Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

My first experience face to face with Prescott College was meeting the incoming student who graciously stopped on his way from New Mexico to Prescott to pick me up. He waited in the Flagstaff Amtrak station parking lot for six hours before I arrived. The next morning, the very student who first called me during her admissions work-study came to my apartment and brought me to the grocery store, gave me a quick tour of campus, and generally helped me feel welcome. I really needed it; it’s really no easy task to move thousands of miles from home.
It’s effortless to make friends at Prescott. I arrived Saturday night, and even before arriving home I had a new friend. The next morning, another friend. The Monday after, two more friends, and so on and on. People here are from each corner of North America, and the college is so small and so specifically focused that everyone has two things in common, guaranteed: We’re all from out of town, and we all have been thinking about the deep, important problems facing our planet and society for years before we found our niche at Prescott. It’s not difficult to start a conversation here.

As academic and wilderness orientations coursed on, and as the semester began to accelerate, I was immersed in a coherent community. The administration has been consistently responsive and helpful, and the faculty and instructors I’ve studied with have been available, knowledgeable, passionate, and flexible. The relevance and currency of my History of Gender and Sexuality course with Kaitlin Noss was stunning. My perspectives have changed, and I feel a depth of understanding that I was unable even to imagine before.

Now, as I prepare to fly home between semesters, I know with a moral certainty that I have made the best educational decision I could have. The geographic diversity of my new friendships have given me a sense of belonging even in parts of the United States I’ve never been; I feel more connected to the vastness of America than ever before. I’ll be going home to my family and old friends with a stronger identity, and lots of exciting new things to discuss.

The end of the semester is bittersweet for me, as I imagine it is for many of us students. Over the last couple of months, Prescott has become my home, and I’m comfortable here now. But, it will be truly excellent to have a break and to see my family again. Three friends and I will be taking a 2700-mile road trip back to Prescott in January, and this has to be the raspberry garnish on my Bûche de Noël.

-Estin Vogel, 12.15.11

Climb like a Girl

Yes, it is true... I climb like a girl, and I am proud of it. However, this has not always been the case. I grew up bouldering - participating in competitions, traveling around the states with my family... my mom, her boyfriend and my little brother. My mom still talks about how she would love to watch the different ways my brother and I would approach the same problem - stating that we embodied the masculine and feminine style and flow. For reasons that I will not go into, I stopped climbing at around the age of 11. I dabbled in it during high school, but my ego was bruised by my lack of strength, and I decided not to throw myself back into it.

Climbing in Joshua Tree

Now here I am at Prescott College. Home to arguably the best Adventure Education (AE) program in the country. Also, surrounded by a multitude of beautiful climbing areas... Anyone with a rational climbing head on their shoulders have been crazy not to get back into it. 

I did not think I would take a rock climbing class at Prescott College - I felt like the skills should have been gained in ones free time, not ones educational time. But my perspectives are constantly changing and transforming, and when it came time to register for classes at the end of last year, I found myself signing up for “Women’s Topics in Wilderness Leadership and Rock Climbing”. 

Sand Rock Canyon - Canyoneering Weekend 

In all honesty, I was not really sure what I was getting myself into. The AE program is stereotypically male dominated. All women learning and playing in the woods would undoubtedly be a different dynamic. When I first came to Prescott College, I was very passionate about different social justice issues and systems in place that marginalized various communities. I knew women have been oppressed historically, but I thought that in this current day and age, women's issues in the U.S. should be the least of my worries. That perspective took a major turn when I took my first semester class at Prescott College – “The F-Word: Feminism, Women & Social Change”. I learned so much about myself and the internalized oppression I have developed growing up in this society. I consistently found myself relating more to the boys, and holding a higher level of respect for the ways in which they moved though the world. My goal had been to be “as good as the boys”, rather than pushing myself to be as good as I could be, as a strong individual and woman. In the process of separating myself from other women, I was unable to open my eyes to the ways my actions were perpetuating the split between men and women (and women and women) while reinforcing the thought that “male is better”. 

I finished the semester and felt “transformed” and with more understanding and respect for women as a population than I had before. But I have realized time after time - years and years of social conditioning is harder to “shake off” than one would hope. So I signed up for the class with some hesitations and preconceived notions about what a women’s class would be like, but knew that it would be a wonderful next step on my journey towards further awareness surrounding what it means to be a strong, empowered woman in our society (and a wonderfully opportunity to grow in the field of adventure ed).

Getting Ready to Swim through the Cold pools

The semester is coming to a close, and I undoubtedly got that transformation I was looking for. It did not come in the way that I expected, and what I have learned goes way past the technical skills of building anchors and placing gear, or food planning for a river trip, or gaining more confidence in reading maps and navigating. We read pieces on women’s psychology at different phases in our life cycles, and presentations on how you would set up an outdoor program for special populations of women. We looked at the outdoors as a place of reflection, and women's way of forming relationships with the self, others and mama nature. 

Right now our class is putting together a few “action-like” projects. We are doing a women’s climbing rendezvous this weekend to allow other women to explore themselves in relation to the natural environment without stress/pressure to preform that can arise for some around men. We are also putting together a presentation on the class, with slide shows and excellent conversation. Folks around Prescott College are always especially interested in what the women’s class is up to.

After announcing our women’s climbing rendezvous, I had a couple of different men from the community come up and say, “Just women? Well isn’t that sexist?” smirking proudly, as if they found a loophole in some sly plan we had to secretly oppress men. I found myself grateful to have the opportunity to communicate with different people in the community about some of the issues we have been working with, and explaining the day adventures intention. I have been pleasantly surprised, however, by the openness and receptiveness to a new perspective, once the explanation of societal and psychological factors have been addressed in a way that is non accusatory.

Oh the Joy on the San Juan

           This experience, along with many others, serves as prime examples for the extra amount of awareness women in the field of Adventure Education (as well as society, as a whole) have to maintain.

“So why would you invite only women on a trip?” one young man asked me.

           
“So women have the opportunity to get out and experience the outdoors in a safe space, with out feeling the need to perform for a man, even if it is subconscious.” (Not that that is the only reason, but when communicating with people, the intention is not to monologue about different societal and psychological theories).

The individual we were speaking with continued to probe. “Well aren’t those issues with the individual? I see that that can be a problem, isn’t that something that each person just should overcome? I mean, I totally know a lot of girls that shred.”

My friend then inserted, “Well, maybe. But when you see such a large population of women not feeling that sense of confidence, do you think it is still an individual problem? Or can it be addressed as a societal one.”

Our Wild Women Day on the San Juan

           Suddenly, the guy nodded with a glimmer of understanding in his eye. Women’s Topics in Wilderness Leadership have helped me further develop the tools to understand myself, and myself in relation to great outdoors, and society as a whole. I have gained a further understanding and appreciation for women’s psychology and relationship to society. Not only have we read a multitude of eye opening pieces, multiple times a week, I got to be in the presence of a group of strong, beautiful women – experiencing and discussing the power and strength that lies within each of us.

Erin Lotz, one of our lovely instructors discussed her time as a professional in the field, and has great things to say about working with a group of all men. She also said that when she does this “Women’s Topics” class, she feels more in her flow - that working with all women allows ones “authentic self” to come out. This really got under my skin in the beginning, because I did not love the side of myself that seemed to come in the group. I felt a little bit more snarky than I wanted to be, and I did not feel like I performed to the standard I usually held for myself. 

Having the beautiful outdoor areas we have experienced as a space to continue to explore the ways in which I relate to myself, has helped me have more respect for my level of competence than I never have before. The Adventure Education program is unbelievable - the assortment of classes that can be tailored to your passions and growth as a student and individual is out of this world. This is yet another example of the ways in which Prescott College and the instructors will support each individual student thought this educational journey towards growth. 

Some of the beautiful girls who I so dearly love up on Granite Mountain

Next semester I will be taking the semester long Wilderness Leadership course, which is almost entirely field based. I don’t know if I would have had the self confidence to throw myself into that experience had I not had this experience with this wonderful group of women. Stay posted to hear how this goes for me! 

-Hannah Marshall, 12.2011

Also, here is a link to a video two gals in the class made about climbing... It is a Miley Cyrus parody, and it is a laugh! Check it out!!

Prima Spira

There is no denying it, at times we must face our shadow...and the shadows of the world. Viewing this darkness does not always have to be deigned evil, it can help us grow and learn so that we may become that much brighter and whole within ourselves. Acknowledging the range of different aspects of light and dark within our beings allows for an integration that breathes harmony and truth. This is Prima Spira, the first breath of this understanding. Prima Spira is a play that has been written and directed by my roommate, Rebecca Antsis, as an Independent Study.  The study is named Women's Nature, Ritual and Experimental Theater, and this production is an apt reflection of its title. I have always thought a lot of Rebecca, but through this play I have seen how Prescott College has supported her freedom to express what can only be described as pure genius. Sometimes dark, often achingly beautiful, Prima Spira is an exploration in theater courting mythical ritual. There is no dialogue, though there is impassioned use of the human voice in non-lingual patterns. Using powerful music to echo the energy of lore, the play sets a stage for a culmination of different dance styles interlacing to create an incredible tale. The dancing incorporates aspects of butoh, bellydance, classical, and flamenco as well as touch-flow improvisation. Having such a spectrum of styles allows for a space to really root in with rituals of ancient and modern flow, creating a transformation in all who are involved.

I have never taken a dance or theater class at Prescott College, but it has been an amazing experience getting to be involved with an artistic production of this caliber. It just goes to show you don't have to be majoring in the Arts to be involved artistically here. Through this play I have connected to a way of expression and a community that has inspired me to the core.

This brings me to my favorite part of the whole production: the coming together of strong women in the community in order to explore ritual and dance together. The play involves thirteen women (a sacred number in ancient ritual) who span from childhood to silver hair, reflecting the many archetypes of female beings. It has been inspiring seeing the growth of the actresses and director through the exploration of these archetypes. These archetypes include the Dark Mother, the shadow of life, Kali, who dances creation and destruction, Salome, the femme fatale, La Llorona, the woman driven to insanity, as well as archetypes that reflect the innocent child, the primordial female being and many many more. Through acknowledging these different archetypes that are in all of us, the women in the production have been able to share wisdom, experience and vibes to grow and create something that is intrinsically powerful.

As Rebecca has often said, you must sweat your prayers. Prescott College has given life and support to a work of art that does just that.

Dance, when you're broken open. 

Dance, if you've torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance, when you're perfectly free.

~Rumi

-Brittany "Davi" Davis, 12.15.2011

Here is a pic of the flyer. Cheers!

It'll Change Your Life. I Promise.

This being my last year at Prescott College, it is time for my Senior Project. Every student at this school designs and implements a culmination of learning for their undergraduate degree. In terms of process, this is different for everyone. For students gaining a teacher’s certification, this project would be student teaching at a school somewhere in the country. Other student projects have been everything from studying large cats in the Ecuadorian Rainforest to doing a critical analysis of gender studies in Adventure Education; writing and directing an entire theatrical performance to designing a manure catchment system for the stove of a person’s home. As for mine, I am writing a research paper, creating a documentary, and facilitating a community forum on the importance of integrative learning in relation to the personal, social, and environmental narrative.

To me, working on this project has truly shown me why I attended this school in the first place. It is about the people who truly care so much about my learning process. Being as authentic as possible, what intrigued me about this school in the beginning was the fact that there are more vans than classrooms, my fellow students are very passionate about learning and exploring, and I have taken courses here that are found nowhere else on earth. Essentially, though, these attributes did not just appear. They were constructed, celebrated, and supported by awesome people. And, when I say awesome I am using it as one describes shooting stars while standing in awe.

  Today, I met with my top two advisors who helped me unfold my experience here over the past four years. Much like my parents, they have watched me grow in ways that I never noticed, and because of this they can help me in ways that I can’t help myself. There are a few schools who claim the ability to become this close with teachers, but there isn’t one that could have given me the experiences I had here. An 800 horse packing expedition studying with 7 students and two nationally award winning educators, a 200 hour yoga teacher training, an entire month devoted to studying leadership through the lens of Bowen and Systems Theory, traveling all over the southwest and Colorado visiting and teaching in schools with six other students during a month long education intensive, and the list goes on. Like I said, these courses did not just appear; they were created through many hours and people who are in fact shooting stars.

When choosing a school, many prospective students have a whole list of where they might want to go. Let me say that the place we choose will unanimously change our life. The question is, though, how?

Enjoy the journey, and stay curious…

 Jordan

Truly I am inspired.

Wild horse herds, coal mines on the horizon, a people filled with strength protecting the natural existence of the earth. Long miles of non-industrialized land and flocks of sheep. The Navajo Reservation is overflowing with magic, sacred ritual and beautiful resistance. Resistance of a government set on taking sacred lands to be made into a digging ground for Peabody Coal. See, the Navajo Reservation is the most abundant resource of coal land left in North America.  Even though the Navajo people have already been forced into reservations, the "worth" of the land has risen in the eyes of the greedy in power since it was found to be such a large coal deposit. So of course, now the Navajo have to struggle once more against relocation set about by those who don't know the real worth of the earth.

Out of this, though, rises those who would help protect the people and land of this area called Black Mesa in northern Arizona. I was honored to be among them. I was invited to participate in the Black Mesa Health Clinic and provide free service work to the Navajo people resisting relocation. The clinic consisted of herbalists and bodyworkers who held the intention of providing in whatever way they could, and never in any way overstepping the cultural beauty of this struggling people. I was surprised to find that the woman who originally helped organize the clinic is a Prescott College graduate, Rowen Tumbleweed. Her time at Prescott College consisted of studying the cultural struggle of indigenous peoples holding out against relocation and the loss of land to the ever devouring industrial market. At only 27, Rowen has become a leader on the forefront of supporting the Navajo resistors, and she has partnered with an amazing Navajo woman, Mary Catherine Smith, to help bring much needed health care to the reservation. It was so inspiring to meet someone who had come from the culture and incredible drive of Prescott College to create harmony and responsible global citizens. It was inspiring hearing of how Prescott College could influence someone to become such a successful leader of a support organization that affects real change.

I was also able to work on my studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine while I was on the reservation. This semester I created an independent study focusing in on the philosophies and practices connected with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and I was able to practice and grow in these philosophies while providing care for the Navajo people. The massage I practiced most of the time was Shiatsu, a form of massage with its roots based in TCM that works both physically and energetically. Also, the herbal balancing that I learned from many of the herbalists respected the TCM philosophies.Getting hands on experience and actually feeling like I was affecting change was so rewarding.

The more I thought of it, the more I realized how lucky I am to be at Prescott. Through Prescott College I gained the massage therapy and herbalism skills to actively provide health care for many people during this clinic. Through Prescott College I made the connections that brought me to the reservation to be of service to people in need. Through Prescott College I have been given the freedom to create independent studies where I can get college credit for doing service work like this. Through Prescott College I continue to grow and be inspired not just by what people do while they are in school here, but also by what they do when they have their diploma.  

Truly I am inspired. This place is amazing.

~Brittany Davis, 11.28.2011

What do you want to do with your life?

What do you want to do with your life? This is the dreaded question: one that I am sure has been posed to all of us at least once in our lives. It seems to be a question on every one's mind, specifically adult minds. For me, I have had an answer for a while. The dreaded part for me is the response I get back after I answer. 

     Law School. I want to go to Law School. This seems harmless enough. It seems like a response adults are looking for right? The look received after telling people this, though, is usually confusion. They think for a bit and then respond “but you go to Prescott College!?!”. 

     Yes, I do go to Prescott College. Yes, I do go to an experiential education school. Yes, my professors know me by name. Yes, I am part of actively shaping my education. Yes, trips into the field are a critical part of courses in every area of my study. Yes, students here want to change the world (and are), and yes, I want to go to law school. I don’t see anything wrong with that.

 

     Law is usually associated with prestige. People are surprised that I did not go to a more “prestigious” school. I could have (almost did) and changed my mind. I came here for a purpose. I wanted to actively learn. I did not want to read about politics in a book and take a test. I wanted to see politics first hand. I wanted to see how systems of oppression and systems of power affect the world that I live in, and I wanted to study such systems as an undergraduate. At Prescott College, I study globalization, religion, geography, marginalization and social movements to name a few. I have learned the history, current events and cultures of countries throughout the world, and have traveled to Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Tucson, the Hopi, Navajo and Yavapai reservations for courses discussing all aspects of Political Science and Law. I have ventured to Washington DC and New Orleans by myself for conferences and plan on doing my senior project in Kenya. 

     I have done more then study politics and human rights in classrooms. I have talked, listened and interviewed people. I have traveled and seen with my eyes sights that people learning from text books will never see. I am doing graduate level work in my specific area of interest that I will bring to the table when I go to Law School. Yes, I have chosen to receive letter grades, but I also receive written evaluations from my professors that discuss my strengths, my weaknesses, my passions, and my level of competence. 

     For some Prescott College students, Law School is the last thing they may ever want to do. Yet whether their Competence is in Wilderness Leadership, Counseling Psychology, Photography, Sustainable Agriculture or Experiential Education, every student learns in the field, gets hands on experience and is making a difference. 

     In two years when I go to Law School I will be ready. I will be prepared and I will still be overflowing with the enthusiasm and passion that I believe more law students should have. Law and Advocacy are avenues that I believe I can make change with. I want to study Human Rights and International Law. I hope to work in developing communities and countries on education and maternal health reform for women and children. I also believe that Prescott College is the best place for that foundation. I used to be offended when family members and adults would pause and give me weird looks when Law School came into the same conversation as Prescott College. Now I just smile, and reiterate that yes I go to Prescott College, yes I will go to Law School afterwords and yes I believe 100% in my decision to attend Prescott College for my undergraduate degree. 

-Amanda Hampton, 11.18.2011

The Great Job Search, or "Yeah, I can do that."

This past preview weekend, there were a few prospective students and parents who expressed earnest fear in finding a job if one were to graduate from Prescott College. In today’s economy, this is a well deserved fear that many live with day-in and day-out. Families across the United States are having severe problems paying bills, putting food on the table, and keeping themselves from being evicted from their homes. This does not even take into account what the rest of the world is going through. Overall, the question of employment after graduation is a very logical question, and one in which I am, personally, not worried about.

How Prescott College distinguishes itself from most other schools is the preparation for future endeavors. Essentially, many schools teach how to memorize quantities of information to be used for completing tests. Every two weeks the brain is filled and purged when a test is taken, and new information must be memorized for yet another test. Where does this leave a graduating senior in terms of useful skills for employment? I would contend that this is not what employers are looking for when making hiring decisions.

Here is a list of basic job qualifications from various employers:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Organized and detail-oriented.
• Able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and meet frequent deadlines.
• Ability to work with a diverse range of people.
• Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a team.
• Internally motivated to succeed and goes the extra mile
• Proven leadership experience.

During my time here at Prescott College, I am doing these “qualifications” constantly. Because we do not memorize information for tests, we are always writing and giving presentations to show our understanding. In essence, the expectations here are to actually know what we are talking about. This is deepened by consistently working independently and in teams to complete projects, learning to be collaborative in times of need, and the necessity to be organized around matters of time, resources, and self-care.  It is true that this program is quite challenging; and, the college is also invested in making sure these skills are acquired over a student’s time here.

Most graduates from this school are not moving back in with their parents, going homeless, or taking a job to just have one. I know people who are currently working for the forest service, are professional writers, artists, mountaineering guides, psychologists, teachers, graduate students, and anything else under the sun. Personally, I will be graduating in May with a full resume. I have no fear of the job market, and my father does not work for Goldman Sachs. In fact, I am $40,000 in debt from student loans, have no car, and an endless amount of possibilities in front of me. There is no telling where I will go, who I will meet, and what I will be doing; and, this is incredibly exciting.

In summary, when I began my college search I figured the name of my school would get me that dream job. Now that I have reevaluated my “dream job,” I know that because of Prescott College, a small school in northern Arizona, I am ready to meet the unknown with respect, gratitude, and the knowledge that I am more prepared than I could have been from any other school in the world.   

It’s not what we do; it’s why we do it. Our what only gives proof to why we believe in anything.

So enjoy the journey, and ask yourself “why?”

Jordan
11/08/2011

Prescott College is the Result.

Dear prospective students of Prescott College,

        As a disclaimer for this school: Upon graduation you will understand the world differently than you currently do; you will work harder than you probably ever thought you could; and some of the remarks people make about this school will not hold true.

         As one of my professors asserts, “Prescott College is an alternative college, not an alternative to college.” To me, this illustrates very well what we do here. No, we do not have multiple choice tests. Yes, I read and write more than I have ever done before. No, we students are not seen as a number, and perpetuating the academic industrial complex. Yes, I know everyone on campus by first name, which means the expectations are set extraordinarily high. No, we do not invest millions of dollars into a football team. Yes, we have many classes that include traveling to engaging environments both nationally and internationally.
        Essentially, this college is seen in many different shades of light. Adjectives have included the use of various cereals, bathing habits, and the term “shredding the gnar.” In my belief, however, these could never describe what I have experienced here. I turned down some of the most “prestigious” institutions to attend this school and I feel completely justified in this decision. We have an incredibly challenging academic program that many do not take the time to see. Our education program is viewed by many in the industry as one of the most effective in the world. As for the Cultural and Regional Studies content area, which some would define as Political Science, students graduate as amazingly effective agents of change who understand activism, collaborative community building, and how systems of oppression are perpetuated.
        Yes, Prescott College does, arguably, have the best adventure education program in the country. And, graduates with a degree in environmental studies will probably never have a hard time finding work. The question becomes, however, are we these two programs? Or, is Prescott College effective because of the sum of its parts? In my belief, all of the aforementioned content areas are amazing because this school challenges the status quo of what education is “supposed” to be. Moreover, these challenge are not out of unreflective reactivity; rather, it is because we believe that education is about leading people toward wholeness. 

             In summary, when I searched for a school I admittedly began with the “top” universities in the country, then I began to see, however, what they held as important; if watering ivy, having teachers who do not know anyone’s name, and memorizing lots of information to fill in lots of bubbles sounds gratifying - then by all means venture forth. This school is not a so called hippie haven, shredders paradise, or any other false colloquialism. It is challenging, and I have never worked harder in any other academic environment.

                Look past what others choose to see, and view what is actually real. In 1963 the Ford Foundation challenged the country’s most innovative educators to come together and design an “ideal college for the future that would prepare students for contributing in an ever changing, and ever faster moving world.” Prescott College is the result. 

Enjoy the journey,

Jordan

Oh, and How Prescott Provides

Barefooted political science bicyclists, fiddle playin’ rock climbers, ecoconscious punk farmers. No matter the different kinds of people you find at Prescott College, one thing connects them all: Prescott students love to be outside.

Oh, and how Prescott provides. Surrounded by National Forest with spectacular hikes, climbing, and views, Prescott is an outdoorsy student’s paradise. It’s a common thing to hike up round Thumb Butte, a beautiful towering rock monument that pinnacles over the town. Or hike through the Granite Dells, which are giant orange rock sculptures that meander around a lovely creek. Close by you find the Verde River, which literally looks green and echoes something out of an amazonian dream, winding round through many canyons and creating natural hot springs. Go south and you find fields of saguaro cacti, stretching into the Superstition Mountains which are wild and warm. Go north and you find the Red Rocks of Sedona, the green of the trees and the red of the rocks creating a spiraling breathtaking effect around the city that draws people from all over the country to experience its beauty. And if anything, Sedona is the red cherry on top of the gigantic incredible banana split of the Grand Canyon, which lies just a little farther north. Words can’t express the awe one experiences when looking down into the canyon, so I won’t try. The fact is, Arizona is epically lovely, and the places just described are only the tip of the iceberg. There is a reason why they say that the four corners region of the Southwest is magical, and that magic lies in the beauty of the nature that has remained in many places largely untouched by human development.

So students at Prescott College really know how to enjoy the natural wonders that abound in this region. Lots of places for a good bike ride, with lots of people to ride around with. Really cool bouldering and climbing spots. Oh, and the farm life. If you want to be outside and active in growing your own food and food for the community, why not join up with Karma Farms, one of the local community garden co-ops? Or the Splash community garden? There are so many people growing their own food round Prescott that there is more than ample opportunity to do the same for yourself. So whether it is beatin’ the path through the woods or getting dirty growing something yummy, you can bet you’ll find Prescott College students out in the sunshine.

Thumb Butte

~Brittany L. Davis, 10/17/2011

The First Days of School

If you come from a family like mine, you learn that school is very important at a young age. It is something to be celebrated and thankful for. To be knowledgeable is to be powerful. My mother jokes about this being the reason I am on the path to becoming a teacher—I want to have all the power, she says. We used to have a tradition celebrating my first day of classes with brownies for breakfast, a tradition which, sad to say, hasn’t continued to my time at Prescott College—not only because I refuse to wake up early enough to make them, but also due to the fact that my baking skills, to be perfectly honest, leave something to be desired. I am, however, greeted in the morning by a phone call, text, or Facebook message (yes, my mother has recently discovered and become obsessed with Facebook) wishing me a happy and safe send off to my first day of classes.
Prescott College classes start in a different way than any classes I had ever taken before, and no two introductory classes lead off the same. My curriculum theory class, following introductions, led off by jumping straight into the material. Being an upper division course with a number of prerequisites, this is common, especially for education students pursuing a teaching certificate. This class, though technically the first of the semester, was not our first interaction with the course materials. Over the summer, we were in touch with our instructor about our up and coming placement for a 5-day teaching practicum outside of our regular class time. We were connected up with cooperating teachers in local schools with whom we would be collaborating on lesson plan development and taking over their classes for a 5-day teach. This class has a sizeable workload but is extremely rewarding. We have only met four times and already I feel my brain expanding with new tidbits of knowledge.
My Tuesday mornings begin with Adolescent Psychology, an upper division, writing intensive course about the social and biological make-up of the modern adolescent. Being a secondary education student, this is a class that is extremely relevant to my desired career path. Working with teenagers has been a long-time passion of mine and this class is putting me on the path towards success. Though the course is only in its early stage, I am confident that I am in the right place and will benefit from the information. Each class begins with a check-in, accessing our individual states of mind and feelings about the course. Following check-ins, we begin absorbing ourselves into thrilling discussions about modern adolescence and reminiscing about our own experiences growing up.
Following Adolescent Psychology and a quick break for lunch, I find myself entering unfamiliar territory within the confines of Men and Masculinity, a class about manhood in America. As a female-identified person, masculinity is something of an unfamiliar subject to me and although it has been touched upon in other gender/sexuality courses I have taken at the college (Sexuality and Sexual Outlaws, History of Gender and Sexuality, The F-Word: Feminism and Social Justice), was never something I devoted a lot of time learning about. Taught by Courtney Osterfelt, an alumna of Prescott College and founder of Women’s Empowerment Breakthrough, this class explores many new topics regarding masculinity, social justice, and gender equity.
No matter the course I am taking, I am always very impressed with the quality of Prescott College classes and the way they motivate me towards excellence. I still get excited about the first day of school and even though they rarely involve brownies, Prescott College is a treat within itself.

Sydnie