Last week was my first crazy week. Okay, well, let's be honest, my first midterm week is NOT the first crazy one. But last week was my first MIDTERM week, and that means that I had papers and presentations galore. I spent all weekend in the town of Wellesley (for honestly the first time since the semester started) so that I could study. Starbucks is right off-campus in the ville, about a 6 minute walk from my residence hall–and that's where I spent my Saturday.
Want a close up of my readings? I'm really concerned about environmental justice issues, and this reading by Klingle and Taylor is one that I'm fond of as a simple primer for environmental justice concerns and the causes of the problems we see today.
Okay, well, even if you don't care, here are my readings. 😛
In the top of the margins, you might be able to see that I wrote "Ambitious Girl" by Wale. It's one of my favorite songs to study to, or just to LIVE to. It's about this guy loving this girl and her ambition, her drive, that she's a force of her own instead of living her life according to him and what he's doing. It's perfect for my life right now.
I am constantly on my grind! But you know why? Partially because I haven't been managing my time very well. Because Sunday at dinner, I remembered that I have a ten page paper due tomorrow at noon that I TOTALLY forgot about. Yep. 10-12 page research paper for my Food and the Environment class (ES 309) on bananas, and how they relate to technology, labor, security, economics, gender, food movements–loads of stuff. It's fascinating, and I got another banana book (which I'm REALLY excited about) from another one of my Environmental Studies professors–so I'll be reading up on that tonight and taking notes. Ah, I need to keep in mind that just because a bunch of my friends are seniors, it doesn't mean that I'm going to graduate with them. I need to live, work, play and STUDY like a sophomore.
Cafe Hoop is keeping me from getting too stressed, though. I love them:
My other support system has been my coalition of Ethos sisters!! Ethos functions as not only an org, but a support group for students of African decent, or students who identify with the dialogue of the African diaspora. It's kind of a lot, haha. I was Ethos's Quintessence Day Chair this year, so I planned a lecture with Debra Martin Chase for the student body. It was stressful, but 100% worth it. Being an active member of an org here at Wellesley is demanding, but incredibly rewarding. I really love my sisters. They've taken care of me, and I take care of them. Here are just a few:
Joy (Co-President of Ethos and my mom away from home) and I in Punch's Alley, also known as simply the Pub:
Diamond (Wellesley's Multicultural Affairs Coordinator or MAC and PEACE AND JUSTICE STUDIES MAJOR!!!), Dominique (Ethos's Academic Excellence Chair and lovely ES major), me, and Maya (the biggest philosphy buff I know):
We're silly, but I love us. 🙂
You know what else I love? My horticulture lab. I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the course itself. But it's sooooo nice to be in the greenhouses as spring comes around. Look at my hyacinths, they're so fragrant:
And here's one of the greenhouses:
Ah, my solace.
My spring break starts tomorrow!!! I don't have classes on Wednesdays, so if I finish this paper tonight, *crossing my fingers!* I'll be flying home on standby tomorrow morning! Back to the south I'll go, for a full week. So pumped. 🙂 While I'm home, I'll be planning another lecture for Wellesley, and a 3-day Youth Conference for my internship. I'll still be super busy. But you know what? I'll be loving every minute of it. 🙂
Bye for now, Wellesley!!
I'll talk to you all again soon, after break!! Hope you're all enjoying your breaks too!