BA + 1

This date (25 May) marks the one year anniversary of my graduation from Augie! Woohoo!

In the past year, I've, obviously, graduated from college and started (and am over half done with) a Master's degree. I can't believe it's been a year since I was at Augie. The time has passed swiftly. The four years I spend in SuFu were, for the most part, fantastic. I made awesome friends and learned a lot about academic stuff but also myself. I was exposed to people that I agreed with and people I didn't. I managed to live away from my parents. I was able to spend a spring break in Germany and a semester in Washington, D.C. I was shaped by amazing professors. Most of these experiences are common for American college students and thousands of us graduate every year.

But, as a personal accomplishment, graduating college is significant for every individual. It marks the culmination of, roughly, 17 years of work. It is also an accomplishment that many people (counting cumulatively) have never had the opportunity to do.

Augie was the best possible choice for me, just as York was the best choice this year.

And now, a few pictures!

From sophomore year, we have the time my flour-filled stress balloon popped all over my desk as I was studying for finals. 

Senior year Icepocalypse and the damage between East and the Commons.

The online announcement of MDFL honors and the title of my paper (although I ended up with a different title).

And finally, one of the final pictures I took at Augie. Ole in the beautiful sunshine.

That's all for this time folks! And remember, it's a GREAT day to be a Viking!

Stories and Pictures

I debated writing this post about narratives. In the end, I decided not too, simply because I could not align my thoughts in a particularly coherent way. Most of the reading I've been doing recently has been about the construction of historical narratives, so stories and their functions have been on my mind. It is very interesting to think about and also important. Stories help us understand and order the world around us--they are necessary to society. That's about as far as I've gotten in my thinking (without going into the details of historical methodology, the meaning of truth, and the implications of multiple narratives).

Unfortunately, that also serves as my update to my life in York. I spend the vast majority of my time at the Catholic chaplaincy reading, taking notes, and doing a bit of writing about my reading. In all, it is nice but not exciting. In a few weeks I'm going to Manchester to visit the Imperial War Museum North for my dissertation, so I'm looking forward to that.

In honor of throwback Thursday, I'm going to post some of my favorite pictures (that are on this computer) and tell you why I like them!

 This is a picture of my dad at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland in 2010. In general, pictures of my father are hard to come by, and they generally have him looking rather blank. I like this one because it captures him in his natural habitat: somewhere pretty awesome with us and him behind a camera. It also has a bit of a meta feel to it.

 This is another picture from Ireland in 2010, although I'm not sure where this is. I like how the hole in the stone work functions as a window to the landscape beyond. And, though the landscape would still be visible without the structure, it is made different by being framed.

This is the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. in 2010. I like this one because it has the reflection of Lincoln Memorial at sunset.

The statue in this picture is the Minnesota monument at Gettysburg. I took this when we were there in 2010. The sun and shadow reflect, I think, the nature of Gettysburg in general. It also is a bit artsy which is always cool.

The South Dakota Badlands--the best Badlands.

The sunset over the southern Minnesota farmlands.

The falls of Sioux Falls.

Another picture from the Mall in D.C., this time from 2012. I framed this one especially to get Jefferson in profile.

This is from our trip to New York for New Year's Eve 2012/2013. The building on the left (the full building, not the one blocked by the sign) is the site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911. In one of my classes (titled The Clash of Class and Capital) we discussed the fire a lot. Seeing the building was one of the highlights of the trip. I went with my dad and as soon as we turned the corner, I knew which building it was. I know, I'm a history nerd. Whatever.

And, last but not least. My diploma from Augie. I'm approaching the one year anniversary of my graduation (reflections on which will be the topic of an upcoming post). Much hard work, effort, and time went into that sheet of paper, but what I got out of the experience was wonderful.

That's all this time dear friends! I hope everybody is having a wonderful spring!