Tag Archives: #dubbelgsu

Joyce, Beckett, and lots of coffee

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Today was full of many things that were extremely moving to me. In class we talked about Beckett’s Texts For Nothing which sparked much conversation about why the text was so confusing and what the meaning behind it was. After class we went on the James Joyce tour which is one of my favorite things we have done so far. It really gave me an inside look on his early life and that explained a lot of the themes and stories found in Dubliners. Themes such as leaving Dublin because of his poor experiences with the city itself, and some quirky things such as the jumping over the fence. After the tour we went to the coffee shop and bookstore thats pictured in this post, and I ended up not getting coffee because they said they were out of non-dairy milk :(. I really enjoyed all of the books, and the ones about Irish history were all from authors I knew and understood now. This makes me feel a lot closer to Irish history. After the bookstore we walked across the river and saw the monument of the famine which I found extremely powerful. The statues of the people and the children were almost alien-like which I think was the point of it. It was to relay that the time period, that it was almost portrayed as not being real and the people there were so hungry that they didn’t even look real as well. Afterwards we saw a Beckett portrayal which I found extremely interesting because it didn’t clear up what those texts are actually supposed to mean. But the woman who portrayed this was absolutely incredible. The sound and emotion that was portrayed was something that stood out to me. It made me feel almost connected to the texts, even though you didn’t know what they were supposed to mean. Today made me feel more connected to the Irish history and the authors behind it.

Incredible Food, Incredible day

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Today was an amazing day. Today I really felt like I got to experience Dublin. This picture is of my dinner that I had at Sprouts before the Literary Pub Crawl. This day was especially special because for one it did not rain. The class this morning I found particularly intriguing because we were talking about animal ethics behind the Natural History Museum. As a vegan, I am pretty knowledgable about animal ethics and animal rights. I almost found this concept to be a “place” for me. Even though a discussion topic is not a physical being I find it interesting that even something such as a concept can be a place for me. It becomes a place when it’s something I can relate to and something I feel I connect on an extremely deep level. This picture ties into this as this is the best vegan meal I’ve had since I’ve been here. The pub crawl afterwards was really fun, as I had odd encounters with every bar tender. I really felt like I got the whole Dublin City experience like the boys in Dubliners. I think the difference between my experiences and theirs comes down to the fact that I am older than them and more mature, so I did not end up having this unrealistic magical views, and I also already live in the city. Today was an exceptionally good day, I did a lot of shopping, drank a lot of good beer, and ate the most amazing food.

Gresham Park, GA

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This photo is of my passport just days before I leave in front of my home in Gresham Park, GA. This place is special to me because it is the place where I have figured out more and more about who I am. I’m from a small town which is Dahlonega, GA. When I was growing up I often found myself in environments in which I felt like I did not belong, and when high school came around I realized that the small town vibe was not for me. I applied to GSU because I loved the city vibe, and during my senior year of high school my parents moved to Wisconsin. Once I graduated I upped and moved here to Gresham Park, Atlanta by myself and started school. This was the place I found the most out about myself because I felt like I was in an environment I belonged in. It helped me find my passion for teaching, reading, journalism, band, and strengthened many family relationships that were once weak. Moving here on my own taught me valuable life and adult skills that I use every day now, and it helped me transition better into college. I thank all the successes in my life to this house that I moved into when I was 18.

Dahlberg Hall, Georgia State University

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This is the front courtyard of Dahlberg Hall on campus. Specifically this is the front of the hall during the Summer Leadership Institute put on by the GSU School of Music. This place is special to me because I am in the GSU panther band, and more specifically I am in leadership as a section leader. The Summer Leadership Institute is something that we put on for high school band students who are in leadership at their own bands. It’s a place where kids grow in their leadership and teaching capabilities. As leadership in the school of music I am a staff member in this event. I lead kids in discussions about things their bands do, and ways they could be better at teaching. This is important to me because leadership abilities and teaching is something I love. Teaching other kids and talking to them about something I am also passionate about brings me an unfathomable amount of joy. In this particular picture this is the very first day of camp, where we all are together and take a group photo in the courtyard of Dahlberg. This is one of my favorite parts of the camp because it shows how much these kids have grown into leaders. It shows by the way they talk to you, talk to the other staff, and the way they handle trying to get all 500 kids in the camp to try to take one picture together. Dahlberg Hall is my fondest memory of the Summer Leadership Institute because of its ability to bring everyone together and to have them shine.

Reading in Place: GSU Campus

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I learned quickly that GSU’s Writing Studio is a special place. Shortly after starting my first semester as a graduate student and tutor, I developed professional and personal relationships with people who are exceedingly dedicated to lifting their peers to their highest potential, whether that means sorting out complicated theories and brainstorming topics or being available for a coffee break. The value of having access to such an intelligent group of scholars, at any given moment, is unquantifiable, making the Writing Studio my favorite place to work. This work entails more than just reading and writing papers; it also includes developing my own teaching philosophy based on feedback from more experienced teachers, curating my perspective through discussion with outside perspectives and contemplating approaches to courses through comparing former student’s notes.

Ultimately, the Writing Studio’s aesthetic is nurtured by the people who occupy it. Reading, writing and studying develop from singular to communal exercises—something I never anticipated as a graduate student. It deviates from a library atmosphere, in the sense that there is laughter and chatter, but also nurtures an focused, determined mentality that is conducive for learning—(Not to mention the bonus of it being a space that aids other students in developing their skills as writers!)

 

#DubBelGSU #Summer2017

On the Move at GSU

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As a teacher and graduate student at Georgia State University, I’m always on the move. This picture is my view as I exit M Deck, cross the street, and begin my peripatetic day. In the background is 25 Park Place, the old SunTrust bank building, which houses the Department of English and my office, which is on the 22nd floor. With its break rooms, Zen rooms, picturesque views, and the recently opened Downtown Highland Bakery on the ground floor, the building is a tall, white, many-windowed refuge from the otherwise frenzied pace of graduate school.

One of the things I most love about being part of an urban university is its spatial diversity. It is as hectic as it is rewarding. Whether I’m teaching at Classroom South, rushing to office hours at 25 Park Place, or grabbing a quick lunch from Rising Roll, my day is marked by movement from place to place. In the midst of the sunlight bearing down, the thick city air enveloping me like a cloak, and the cacophony of urban life whirring around me, I’ve had discussions about politics, religion, goals, and the unique frustrations of graduate student life. Rarely do these discussions happen in my office. Instead, a fellow graduate student will drop by my office, and we will ride the elevator to the ground floor together, exit the building, and hurriedly catch up, offer encouragement, or discuss the latest way we can improve our CVs and be marketable in three years when we finish our dissertations.  On the street, in the heart of the city, my life and career have become part of the urban milieu.