literacy camp this summer and then pummeled with books and assignments in the fall at law school. In preparation for the demands of law school, my simple goal is to live a healthy lifestyle. By the standards of my peers, my lifestyle is not unhealthy. But it won't give me the limitless enthusiasm needed to encourage and challenge ten kids at the literacy camp this summer and it won't provide the tenacity that law school will demand. The goal is wellness and it will help other goals. With a summer of full time work with youth, this sunny season is a sort of pregame to the upcoming fall in Boston.
The literacy camp that I'm working at is called Freedom Schools. It's a program that encourages self esteem and the appreciation of reading for reading's sake. It appears to be more about fun than academics and it's not institutional. That being said, there is structure to the day. It starts out with dancing and singing, followed by a reading curriculum, and lastly some sort of activity in the later half of the day. I've got a lot of respect for the program and my coworkers are wonderful people. We start training next week.
So, among all of this, my simple goals when not at work include:
- making running, yoga, and mindfulness a priority in my life.
- developing productive conflict resolution skills so that conflict is a source of personal growth rather than a drain.
- getting to bed at a reasonable time on nights when I'm not playing a show.
That's all. It is doable.
While this post is a little more self involved than previous writings, I believe that it's important to be in the right mindset for an environment as challenging Northeastern law.
The literacy camp that I'm working at is called Freedom Schools. It's a program that encourages self esteem and the appreciation of reading for reading's sake. It appears to be more about fun than academics and it's not institutional. That being said, there is structure to the day. It starts out with dancing and singing, followed by a reading curriculum, and lastly some sort of activity in the later half of the day. I've got a lot of respect for the program and my coworkers are wonderful people. We start training next week.
So, among all of this, my simple goals when not at work include:
- making running, yoga, and mindfulness a priority in my life.
- developing productive conflict resolution skills so that conflict is a source of personal growth rather than a drain.
- getting to bed at a reasonable time on nights when I'm not playing a show.
That's all. It is doable.
While this post is a little more self involved than previous writings, I believe that it's important to be in the right mindset for an environment as challenging Northeastern law.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Talking my way through Boston...
A few weekends ago, I left the Queen City to visit Boston for the first time.... ever. Before my trip, I was in the awkward position of planning to attend a University that I never visited. Although I've heard only great things about Boston and Northeastern, the school's admitted student open house offered a chance to see for myself. With a travel voucher from the University, I booked a hostel reservation and round trip air fare to Boston! My trip was characterized by stimulating conversation and exploration.
Leaving Charlotte on a United Airways flight, I anticipated all the people I would meet in the city. Little did I know that the socializing would start sooner than expected. Sitting next to me was an older couple from Athens, GA visiting their daughter in Boston. The man was a paper machine repairman. These machines actually turn trees into liquid pulp into paper. He excitedly told me all about the process. With a specialized trade, it's taken him all over the states. Even though I don't have cable to watch an episode of "how it's made" on the Discovery Channel, I received an education on the topic of paper over the course of the flight. It was interesting. He and his wife made me an itinerary of activities to do in Boston. With only two days to visit, I was only able to do one of them.
After arriving, I took the subway to Northeastern University and walked in the rain to take care of financial aid concerns during business hours. Looking down at my itinerary of things to do from the friendly couple, I decided to cross off the first suggestion and check out the Museum of Fine Art across the street from Northeastern. This museum was HUGE! They had an exhibit of exotic musical instruments and ancient art from various world religions or civilizations. These ranged from Chinese Buddhist relics, inscriptions from Egyptian tombs, and Spanish Christian paintings and sculptures. With only two hours, I didn't have enough time to see everything. Strangely, I bought an umbrella from their gift store, of all places, to protect my nice jacket from the elements and went back out in the rain.
In order to save myself several hundred dollars(seriously), I stayed at a hostel rather than a hotel. The room was shared among 6 men. Two of them were from England and one of them was from Atlanta, GA. We talked about accents and American History. Apparently, the age old question of what Brits think about the fourth of July is a mixed bag. One of them felt a little rejected in Boston as an Englishman while the other one didn't know what the heck that guy was talking about. My Georgian friend and I shared the opinion of the latter. Let's let sleeping dogs lie.
The first night at the Northeastern open house included a Diversity Reception to expose admitted students to race, gender, and sexual orientation student groups. Although I didn't identify with any of the communities, I attended the reception to meet classmates and enjoy an open bar. Students of all years were in attendance to welcome newcomers. Some third year students already had employment established before graduation thanks to the Co-op program. They answered my questions about student clubs, housing, Boston, and maintaining balance as a first year law student. It was a great primer to the following day.
The following day, I randomly sat next to another incoming NUSL student visiting from Minnesota at the Hostel's breakfast. After talking about the south and our aspirations over some fruit loops, we walked to the University. A friendly group of current students greeted us. Some of them, I met during the prior evening at the diversity reception. We were given a quick walk-through of the library and law school services. The urban campus is characterized by grey brick paths and pretty vegetation. It's surrounded by historic buildings while the grey brick buildings on campus give a contemporary, if not futuristic twist. I met some more students from California, Massachusetts, NC, Hawaii, New York, Rhode Island, and Minnesota.
After the tour, we were given coffee and invited to a series of lectures about the University. The first talk was meant to sell NUSL as a school to undecided students. The speakers mentioned everything that makes NUSL unique from its coop program to its students to its professors. With a hefty private school price tag, the next speaker sought to quell some fears about money. The financial aid office explained our options for financing school along with the government support available to public interest attorneys. The last event was a panel discussion by current students about the Co-op program. The amount of responsibility that these students were able to carry was very impressive to me. They worked positions in immigration law, judicial internships, public defense, and anti-human trafficking efforts in India.
Following a long morning of being told why Northeastern is a fabulous school, we were set loose to ask questions of professors and current students in a reception. I also met more prospective students who had impressive backgrounds. At the reception, the conversation drummed up excitement. I spoke with a first year student who was already tasked with investigating prosecutor misconduct in New Orleans, and another who was researching legal issues concerning veterans and mental health. I finished the day by having sushi with a fellow incoming student who grew up between Jamaica and Florida and worked with carbon trading in Switzerland during undergrad.
Hearing the stories and goals of so many people fills my heart to the brim. After a weekend of meeting like-minded students, I'm sure that this is the right school for me.
Leaving Charlotte on a United Airways flight, I anticipated all the people I would meet in the city. Little did I know that the socializing would start sooner than expected. Sitting next to me was an older couple from Athens, GA visiting their daughter in Boston. The man was a paper machine repairman. These machines actually turn trees into liquid pulp into paper. He excitedly told me all about the process. With a specialized trade, it's taken him all over the states. Even though I don't have cable to watch an episode of "how it's made" on the Discovery Channel, I received an education on the topic of paper over the course of the flight. It was interesting. He and his wife made me an itinerary of activities to do in Boston. With only two days to visit, I was only able to do one of them.
After arriving, I took the subway to Northeastern University and walked in the rain to take care of financial aid concerns during business hours. Looking down at my itinerary of things to do from the friendly couple, I decided to cross off the first suggestion and check out the Museum of Fine Art across the street from Northeastern. This museum was HUGE! They had an exhibit of exotic musical instruments and ancient art from various world religions or civilizations. These ranged from Chinese Buddhist relics, inscriptions from Egyptian tombs, and Spanish Christian paintings and sculptures. With only two hours, I didn't have enough time to see everything. Strangely, I bought an umbrella from their gift store, of all places, to protect my nice jacket from the elements and went back out in the rain.
In order to save myself several hundred dollars(seriously), I stayed at a hostel rather than a hotel. The room was shared among 6 men. Two of them were from England and one of them was from Atlanta, GA. We talked about accents and American History. Apparently, the age old question of what Brits think about the fourth of July is a mixed bag. One of them felt a little rejected in Boston as an Englishman while the other one didn't know what the heck that guy was talking about. My Georgian friend and I shared the opinion of the latter. Let's let sleeping dogs lie.
The first night at the Northeastern open house included a Diversity Reception to expose admitted students to race, gender, and sexual orientation student groups. Although I didn't identify with any of the communities, I attended the reception to meet classmates and enjoy an open bar. Students of all years were in attendance to welcome newcomers. Some third year students already had employment established before graduation thanks to the Co-op program. They answered my questions about student clubs, housing, Boston, and maintaining balance as a first year law student. It was a great primer to the following day.
The following day, I randomly sat next to another incoming NUSL student visiting from Minnesota at the Hostel's breakfast. After talking about the south and our aspirations over some fruit loops, we walked to the University. A friendly group of current students greeted us. Some of them, I met during the prior evening at the diversity reception. We were given a quick walk-through of the library and law school services. The urban campus is characterized by grey brick paths and pretty vegetation. It's surrounded by historic buildings while the grey brick buildings on campus give a contemporary, if not futuristic twist. I met some more students from California, Massachusetts, NC, Hawaii, New York, Rhode Island, and Minnesota.
After the tour, we were given coffee and invited to a series of lectures about the University. The first talk was meant to sell NUSL as a school to undecided students. The speakers mentioned everything that makes NUSL unique from its coop program to its students to its professors. With a hefty private school price tag, the next speaker sought to quell some fears about money. The financial aid office explained our options for financing school along with the government support available to public interest attorneys. The last event was a panel discussion by current students about the Co-op program. The amount of responsibility that these students were able to carry was very impressive to me. They worked positions in immigration law, judicial internships, public defense, and anti-human trafficking efforts in India.
Following a long morning of being told why Northeastern is a fabulous school, we were set loose to ask questions of professors and current students in a reception. I also met more prospective students who had impressive backgrounds. At the reception, the conversation drummed up excitement. I spoke with a first year student who was already tasked with investigating prosecutor misconduct in New Orleans, and another who was researching legal issues concerning veterans and mental health. I finished the day by having sushi with a fellow incoming student who grew up between Jamaica and Florida and worked with carbon trading in Switzerland during undergrad.
Hearing the stories and goals of so many people fills my heart to the brim. After a weekend of meeting like-minded students, I'm sure that this is the right school for me.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Northeastern this fall...
This break has been a good time. With lots of music and slow mornings, it's probably been too enjoyable. I've got two books to read, two papers to write, and two presentations to be prepared for by Monday..... I'm hoping for a late Christmas miracle on this one. But regardless, it'll get done.
(receiving Northeastern decision letter. Photo courtesy of Jessica)
With the current job woes that are being faced, working a full time internship will help me build relationships with future potential employers. Also, my resume will enjoy a year of real world experience before graduation. In addition to the connections and experience, it will be a reminder that studies go beyond academic evaluations and will have a real world impact.
During undergrad, having a volunteer or intern position has been helpful with work ethic and grades. Writing a paper or speaking about something seemingly irrelevant to the present becomes an exercise in organizing ideas, summarizing, or communicating clearly- probably one of my larger insecurities and, as a result of giving it extra attention, is also one of my unacknowledged strengths. Thumbing through distant, unrelated history becomes a practice in reading comprehension and an attempt to know the world a little bit more than my own experience allows. Having a co-op or a clinic will be a reminder that any seemingly irrelevant task is building a relevant skill for future use.
Their co-op and clinics should also be an adventure. Their clinics during the semester include: Domestic Violence, Criminal Advocacy, Poverty Law and Practice, Prisoner's Rights, and Health Law. The kid in me is stoked about waking up early in the morning, wearing a suit, walking around beautiful buildings with manila files under arm, and approaching each situation or person as if that's the most important part of my day. It'll be interesting when my expectations meet reality.
Other reasons I'm stoked: Northeastern has a strong reputation for public interest law. Following graduation, their students seek employment in government, nonprofit, or judicial clerk positions at a rate of five times the national average. I'm excited to be in the company of people who are pursuing public interest as a priority rather than a last resort.
Writing has helped me procrastinate long enough. I've got to get to some work. Dr. Tom Hanchett's "Sorting Out the New South City" is on my reading list today. I'm really curious about the book. He's the historian from the Levine Museum and the book is about Charlotte's urban development between 1875-1975.
(receiving Northeastern decision letter. Photo courtesy of Jessica)So, my plans for the fall are to head up to Boston and attend Northeastern University School of Law. They have a unique Co-op program along with a strong reputation for public interest. The second and third years are broken up into quarters. Every other quarter, second and third year students work full time in a legal placement of their choice. This program excites me for several reasons. The first relates to employment.
With the current job woes that are being faced, working a full time internship will help me build relationships with future potential employers. Also, my resume will enjoy a year of real world experience before graduation. In addition to the connections and experience, it will be a reminder that studies go beyond academic evaluations and will have a real world impact.
During undergrad, having a volunteer or intern position has been helpful with work ethic and grades. Writing a paper or speaking about something seemingly irrelevant to the present becomes an exercise in organizing ideas, summarizing, or communicating clearly- probably one of my larger insecurities and, as a result of giving it extra attention, is also one of my unacknowledged strengths. Thumbing through distant, unrelated history becomes a practice in reading comprehension and an attempt to know the world a little bit more than my own experience allows. Having a co-op or a clinic will be a reminder that any seemingly irrelevant task is building a relevant skill for future use.
Their co-op and clinics should also be an adventure. Their clinics during the semester include: Domestic Violence, Criminal Advocacy, Poverty Law and Practice, Prisoner's Rights, and Health Law. The kid in me is stoked about waking up early in the morning, wearing a suit, walking around beautiful buildings with manila files under arm, and approaching each situation or person as if that's the most important part of my day. It'll be interesting when my expectations meet reality.
Other reasons I'm stoked: Northeastern has a strong reputation for public interest law. Following graduation, their students seek employment in government, nonprofit, or judicial clerk positions at a rate of five times the national average. I'm excited to be in the company of people who are pursuing public interest as a priority rather than a last resort.
Writing has helped me procrastinate long enough. I've got to get to some work. Dr. Tom Hanchett's "Sorting Out the New South City" is on my reading list today. I'm really curious about the book. He's the historian from the Levine Museum and the book is about Charlotte's urban development between 1875-1975.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The application nightmare, an initiation of sorts...
After much reflection about my desired purpose and future, I began the law school application process last fall in 2009. My friends Brandon and Jana have also shared in the madness of grad school applications. I've known Brandon since 2006 through Student Life at CPCC. He was the AmeriCorps Vista with Service Learning. He's also applying to law school. Jana, I met last summer. She's a seasoned nonprofit veteran and a strong advocate for individuals living with autism. Her goal is to bring her administrative and direct service experience together through a career of social work.
In the late summer, I began writing my statement. My statement opened up with an attention grabbing scenario after the six Marine snipers were killed in Haditha. Our unit arrived in the Al Anbar province shortly after and was tasked with a mission in response to that event. It was an uneventful mission although the news attention made it noteworthy for an essay. An uneventful raid can still sound pretty exciting. After that introduction, I wrote that my military experiences at home and abroad moved me to a life of service. Since returning, I've taken steps to prepare for a life of advocacy through civic minded involvement. The rest of the essay outlined that involvement.
It took a while to polish and trim the essay to the required two pages for most schools. On one side, it was a fun writing exercise. I exchanged drafts with my friend Jana, a nonprofit veteran and future student of Social Work. We mutilated each other's drafts, explained concerns, and found unexploited strengths. Aside from getting each of us into school, it was a refreshing practice with giving and receiving constructive criticism. The essay forced me to focus my goals and intentions into a definition. By late October, my drafts were done and it was application time.
LSAC, the Law School Admissions Council, has a very helpful system to help with the application process. It's a central website where you submit your transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statements, etc. Then, applicants select the schools they wish to apply for, fill out an electronic application, and LSAC sends out your paperwork.
The LSAT was probably the biggest weakness in my application. It was a tough test. Part of me enjoyed the half day of word puzzles and mild pressure. The other part was looking forward to it being over. My mindset was probably most helped by the following words: "Tomorrow, when you take the test you won't be able to prepare anymore. Adding up the extra prep time you could have spent won't help you at that point. Appreciate that fact and have fun." All in all, it was a relief to have that test done in September.
In a way, I felt like the whole process was an initiation into the law school experience.
The acceptance and denial letters have been trickling in since December. Brandon and I have been updating each other on our schools and sharing an occasional beer to talk about the future. Initially it was a little scary. Schools that were a reach like Fordham and Illinois sent me denials while a few of my safe schools sent me acceptances like Charlotte and NCCU. With a rough job market, the school I go to and connections I make will be especially critical. Since the beginning of the application process, I was especially interested in Northeastern and Chapel Hill. Not knowing from either of them stressed me to make contingency plans just in case. Fortunately, I received an acceptance from Northeastern this spring and celebrated with my friend Jessica over a cigar. She was kind enough to hear my excitement about the future while we walked and puffed on UNCC's campus. High fives were shared with other friends on campus as I spread the news.
Since that time, it's been solidified that I'm going to Northeastern. They have a really unique program. I'll rant about why I'm stoked for that school later. I'm excited and owe a gazillion thank you cards to the folks in student life at CPCC, my supportive friends, family, and former professors at CPCC and UNCC.
In the late summer, I began writing my statement. My statement opened up with an attention grabbing scenario after the six Marine snipers were killed in Haditha. Our unit arrived in the Al Anbar province shortly after and was tasked with a mission in response to that event. It was an uneventful mission although the news attention made it noteworthy for an essay. An uneventful raid can still sound pretty exciting. After that introduction, I wrote that my military experiences at home and abroad moved me to a life of service. Since returning, I've taken steps to prepare for a life of advocacy through civic minded involvement. The rest of the essay outlined that involvement.
It took a while to polish and trim the essay to the required two pages for most schools. On one side, it was a fun writing exercise. I exchanged drafts with my friend Jana, a nonprofit veteran and future student of Social Work. We mutilated each other's drafts, explained concerns, and found unexploited strengths. Aside from getting each of us into school, it was a refreshing practice with giving and receiving constructive criticism. The essay forced me to focus my goals and intentions into a definition. By late October, my drafts were done and it was application time.
LSAC, the Law School Admissions Council, has a very helpful system to help with the application process. It's a central website where you submit your transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statements, etc. Then, applicants select the schools they wish to apply for, fill out an electronic application, and LSAC sends out your paperwork.
The LSAT was probably the biggest weakness in my application. It was a tough test. Part of me enjoyed the half day of word puzzles and mild pressure. The other part was looking forward to it being over. My mindset was probably most helped by the following words: "Tomorrow, when you take the test you won't be able to prepare anymore. Adding up the extra prep time you could have spent won't help you at that point. Appreciate that fact and have fun." All in all, it was a relief to have that test done in September.
In a way, I felt like the whole process was an initiation into the law school experience.
The acceptance and denial letters have been trickling in since December. Brandon and I have been updating each other on our schools and sharing an occasional beer to talk about the future. Initially it was a little scary. Schools that were a reach like Fordham and Illinois sent me denials while a few of my safe schools sent me acceptances like Charlotte and NCCU. With a rough job market, the school I go to and connections I make will be especially critical. Since the beginning of the application process, I was especially interested in Northeastern and Chapel Hill. Not knowing from either of them stressed me to make contingency plans just in case. Fortunately, I received an acceptance from Northeastern this spring and celebrated with my friend Jessica over a cigar. She was kind enough to hear my excitement about the future while we walked and puffed on UNCC's campus. High fives were shared with other friends on campus as I spread the news.
Since that time, it's been solidified that I'm going to Northeastern. They have a really unique program. I'll rant about why I'm stoked for that school later. I'm excited and owe a gazillion thank you cards to the folks in student life at CPCC, my supportive friends, family, and former professors at CPCC and UNCC.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
... and the kick is off.
So I'm starting a blog to help with reflecting and reporting to friends and family about my post-undergrad life. I'm not used to reading blogs and am clueless about fitting in to that style of writing. However, I journal regularly to reflect, sort out my thoughts, and make plans for the future. It's the age of public disclosure and I'm jumping on the wagon.
This school year has been awesome. I've been playing with some really talented guys in two bands here in Charlotte: A Flash of Alchemy (AFOA) and Member's of the Sea. Interestingly, involvement in both bands came from random interaction on campus or in town. I was having lunch with my dear friend Jessica when I met Reid, the songwriter and guitarist from AFOA. He had a musical tattoo on his wrist that brought on the topic of musicianship. We found that we both played music and exchanged information. After a few myspace messages, AFOA was formed. It's a lot of fun. It's Reid, Phillip, Henry, and myself rockin' every week. If Reid will forgive me for saying, the content is like Jimmy Eat World while the music is very 90's alt rock. Check us out at http://myspace.com/aflashofalchemy
Picking up the accordion and playing with Member's of the Sea also happened through random conversation. During an awards banquet in 2008, I was talking to a friend and advisor of mine about instruments and music. I brought up my love for Yann Tiersen and intent on picking up the accordion someday. He mentioned that his kids were planning on learning the guitar. It turned out that he had an accordion sitting around while I had an extra guitar that was collecting dust. We did an instrument swap and I practiced up a storm. His kids got pretty good too.
Member's of the Sea is packed with talented multi-instrumentalists. Andrew, a fellow resident where I live and work at UNCC, was walking around with a guitar, a ukelele, and a trumpet one day. Making small talk, we found a shared love for Beirut. We made plans to jam.... soon. From that point, we played music weekly and covered quite a few Beirut songs. It was wonderful. In a strange coincidence, AFOA and MOTS were playing a show at the same house. After seeing Member's play Superclap at a house show, I was really impressed. Claudio invited me to come out and jam and I've been playing with them since. Claudio has since gone to serve in Afghanistan and I wish a safe time overseas! Thanks for your service, Claudio. http://www.myspace.com/membersofthesea
I've been blessed to play with both groups this year.
As for being an RA, it's been a constant interpersonal workshop. Some really interesting stories have been shared by my residents during lunch, at programs, or in the halls. Several of them are very involved in clubs and intramural sports on campus. Some of them are international, and have shared a great deal about their country of origin. My coworkers are funny and supportive. My supervisor is hilarious, encouraging, open to feedback, and gives it as well.
Last semester, I moved on from being an advocate with Guardian Ad Litem. It was a worthwhile cause and experience..... so worthwhile that I needed to leave until my schedule and time management skills would allow me to contribute what the program needed. After three years, I responsibly handed off my case and moved on. There is a lot of need in Charlotte. I can't wait to contribute in the future. It allowed me to interact with all sorts of professionals like social workers, attorneys, mental health professionals, and foster placements. In other areas, I'm still involved with the Levine Museum and Toastmasters.
With that news about GAL, I'm trying to manage my time a little better this semester. Getting things done is no problem but making time for friends and fun has been tricky. A workbook on time management is in the mail. Hopefully it will be worthwhile. In the next year at law school, time management will be necessary for sure.
Several friends and I have been in the graduate/law school application process. News on that will be coming up next. Thanks for reading. Feel free to chime in!
This school year has been awesome. I've been playing with some really talented guys in two bands here in Charlotte: A Flash of Alchemy (AFOA) and Member's of the Sea. Interestingly, involvement in both bands came from random interaction on campus or in town. I was having lunch with my dear friend Jessica when I met Reid, the songwriter and guitarist from AFOA. He had a musical tattoo on his wrist that brought on the topic of musicianship. We found that we both played music and exchanged information. After a few myspace messages, AFOA was formed. It's a lot of fun. It's Reid, Phillip, Henry, and myself rockin' every week. If Reid will forgive me for saying, the content is like Jimmy Eat World while the music is very 90's alt rock. Check us out at http://myspace.com/aflashofalchemy
Picking up the accordion and playing with Member's of the Sea also happened through random conversation. During an awards banquet in 2008, I was talking to a friend and advisor of mine about instruments and music. I brought up my love for Yann Tiersen and intent on picking up the accordion someday. He mentioned that his kids were planning on learning the guitar. It turned out that he had an accordion sitting around while I had an extra guitar that was collecting dust. We did an instrument swap and I practiced up a storm. His kids got pretty good too.
Member's of the Sea is packed with talented multi-instrumentalists. Andrew, a fellow resident where I live and work at UNCC, was walking around with a guitar, a ukelele, and a trumpet one day. Making small talk, we found a shared love for Beirut. We made plans to jam.... soon. From that point, we played music weekly and covered quite a few Beirut songs. It was wonderful. In a strange coincidence, AFOA and MOTS were playing a show at the same house. After seeing Member's play Superclap at a house show, I was really impressed. Claudio invited me to come out and jam and I've been playing with them since. Claudio has since gone to serve in Afghanistan and I wish a safe time overseas! Thanks for your service, Claudio. http://www.myspace.com/membersofthesea
I've been blessed to play with both groups this year.
As for being an RA, it's been a constant interpersonal workshop. Some really interesting stories have been shared by my residents during lunch, at programs, or in the halls. Several of them are very involved in clubs and intramural sports on campus. Some of them are international, and have shared a great deal about their country of origin. My coworkers are funny and supportive. My supervisor is hilarious, encouraging, open to feedback, and gives it as well.
Last semester, I moved on from being an advocate with Guardian Ad Litem. It was a worthwhile cause and experience..... so worthwhile that I needed to leave until my schedule and time management skills would allow me to contribute what the program needed. After three years, I responsibly handed off my case and moved on. There is a lot of need in Charlotte. I can't wait to contribute in the future. It allowed me to interact with all sorts of professionals like social workers, attorneys, mental health professionals, and foster placements. In other areas, I'm still involved with the Levine Museum and Toastmasters.
With that news about GAL, I'm trying to manage my time a little better this semester. Getting things done is no problem but making time for friends and fun has been tricky. A workbook on time management is in the mail. Hopefully it will be worthwhile. In the next year at law school, time management will be necessary for sure.
Several friends and I have been in the graduate/law school application process. News on that will be coming up next. Thanks for reading. Feel free to chime in!
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