tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52305662805700259062024-03-05T12:43:04.719-08:00’13 ILC at ColumbiaDon Gosneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17110247579694408858noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-7052614997688930422013-09-02T11:48:00.000-07:002013-09-02T11:48:19.776-07:00A Changed Person
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For nearly two
years, I have been a part of The Ivy League Connection. It is hard to
articulate into words how much I have grown since being part of the program. I
have become a far more confident and engaged person. I have become a more
independent learner, yet my ability to work with others has improved. I now
understand how to approach and overcome obstacles in a more efficient way. The
Ivy League Connection enabled me to expand my horizons. Because of Ivy League
Connection, I now have a clearer idea of who I am and of who I want to become. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After
participating in the Women and Leadership Program at Brown last summer, I
wanted to try out a more academic program. I applied to the Constitutional Law
Program at Columbia University in New York City. I remember the part of the
application essay prompt clearly: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Considering the influence
corporations and Super PACs had in these elections, does this Supreme Court
ruling rise to the occasion of a Constitutional Amendment? Did the Supreme
Court overstep their authority in their ruling?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After reading
the prompt a few times I still didn’t understand it. I knew that I would have
to do some research and put some serious time into writing in order to submit a
solid essay. If I had not participated in the Women and Leadership Course last
year, I may have just given up. Participating in this program, however, taught
me to persevere despite all odds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After
several hours of writing, and even more time spent researching, I finished my
essay. Before writing this essay, I knew almost nothing about the Supreme Court
or the Constitution. After completing the essay, I couldn’t wait to learn more
about it. I found the topic extremely interesting. Even if I wasn’t accepted
into the Constitutional Law Program, I would have continued to learn more about
issues surrounding the Constitution and the Supreme Court.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I vividly
remember reading the email Don sent to inform the applicants of who made it to
the interview part of the application process. I remember scrolling down the
page to the list of names. A wave of relief flooded over me when I saw my name.
I had made it to the interview part of the selection process! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Surprisingly, I
was far more anxious for the interview this year. When I was interviewed for
the Women and Leadership Program, I didn’t care as much if I was accepted. I
had no idea that participating in the program would have such a profound
positive influence on my life. This year, I knew that being accepted into the
Constitutional Law program would ensure another life changing experience. When
Don called my name to announce that I was accepted, a feeling of pure
excitement overcame me. The smile on my face lasted for days. It was the middle
of the school year, but I could not wait until summer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Fortunately
there were several ILC events during the school year that gave me a taste of my
summer experience. At the Columbia potluck, I met my incredible chaperone, Ms.
L, and my amazing cohort. The school board meeting enabled me to recognize the
gigantic group of remarkable people I would represent during my time back East.
I left the event knowing that I would have to consider a lot more than just
myself when making decisions. The choices I would make would reflect not just
myself, but my entire community. I felt honored to represent such an amazing
and diverse group of people. The Columbia dinner in San Francisco was a once in
a lifetime opportunity to meet and mingle with students and alumni of Columbia
University. It was a privilege to meet these remarkable people and I left the
dinner feeling even more excited to go to Columbia. By the time the orientation
came, Ivy League Connections had already provided me with so many valuable
experiences that it was hard to imagine that the bulk of my experience was
still to come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As our departure
date grew closer, my anticipation for the trip grew larger. Arriving at El Cerrito High at 2:45 AM was
definitely the most anticipated moment of my summer. It was, however, pretty
anticlimactic due to the fact that nearly everyone except Don was half-asleep. Still,
it was one of the most exciting moments I’ve ever had while half-asleep. It was
the first step to our trip across the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After a
relatively uneventful plane ride, we landed in New York. Once we went outside,
I was struck by the green landscape. Unlike California where grass must be
constantly irrigated in order to stay green, the frequent thunderstorms on the
East Coast keep the landscape lush. As we drove closer to the city, the green
grass and forested areas slowly faded into an urban landscape. Eventually, the
buildings grew taller and closer together and we found ourselves in the heart
of New York City. I was blown away by
the size of the City. It was absolutely gigantic and I could not believe that I
would have an entire month to explore this vibrant place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Our first week spent
in New York was incredibly full. Our mornings were filled with sightseeing
while our afternoons were spent on college tours. Nearly everyday was concluded
with a fancy dinner where we had the opportunity to meet with current students
and alumni of Ivy League Schools. This week really got me thinking about what I
want in a college. After seeing so many schools, I now feel much more confident
that I’ll pick a school that is truly right for me. The people I met at the
dinners are people I’ll never forget. I was so grateful to hear honest and
insightful answers to my questions. I know I’ll keep in contact with many of
these remarkable individuals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The opportunity
to attend these dinners is something only accessible to those who are part of
Ivy League Connections. The chance to have a real conversation with students,
alumni, and admissions officers of Ivy League schools is incredibly valuable.
In just one conversation with a student, I was able to gain a sense of what
their school is really like. Having the chance to introduce myself to
admissions officers was such a privilege. Everyone I talked to taught me
something important. I received advice that I’ll carry with me not only in
college, but also throughout my entire life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Despite an
incredible first week, I could not wait to move into the dorms at Columbia and
begin class. Waiting outside the long line outside of the Hartley dorm was one
of the most exciting lines I have ever waited in. After we received our room
keys and student IDs, the rest of the day flew by. That evening, there was a
welcome dance where I met students from all around the world. I couldn’t wait
to spend the next three weeks with these amazing people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We dove straight
into the material on our first day of class. I remember feeling the energy in
the classroom. Despite our different values, backgrounds, and views we all
shared a common love of learning. This made for an incredible three weeks of
learning, debating, and growing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Our first
homework assignment was several pages of very dense Supreme Court cases. Simon
and I spent hours in the library trying to decipher the text. It was the most
difficult reading assignment of my life. As the days went on, however, the
reading became much easier. I understood what to look for in each Supreme Court
case. Eventually, I was able to finish each reading assignment with good
comprehension of the material and in a timely manner. Having the challenge of
such dense reading material enabled me to grow as a reader. I now feel much
more confident in my ability to read college level material in an efficient
way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In my opinion,
one of the most valuable aspects of the class was the essay assignment. The
assignment was very open ended. Basically, we had to write a 2000 word essay on
a topic related to the Supreme Court. I choose to write my essay the Citizens
United v. The Federal Election Commission Supreme Court ruling. We had limited
time to write the essay, so I knew that I needed to be efficient in order to
complete the task on time. I also knew that my instructor would be grading us
on a college level. After completing the essay, I became confident in my
ability to write at a high level in an efficient way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The three weeks
I spent at Columbia University prepared me to succeed at a college level. The rigorous
course work in conjunction with the distractions of New York City forced me to
manage my time effectively. I now feel far more confident in my ability to succeed
in college. Without The Ivy League Connection, I know I would feel very
differently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My trip to the East Coast was definitely the most valuable four
weeks of my life. Each day I learned countless lessons and met amazing people.
The best part is, though, that it doesn’t end here. I will share what I’ve
learned with those unable to experience it for themselves and give back to my
community in a positive way. Thank you Ivy League Connections for providing me
not only the best four weeks of my life, but also with the tools necessary to
go out and make my community a better place. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emily Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693937205354434446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-62562861769235587112013-07-29T23:15:00.002-07:002013-07-30T15:08:02.640-07:00Rather Extraordinary<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">It is hard to express
in words, or any tangible way for that matter, how grateful I am to have been
given this amazing opportunity. To travel from a small town in California's </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">East Bay,</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> across the country to New York City, New York is astonishing. (I don’t
think the idea that I was on the other side of the country really registered in
my mind; there wasn’t as great of a culture, weather, or lifestyle shock as I
was expecting.) To visit six amazing universities and live in the dorms of one, is beyond belief. And not only to be able to say that I took a course at
Columbia University but to use my </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">new found</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> knowledge in the future is
fantastic. Not to mention the </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">unforgettable</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> conversations I was able to share with alumni from some of the </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">universities I visited. And all of the </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">delicious food! Being a member of the Ivy
League Connection has been the experience of a lifetime, one which I
wouldn’t give up for the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">I’ve returned to
reality and have had some time to reflect.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">During
the months, weeks, days, and even hours before the departure I was terrified.
How could I, a little nobody with nothing extraordinary to say about herself,
travel to New York City, maintain intelligent conversations with more than
intelligent people, and survive in an economics course at Columbia University? The
whole idea of everything that I would be able to do, see, and accomplish on
this trip was so amazing and mind-boggling that it seemed almost impossible. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Now
that I have returned and looked back upon everything that I managed to
accomplish, it was all very possible. Everything that was set up by the ILC and
already planned out by Mrs. L seemed intimidating but once I was on the
Subway or in the midst of a conversation with a university alumnus, it really
isn’t as bad, or hard, or scary as I assumed. I was </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">afraid</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> that the course would be difficult and overwhelming, which it wasn't, but it was only three weeks and I feel very accomplished and </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">fulfilled</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> now that I have successfully completed the course.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">The
first week of this amazing adventure, the time before courses started, was the
busiest of the whole trip. When Mrs. L told us before the departure that we
would ‘hit the ground running’, she was not exaggerating. That week was full of long days, late nights, and little sleep. In less than a week my cohort and I
managed to visit, tour, and sit in on info sessions for some amazing East Coast
universities, traveling by train and Subway. We visited Sarah
Lawrence, UPenn, Yale, and Vassar all before courses started. All the while we
were meeting amazing people on the university tours and at all the
fancy dinners with the alumni. We also managed to squeeze is some time to see amazing things such as Times Square and Hyde Park. The Saturday after
classes had started we attended an info session and a tour of NYU; then visited </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">the 9/11 Memorial</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When
visiting colleges, info sessions are one thing but going on the tours, talking
to the tour guides, and talking with the alumni are a whole different thing.
Once you’ve been to one info session, you have basically been to them all.
Other than the different curriculum for the specific school, info sessions are
all the same. They advocate the school, say how great it, why everyone loves
it, and why that particular school should be chosen over others. Talking with
current students and alumni is where the true magic is. (That’s sounds a little
corny but it’s true.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Listening
to the alumni talk about their schools, with all of the passion and love they
have, really opens your eyes to the university in question. For example, after
visiting Vassar I was impressed by the university but thought it wasn’t a place
that was fit for me. Now, after talking with a Vassar alumnus and hearing the
love and passion he has, I want to apply to Vassar. When properly conveyed, an
alumnus’ love for their school can be quite an effective way of </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">recruiting</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> prospective students. An alumnus’ excitement for their school makes you excited
as well and brings the university to life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On
Sunday, June 23<sup>rd</sup> my cohort and I moved from the Beacon Hotel, where
we had been staying, to the dorms at Columbia. This is the point where true
independence began. Before this I had never really been alone. Of course, starting the previous week, I was away from my family for the first time but I
was sharing a hotel room with my cohort member Anmol, so I wasn’t alone. But on
that Sunday night, I sat in my single bed dorm room (I didn’t have a roommate)
and I was on my own. That afternoon before Mrs. L left us she said she was
‘cutting the umbilical cord and setting us free.’ In all honesty, that night I cried.
In my defense, the week leading up to this night was very hectic and stressful
and the idea of everything that was soon to befall me in the next three weeks
was a little overwhelming. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Luckily, I quickly befriended many of my suitemates. Some of which were Sally from
Washington state, Lucia from Argentina, Emmi from Switzerland, Gabriela from
Brazil, and Alicia from Singapore. Unless you are a relatively confident person who is perfectly fine
being alone or prefers being a loner, it is essential to make friends as soon
as possible. Having friends, who are in the same boat as you, makes the rest of
the trip so much more enjoyable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On
Monday, June 24<sup>th</sup> classes started! It was like the first day of high
school all over again. You don’t know where anything is, you’re on this big
unfamiliar campus, and you meet a ton of new people. During my three weeks at
Columbia University, I was the first ILC student to take the Introduction to
Business, Finance, and Economics course. Although I applied and interviewed for
both the Constitutional Law and Presidential Powers courses, I am so grateful
that I was able to take this course.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UngHwPV4odlid-bMI1qaj7Ov65uyhFRL1KusYoxnHC-YoOzyi5tvOD7ZVJ2Q1C_F3TYAcFj6ysXfrvHvRCxQyDF7LpusxcQmM0JVXNwSDVhaA2e823gPYoyByGoCpARE2OjTbwyBckM/s1600/IMG_1863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UngHwPV4odlid-bMI1qaj7Ov65uyhFRL1KusYoxnHC-YoOzyi5tvOD7ZVJ2Q1C_F3TYAcFj6ysXfrvHvRCxQyDF7LpusxcQmM0JVXNwSDVhaA2e823gPYoyByGoCpARE2OjTbwyBckM/s200/IMG_1863.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The seminar TA and I</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Everything
that I learned in this course, everything that was
said by the professor in lecture and the TA in the seminar are useful and
applicable to the real world. Regardless of whether or not I decide, or happen
upon, studying or working in a field that involves business, finance, or
economics, all that I have learned, I can use in the future. Having a general
knowledge of how the world communicates with itself on a business level,
through money, is very useful. Not only did the material in the course open my
eyes but Professor Mesznik provided me with a whole new perspective on how the
world functions. Knowledge is power; what I learned from this course is priceless.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Although
the fact that I was taking a course at Columbia University and living in the
dorms for three weeks is impressive and overwhelming in and of itself, Columbia
is in Manhattan! I was in New York City, New York! When I either didn’t have
homework or had already finished it, I utilized my free time to the best of
my ability. There are so many things to go do and see in the city and because
Columbia is right next to a Subway stop, traveling so much more
convenient. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I
visited Times Square several times as well as SoHo. I also managed to see a
Broadway show through a RA trip. Before the show I continued to say that there
was no way I could leave New York City without seeing a show; I decided to see <i>Cinderella</i> and it was absolutely marvelous. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5y4DifUZQiPG4gNDe7nUFBnSc659CzKIPG9zCEUMsRYjdZFRHZG2yA-31y9Q06MzS1VDE0nhkzWmnrSiTPrnu-Y6nYPDxs0i0gOB-JagC6bf6ZyK-_6vpKCt4ysJNWigwXbHWpvBDy8/s1600/6-22-13+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5y4DifUZQiPG4gNDe7nUFBnSc659CzKIPG9zCEUMsRYjdZFRHZG2yA-31y9Q06MzS1VDE0nhkzWmnrSiTPrnu-Y6nYPDxs0i0gOB-JagC6bf6ZyK-_6vpKCt4ysJNWigwXbHWpvBDy8/s400/6-22-13+071.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Times Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDbD_wP9z-pBrr2rphxy3o8cc0DNzGVJWUbCewIIrFW5ohy5E5_1QQ7eil9XdR9IozP7nhD1xkJ_MPpO8mI0LKxMjAvm6cc3TjAwJNr7qXVKx_BQRinMznz2L_wu_NlcfQjeQG8CiVFs/s1600/IMG_1768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDbD_wP9z-pBrr2rphxy3o8cc0DNzGVJWUbCewIIrFW5ohy5E5_1QQ7eil9XdR9IozP7nhD1xkJ_MPpO8mI0LKxMjAvm6cc3TjAwJNr7qXVKx_BQRinMznz2L_wu_NlcfQjeQG8CiVFs/s400/IMG_1768.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Statue of Liberty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">On
my last day in New York my cohort and I were out to brunch in Central Park. I
remember Margaret suggesting that we go
around the table and say what our favorite thing to do in New York was. My
favorite thing to do was visit the museums. If I had the chance, I would spend
days wandering around the Met and then another several days exploring the MoMA.
Unfortunately those were the only two museums that I managed to visit. They
were both mesmerizing and amazing in their own unique ways. I had to leave both
the Met and the MoMA because the people I was with were leaving. Afterward I
felt, and still feel, incomplete for not being able to see each museum in their
entirety.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85uHITyqfzvYPsBWPZvW6GzkIBD8pFv9t4u45U4kBI0AuqRtLX67a-C1W_-3R4hXtYxvaB_poxEQTSyMXfqRM-uVDsfeWipkwEXTLl425hvA9k3gJrlg-9sPGDJN-GQz7c2xGYh3JPO0/s1600/EB.28.4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85uHITyqfzvYPsBWPZvW6GzkIBD8pFv9t4u45U4kBI0AuqRtLX67a-C1W_-3R4hXtYxvaB_poxEQTSyMXfqRM-uVDsfeWipkwEXTLl425hvA9k3gJrlg-9sPGDJN-GQz7c2xGYh3JPO0/s400/EB.28.4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKcoEL2OrNs6rxOhyzaQRydJtcgm4GFp9EumnPqOstXghncS5FeBCfTFJ68O2WKUtOfi8fYP6bdU-PzbOFuvUqdHgD7OHudSXGKQnE01TdR0819Ti-9kLdAlXACSG4S63qHqBKOJd5Hk/s1600/EB.28.5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKcoEL2OrNs6rxOhyzaQRydJtcgm4GFp9EumnPqOstXghncS5FeBCfTFJ68O2WKUtOfi8fYP6bdU-PzbOFuvUqdHgD7OHudSXGKQnE01TdR0819Ti-9kLdAlXACSG4S63qHqBKOJd5Hk/s400/EB.28.5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A0OwhyphenhyphenFj39izk3PqqbNI6S0_h_n4PpJN-KXKYds8JcoecZ3tJzmfAgX8Xt6a7yEB8SQ6UMGWoUcu2oItpYtHlOrp0osciZKG0JXRhxZVBqtuNePl8sMeiRVX9qnhaZ2MBBF_Ud3hDRI/s1600/picstitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A0OwhyphenhyphenFj39izk3PqqbNI6S0_h_n4PpJN-KXKYds8JcoecZ3tJzmfAgX8Xt6a7yEB8SQ6UMGWoUcu2oItpYtHlOrp0osciZKG0JXRhxZVBqtuNePl8sMeiRVX9qnhaZ2MBBF_Ud3hDRI/s400/picstitch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJaDLtj5pQ_JS2-BJc-lXpLS5mSUoNhtnqM70g7CCtrCSQc-EIUwrBYpJ7MvDIGIoscUXk4qBMlcMyTQAPI0QtJhcJFjGIJk7CXIJAc9hrgcRudImiLid2zpl5FOQNjw7ADKsj2xuk8s/s1600/picstitch+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJaDLtj5pQ_JS2-BJc-lXpLS5mSUoNhtnqM70g7CCtrCSQc-EIUwrBYpJ7MvDIGIoscUXk4qBMlcMyTQAPI0QtJhcJFjGIJk7CXIJAc9hrgcRudImiLid2zpl5FOQNjw7ADKsj2xuk8s/s400/picstitch+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">I
now realize that I am going to have to travel back to New York City, either as
a tourist or as a student. There is still so much I want to see and do that I
didn’t have time for in my far too short adventure this summer. I will have to
attend one of the many amazing universities the East Coast has to offer. If I
were to attend Columbia or NYU I would spend my weekends in the city, utilizing
my free time to experience everything the city has to offer. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">By visiting museums </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">among other places </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">and seeing Broadway shows,</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"> I would further broaden my mind and my perspective of the world around me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Although
I am now no closer to knowing what I want to study or what I want to do in the
future, I have a much fuller understanding of what I want in a university and what
I want for my future. Most importantly, I have a fuller understanding of myself.
(Don’t worry; I still haven’t given up my dream of being a well-educated, successful
actress.) The time I spent in New York, the independence that I was given,
showed me what the future would entail. Talking to people who attended prestigious
universities and are now leading successful lives, is inspiring. My experience in
New York has given me a taste of the real world, a world that I am now ready
for. The Ivy League Connection is a rather extraordinary program that has given
this little nobody an extraordinary experience and stories to tell. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
would like to end my final blog with saying, ‘Thank you’ to the Ivy League
Connection and all of its supporters and donors. Madeline Kronenberg, Charles
Ramsey, and Don Gosney, you have given me the experience of a lifetime and I
will be eternally thankful. And of course, ‘Thank you’ to Mrs. L who is
absolutely amazing; it is obvious that you went out of your way to take this
experience of a lifetime and push it over the top. And finally, (though not
involved with the ILC) ‘Thank you’ to Professor Mesznik who managed to blow my
mind every day in lecture.</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Most people who aspire don't succeed, but the opportunity to do so is amazing." </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> -Professor Roger Mesznik, Columbia University</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08040983316653157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-88220552226397205082013-07-20T15:55:00.000-07:002013-07-22T12:08:57.229-07:00What A Journey<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where
is the line drawn between a voyage and a residency? How long does it take to
consider some new place your “home?” Is there a rulebook? Has somebody
established the conditions that must be met to qualify the difference? Or is it
subjective? Over the last 4 weeks, I have attended more events and more shows,
covered more ground, been more places, and learned more things than I have ever
before in such a condensed period of time. I lived in a college dorm, and took
the compressed equivalent of a college-level course. I wrote my first research
paper, and learned exponentially more about the history of the presidents and
executive power in America than ever before. I spent the majority of my free
time downtown, in the heart of New York City. I lived in the Upper West Side on
Columbia’s beautiful campus, went to Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown, Little
Italy, Times Square, the Financial District, the piers, a boat cruise <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">around</i> the city, Long Beach… the list
goes on. Nearly every single day I went somewhere to see a Broadway show – or
go shopping in the cute boutiques around Washington Square Park - take a chance
and try the Korean Barbeque across the street? Why not! - or just sit and enjoy
the temperate (evening) weather on the stone steps that surround the statue of the Alma
Mater. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0L8BYnv3L8pSlB1PFO3EwydhxDqALL_IbQz1LfZYJeCmvFSX5HgU9nVPYAnS4J87d8yiZecpYhFBFpXrRtwP3mCwYNp9OnuH5tAohwIeYKjb1Gm8qKyilkHrw8Dhj0prjqhkqp7uihLE/s1600/IMG_2756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0L8BYnv3L8pSlB1PFO3EwydhxDqALL_IbQz1LfZYJeCmvFSX5HgU9nVPYAnS4J87d8yiZecpYhFBFpXrRtwP3mCwYNp9OnuH5tAohwIeYKjb1Gm8qKyilkHrw8Dhj0prjqhkqp7uihLE/s640/IMG_2756.JPG" width="640"></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Though
we were only really living in New York for about 4 weeks, the actual Ivy League
Connection process lasted for much longer. I don’t even remember when I wrote
that first essay about Martial Law to qualify me for an interview at the next
level. That was the very first official step I took towards attending a class
at Columbia University. A few weeks later, I was admitted to an interview round
with some other students, and that very day, Anmol and I were chosen to be a
part of the Ivy League Connection. When I initially applied to be a part of the ILC, the grand scheme of the ILC didn't really occur to me. At the time, it just seemed like a good opportunity, and a fun way to spend a summer. All of this happened <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">months</i> ago. I remember wearing a coat to the interview so it was
probably during the winter, which was the end of first semester. (Ignoring the
fact that Bay Area weather is very strange and I was in fact wearing a coat yesterday
despite it being the middle of July.) So when I finally heard that I was accepted, and came to terms with the fact that I would get to take this class at Columbia, I was beyond excited. Anyway, my point is that the Ivy League
connection has been a significant part of my agenda for longer than just the
time of my stay in New York. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">This last blog is a tough one. It’s our last chance to get everything out, to actually look back on everything we experienced and come to terms with how we’ve changed, how we’ve been affected, and how we’ve been influenced. Over the last couple of days I’ve found myself reading my draft and adding a paragraph here, getting rid of a couple of sentences there. Wondering if I’m going to accurately describe the way I feel and come off the way that I intend to. It’s my last chance to tell this audience what I did, who I met, where I went and how I felt.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtI-rCq6-IzQI-jO4C0ZUjG3m8oMTdxFW9HwGLAoeKYxKzeYCic1f8OenqwJpjT80sFzoBASeXL9KZ_-3v_evAeZGXtIzj1vLtgkCFbgSFrqZX2JVlMV2ORNZ_HXiEt1m9DKthxKs-ZU/s1600/IMG_2717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtI-rCq6-IzQI-jO4C0ZUjG3m8oMTdxFW9HwGLAoeKYxKzeYCic1f8OenqwJpjT80sFzoBASeXL9KZ_-3v_evAeZGXtIzj1vLtgkCFbgSFrqZX2JVlMV2ORNZ_HXiEt1m9DKthxKs-ZU/s640/IMG_2717.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Alma Mater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our
first dinner with alumni, in San Francisco, was terrifying. It was the first
time we were sitting down with actual Ivy League graduates, at a very nice
restaurant that required at least minimal etiquette knowledge – with our
parental units, to boot, so we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i>
had to be on our best behavior. The intimidation factor hindered my desire to
communicate, and in retrospect I really regret not talking to the graduates
more. From there on however, it got easier. At our first alumni dinner in New
York City, I sat with the most eloquent, articulate man I’ve ever met. He
basically told me the story of an art fraud case he handled in the past as
though it were a prepared speech or the narration of a dramatic film. Alright,
so that was pretty intimidating too. He was very invested in our conversation
and frequently jumped into others across the table as well. It was fun dining
with the Yale alumni, although now I think about it I’m not sure if Chad ever
even got to eat his entrée. The dinners got less scary from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> point on. We began having dinners
with current students, admissions officers, and recent graduates, all of whom
were much closer to our own ages and extremely interesting people. I got more
comfortable talking to them and asking them questions, which was definitely a
relief because I learned a ton about the schools they attended and got a real,
accurate representation of the kinds of students that attended those schools.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBxWhLSs9dqqr5Syn2VQZvEXredHb_0pDH4LxMoempAJbCdR-crC1qSrgltYo7gdL2Q4dujt29lZx5nBtTzeYTlCnlKuOvONc5MwtrDkBbMWMzg-oEeLiioKnGuNyFN9lZuQTTG3oTFo/s1600/IMG_2388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBxWhLSs9dqqr5Syn2VQZvEXredHb_0pDH4LxMoempAJbCdR-crC1qSrgltYo7gdL2Q4dujt29lZx5nBtTzeYTlCnlKuOvONc5MwtrDkBbMWMzg-oEeLiioKnGuNyFN9lZuQTTG3oTFo/s320/IMG_2388.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From our trip to the 9/11 firefighters memorial</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in;">Some
of my favorite experiences during my journey took me by surprise. My favorite
location in the city quickly became Greenwich Village – I was instantly in love
with its peaceful, tranquil vibe, and every time I visited I made it a priority
to spend a decent amount of time in Washington Square Park. Now, Greenwich
Village was on my top ten, but it’s hard to accurately portray a neighborhood
just through photos and saturated paragraph-long descriptions online. During my stay
in New York City, I went to the village 3 or 4 times (not including one failed
attempt to cross the street into the Village due to the Pride Parade). I expected to love the
off-Broadway show: Potted Potter. Potter was terrible. Seriously. If you’re in
the neighborhood reading this blog, I don’t recommend it. In a complete spur of
the moment, three friends and I decided to buy tickets for a matinee of Annie,
and the only reason I was excited about that was because of the appeal of the
Broadway seal. Annie was fantastic. Beforehand, a trip to the piers at sunset
to see a shore-side showing of The Silver Linings Playbook seemed like just
something fun to do on Wednesday after class, but the excursion was easily my
favorite of the whole trip. I’d never seen the film before and it was </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in;">amazing</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in;">. The temperature was perfect,
and our spot on the lawn was top-notch. Just hanging out for hours before the
movie even started was enjoyable. Just being there was relaxing and fun. I also
expected to prefer the contents of the MoMA over those of the Met, but spent an
entire 3 hours in the European paintings wing alone of the Met, whereas I felt
totally 16 at the MoMA walking around that one floor of solidly
colored canvases, going “what?”</span></div>
<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDiFCzLjbLRcYfUktHTK0PJ43w0GXFpDBFqeloFUS0Cw_5vV35JR_1ljWkoRigU46ipLo6ueslR3uNaThCElsyWYhO9lz6TJgmtx65qPOvYLKOfi5MW3VckfGmEnPr65lP9jK4NnhBVw/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDiFCzLjbLRcYfUktHTK0PJ43w0GXFpDBFqeloFUS0Cw_5vV35JR_1ljWkoRigU46ipLo6ueslR3uNaThCElsyWYhO9lz6TJgmtx65qPOvYLKOfi5MW3VckfGmEnPr65lP9jK4NnhBVw/s200/IMG_2451.JPG" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pride Parade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEugGsrxWAfylvLofZXVqQGZkvlUYL2whres77k3KtXPLXzswtQvaoP32c4tccNy_NhDKVKz2IB__QLRcUifdY63LoXWmNN1vPj9QXnXOVM3EO3oZJ0iFRIDrhahr_bDUnuLC0P5i2fhA/s1600/IMG_2903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEugGsrxWAfylvLofZXVqQGZkvlUYL2whres77k3KtXPLXzswtQvaoP32c4tccNy_NhDKVKz2IB__QLRcUifdY63LoXWmNN1vPj9QXnXOVM3EO3oZJ0iFRIDrhahr_bDUnuLC0P5i2fhA/s400/IMG_2903.JPG" width="400"></a><br>
<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfCkoDBiGgI-ivmYCPM3xrLw3ftacyIq3xMP2knuFuava1crjl5hNp43k8BeIBYzSzX_Drh8mlsr-w9k7zqjywEnN-Pj97-OGaTQ8th4KEPe4mViOxrAkH8DVlgv9EvLds2wr6i_REO8/s1600/IMG_2946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfCkoDBiGgI-ivmYCPM3xrLw3ftacyIq3xMP2knuFuava1crjl5hNp43k8BeIBYzSzX_Drh8mlsr-w9k7zqjywEnN-Pj97-OGaTQ8th4KEPe4mViOxrAkH8DVlgv9EvLds2wr6i_REO8/s640/IMG_2946.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite spot in New York City - Washington Square Park</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some
weeks into the program, I was having difficulty writing substantial blog posts.
The issue came to my chaperone’s attention and she then brought it to my own.
Now I can’t speak for everybody on this, but the idea of having to blog every
night for a month was hardly the most enticing aspect of the Ivy League
connection. I know that I personally spent more than a few nights blogging,
instead of socializing, or sleeping. Typically, it would take me the better part
of an hour just to string together a semi-coherent series of thoughts to
substantiate a “good” blog post. Don’t just talk about your day, event by
event. That was the rule, basically. And it was hard. And often, I didn’t
succeed at doing that. So my blogs were short, and boring. When I was, from
multiple sources, chastised for my lacking blogging output, I acknowledged the
concern but really tossed it over my shoulder. What’s the point of blogging
every night? Is what we’re doing really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i>
interesting? Obviously not if we’re supposed to avoid talking about how first
waking up early sucks but breakfast was good and then class was interesting and
after that we went to the MoMA … But that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">isn’t
</i>the point of the blogs. So what was the point? To say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why</i> class was interesting, what you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">experienced</i> at the MoMA. Straighforward right? Easy enough. So what
was my problem? My peers were consistently shoveling out deep, soul-searching
stories about how amazed they were by the elements of Columbia: diversity,
intellectual commitment, college life. I think one of the inherent expectations
of those in charge of the ILC is that we will go through a metamorphic phase
during the trip. That experiencing Ivy League life will change ours. And I
guess my problem was that I had this stubborn mindset that it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">didn’t. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyXiViZsb6U9CRpOcCNazX60Pub5pf1I7iVn7nd7kebNmFuCmNGWaHCqtEu7Sedl5lYPIgnPui3j0fPIP77IfoKrKcYK9ycv8fKH9aKYWlwriB_KF5DfetJLm_-Ll3i032AWXpFhwykY/s1600/IMG_2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyXiViZsb6U9CRpOcCNazX60Pub5pf1I7iVn7nd7kebNmFuCmNGWaHCqtEu7Sedl5lYPIgnPui3j0fPIP77IfoKrKcYK9ycv8fKH9aKYWlwriB_KF5DfetJLm_-Ll3i032AWXpFhwykY/s320/IMG_2188.JPG" width="320"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
diversity of Columbia didn’t blow my mind. I actually honestly think that our
very own Bay Area is just as, if not more diverse than what I experienced at
Columbia. On the surface, the student body of Columbia’s summer programs is
incredibly manifold – take my own RA group for instance: Germany, Turkey,
Belgium, South Korea, Washington, DC, New York. It doesn’t stop there either,
something like 40% of all of the students were international. But diversity
goes beyond nationality, beyond race. That kind of diversity was really the
only kind present of campus. The official application process was pretty uncompetitive.
All we needed to get into the class was a good transcript – and something like
$8,000. So there’s the kicker really, everybody there, no matter what country
they came from, what elite boarding school they attended, everybody was from
basically the same socio-economic background. Obviously there are exceptions to
this, but besides my WCCUSD classmates and I, the kids that I met at Columbia
all came from well-to-do, successful families. Don’t get me wrong, they were
smart. Not one kid that I met was unintelligent. Everybody had a colorful,
captivating story, personal experiences etc. This one girl down the hall used to
be in a relationship with the son of a celebrity, another girl did commercials,
and another interned for a senator. So in a way, there was diversity present in
all of these kids’ experiences, but these experiences were not specific to
certain countries, and though I’m sure there was some cultural specificity, I
didn’t get to immerse myself in a whole lot of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
level of intellectual commitment, I had expected. The classes offered were all
taught at the same level as actual undergrad ones, and everyone there was a
straight-A student, so I wasn’t surprised in class when all of my peers were
capable of articulately answering confusing questions on the spot. The thing
that differed between the classrooms of Columbia University and the classrooms
of El Cerrito High School wasn’t the presence of the educationally devoted, but
the absence of the intellectually uninterested. My classmates at El Cerrito
High are smart people. My friends <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">care</i>
about their education and performance in class, they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want </i>to go to good colleges and they work <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hard. </i>So I wasn't surprised to find that my peers at Columbia were the same way. I definitely admired it, and I adored being in the midst of such academic dedication - but it didn't surprise me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
college life – well this was something new. I’ve been to sleepaway camps, but
that’s a lame comparison really. Dorm life at Columbia is vastly different, you
get one roommate, and you live in close quarters with the rest of the girls in
your hall, in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">13 story building you
live in.</i> You go get food at the dining hall when you want to go get food; John
Jay was open for a good portion of the day. It’s totally different from camp in
the sense of all of the freedom we got. Friends of mine spent the day touring
Princeton one day – you could literally go anywhere you wanted, to other<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> states</i> if you so desired, so long as
you made curfew. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
was blandly unfazed by it all at the time. In my eyes, the many-cultured
student body was just a student body. People are people. I liked a lot of the
people I met, and I befriended them. There were a lot of people I didn’t like
too. That wasn’t because they came from a certain country, and it wasn’t
because they came from a certain economic background (because almost everyone
came from that economic background). So it wasn’t until <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after</i> I got home, that I realized that maybe, I’ve been looking at
the wrong sense of the word “diversity.” When it all boils down the true
essence of the diversity I experienced, it wasn’t the kind that you measure in
color and number. The diversity in the people I met lay in their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">personalities</i>. Race, nationality and
personal wealth definitely all play into personality, but that personality
factor often lies under the surface of the aspects of diversity that are easier
to measure. So that’s why I was so exceedingly underwhelmed by the superficial
state of diversity at Columbia during my stay, because I was not, at the time,
able to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i> the diversity that
everyone was seeing; I was too focused on the external aspects, and incapable
of seeing why it mattered where everybody came from. One aspect of diversity that did take me by surprise was the political diversity I experienced. I've never attended school with as many conservative students as liberal, and there was so much political focus and involvement. People were in the loop, they knew what they were talking about. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwgw9odCrLWp89nvU8J9l16QQWnT-dpkukF8JaivF5hfX6ed4vwJZrU_mzw-JfQfUCGVdR3PsJKf48WS2GUyb5FTjEujyKlPRl50pf27Zx-rwKR2fw01Pq_el9QhPqocFhtfXyU-AzEA/s1600/IMG_2868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwgw9odCrLWp89nvU8J9l16QQWnT-dpkukF8JaivF5hfX6ed4vwJZrU_mzw-JfQfUCGVdR3PsJKf48WS2GUyb5FTjEujyKlPRl50pf27Zx-rwKR2fw01Pq_el9QhPqocFhtfXyU-AzEA/s640/IMG_2868.JPG" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th of July on Long Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carnegie Deli</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The class - oh my goodness, the class alone was an experience for me. American Presidential Power at Home and Abroad - From Washington to Obama. That was the full name of the course, and it was true to what it entailed. The class examined a few of the presidents throughout American history, and how they handled their claim to executive power. I totally expected the class to be a history class, and was taken off guard by the huge focus it had on political science. Even more so, the class was geared rather intensely towards the how-to's of research paper writing. Half of the total class time was dedicated to research in the libraries and writing our papers. Professor Porwancher, the instructor, taught me more about writing than I've learned in most of my english classes to date. I feel incredibly prepared to write research papers in college now, something that I would be terrified of, had I not taken this summer course. This class has left me feeling confident about writing college-level papers, and participating in engaging academic conversation. I've gotten the opportunity to learn about the atomic bomb in so much more depth than I would have gotten a chance to otherwise for a long time. The entire Columbia library was at my disposal for weeks! The class was a real interest to me, and I just love having an increased amount of background knowledge about our country. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKahL0gYd6udGJHot1gLh-tz6wALeSBVfnYxMstxUychyphenhyphennxRuA03Eqyx_DcdIf2DU1C356LI-TfGWsTlPWQu1bmweXhosIPXvDAf4Elwt97njLfX_0e_dawoMjaBgfE9xp7b7GAatamLc/s1600/IMG_3216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKahL0gYd6udGJHot1gLh-tz6wALeSBVfnYxMstxUychyphenhyphennxRuA03Eqyx_DcdIf2DU1C356LI-TfGWsTlPWQu1bmweXhosIPXvDAf4Elwt97njLfX_0e_dawoMjaBgfE9xp7b7GAatamLc/s640/IMG_3216.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My class! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something
that I wasn’t completely aware of before my arrival at Columbia, was just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">many</i>
classes were being offered as a part of the summer program. To put it into
perspective, there were nearly 1,500 students there for just one session. I
went into the program expecting there to be something like 7 or 8 classes
around campus. Beyond that, I was surprised that not all of the classes were
academically focused. A girl down my hall that I met was taking an art class,
and from the various people I met, it seems like there were more than a couple
art classes. I think it would be great, in the future, if the ILC offered
scholarships in other areas, like an art, or theatre. Some of the universities
we visited during the first week of the trip (Yale comes to mind) have
fantastic art departments, and being given the chance to participate in an art
program would definitely benefit somebody who is devoted to the field. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
truly can’t believe a program like the ILC even exists. The fact that it is so
generous and recurrently successful is unbelievable, and that the program is
exclusive to my school district puts into perspective just how incredibly lucky
I am. I’m exceedingly grateful to everyone who is a part of the ILC, who makes
it possible for students who would not be able to otherwise, take advanced summer
courses on the other side of the country – at Ivy League schools nonetheless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
ILC is incredible. I’m amazed at all of the work and time that its founders
have dedicated to keep it afloat and raring ahead. I’m grateful for it. And I’m
grateful to the sponsors that make it possible for all of the ILC students to
attend the classes. Though I honestly think that I missed out on the life <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">changing</i> aspect of the ILC, this past month
has truly been the time of my life. I had a great time as a whole and I have so
much gratitude for everybody who made it possible for me to have such a great
experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Margaret Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038942331569693536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-34097266243571281502013-07-17T22:30:00.000-07:002013-07-17T22:30:35.518-07:00Experiences That Will Last a Lifetime...<div style="text-align: justify;">
Life has a tendency of presenting those who seek and deserve success with incredible opportunities. For me this came in the form of the Ivy League Connection. An incredible program that offers students a once in a lifetime opportunity to further their education at Ivy League schools on the East Coast. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cohort during our first week</td></tr>
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I remember the day I was first admitted into the program. All applicants anxiously waited in a El Cerrito High School classroom to hear the final decision from the panelists. I could not even begin to put into words the excitement I felt that day when I was accepted. It was a dream come true and after so much prior work through the years, I was being rewarded with an incredible opportunity to experience what the outside world is like and to learn exactly what it takes to be able to be admitted into these prestigious schools of the East. I was being allotted an opportunity that not many could ever have and the gratefulness I felt to everyone in that interview room cannot even be explained.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKgHOFWnl6Z1QSazi36yYKiymhiwGJWvFT4e9OtyKSWUFQuvVllSiwUcxJRp09xajdncL-a7SABwRNovsdBuAYSmu9HPw_jUbMYIwN07rltRp8BsNuJMDtW6vUbWE9qEIQ1uZ3PaoWLU/s1600/IMG_0847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKgHOFWnl6Z1QSazi36yYKiymhiwGJWvFT4e9OtyKSWUFQuvVllSiwUcxJRp09xajdncL-a7SABwRNovsdBuAYSmu9HPw_jUbMYIwN07rltRp8BsNuJMDtW6vUbWE9qEIQ1uZ3PaoWLU/s400/IMG_0847.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cohort with the Director of the High School Program</td></tr>
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The work did not, of course, stop right after I was admitted and the months that led up to our departure date were not easy in any way whatsoever. It was full of hard work and extensive preparation for our future experience back East. This included events such as a Columbia alumni dinner in which we were able to get insightful information as to what we could expect during our three weeks there and also become comfortable speaking to these alums about their experiences throughout their time there. Also part of the agenda were various events that required public speaking such as a School Board meeting and City Council meeting. Not only was it incredible to be recognized by our peers and on live television, but also the honor that it was to head East and represent our district. The life lessons about public speaking, timeliness and preparedness are lesson that I felt were crucial to my survival at Columba. </div>
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Every day leading up to the trip seemed to go by immensely quick, to the point where it seemed like a few days rather than a few months. However I was excited nonetheless and eager to embark on this life changing journey. As time flew, I found myself in awe the day before my departure, that in less than a few hours I would be experiencing a completely new side to the nation. This thought also made me a bit sad however, because when I thought about it, this would be the very first time I would ever be going away from home for that long of a period and without either of my parents. There were times that I began having second thoughts about leaving, but I willed myself to overcome them and focus on all the new things I would experience in New York.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCskFTZU_yc-3t9-odlcFrcLmP2NMwyxWbhG6Fq4lCL0X9BUNm3i-BDDYYw54uEaYhL4mx5gSr4NZnErZNmbD5C9ZYJ3f2slcSLjvZICq9e7iZIx6siNu00NMnUplSUr2u5ICeYyVU2w/s1600/IMG_1363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCskFTZU_yc-3t9-odlcFrcLmP2NMwyxWbhG6Fq4lCL0X9BUNm3i-BDDYYw54uEaYhL4mx5gSr4NZnErZNmbD5C9ZYJ3f2slcSLjvZICq9e7iZIx6siNu00NMnUplSUr2u5ICeYyVU2w/s320/IMG_1363.JPG" width="320" /></a>As our flight took off from SFO and we glanced down at the familiar sights one last time, I felt proud of myself for having made it this far. After so much work and preparation I was finally going to enjoy an experience unlike no other.</div>
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The first week in New York was in no way easy-going. Even on our first day there, we only had a short amount of time to settle into our hotel rooms before we were off to have dinner at a lavish restaurant. Every day involved waking up bright and early to embark on a new and life changing adventure. </div>
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Each day mainly consisted of taking a train to a college to learn more about it and the type of student each one is looking for. There was a total of five schools we visited on top of Columbia: UPenn, Vassar, Yale, Sarah Lawrence College, and NYU. It was incredible to learn how each of these schools was completely different from the other. Each school had its own curriculum and lifestyle that catered to very different individuals. I fell in love with each campus and I felt that I really learned what it is exactly that these schools are looking for, a piece of knowledge I would never have been able to receive were it not for this program.</div>
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Another part of many of the days of the first week were dinners/ lunches with alumni, admissions officers and current students. There was a broad spectrum of people we met and each person really showed great interest in our life stories and seeing us succeed. Through these outings, I gained knowledge about the lifestyle of each school and the type of students each one is best suited for. Apart from that I also was able to establish connections with the people we met, which I am positive will be of great assistance when my time to submit applications comes around.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My suitemates</td></tr>
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After the end of the first week, it was time to continue with the real reason for our excursion to New York, our stay at Columbia. When we first checked-in I will admit that I was extremely nervous. I had no idea what dorm life would actually be like or what the people I would meet would be like. It was all a giant mystery that I had to uncover for myself. However what I did find was unlike anything I had prepared myself for. Unlike many of the other dormitory layouts, my floor was significantly smaller which means there were only eight other students including my self and the RA, which meant everyone knew each other. I had a single room, but the entire floor seemed to act like one huge extended family. We all bonded quickly and even after the first couple days, it seemed as if we had been close friends all our lives. The majority of my suitemates were international students so it was amazing finding out about there background and culture. We did almost everything together, from explore New York City to eat in the dining hall. Even my RA quickly became part of the family, and was so helpful that he would even stay up late with all of us to help us with our homework. He appeared to be more like an older brother in the sense that he was incredibly supportive of each and everyone of us and helped clear up any confusion we had, no matter how frivolous. My RA was also an inspiration to me because he motivated me to come to the decision of being an RA after my freshman year in college. The way he described the fun and incredible experience it was really sparked a desire within me to experience that too. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Con. Law class</td></tr>
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My actual course was beyond what I could have expected it to be like. The workload at times was heavy but the amount of information that I obtained each night was beyond compare. It really illuminated my mind to why laws are the way they are today and why the government operates the way it does. During the actual class session we would discuss the material we read the previous night and the ideas presented by some of the other students were mind-blowing. Students who were of the same age or a couple of years older than me were coming up with these intense philosophical stand points that I really felt amazed by. Never had I been able to sit in a classroom and discuss with such depth and respectfulness extremely controversial topics such as Affirmative Action or Abortion. Another great perk of the course was the professor, who not only was incredibly intelligent but also very supportive. He encouraged each student to email him about any complication in the readings or confusions, something not many teachers at my school would encourage. His replies to these emails would also be very extensive and offered a better point of view to understanding a confusing topic. I can honestly say that I learned more in those quick three weeks than I had ever had in my lifetime. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPT5_sZ3B-yuIfszGGX7F1bneTen0bZfJ_08z44R2OB8AYoiZ8vvuUOO9xNDey9GqJ_Q5KVjneDSS9LPvnydubwhwM3ld6UHJtdfUnfl14VnMY_HPE9c6jSbC6CCyla7sc53s7y0fU5g/s1600/IMG_1359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPT5_sZ3B-yuIfszGGX7F1bneTen0bZfJ_08z44R2OB8AYoiZ8vvuUOO9xNDey9GqJ_Q5KVjneDSS9LPvnydubwhwM3ld6UHJtdfUnfl14VnMY_HPE9c6jSbC6CCyla7sc53s7y0fU5g/s320/IMG_1359.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The excursions were also incredible for seeing more of New York City. I gained so much knowledge from these trips and saw so many iconic landmarks. I must say however that the place that had the greatest impact on me was the 9/11 Memorial. It was not until the day we visited that I realized the great sorrow and significance that was tied to it. Apart from that one of my favorites by far was watching <em>the Book of Mormon</em> at a Broadway theatre. I had watched theatrical performances before, but never to this scale of quality. It was unlike anything I had ever watched before and really brought out a higher degree of appreciation within me for Broadway. The museums were also breathtaking and the degree of innovation that was behind the design of each of them was really breathtaking. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGaBFzc3ebY3UQ_Zt2S8m5ks8SdEBIohI_3WuZEBEDFyiCwlTOPkelpWgKfR9B5dfUAm8HQE5OSl5a6KvjFl2muWN7CniS9eUqY3iREhYaoKu9tMULqK89-T59eHj7lxYpYO-AvLTooY/s1600/IMG_0820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGaBFzc3ebY3UQ_Zt2S8m5ks8SdEBIohI_3WuZEBEDFyiCwlTOPkelpWgKfR9B5dfUAm8HQE5OSl5a6KvjFl2muWN7CniS9eUqY3iREhYaoKu9tMULqK89-T59eHj7lxYpYO-AvLTooY/s320/IMG_0820.JPG" width="320" /></a>In the last couple of days of our stay at Columbia, emotions began to hit an all-time high. The realization of the little chance of seeing each other again began cascading over everyone and soon we were talking about how fast the three weeks had gone by. In retrospect, they were a quick three weeks and it still amazes me how much I gained from them. I made connections with people from all over the world and who had many different ides of the world. I gained knowledge about the Law which I am sure will help me in my dream of becoming a lawyer and raises me up closer to the playing field of other students around the world. </div>
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I can never fully begin to explain my gratitude to every member of the ILC program. Don, Mr. Ramsey and Ms. Kronenberg all put in so much work and time to make this program prosper and I am in awe at the success it has on the lives of students. I must also show my appreciation to my chaperone, Ms. L who not only guided me through my entire experience at Columbia, but also inspired me to reapply next. Lastly I must extend my gratitude to my parents who have been supportive of me from day one. The skills, people and experiences I had on this trip will stay with me for the rest of my life and I can proudly say that the ILC program has completely changed my life forever. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04477034180619751497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-28764611219520152342013-07-17T20:28:00.003-07:002013-07-17T20:28:39.695-07:00Time to Reflect!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I remember the interview day like it was yesterday. The moment when my name was called, I remember how shocked I was. I thought that since I was the first to interview I would not be chosen and the others would be. When my name was called, I was so surprised yet so happy! I had heard from past ILCers how much fun and how interesting this program was. They kept going on and on about how much this program affected their life and I knew I wanted to be a part of it right then. </div>
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We have survived all of the dinners, the meetings, the tutorial, and now the course. It seems so odd to think that it has all ended. I feel like just yesterday I was on my way to the dinner where I was seated next to people I did not know at all. I remember how nervous I used to get with the idea of being with strangers and talking to people I did not know. Now, it's not so bad. It's very difficult to put into words how much this trip has affected me, but I will try. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaEVtCWa-RoJtrLXm03-31f1AJdzupVlez1635OHPR3Oqop_8SExd4FNGoLGPMMp-AfaR43MbZGlDD7O9Ns6TC8R6o2WevkBzZrz5HG0kJ_FAS3oDgedYMc09VQSrMuQoQd6mxuf6NgGZ/s1600/collage_53.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaEVtCWa-RoJtrLXm03-31f1AJdzupVlez1635OHPR3Oqop_8SExd4FNGoLGPMMp-AfaR43MbZGlDD7O9Ns6TC8R6o2WevkBzZrz5HG0kJ_FAS3oDgedYMc09VQSrMuQoQd6mxuf6NgGZ/s320/collage_53.png" width="320" /></a>The first part of our trip was the college tours. The past three years in high school I had been thinking about college, but I was not giving much importance to the colleges in the East Coast. I thought they were full of people who would be snobbish and think they were better than others. How wrong was I? All the tours opened my eyes to the truth that most of the kids on those schools are just like me. Perhaps they had gone to better schools or had more classes open to them, but they are not better than me. These tours showed me that I actually like campuses that are urban but not too urban. I also want to be part of a medium or large campus, more than a very small campus. I never would have thought of these things before. I honestly did not even know that I had to consider things like this. I thought that I would just apply to the UC's and that's it. Now I feel like I have a wider variety and that I am more knowledgeable of the college process. All of the info sessions and tours have truly helped me so much. I have brought back so much knowledge that I will be glad to share with my peers when we all apply to colleges.</div>
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The college that I absolutely fell in love with is Yale. I did not have very high expectations because like I said before, I thought it was a school full of preppy people. However, our meetings with the current students showed me that they are so much more than that. The students are well rounded and are extremely intelligent. I know that Yale will be one of the colleges I apply to in the fall.</div>
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The dinners in New York city with the alums and current students were amazing. I think that those honestly have made me more confident and I think these interactions taught me a lot about college. I think the college tours and information sessions are nice but having the interactions with current or past students is something else. This adds a human touch to the colleges and shows that actual people attend these colleges. It gives a face to them. Also, these people did not just talk about the college they attended or are attending but about the process overall. I think I learned a lot from them and I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to dine with them. Most of them have also given us their contact information and told us we could ask them any possibly questions we have. I loved eating and talking with them.</div>
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The program at Columbia has changed my life in a way that is honestly very difficult to describe. I remember the first day we had to move into our dorms and how nervous I was because no one from the cohort was in my building and I knew no one on my floor. I thought that I would be a loner and my weeks would go by slow. Now I know how wrong I was. I began to talk to everyone on my floor, in my dorm building, and in my class. They gave me confidence and made me less self conscious. I was able to strike up conversations with strangers in the elevator or on my way to class. I never would have done that if I was still in the Bay Area. There were people from all over, from Russia, Turkey, Hong Kong, and more, that I became friends with. I learned about the different curriculum and different standards all over the world. </div>
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The course at Columbia has made me a better person as well. We had to speak in front of each other, answer questions when called upon, have discussions, and do a research paper. I was not prepared for any of these things but I managed to do them all. I am a much better public speaker now because I am not as nervous. Before I did not want to even stand in front of a crowd but now I think I can speak in front of one. Having discussions in class where the teacher randomly calls on people is no big deal anymore. My professor was so intelligent but he made all of us feel so welcome in the class. I had never written a research paper of this caliber before so it was a challenge. I am so proud that I was able to write it and I think it has made me a bit more prepared for college. I know that in college I will have to write research papers like this so this was a step in the right direction. Also, my professor taught us how to do footnotes correctly using Chicago style citation and he gave us writing guidelines that most professors would like us to follow. All that my professor has taught me, I know will help me in the future. </div>
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The hardest part of this trip was leaving the dorm. My dorm had become my home and my family was there. These people did not ever let me feel homesick; my hall mates became like my sisters, they were my home. It was so hard to say goodbye to all of these amazing and bright people but they have truly changed my life for good. They have made more mature, easier to talk, and more knowledgeable about the world. I am happy with the memories I have made, and I hope to see them in the future. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYsT_jwwPZtYivpLdEsLL9EdopBUtoAETpsE56AeVUOEp3oBZMkGSHsf1nQDiE2ROlet42VDL56TJl133Ww4PqbGaFDJOSdIjpeVju_WZq82apUiwWzSt1hT4aznIT0nsx3cxWZFUtsup/s1600/20130708_193123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYsT_jwwPZtYivpLdEsLL9EdopBUtoAETpsE56AeVUOEp3oBZMkGSHsf1nQDiE2ROlet42VDL56TJl133Ww4PqbGaFDJOSdIjpeVju_WZq82apUiwWzSt1hT4aznIT0nsx3cxWZFUtsup/s400/20130708_193123.jpg" width="400" /></a>This entire experience is a once in a lifetime kind of thing. Not many people have the opportunity to be a part of it, but I am so thankful that I was. I think when we read these reflections, we just say sure and that sounds nice but I doubt it will affect me as much. That's how I was. I honestly did not think that this was going to affect me as much as it did. I thought that I would gain more knowledge but that is it. No, that is not it. I have matured all around, not just knowledge wise. New York was great to me and I loved every second I had there. </div>
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I would like to thank everyone for allowing me to go on this trip. I hope I was able to convey how much this trip meant to me. I would like to thank Mr. Ramsey, Mrs. Kronenberg, Don, Mrs. L, and all of our sponsors. You all have worked so hard on this program and I hope I was able to make all of you proud. Mrs. L, a special thank you for being a wonderful chaperone. I am sorry if we ever bothered you or worried you when we forgot to text. I am so glad that you were our chaperone. Thank you to everyone else for taking time out of your busy schedules to make sure that this program worked as smoothly as it did. I am so honored and glad that I was a part of this program. I know that I have gained so much knowledge and experience through this experience that I will be sharing in my community. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11158887978648827993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-29131812552758830732013-07-17T16:52:00.004-07:002013-07-17T16:59:47.621-07:00Remembering.<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1">I felt my life changing the moment I boarded the flight to New York City, a place where I would begin my Ivy League Connection experience. Stepping off the plane with my wonderful cohort and chaperone, I remember feeling excited and nervous about the weeks to come. The program was split into two distinct parts: the first week would consist of of college visits and dinners with alumni and students, and then the next three weeks would include becoming a student of Columbia University and gaining independence in the city of Manhattan.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The first week of visits really helped me shape my personal list of requirements that I seek in a college. The information sessions, campus visits and meetings with admissions counselors helped me to solidify what kind of college I wanted to apply to in the coming year.For the purposes of this paragraph I am including the NYU visit amongst the other first week visits, even though we visited NYU after classes had already started. Visiting NYU, where there is no campus and the buildings are mixed in with regular NYC buildings, I realized I really need a campus. I love having somewhere I can call home, a sort of base of operations to branch out of. After visiting the wonderful Sarah Lawrence and Vassar campuses, I decided I like having a little structure when it comes to picking classes. Even though Sarah Lawrence and Vassar are wonderful and beautiful schools, I feel like I would get lost very quickly in the freedom to make your schedule out of a catalogue of hundreds of classes. Another aspect I decided was a priority for me was that I enjoy being relatively close to an urban center. I want to have a campus to call home base and then also having somewhere I can easily get to and to have a host of experiences to participate in. Somewhere full of opportunities and a place to be independent. I really liked that Columbia and UPENN were both in an urban setting but that their contained campuses made them feel separate from the chaos and hectic nature of both NYC and Philadelphia. These are only a few examples of valuable things I learned about colleges I am interested in, and I know for sure I will be applying to at least one of the places we visited. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The dinners were experiences of their own. Dressing up, eating five star food, being treated like adults, we all felt like we were living in some kind of television show. But the real value of the dinners came from the people we met and talked with. We really got a feel for the kind of person each individual college or university creates. I remember distinctly the passion and excitement that the Yale alumni and students shared with us about Yale and (in the alumni’s case) their life after Yale. It is people like them, who really have a profound interest in learning from others, learning from themselves, and applying what they have learned to the greater good of everyone that makes me even more interested in a school. After meeting with both alumni and students from Yale, I was able to visualize myself learning there, and Yale is definitely at the top of my list now!!! Learning from the alumni was not all we learned from the dinners. We also talked to them about all sorts of topics including: college, politics, even how to get cheap tickets on Broadway! We learned how to be polite and respectful to them, and in turn we were treated like independent individuals and adults. I cannot wait for college where I will be an adult all the time...</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">When classes started on the second week of the program I was very nervous. Almost all of the other kids there came from extremely wealthy backgrounds and I was worried it would be hard to fit in. I was very wrong. Even though I never really connected with anyone on my floor, I made great friends with many of the kids in my classes, and with people I met from just going on guided outings in and around to New York. I met people from Sweden, Dubai, Pakistan, Lebanon, England, Panama, Puerto Rico, Brazil, China, France, Switzerland, Russia, Korea, just to name a few. Columbia reported that their High School Summer Program program was 40% international, and to share experiences with teens from not only different states, but from different countries was invaluable.</span><br />
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<span class="s1">The course I took, Constitutional Law, was amazing to say the least. Our instructor, Luke MacInnis was so engaging and helped facilitate our discussions without resorting to lectures to give us information. Everyone in the class looked up to his positivity and his wit, and he even gave us permission at the end of the course to friend him on Facebook. Every day of the course we had to read different abridged versions of famous Supreme Court cases. Each day had a theme: one day was affirmative action, one day was capital punishment, and another day was rights of the accused. Every time Luke would remind us of the facts of the cases, and then would open the class up to discussion. I heard all different points of view, something I am not used to coming from the very blue and very liberal Bay Area. For example there were some kids who believed the death penalty should be used to curb overcrowding in prisons, and others who thought that suspected terrorists or the official term “enemy combatants” were something less than human. Even though in certain controversial topics I still was unable to choose a distinct side, I know being able to listen to and understand other sides arguments is a valuable skill I will always need.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Another thing I realized that made this class different than a high school class was that I WANTED to do all of the assignments and classroom activities. At Columbia, when Luke assigned us our very open ended paper, I was truly inspired to research and write on the topic. I think the combination of an engaging instructor, an equally engaging class, and a subject that was important to me, all combined to form an intellectual and educational experience I am not likely to forget. In fact I am now even more excited to be college bound, and also worried that my senior year will not live up to what I experienced, educationally, at Columbia. I have had some wonderful and engaging teachers at ECHS but due to the extremely large class sizes, coupled with a number of students who do not take their education very seriously, the courses are sometimes unable to scratch the surface of the subjects we study. It was such a gift to have been able to see that there are many students out there who want to learn and who are excited about intellectual issues and I cannot wait to meet with and work with them when I attend college.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Being in the City of New York during the three weeks of classes was another unique experience. During the three weeks I became much better friends with Margaret and Emily, and often times the three of us would embark, with permission from our chaperone, on adventures in and around the city. Because my sense of direction developed faster than Margaret and Emily’s did, I was often the leader of the expeditions. On one particularly eventful day, the three of us went to Times Square, saw a Broadway show, went to China Town and Little Italy, then went to Greenwich Village, and finally returned before curfew. Other days, I visited the High Line, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, consumed the largest deli sandwich I have every seen, ran into Anne Hathaway filming a movie at Grand Central Station, saw amazing art at the Metropolitan, Guggenheim and Modern Art museums, and walked through Central Park. Every time we ventured into and around New York we all felt like independent adults who could make their own decisions. One particularly notable moment was when Margaret, Claire, Elena, and myself found a wonderful Italian restaurant just up the street from Columbia. Maybe it was the feel of the restaurant or that the waiter treated us like adults, but this place in particular made me feel like I was capable of living on my own. Each adventure had its own memories, each one special and ones that I will remember them all for the rest of my life.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">It amazes me that my experience with the Ivy League Connection began almost an entire year ago. I remember missing AP Literature to go to an information session hosted by Don Gosney in our school auditorium. The long and very informative meeting was the beginning of my journey with the ILC, but the real experience and knowledge I gained came almost exclusively when I arrived in New York. </span><br />
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<span class="s1">I feel very honored and privileged to have been a part of the 2013 Ivy League Connection and I want to thank everyone who made this experience possible for students like me. Looking back on my time in NYC, I realize how much more mature, independent, confident, and willing to learn new things I have become. I feel prepared to be successful in my senior year of high school and I look forward to applying to and attending college. I truly loved this program and I look forward to promoting it to the students at El Cerrito High!</span></div>
Simon Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858033504599674698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-42297570861022310452013-07-14T01:18:00.000-07:002013-07-14T18:09:55.496-07:00In the Light<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There's a light at the end of every tunnel, an end to every adventure. My cohort and I are now in the light. I remember when we first arrived at Columbia Mrs. L advised us to use our time wisely and enjoy every moment because the three weeks would fly by. At the time, I didn't believe her, now I fully understand. Looking back, that early morning at El Cerrito High and departure for New York feels like it happened yesterday. I just spent nearly a month on the other side of the country taking an economics course at Columbia University! Inconceivable! (Yes that was a <i>Princess Bride </i>reference, which actually has nothing to do with anything relevant, I just like the movie.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Last night, extending through to early this morning, I spent packing. It took me much longer than I expected it would. After three weeks you begin to accumulate things, especially after going shopping on several occasions. It was much more difficult for me to close my suitcase today than when I originally packed. I was so afraid that I was going to be overweight. At the baggage claim at the airport they weighed my luggage and it was only 48 lbs! I am so proud of myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because I was unable to say goodbye to Jackee as well as some other friends last night, I met them this morning for a light breakfast. It is so sad that I may never see some of the amazing people that I've met ever again. Although, thanks to technological advances in social networking, we will keep in touch. For me, when it comes to goodbyes, I am not the most emotional person. I know that I will have some way to stay in contact with them so why be sad?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After my light breakfast and unfortunate goodbyes I made it back to my dorm for the last time. That room was my home for three weeks. After getting back I had just enough time to put the final bit of my belongings together and meet the group. We planned to meet at 10:00 AM. Once we were all together we took two cabs to the Hotel Beacon to drop off our bags at Mrs. L's room. Then we walked to Central Park.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I love Central Park! It is so beautiful and is so unbelievable that such a green and serene place could be in the center of such a busy city. If I lived in New York City I would visit Central Park all of the time. It is definitely a gorgeous escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Once in Central Park we went to a lovely restaurant called the Boathouse for brunch. We had a table right next to the lake. Not only was my french toast amazing, I greatly enjoyed watching the turtles swim back and forth in the lake.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally at about 1:45 the shuttle came to pick us up from the hotel. Other than our flight being delayed an hour, it went very well. I sat between Anmol and Bryan. I had a ton of fun talking with them and reminiscing about our past month. It is going to be so strange not seeing my cohort everyday. I'm going to miss them! </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My favorite part about returning was seeing the smile on my dad's face when I met him at the baggage claim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Although this whole adventure was absolutely amazing and the end came far too soon, I'm glad to be home.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08040983316653157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-8913676184048465832013-07-14T00:19:00.003-07:002013-07-14T00:19:54.954-07:00Saturday Latterday
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Today we spent our final hours at Columbia University. Last
night, I packed my bags to prepare for our departure. This morning, I had to
say goodbye to everyone. It wasn’t easy. I was finally forced to face the fact
that I probably would not see any of these people ever again. Throughout my
three weeks at Columbia, I developed fantastic relationships with people from
around the world. Our lives are incredibly different, yet we managed to find
common ground and have tons of fun together. I left campus today feeling
grateful for the friendships I’ve made, but wishing I had more time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Something particularly unique about my Columbia experience
was life in my suite. Inside my suite was a common, central area with a couch
and kitchenette. Every night, several girls would gather in this area to eat,
talk and have fun. Frequently, our RAs would also hang out with us until early
hours of the morning. The time spent just hanging out with the girls in my
suite was invaluable. We had so much fun doing not much of anything.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Unlike many of the other suites, the girls in my suite all
got along really well. None of us were very similar, but we still all stayed
together in a group. We gained insight from each other’s experiences and had
fun hearing the stories of our peers. Our RAs complimented the group perfectly.
Ashley was kind, and compassionate. I felt as though she was always looking out
for us. Arianne was funny and fun loving. She always seemed genuinely
interested in what we had to say. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As you might imagine, it was difficult for me to leave my
idyllic suite. The promise of a sublime brunch in Central Park motivated me
just enough to say goodbye. The brunch was absolutely amazing. Margaret and I,
being the uncompromising people that we are, decided to share the waffle and
the quiche. It was simply amazing. Our waterfront table paired with the
delicious food made the meal unforgettable. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
After brunch, we took our last New York stroll. It was a
melancholy experience. Since I hardly slept the night before, walking was a
rough. The humidity just added to the struggle of the experience. Despite my
comforts, however, I didn’t want to stop walking. I knew that once our walk was
complete, our journey in New York would be effectively over. All good things
must come to an end and today one very good thing did. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emily Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693937205354434446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-20371429104385093672013-07-13T23:57:00.001-07:002013-07-13T23:57:38.084-07:00The Journey Concludes<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The end was inevitable and I sadly knew this from the
beginning of the trip. After being in New York for such a long time I was
amazed at how far I have come over these last month. Time seemed to have flown
so quickly and I feel that I have grown not only as a person but also
intellectually. I have been exposed to how competitive and different the real
world is. It is incredible the type of curriculum students the exact same age
as me face in their schools. This experience has given me a wakeup call and
shown me how much harder I must work in order to even stand a chance of compete
with these other students. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My day required me to wake bright and early, which on any
other day would not have been an issue, however, being the last night of the program,
my suitemates decided to throw a mini-party to celebrate our accomplishments.
This relatively small festivity resulted in many of us not going to bed until
about maybe three in the morning. During the time when we were all still awake,
we recapped all of the adventures we had together. Honestly it was a very
saddening moment because we all knew that this would probably the absolute time
we would all be in one room together simply hanging out. While social media may
keep us together loosely, we may never see each other ever again. When we all
decided to go to bed, the looks on everyone’s faces made an evident impression
of sadness. We all had different departure times for the morning, so the
possibilities of formally being able to say goodbyes to everyone later were
slim. We decided not to risk it and wished each other safe trips. This point is
when my true emotions began surfacing. Meeting and making new friends is easy,
however saying goodbye to them, after having been through a lot and with a very
little chance of an encounter later on, is extremely difficult. I personally
have had so many adventures and laughs with my suitemates that it took a lot
from me to be able to wish each of them farewell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At around 10 o’ clock, we all met up with Ms. L in order to
take two taxis back to the location of where we spent our first night in New
York City, the Beacon Hotel. We all placed our bags in her room and then
proceeded out the door to continue our adventure of the day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlHpLke-Gwn4vd4LYrHAMHOdBO-Zbq8wOvFb4XEUnK8IZ93_IEE5zEVZrqh1JCsSnzEMBoXaRe1uxrqERkFVM7ocZdGfBA79u9a_ev2Rzkdz1GUvzbs_OPuTr8QmvYv7QhzzqKLfDk4I/s1600/IMG_1538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlHpLke-Gwn4vd4LYrHAMHOdBO-Zbq8wOvFb4XEUnK8IZ93_IEE5zEVZrqh1JCsSnzEMBoXaRe1uxrqERkFVM7ocZdGfBA79u9a_ev2Rzkdz1GUvzbs_OPuTr8QmvYv7QhzzqKLfDk4I/s640/IMG_1538.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is always something to see in Central Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We walked a few blocks over to the last location I had yet
to visit on my Top Ten list, Central Park. As we walked path that twisted and
bent through the park, we were serenaded by various street musicians which actually
were very great to listen to and who thereby enhanced the ambience. Throughout
my pre-research of New York that I had done before embarking on my journey, I
saw countless unique and magnificent photos of Central Park, but none compare
to actually seeing it in real life. While we were only viewing a small portion
of the lush scenery, a clear idea of what it might look like overall was
painted in my mind. Having had practically no chance to eat breakfast, we
headed over to restaurant that overlooks one of the lakes. Like in the first
couple of days we were in NYC, we ate brunch as a cohort. It was great because
even after the completion of a long journey, we were still very united and
close. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfh-Agu4LwqJ23Qel7pIEWkIcsGB5VKXZh5zR6IQi3e36HbT3gaeskEXVIs_WBI2CRGpursyKrN9fQujiJGEvMluUk94XC6hom432iKhysvRNiM2Ekdadq8AuoUiH3aEUKAnKcSpjku9w/s1600/IMG_1525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfh-Agu4LwqJ23Qel7pIEWkIcsGB5VKXZh5zR6IQi3e36HbT3gaeskEXVIs_WBI2CRGpursyKrN9fQujiJGEvMluUk94XC6hom432iKhysvRNiM2Ekdadq8AuoUiH3aEUKAnKcSpjku9w/s320/IMG_1525.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beauty of Central Park </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we finished eating, we headed back to the hotel to wait
for the shuttle to arrive to pick us up. We stayed in Ms. L hotel room for a while,
which reminded me of the beginning of our journey when we were all residing in
our own hotel rooms. It brought back how fast time really does fly when your
having one of the greatest experiences of your life. When it was semi-close to
the time when we needed to be in the lobby to be ready for the shuttle’s pick
up, we headed down. This also brought back incredible memories of when we would
wait for Ms. L there before embarking on another amazing journey to a college/
university. The college tours seemed to have happened ages ago instead of just
a few weeks back. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a while of waiting, the shuttle finally arrived and we
all piled in immediately. As we drove through the streets of NYC one last time,
I was reminded of when we first arrived and were astounded by the immense
amount of cars and activity. The ride over to the airport did not take as long
as many of us the terminal. We obtained our boarding passes and passed through
the security checkpoint without much of hassle. For lunch/ dinner, we bought
fast food to take on the plane for whenever we got hungry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It took a while but pretty soon, the assistants at the
counter began calling up people to board the plane. As we took our seats, the
heavy realization that this was the official end to our journey surged to me.
After so much anxiety to embark on this incredible journey, it was all now
coming to an end. No matter how much I wished there could have been at least an
extra day, I knew that this was the end. My goal of receiving an immensely
high-degree of quality of education was achieved and now I was to head back and
use this new knowledge to better my school as well as my community. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f9wbRy381Wa05ly9RjH8a7GdYh3VClkRWcssvC9Lj4LwOXe-UtUmi5t8Q_cFfUvnp1jYwNhlqRAv2Z2xDwTAQiqgHVkt3jsl66QH3l4terp_nl_zv5VK8BRteG8SnMkqkFefDpsMQfk/s1600/IMG_1541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f9wbRy381Wa05ly9RjH8a7GdYh3VClkRWcssvC9Lj4LwOXe-UtUmi5t8Q_cFfUvnp1jYwNhlqRAv2Z2xDwTAQiqgHVkt3jsl66QH3l4terp_nl_zv5VK8BRteG8SnMkqkFefDpsMQfk/s320/IMG_1541.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vast see of clouds in the sky </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we sat in our seats ready for take-off, out of pure
coincidence, the plane was unable head for the skies because of an issue with
the runway. Originally the captain had said that if we were able to make a
speedy exit from the gate, we might have hopes of arriving at SFO an hour
earlier. However, with the rising of the runway issue, all hopes began to fade
and instead of expecting an early arrival, a delayed one began seeming
inevitable. After a while, arrangements to take off from a different runway
were made, but we would need to increase our fuel supply, which meant going
back to the terminal and thus putting us even more behind schedule. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the captain finally announced that we were finally
cleared for takeoff, there was immense sigh gratitude throughout the plane. As
we ascended into the skies and left ever so slowly the gleaming views of the
New York skyline for good, my emotions finally began to burst immensely to the
point where I could hardly contain them. The reasoning of the phrase “enjoy it
while you got it” finally began to become absolutely crystal clear within me. All
good things must undoubtedly come an end, whether we so choose it to or not.
However, the memories are ours to keep forever, not matter how far we go in
life or where time takes us, we will always be able to remember this adventure
and the people we met on it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99VSgdgTjXT3Hp_YAoBy-gbcWXJ-tnekg2b-gOyVB1KRVn_qCwH4hDVOgBU2Aowh0ITVOUfenYoksAahK2F21t6QB5QjyRcgz16q-_CAc3jHyikbpfv3KvOTpjLnsumSyOqbSR5xESFc/s1600/IMG_1554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99VSgdgTjXT3Hp_YAoBy-gbcWXJ-tnekg2b-gOyVB1KRVn_qCwH4hDVOgBU2Aowh0ITVOUfenYoksAahK2F21t6QB5QjyRcgz16q-_CAc3jHyikbpfv3KvOTpjLnsumSyOqbSR5xESFc/s640/IMG_1554.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun casually sets in the horizon, as our journey all reaches its end</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The plane was nothing special and when we finally landed in
the amazing S.F cold weather, it felt good to be back home. Even though I had
established a new hoe at Columbia, I new deep down that this was where I was
meant to be, back with my family. I could not have asked for a better experience
than this and am grateful to the ILC for allotting me it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04477034180619751497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-35284697190460939692013-07-13T23:40:00.002-07:002013-07-13T23:40:57.831-07:00Breakfast At 9?<div style="text-align: justify;">
This morning was understandably difficult. I woke up an hour earlier than I'd set my alarm for because of all the hustle and bustle around my suite. Sophie, my suitemate, had left the day before, so we were already one short. Devina was already out of the room by the time I got moving, because she left to get breakfast with some of her friends with early departure schedules. Maria was still packing and while we both got dressed and finished stuffing our suitcases it was pretty silent. Eventually, Claire popped her head into the room and came to sit with Maria and I at around 9. Then my friend (who is also named Maria) from class came all the way from her dorm to see me off. Maria learned that Maria speaks Spanish (really I don't need to specify which Maria) so then Claire and I witnessed the fastest fast-friend moment to ever occur as they went off dramatically in Spanish. At 10, Simon faithfully texted me to meet him downstairs, so I said goodbye to the Marias and Claire went down with me. She also bid Simon farewell, and then it was my turn. Saying goodbye is always difficult, and this was a pretty tear-jerking moment for both of us. Later I asked Simon if he cried when he said goodbye to any of his suite-mates. He did not. But that's okay.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For brunch, the Columbia cohort had one last meal together in Central Park, at the Boathouse, a very nice lakeside restaurant. Emily and I shared our entrées - savory quiche lorraine and sweet maple waffles - and they were both delicious. The restaurant even gave us little baskets of banana bread while we waited for our dishes - how cute! Our last walk through Central Park was a nice one. We stopped for music, to look at the scenery, take photos in front of fountains and really just enjoy New York City.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We went to the airport promptly afterwards, and made good time. The journey through check-in and past security was probably my least crowded airport experience to date. We weren't waiting too terribly long to get on the plane either, which was nice and smooth. Once on the plane, however, was a different story. Our pilot excitedly urged the passengers to take their seats because some opportunity to take off immediately and arrive an hour early or something arose and the fast everyone sat down the faster we could taxi to the runway. Somehow, however, we ended up stuck in a line of planes until the flight attendant announced that we'd actually been rerouted through Canada and needed to go get 500 more pounds of fuel. Okay. It was no big deal though because we were up in the air eventually, and I got to sit with Emily and Simon. We watched a movie, then Emily slept, then Emily woke up, and I slept, then Simon and I went through all of the photos he'd taken on the trip (which are all incredible, I saw that he posted some of the edited ones). Sleeping on planes is not the business, by the way.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At bag check we all reunited with our parents/families once again and said our farewells to one another. As sad as it was to say goodbye to our friends from Columbia, it's a whole 'nother story concerning our own cohort. We've been through so much together and today was my last day with them. At least I'll get to see Emily and Simon around school for another year, but I'll truly miss our daily Columbia routine. To make things worse, Simon just now texted me, like he always did for the last 3 weeks - "breakfast at 9?"</div>
Margaret Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038942331569693536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-3995119868430805332013-07-13T23:40:00.001-07:002013-07-13T23:40:17.030-07:00Come to an End!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Today marks the end of
our almost month journey in and around New York. We have been exploring
campuses and being busy every day so it feels a lot longer than what it
actually has been. It makes no sense that the college tours were only a couple
weeks ago, and that we have been attending Columbia for only three weeks. I
feel like I have been in this course and interacting with my class mates for
the past year or so. How do people graduate from high school and college? This
is so heart breaking because there is a possibility we will go our separate
ways and not see each other for at least a while. The girls on my floor became
like my sisters, and</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">our RA was like our
mom/the older sister I never had. I am thankful for social networking since I
think that will keep us in touch instead of us losing touch.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We did not sleep last
night since we wanted to spend as much time with each other as possible. We
spent the night talking about random things, packing, and crying our eyes
out. Some people might think we are overreacting
but in this program you make some really close friendships. You don't think you
will but it happens. I am going to make sure that we all stay in contact with
each other one way or another. We said
bye to each other this morning, which was also a very sentimental time. Our RA
told us how she loved how she has seen us grow and that we have raised the bar
immensely for the next session. Even if I am unable to keep in contact with all
of these people I doubt I will ever forget them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At 10 AM, the cohort
met to go to the Hotel Beacon where we dropped our luggage off before we headed
to Central Park for brunch. We walked through Central Park, where there was
live entertainment at every corner, from singing to harp playing. We had brunch
at the Boathouse where we sat right next to the lake, and I had some very good
Maple Waffles. They were magnificent in appearance and taste. After brunch we
went to get cookies from a bakery and then back to the hotel to get our
luggage. We took a shuttle to JFK where we grabbed some food before we boarded
the plane.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We got into the plane
fairly early and the pilot even said that we might land an hour early, so we
were all ecstatic. However, the runway that we were supposed to depart from was
closed right before us so we had to get rerouted and then we had to take a
different route to the north, instead of the usual straight or southern route.
We were sitting in the plane for about an hour and a half before it took off
because it had to get more fuel for our new route and we had to wait to get
rerouted. I was able to notify my parents while we were waiting so they would
not be waiting at the airport.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On the plane I did not
do much except my blog, some reading, and I planned parts of my reflection. I
was able to get the majority of my blog done on the plane so I used my time
wisely. I was very happy to land in San Francisco because I missed everything
about California, but I was sad on the plane and when we landed because I
missed everyone back in New York. All of my friends, my dorm, and my RA were
gone. It was a bittersweet moment. Overall I have great memories of this
program and it was a great experience. I recommend this program to everyone and
I am extremely thankful that I was given the opportunity to participate in it.
I think everyone should apply for this amazing opportunity. All of the Ivy
League Connection programs are amazing, but let's be honest Columbia is
probably one of the best or the best program. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11158887978648827993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-85735038088895891942013-07-13T23:09:00.003-07:002013-07-13T23:09:41.031-07:00Great Success!<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1">Today marks my last daily blog in my Ivy League Connection experience. Even though I was so excited to see my family and my dog Dani, I know I will miss my home away from home in Carman at Columbia University. So far I have friended almost everyone in my class, and we have even made a Facebook group to allow for group discussions and just to make it easier to know what everyone is up to! I am so glad our class got so close over the three weeks and it is reassuring to know that I may very well see many of them in the future! As an extra note I edited a whole bunch of my photos today so I want to post a few of them in this blog.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">We all had to pack up our bags in the morning. I said goodbyes to my roommates Shahryar and Raul and made sure I had not forgotten any of my belongings. At 10 AM we left Carman to meet with Ms. L on the side of the street to take a cab. Margaret came downstairs with her friends Claire and Maria who I had gotten to know really well as well. It was sad to say goodbye to all those amazing people. I was talking with Margaret and we were thinking about all the people who we never really met, but had just gotten used to seeing around. We realized our whole daily routine would be different once we get home. We would not be all eating at a table together, discussing classes and other fun topics. We would not meet downstairs to go off into NYC via the subway. We would not be seeing the same people around and we would not be in class from 10-12 and 2-4. It was a bit heartbreaking to say the least but we knew that we did miss our homes and we were all excited to get home. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Getting through the airport was very easy, there was almost no one at all in the Virgin America terminal. Once we got on the plane though we had a two hour delay when our flight had to be rerouted (I don’t really know why). Once we got off the ground I started working on my blog, napping, listening to Les Miserables soundtracks, and watching Friends on TBS. The flight took longer than we had hoped but we landed safely and that is all that matters!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I am home now and I it is so nice to be back. My dog was so excited to see me, she ran around in circles for a few minutes because she was exploding with energy. It was also nice to be back with my mom, dad, and sister. I started showing them some of the pictures I took, than realized I was extremely tired. It is a strange feeling knowing that I will not be meeting Margaret at 9 AM for breakfast tomorrow, but I am in need of a home made breakfast and a good nights sleep in my own bed.</span></div>
Simon Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858033504599674698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-36783961570614400552013-07-13T01:13:00.003-07:002013-07-13T01:13:48.681-07:00It's Almost Over!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Today is Friday.</span> This Friday is bitter sweet. Yes it's the end of the week and the beginning of the weekend, hence not having to wake up early and go to class. But today marks the end of classes, with the end of classes comes the end of our adventure. </div>
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I am really very sad to leave New York City and Columbia. I have lived here for the past three weeks, fallen into a routine, and made my dorm room my home. I love the city. I love how it is so easy to get to nearly anywhere you need to go with just a little walking and the use of the amazing public transportation systems. Although I'm not too fond of the humidity, I love being able to wear whatever it is I would like to wear and not worry about being cold. This is of course, only a summer quality of New York. </div>
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If I lived in New York City, which I may actually do sometime in the future, I would always have something to do. I will be constantly going to museums and shows among many other things. </div>
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I am also happy to go home. In these last couple of days I have become home sick. I honestly cannot wait to get on that plane tomorrow and land in San Francisco. I want to hug my dad, play with my dogs, and sleep in my own bed. </div>
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Today in lecture, for a majority of the time, my professor was discussing the college application process and answering any questions we had regarding colleges. He strongly advised against majoring in such things as business, medicine, and law; wait for graduate school to narrow your field of study. In the first four years of college you should take classes that are very diverse in subject matter. In seminar, we all presented our group projects. My group was with two other girls and our topic was unemployment.</div>
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After class I headed to the bookstore to finally buy that sweatshirt my sister has been asking for. I then met up with Simon, Margaret, and Claire. We went to the MoMA. It is amazing. I loved it. Unfortunately I was only able to thoroughly view floors two and three. I also saw a small part of floor six which is the special exhibit floor. After the MoMA we all went to a really cute little Italian restaurant, the food is to die for.</div>
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You have to have a taste for modern art to enjoy the MoMA. Many of the pieces are abstract so it takes a moment to understand what a piece might mean, if you can develop a meaning to it. I really enjoyed myself. My favorite part of the museum, that I saw, is the <i>Contemporary Galleries: 1980 to Now</i>. Modern art is much more difficult to appreciate than traditional art. Someday I will return to New York City and spend at least one day seeing everything I can see in the MoMA.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08040983316653157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-61689782271472408962013-07-13T00:35:00.001-07:002013-07-13T00:35:25.374-07:00Friday Cryday!
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Today was our final day at Columbia. Since a few of the
girls left today, I stayed up very late last night in order to spend the most
time possible with them. Fortunately, I was able to sleep in so I wasn’t too
tired when I woke up in the morning. I ate a final breakfast with my suite
mates and headed off to class. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Today was our discussion on affirmative action. Earlier on
in the week, we briefly discussed this topic and it had already fostered an
intense discussion. I was looking forward to a passionate discussion to keep me
awake. We discussed a few court cases. Firstly, we talked about a Supreme Court
case having to do with UC Davis’s medical school application. This application
reserved 16 out of 100 spots for minority students. The Supreme Court ruled
this unconstitutional. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When deciding this case the court used the Strict Scrutiny
test. To pass the strict scrutiny test,
it must be demonstrated that there is a compelling governmental interest in the
program or law. A second fundamental rule of the Strict Scrutiny test is that
the law or program is narrowly tailored to suit the compelling governmental
interest, and that the state is using the least restrictive means. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
During lunch I headed back to my suite to right my opening
statement for the affirmative action case. After 40 minutes of writing, I had
managed to write two coherent pages. It was only when I came back to class that
I realized that I was actually writing in 14 point font, so it wasn’t as long
as I thought. The presentation went well and I believe our team did a better
job articulating our arguments. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
After class, we had a suite meeting and I was forced to say
goodbye to a girl across the hall form me. It finally became real that our time
was almost over. I became flooded with emotion. I probably won’t see any of
these people again. Thankfully social media helps to shorten the distance
between us. My experience these past three weeks has been absolutely amazing.
I’m so sad to leave! <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emily Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693937205354434446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-18131889217782424352013-07-13T00:12:00.001-07:002013-07-13T00:12:06.971-07:00Mixed Emotions!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I honestly am so confused with how to feel presently. On one side I am extremely excited to be able to head back home and see my family again. However on the other side, I am extremely sad to be leaving the life I have finally become accustomed to here at Columbia. It feels as if it was only yesterday that I was walking through the elevator door onto my floor and meeting my RA. Honestly I cannot express how much both my suitemates and RA have greatly influenced me over the last three weeks. I truly feel like a completely different person, compared to the one I was when I first came to New York. It is hard to imagine leaving the life I have com to establish here, leaving my now daily routines and traditions. It will be like exiting one world to head back to one that now appears to be completely foreign. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At the start of the day, I woke up at my usual time and headed out to morning session. We reviewed cases that pertained to the enormously controversial topic of Affirmative Action. While the primary focus were the cases, many arguments were shot back and forth between the class and it created one of the most amazing discussions I had ever been in the presence of. Arguments were raised that I would have never would have imagined pertained to the actual issue. I will certainly miss having my mind illuminated by these discussions. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At lunch, many of my suitemates were pretty split up around campus so we decided to each go enjoy lunch separately. I took most of this time to finish preparations for my final debate in the afternoon session. I was in charge of closing arguments, so I practiced my speech for a while in order to make sure I had it down. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When the afternoon session finally rolled around, it was time for the last requirement of our course, the Final Debate. While it is only meant to be a friendly test of our lawyer skills, there is always heated arguments being tossed between both sides. I coincidentally had the case of Affirmative Action, which was really great since we had discussed much of it in the earlier session. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCYUIpc1X06eVnFpsTkq-wfBw2QviJ-NZALcfGtM7shNICvuSOX_R7ttP-dBRKRZdXxn5V-0J_nNI2yOHoW8_xIx_z6-Np5lqYCy0w5SUofnw-XvhBAy71x7i-gA9i6o57tgDrFyzegg/s1600/IMG_1512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCYUIpc1X06eVnFpsTkq-wfBw2QviJ-NZALcfGtM7shNICvuSOX_R7ttP-dBRKRZdXxn5V-0J_nNI2yOHoW8_xIx_z6-Np5lqYCy0w5SUofnw-XvhBAy71x7i-gA9i6o57tgDrFyzegg/s640/IMG_1512.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Constitutional Law Class of 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When class ended, a sense of both accomplishment and sadness began to strike everyone. Not only was it the conclusion of the class, but also the of the journey we had all embarked on together. The possibilities of all, if not any of us, seeing each other ever again is slim to none. I feel that many of us began to take note of that as soon as class began nearing its end. Even I could not contain the saddening emotions that soon overcame me and made me wish that I still could have one more day. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When we talked to Ms. L, she congratulated us all for having completed our courses. I was still unable to shake the feelings I harbored within me and even though I was happy to have overcome my course, I wish I could still have more time with it. She also reminded us all of the plan for the next day and how everything would play out. Where and when to meet for her was the biggest piece of information that we all received, one that practically emphasized the saddening emotions within me. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the evening, the biggest highlight was the Final Dance. A time when both residential students and RA's could sit back and have fun. I personally enjoyed my time there and is definitely a highlight of the trip. It was a time full of laughs, intense dancing and an all-around great ending to the program. It was incredible how many students, even after being here three weeks, I still did not know. However, that is not entirely surprising considering the amount of students that actually participate in the program. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In all I must admit that it was an amazing conclusion to my adventure here at Columbia. As I see everyone packing their bags, I am stricken with numerous depressing feelings that make me wish I had more time here. Columbia was an amazing school and the people I met here, I will truly never forget.</div>
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04477034180619751497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-91503310293739419552013-07-12T23:26:00.003-07:002013-07-12T23:26:59.777-07:00Last Friday Night<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's crazy how time works. 3 weeks is such a short amount of time, but at the same time seems like forever. When this program finally began, I distinctly remember thinking about how long the first day dragged on, how overwhelming it was, and it seemed like the program would never end. My daily schedule was always packed - if I wasn't traveling somewhere, I was buried somewhere deep in the library, researching. I had I think, one day where I came back to my room and was able to just unplug for an hour and completely relax. Because of this, the days always sped by, and as I got more comfortable in class and made more friends, the faster they seemed to go. Funny how that works. But like they say, time flies when you're having fun. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was sitting in our suite's lounge with Claire this evening, and we had this discussion - one that I'm sure everybody on campus right now is having or already had with somebody. How it feels like we were all just moving in and unpacking yesterday, but at the same time we all acknowledge that we've been gone for nearly half of Summer. Weird how everybody asks that unintentionally rhetorical question, which isn't even unique to this situation. After any camp, at graduation, etc., it's the question that's on everybody's mind - where did the time go?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our last day of class, we just watched most of JFK for the first session. At noon, we broke and decided to all get lunch together as a class. We headed down Amsterdam to Thai Market to eat together. It was really nice to be able to spend as much time as possible with my classmates on the last day, especially since a lot of them are commuters, so I don't see them outside of class anyway. When we got back to class to finish JFK, we were left with about an hour of class left. I expected us to use that time to just talk or watch more SNL skits or at least just hang out, but Professor Porwancher caught us all off guard and just dismissed us. He gave us a few nice words, saying that he genuinely appreciated our class more than any other he'd taught, and when he let us all go an hour early it all hit me - just how sad I actually was to leave. My classmates and I said our goodbyes outside the building, and shed a few tears as well. I really can't believe just how much this 3 week class has affected me, and at the beginning I did not at all expect to be so sad to see it finally end. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm sad to have to say goodbye to all the people that I've met, particularly Claire. That's another thing, when I started this program off 3 weeks ago I genuinely believed that I would not make any truly close friends - 3 weeks isn't enough right? It's such a short amount of time! But I was wrong. It breaks my heart a little to think that I won't be seeing her at breakfast every morning, or that I can't just run across the hall anymore to get her to go to Times Square with me. 3 weeks was long enough. There was so much that went into every day, so much substance, so much character, that made it enough to substantiate such a great friendship. But time works in the most frustrating way - it rushes you through the good parts and stretches out the sad bits. And when everything's over - the good, and the bad - you're just left with this grey area of reflection, where all you can do is weigh out those good parts, that seemed to go so quickly, with those bad, slower bits. And it doesn't ever really make sense, so you just think on it. You can't go back now, you can't change anything. All you can do is try your darndest to slow it down a little bit more, but the fact of the matter is that that's not the way that confusing science of time works. When you're enjoying it, time won't slow down. So you just have to take it as it comes, and when the going gets rough and time slows down again, you look back on the good days, the best moments, and you try to preserve them for just a little longer. </div>
Margaret Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038942331569693536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-10149427716953993052013-07-12T23:04:00.000-07:002013-07-12T23:04:01.154-07:00Last Full Night at Columbia!<div style="text-align: justify;">
It still has not hit me yet that we are leaving on Saturday. I have been in New York for almost a month but it feels like I just got here a little while ago. I don't even realize that the college trips were on this trip to New York. I feel like those were so long ago! The Columbia trip has honestly been so interesting and I have loved it so much. I did not have such high expectations but I know this trip would have blown my expectations even if they were higher. I have made many new memories that I know I will keep for the rest of my life.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In class today, we watched JFK the movie about the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. It was more about the conspiracy behind his killing. There were many conspiracies behind his murder; some involved the mafia while some involved the government. I thought it was so interesting because I did not know much about JFK's death since that was not taught very well in my classes. I enjoyed learning about the conspiracies but it made me feel a lot more paranoid about the world. Right after I watched the three hour movie I felt like everything could be a conspiracy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I hung out with my class mates after class since we got out about 40 minutes early. It was really bittersweet because I sort of want to relax and enjoy my summer, but my class was great. I learned a lot over this three week period, my professor was extremely smart, my class mates were amazing, and I had so much fun. I was glad that I finished my paper on time and I was able to turn that in. I hope my evaluation goes fine and that I get to keep in touch with the people I have met.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Later on in the day, there was the last dance where some of the kids showed.up. We danced with all of the people that we met over the last three weeks. I have been meeting new people every day, even today. We were dancing with the RA's and we just overall had a great time. Then we came back to our dorms and had sentimental moments. People have already began to leave, from lunch time till now. Some kids are leaving early morning and I am so sad! I have so many emotions right now that I don't know what to do with. My hall mates plan to stay awake, so I will stay awake for as long as possible! Then I will be able to fall asleep when I get home fairly easily. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11158887978648827993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-14580305285290584592013-07-12T21:02:00.001-07:002013-07-12T21:02:37.478-07:00One Day More.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today was the last day of class. It felt just like any other day, we sat down and began a heated discussion, this time on affirmative action. After an interesting two hour discussion we broke for lunch, and when we came back it was time for the final debate. My role in the debate was to prepare the closing statement for my side. My team was arguing that the death penalty was unconstitutional. I gave my speech just as class ended, and everyone complimented me and told me I gave a great speech! When class ended Luke told us we could friend him on facebook (as long as we don't spam his wall), and he told us how much he enjoyed teaching all of us. It was very sad and we all said our goodbyes on the front steps of Hamilton. This class has been so fun, and I feel like I am just now getting to know a lot of the kids who have been in class with me this whole time. Thank god facebook exists so I can keep in touch with them after I leave!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the afternoon Margaret, Claire, Elena, and I all went to MoMA. The museum was having its "free admission friday" so there was an enormous crown in front of the museum waiting to get in. Even though the line went by fast, the museum was packed. There was hundreds of people in each exhibit and all of them seemed to think the best place to take a photograph was in the doorways and in the narrowest hallways possible. I have become very good at weaving between people and I definitely ruined about 30 peoples photographs by walking in front of them. The museum was fun though, I saw some amazing photographs in a black and white exhibit, and I saw some classic modern paintings.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
For dinner we all went to a lovely italian restaurant. We all shared our favorite moments from the program and thought about how different things will be when we get home. My meal was delicious, I had spaghetti with a lamb ragout. For dessert I had an amazing little tiramisu, and we left the restaurant happy to have had a good last independent dinner. Even though I am so excited to return home to my family, dog, and bed, I still know it is going to take some getting used to again. I am going to miss all the amazing people I have gotten to know over the past three weeks and I hope to stay in contact with as many of them as I can!</div>
Simon Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858033504599674698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-254535208575788292013-07-12T00:13:00.001-07:002013-07-12T21:26:39.203-07:00The Final Countdown!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I never realized how fast time actually flies until today. I less than about 36 hours I will be boarding a plane back home to conclude my amazing journey here. I must admit that when I first arrived here I had no idea what to except, and I especially did not know who I would meet. But as the days passed I began settling in to the point where my suite became a home away from home. While I did miss my family a lot, I made many amazing friends here that lifted my spirits and rid me of my nostalgia. Now that there is so little time left and I feel that there is still so much to do. One of my suitemates is already leaving tomorrow in the morning and it finally hit me then that I will probably never spend this amount of time with them all ever again. While social networking now can help keep us all connected, the adventures we had here will never be forgotten. It is incredible really how far I have come since the beginning of this trip and looking back I would love to do it all again. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
My second to last day started as all my days here have started off, with an early morning wake up so I will have time to organize my things for class. I headed over to class where we talked about cases that had to do with abortion. I cannot stress how much this class has been amazing for me. At my normal high school I would never be surrounded by so many bright and passionate individuals who actually cared about learning and enhancing their academic endeavors. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
During lunch, I headed back to my dorm to meet up with my suitemates. The natural tradition is to always have dinner together and since this would be the last lunch in which we would all be together, we made sure to make the absolute most of it. Over the course of these last couple weeks, we have all bonded so tightly that we almost resemble brothers from entirely different parts of the world. It is unbelievable how fast it all went by and how little it seems that we all did in that time. I must agree with the majority of my suitemates, thought, that these past few weeks have some of the best ones I have ever had the pleasure of living through. I cannot imagine how long it will be until any of us sees each other again. </div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As the afternoon session rolled around, the majority of the time was dedicated to preparing for our final debates tomorrow. It was nice to congregate with members of my class and actually be able to have intriguing conversations about political views and how we were going to structure our case against affirmative action. </div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At the end of the school day, we headed out to the normal meeting spot to wait for Ms. L. When she arrived she began discussing about how we were holding up in these last few moments before the end of our trip. I personally felt that it was overwhelming to realize that there was so little time left to spend time with everyone I had met here at Columbia. Unlike with normal school when you leave and then come back to see the same faces, this time when school ended, we would all be off on our own endeavors with minimal possibilities of ever seeing each other ever again. To help us hold out in these saddening times, Ms. L brought us all a special treat. She pulled out a box and inside were some of the biggest chocolate chip cookies I had ever seen in my entire life. According to her these were the best cookies in existence, and after taking one bite, I could hardly argue with that claim. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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After the meeting adjourned, I headed back to my dorm in order to add the final touches to my essay and to simply spend time with my suitemates. All of the laughs we had during this time was unbelievable and soon it began to sink in to all of us that our time here was very limited and that we would soon be off on our own paths. However, we did not let this get the better of us and enjoyed the last moments we would spend together. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At the end of the day, we all went to bed a bit melancholy that unbelievably our time here was almost running out. We had all spent some of the best three weeks here together that we have ever had and the memories that came along with it will be unforgettable. If I had one wish it would be to have this entire trip start over and experience the amazingness of everything one more time. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04477034180619751497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-29057394245013427922013-07-11T23:50:00.000-07:002013-07-11T23:50:01.469-07:00Thursday Wordsday
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Today I finished my essay. After 7 pages, my work was
complete. In 1,800 words I voiced my argument. I hope that my instructor enjoys
it! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Today we moved back to our regular schedule. In the morning,
we discussed the Supreme Court cases that we read the night before. Today, our
cases revolved around women’s rights. We talked mainly about abortion rights.
After briefly discussing the cases, we transitioned into a debate about
abortion. Naturally, we had a very heated discussion. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
During lunch, I ate quickly and went up to my room to work
on my essay. At lunch I not only completed the footnotes in my essay, but I
also brainstormed with my suite mates about what to get our RAs for a gift. My
friend Rachel decided on the best idea ever: a calendar! We put together
pictures of our suite into a calendar format. Later that day, Rachel and
Madeline were forced to go to several stores to print out the calendars! They
turned out great and our RAs loved them! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This evening, I went to Carnegie Deli with Simon, Margaret and our friend Claire. A commuter named Julian joined us later on. We decided to order the largest item on the menu and the five of us were unable to finish it! It was that huge! The sandwich was split into three parts. The first part was bacon, the second was corned beef, and the third was pastrami. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I can’t believe that my journey in New York is coming to a
close. I have met so many amazing people. I have been enjoying myself immensely.
I am sad to go home, but the experiences
I’ve gained will last forever! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emily Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693937205354434446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-73453157081848848212013-07-11T23:24:00.001-07:002013-07-11T23:24:24.241-07:00One More Day of Class<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's the day before the last day of school all over again. Tomorrow is the last day of class and then this whole adventure and experience will be over. All we'll have left is half a day on Saturday before our flight. I'm sad to leave and end this adventure. I know I have grown and learned so much this past month, this time of my life is one I will never forget. But honestly, all of this learning and growing is exhausting. I wouldn't give any of this up for the world! But I am tired. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Today in lecture the professor was explaining how to value an investment mathematically using Excel. It was interesting to see all of the numbers change over the years due to inflation and other changes in the economy. There is a lot that goes into a business counting its profits after taxes; it is very complicated. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The school day continued without any further significance.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The cohort met at our usual time in our usual place. Mrs. L reminded us of the the flight time on Saturday and to warn our parents of a possible delay due to the recent crash in San Francisco. We also set a meeting place and time for Saturday morning. Today she brought us a treat, the best chocolate chip cookies ever. They were less like cookies and more like big blobs of goodness, they kind of looked like scones. That cookie was heaven. I actually felt pretty full after eating it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At 5:00 PM I met Jackee in the dining hall for dinner and right after we headed out to the Subway. We went to Times Square so that I could get some last minute souvenir shopping done. I am very happy with my purchases. Now all I have to buy is a Columbia sweatshirt for my sister. I'll need to stop by the bookstore tomorrow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love walking around the city with my independence, I like the feel of it. If the air weren't so dense with humidity, smog, and the smell of cigarette</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> smoke I may much more strongly consider living here at some point in time. If I were to live in New York City I don't think I could handle being here all year round. I would need to escape the hustle and bustle of the city to the calm and quite Bay Area, California or Big Lake, Alaska.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I remember saying in a much earlier blog how it was unfathomable that I was coming to New York, now it is almost just as unfathomable that I am leaving New York in about a day and a half.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08040983316653157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-34030190401887745092013-07-11T23:15:00.000-07:002013-07-11T23:15:10.508-07:00It's Already Thursday??<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today was great. In class, we discussed the very last article in the book, which was chronicled 4 presidents and their use of empathy. This, I thought, was one of the easier articles to comprehend, and the main idea came across pretty simply. I also got the implication that the author was generally very fond of Obama. The first half or so of the article, the author detailed instances of Lincoln's life that contributed to the formulation of his empathetic character. The author had high praise for Lincoln and basically said that Lincoln's use of empathy in political speech and public relation was perfectly balanced. The next president that the author examined was Clinton, and the author described him as at times being "too empathetic" which either came across too strongly or seemed ingenuine. Bush was thirdly depicted as being a "tough" president, and apparently had extraordinarily low empathy ratings with the people. Obama, however, the author described as coming closest to Lincoln in terms of empathetic effectiveness. I found the article interesting, but mostly just kind of weird and I didn't think that the bulk of the essay matched up very well with the author's thesis. The author claimed that the article's main purpose was to prove that presidents have to find a good balance between too much and too little empathy. However, throughout the whole paper I just got the vibe that the author knew a lot about Lincoln and also really, really liked Obama.</div>
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During the second half of class we played jeopardy, which was actually really fun. My team was awesome - the Garfinkles (named for our dear TA Scott Garfinkle). We were competing against the Founding Fathers, the Mugwums, and "Coco and the Pips." We won out in the end, so that was pretty cool. The questions were mostly about writing research papers and citing sources, things like that. </div>
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After the lunch break, we went back to Butler library one last time to work on our research papers. I added about 200 words to mine, reviewed it, reread it, edited it, and reread it again before finally printing it out. The relief of finally being done with my paper didn't hit me suddenly, but has been slowly seeping in. I'm happy to finally be done, and I'm proud of myself. I've been working on this paper for about 2 weeks, and I went into the topic knowing very little about it, let alone what position I would take. I've come out of it feeling much, much more accomplished and way more knowledgeable. This was definitely the hardest assignment I've ever had, and the fact that it was so very hard correlates directly with my profound happiness to have it behind me. </div>
Margaret Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038942331569693536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-82078672316581897572013-07-11T21:03:00.000-07:002013-07-11T21:03:09.006-07:00Almost Done with Columbia!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Everyday I say something like this but this honestly what I feel like every night. How are the days going by so fast? I feel like just yesterday I was just the scared shy girl who came to John Jay, the dorm I live in. I know I have changed so much. This program has made me so much more social and made able to have conversations with people I have never met before. Today alone, I struck up a conversation with three random people in the elevator and about three other people around campus. I would never have done that if I was still at home. I have honestly found some confidence that was hidden deep inside of me. </div>
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In class today, we discussed an article about empathy and presidents; we discussed how empathy affects a president's ability to lead the country. It was very interesting but slightly bias against Bill Clinton and George Bush. After our discussion we had a round of Jeopardy. I really did not think that it was going to be that interesting but I had so much fun playing! We did Jeopardy based on everything Dr. Porwancher taught us for the past three weeks, from articles to lectures. We split into four teams of three or four people and we all fought to win. The TA was the one who chose the person to answer and it was intense because everyone raised their hands at almost the same time. The TA had to keep a very close eye on everyone. My team was in second place until the final jeopardy round where we write down our answers with wagers. My team's motto was "Go big or go home," so we wagered it all, and we might have went home but it is okay! We attempted and had fun which is what matters!</div>
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After the first part of class it was time to put the pedal to the metal and finish my research paper. It is due tomorrow and I was about 75% of the way done with it, but I still needed to finish the rest. This is why today I spent about four hours in the library researching, writing, and editing my paper. I got to 4100 words and I was so proud of myself! This is the first time I have written a paper of this length for a history course. I am amazed that I was able to finish it and I think it turned out better than what I expected it to be. We met up Mrs. L at the usual place and she gave us the best chocolate chip cookies I had ever tasted. I was so hungry so it was perfect timing as well! I think Mrs. L has honestly made the trip better because she is such a nice chaperone!</div>
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The last Thursday at Columbia was spent on campus, taking a walk around the buildings with some of my dorm mates. We started talking about how we were leaving soon, some people are even leaving on Friday! There were a few tears shed, but I know more tears will fall tomorrow after class. The last dance is tomorrow and my hall mates are going so after that, I am pretty sure we will all cry during our good byes. My hall plans on having an all nighter but who knows how that will work because I am pretty sure I will be really tired and will crash at like 3 AM. I don't want Saturday to come but at the same time I do. I am so conflicted because I don't want to leave these people and this atmosphere but I miss my home and family. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11158887978648827993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-60250739746176700552013-07-11T20:23:00.002-07:002013-07-11T20:23:28.603-07:00Don't Call Me Shirley<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today in class we discussed the very controversial topic of abortion. People in my class had very distinct and differing opinions regarding abortion, so the discussions got quite heated. We discussed a few of the main cases including Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade. We also discussed the trimester system regarding when states can regulate abortions and when it is up to the woman to choose. Some people in our class believed abortion is fundamentally wrong and should only be practiced under extreme circumstances. Others believed that it is up to the woman to choose what she does with her body, and the government (especially the men) should have to ability to make decisions on behalf of the woman. Right when class was about to break out into shouting, lunch happened. After lunch we started preparing for our debate tomorrow. I have to write a closing statement for my side which opposes the death penalty. We are discussing how it is cruel and unusual and thus violates the 8th Amendment, and how it is undermining the fundamental principal of the justice system. I am excited for the final debate tomorrow!</div>
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For dinner tonight Margaret Emily, Claire, Julian, and myself all went to the famous Carnegie Deli on 7th Avenue and 55th Street. Walking into the modest storefront I was excited, I have always wanted to go to a New York deli. The walls of the restaurant were lined with the famous people and celebrities who have previously dined there. Some faces I recognized were Mr. T (I pity the fool), Dolph Lundgren, Mel Brooks, and many more. The waiters walked us through the many faces of the celebrities a sign of the delicious meal to come. </div>
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When we sat down and received our menus our jaws dropped. The sandwiches were all over 20 dollars! We could not believe how overpriced the food seemed. That is when we saw the first sandwich pass us by. It was big. Very, very big. Stacked high with meat and bread (who needs vegetables anyway?). That is when it hit us, we were almost certainly going to be sharing. Originally Julian and myself were going to share a sandwich and Margaret Emily, and Claire would share one. Thankfully Emily decided to ask the waiter how big the biggest sandwich on the menu was. The waiter chuckled and told us it was not even on the menu. We scrapped our original plans and ordered the big one to share amongst the 5 of us. </div>
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The sandwich arrived a few minutes later. Two towering behemoths of bread, pastrami, bread, corned beef, bread, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and more bread. For a few minutes we just stared. We did not know what to do. Do we just dig in? Do we split it up? If we do split it up, how!? Eventually we asked for some extra bread and just dismantled the whole sandwich into smaller ones that would actually fit inside the mouth of someone other than a boa constrictor (they can unhinge their jaws). The corned beef was heaven. It was flaky and there was about a pound of it. I stacked my mini sandwich high with it, threw some lettuce and bacon on, and coated it with horseradish sauce (my sinuses are very clear now). Upon taking the first bite I was so happy Emily asked for the biggest sandwich. It was too good to be true. I was able to make two giant sandwiches out of the original giant, and we all ate well. To put it into perspective, this sandwich was SO BIG that all five of us split it and there were still leftovers. To put it simply, this was one of the most amazing sandwiched I had ever eaten.</div>
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Later that night Margaret and I showed Claire the movie Airplane! I only say this because that is where my title comes from, my favorite character, Doctor Rumack. Anyways, I am gonna write up my arguments for the debate tomorrow now! </div>
Simon Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858033504599674698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230566280570025906.post-15895650093736317502013-07-11T01:28:00.000-07:002013-07-11T19:07:59.203-07:00The Tunnel's End Approaches<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Two more days of class, brunch in Central Park on Saturday, and we're gone. I could say that I see the light at the end of the tunnel but the light at the end of the tunnel suggests a relief of something. I am not relieved to leave New York and end this adventure but I am relieved to go home and be done with the little bit of work I have been receiving from my class. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For classwork, I actually have been very lucky. The Professor has only assigned four, very short essays; the longest was a max of 400 words which is a little over a page long. And my specific TA for the afternoon section assigns much less homework than some of the other TAs. For the TA, Meiping Sun, I have a several part problem on calculating CPI and a short group presentation due on Friday. For the presentation we have to take one of the concepts that we have learned, explain it, present a real-life situation with the concept, and say what we think about it all, all in five to seven minutes. Easy stuff. I don't quite understand CPI but I'll just go through the power point she emailed us and ask my class mates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The final essay, one of a max of 250 words, is due Thursday, it was assigned Wednesday. For this very short essay the Professor has asked us the take any one of the three books and briefly explain one concept that we found intriguing and why. None of them had direct applications to the morning lecture or the afternoon seminar (I hear some of the TAs were requiring their students to read by giving them quizzes and group projects.) I liked <i>Predictably Irrational </i>and know the concept I would like to discuss. The book itself is very interesting because the author not only claims that people are irrational but sites specific examples and circumstances and explains why we are a irrational as we are. The concept that I have chosen is that we don't really know ourselves. We are not as rational as we would like to believe. The decisions we make in a normal, cold state are much more rational and 'ourselves' than the ones we will make in a higher, excited state (ie. extreme hunger, exhaustion, ect.). Your senses of survival intensify and social responsibilities are thrown out the window in a heightened state.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I have very little work for my class left, so I just need to make sure that I can see what I need to see in these last couple of days and buy the souvenirs that I need to buy. Other than grabbing a sweatshirt for my sister, I have two other people I need to shop for. </span></div>
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