Independent.

Have you ever had an experience so incredible you wish you could do it over again? I know I certainly have. If you find yourself finishing up a semester or block class that has been significantly moving and life changing, becoming a teaching assistant might be the perfect next move. Not only do you get upper-division credit for the course, but you have the opportunity to step into a leadership role and pass your own knowledge off to your peers. This past block, I found myself doing exactly that. This block, as part of my independent study "Sex-Positive Feminism", I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be a teaching assistant (or, T.A.) for "Sexuality and Sexual Outlaws", an Upper Division course at Prescott College. This class is well known on campus for putting on the annual Drag Show at the end of the month.

As a teaching assistant at Prescott College, students are given the opportunity to help the faculty design curriculum for the class. Most teaching assistants have taken the class previously and can offer insight as to what was effective and what else might be offered during the course. Teaching assistants are often given opportunities to teach lessons to the class as well, giving special presentations about what they are studying in relation to the materials being covered during the course. They can serve as intermediaries between students and instructors, but more often than not, the main role of a teaching assistant is to be an additional resource for students who may want an extra hand.

By no means is a teaching assistant's job an easy one. It requires a significant amount of dedication and the ability to seperate your own learning experience from that of the students enrolled in the course. My experience as a teaching assistant was paired with the design and implementation of curriculum in my own independent study. At the beginnning of every Prescott College course, students are asked to submit a learning contract that outlines their learning objectives for the class. In addition to those objectives, the contract also serves as a letter of intent to the instructor, as it gives students a chance to say how they plan on completing their objectives and how they wish to be evaluated. An independant study contract is not very different, except for the fact that the student is also required to create their own course description and submit it for approval before being registered for their independent study.

Independant studies and Teaching Assistant experiences are just two examples of how you, as a student at Prescott College, have the ability to tailor a class to your own level or even create your own class to best suit your needs. That's why stdents do so well and have so much fun here--we get to decide what we want to take out of a class....well, that, and the fact that we can dress up like Lady Gaga or Jermaine Stewart and sing and dance about gender and sexual equality in the annual drag show... :)

From Preview to Preview

Hello to all you wonderful individuals who have been lucky enough to find Prescott College:

Last preview weekend brought up a multitude of memories around my experience when I first attended preview weekend and what my college search looked like. It seemed appropriate to share my experience and what I may have learned along the way.

I started to get serious about my college search right before spring break of my junior year, when my mom, brother and I were going to California to visit schools. I did not really know what I wanted to study, or what I wanted my college experience to look like, but I narrowed it down to this: I had grown up wanting to be in CA, I wanted a small liberal arts school, and I wanted an education that would inspire me to do and be everything I could. I complied a list of five schools in California, and Prescott College.

I remember that break vividly – it was a pretty tense trip. I had not done adequate research on the schools, and had not contacted the administration early enough, so tours were difficult to get into. I concluded that must have been the reason why none of the schools ignited any sort of excitement. The tail end of our trip was fast approaching, and Prescott College was the last stop on our list.

When I first began my search, my uncle told me, “There is a perfect fit for everyone when it comes to finding a school. Don’t stop until you find it.”

After pulling into the town, and getting mildly lost along the streets of Prescott, we finally made it to Preview weekend. While many of the details of our weekend escape me, I clearly remember my mom turning to me throughout the presentations saying, “Hannah – this is so you.” When it came to Q&A time with the Financial Aid office she asked, “Would we get some sort of deal if my daughter and I both enrolled?" We all laughed, but she was serious.

I was only a junior, but I was ready to send in my deposit. I know this may seem like a corny, “this is how I found the perfect school” type story, this is just the beginning, and I don’t really believe in perfection (but that is a different story). After reporting to my father, “You are looking at a future Prescott College student” he smiled but responded, “Well I am happy you have found a school you love, but don’t stop your search… Now you just have a school to measure the rest up against.”

The year went on and I discovered time is a funny thing, and we constantly are changing. Senior year led to a whole new, much more comprehensive search. I knew I needed small class sizes, teachers to push me to think critically. I wanted this continuation of education to be so much more than a “good time”. I wanted to graduate with more than a degree – I wanted to grow, to be pushed, to be inspired.

I found that there are some exceptional schools… But it was easy to scratch many of them from the list. By the time applications were due, I had it narrowed down to three. Each would guarantee a certain level of adventure, small classes, and an alternative way of dealing with the information. I had gotten myself in quite the pickle – I found three schools, all seemingly wonderful, and all seemed to fit me perfectly, in its own way.

I sweated this choice out. For me, deciding on a school meant digging deep into myself, asking who I was and what I really wanted out of my education. Did I want to be in a city that never slept? The outdoors? In different parts of the world? And who was I as a student? What would I want to study? The questions seemed to cave in on me, and the decision felt almost impossible. What I realized is each school seemed to represent a different part of me, of my interests, yet all held common ground.

Writing frantically back and forth with what I had finally narrowed down to two admissions councilors, Andrea from Prescott College encouraged me to share some of my concerns regarding Prescott College. This was the tipping point for me, and ultimately there was no question.

I could not be more content at Prescott College… It really is the perfect fit. I could talk forever about the excitement I felt upon finding it, choosing it, and now being here. But that is not really the point I want to be pushing in this post. While this school is perfect for me, I had to a lot of questioning to come to that conclusion. I encourage each and every one of you to question yourself, and try to tap into what specifically draws you to a school. Question what would make you hesitate. Question the admissions counselors and students. And ultimately, contrary to all questioning – remember to follow your instinct and stay excited. This is an amazing time and there are so many doors that are getting ready to open themselves to you!

Enjoy this adventure.

Hannah Jean Marshall

The Difference Between Truth and Treason

This blog is for all those prospective students who attended the Preview Weekend, and for those who are curious enough to explore this amazing school.

Thank you for taking the time to truly experience what an education at Prescott College can mean for one’s journey in life.

First off, it is reasonably known that a large part of the agenda for the Prescott College admissions staff is to promote the school, but in my belief, there is also the notion that they honestly want you prospective students to be happy and grow in whatever educational environment you may find yourselves in.

As I mentioned in my final words during the Preview Weekend, when I originally looked at Prescott College, I noticed there were flaws, and from an objective point of view did not see perfection. Alternatively though, when I looked at what my life was becoming, and reflected upon my honest needs, I found that much like Prescott College, I was not perfect either. Eventually, what this came to mean that after signing my admission agreement, and three years later of exploring and fully participating in the school culture - the imperfections that I found among myself and the school no longer mattered. Just as there is no day without night, and no child without a mother, I found that Prescott College and myself created a perfection that no longer fostered imperfections, but created opportunities for growth, curiosity, discovery, and love.

When our time for graduation from college becomes closer, and depending upon who you are, it will not matter how many swimming pools the school you attend has; it will not matter how many books are in the library; it will not matter how many flavors of soft-serve ice-cream are available in the cafeteria.
What will matter are the relationships one has with the people around them; the experiences that were had; and the support received from those who believed in us enough to truly see we are capable of greatness.

For a college education can mean many things for many people, but again, when all is said and done, one will find what was truly important, and what was mere shiny objects that may someday find themselves in the garbage dump.

To better understand the road ahead, we ask those who have been there before. So, I encourage all of you who are exploring different schools, to look past those items that will mean nothing later in life, and listen to your honest needs. For myself, Prescott College was the only school that made me feel whole; this was after visiting more than eight schools, and numerous conversations with various admissions staff.

When letting go of our arrow to hit the target of our needs, no other person can see down the sight; no other person feels the pull of our string; no other person can let go for us. It is true that being given useful advice is of course, very useful; and it is also important to understand the difference between truth and treason against our deepest heartfelt dreams.

Live the journey,

Jordan

Let go of the arrow, to hit the target

This past weekend was the inauguration for the new president of Prescott College, Dr. Kristin Woolever. For me, this was an extraordinary occasion that created an exciting and hopeful future for the school.

The inaugural speech that Kristin gave was in my belief, spot on, and focused upon many important aspects of how she views the school in its current state, and after listening to many, where she believes it would be most effective to move toward .

Like anything in life, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and how this ties into the current blog entry is quite parallel to how the school should be viewed from the landscape of a prospective student. I will be blunt in saying that Prescott College is not perfect, and like everything else created by the hands of human beings, there is always room for sustainable improvement. Alternatively though, the question must be asked, “Are we perfect for each other, Prescott College and myself?” To make this equation even more blunt, this school is not for everyone, but for some this is an opportunity that will create more growth than one could ever imagine, and this is where perfection is found.

I have seen some students create for themselves a world of living chaos, but alternatively, there are many more who take on the aim of what Prescott College stands for, and a man by the name of Howard Zinn put into words as the goal of education:

“Eliminating war, poverty, race and national hatred, governmental restrictions on individual freedom, and in fostering a spirit of cooperation and concern in the generation growing up.”

In effect, reading the mission statement of any organization that we choose to be affiliated with is of the utmost importance. Moreover, equally vital is whether or not the institution truly follows this quest they have set out for themselves.

The mission of Prescott College is:

“to educate students of diverse ages and backgrounds to understand, thrive in, and enhance our world community and environment. We regard learning as a continuing process and strive to provide an education that will enable students to live productive lives while achieving a balance between self-fulfillment and service to others. Students are encouraged to think critically and act ethically with sensitivity to both the human community and the biosphere. Our philosophy stresses experiential learning and self-direction within an interdisciplinary curriculum.”
After reading the two quotes above, many would agree that they both have much in common. In essence though, what does living the mission of Prescott College truly mean, and how does one do this most effectively? Through causation, I will not be so arrogant to say that I have the answer to this question for everyone to follow, but in the most humble of ways, I believe that doing what we love will always be of the greatest benefit for the entire biosphere. From this, the question comes up yet again, ‘Is Prescott College where I want to continue my journey in education?”
Furthermore, let me say that the true answer to this question cannot be found in any view-book, or by speaking with an admissions counselor, although these are great resources to make a better informed decision; the true answer is found in ourselves and what we believe is needed.

In this blog entry, I am not trying to be grim, but paint a picture about the projected idea of attending a school, and the actual reality of what this could mean. Is going to an institution with course sizes in the hundreds favorable to your learning, or are small, intimate classes with field trips of greater necessity? Does living in a large community of thousands make you feel more connected, or sharing a free community lunch every wednesday with everyone on campus? These are important questions that take much reflection, and to put this metaphorically, in order to hit a target, we are the only ones who must commit and let go of the arrow - no one can truly let go of the string for us. And, it is always why we let go of the arrow that makes all the difference.

Live the Journey,

Jordan

Life is a Journey, Not a Series of Destinations

There are so many amazing classes here. And, they are very different from what I have encountered anywhere else. What I do when choosing classes is mainly look for a professor that I want to work with. This is because research has noted that the most important aspect of any classroom is not the material, but the facilitator. Yes, the content must be interesting to us, but if the teacher cannot convey what is effective in terms of useful skills and information, then what is the point of even being there. 

Most classes at Prescott College are discussion based, but this does not mean that professors don’t participate to the fullest of their abilities. The idea behind having a professor in the classroom is to bring out the conversation, and share ideas that have been shown to be effective. To me, a professor should not be standing at the front of the room, while we take notes. Studies have shown that when we become engaged within a conversation, more is learned, rather than when we are just listening. It is by asking questions that matter to us, than learning and development happen. For what is development, but connecting a series of ideas and relationships. 

I have heard, that many prospective students, and before exploring further, find this school to be more geared toward Adventure Education and Environmental Studies. This is just not the case. All programs we offer are very strong, with faculty who are committed to their work and facilitating the growth of others. I see them more as co-workers than pedestal goers. We have programs committed to social justice issues, shakespearean literature, systematics of seed plants, skiing in Alaska, the craft of the short story, environmental politics, ecology of war and peace, environmental perspectives and whitewater rafting, figure drawing of nudes, rock climbing and geology, sustainable building design, massage, yoga teacher training, environmental policy in China, U.S.-Mexico Border Studies, form and pattern in nature, counseling skills, public art, you get the idea. 

We are not just a shred the gnar kind of school, nor is everyone running around barefoot, but there are both of those communities here, and many more. Prescott College is filled with an extremely diverse amount of ideologies, lifestyles, and energies. This school attracts people from all walks of life. From dredded out people with bells in their hair, to the most exact scientists I have ever known. There are student writers who win national awards, and white-water rafting guides who live out of their trucks. You will never feel like you don’t belong, this is because, to me, we have an extraordinarily diverse population of people who are passionate about what they do, and how they intend to do it. 

In summary, this school is academically and emotionally challenging, although I have never studied for a test, or crammed for a mid-term. We are asked more of ourselves than this; we must show to others that what we have learned is truly meaningful to us through presentations, essays, and art projects. And, that we will be tested on the material for the rest of our lives. Going to school at Prescott College is a demanding task that takes concentration, organization, and many other skills that are developed over time, but I have never felt any of the work was tedious. Even though some assignments are quite challenging, there has never been the feeling that what I am doing is meaningless. As the amazing educator Kurt Hahn once noted, “Every challenge is an opportunity,” and every opportunity at Prescott College is part of the exploration of ourselves, others, and the biosphere. 

If you are confused about what school to give four years too, consider that life is an ongoing journey, not a series of destinations where we eventually arrive. As the seasons change, there is no time when we wake up and arrive at winter, everyday is filled with a process toward growth and decomposition.

As the song by The Flaming Lips goes, 

“Do you realize? The sun doesn’t go down, it’s just the world spinning round.”

And when it comes to exploring Prescott College further, ask the question of what you need in a school and let the journey flow. 

Jordan 

We are powerful beyond measure...

What do you want to study?

What do you plan on doing by studying that?

How do you plan to make any money doing that?

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of the universal energy. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Marianne Williamson

Prescott College is one of a handful of schools that creates an environment for students to explore the infinite potential available to everyone of us. Although, what sets the school apart is the experiential approach to each and every classroom experience. We are not always held to the four classroom walls, but rather are off truly exploring what we are studying in our flock of vans. For myself, the most memorable experiences in school prior to Prescott College were the field-trips - visiting the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.; running across the fields of Gettysburg; going to the Zoo and Aquarium...

Furthermore, we have the great option to cultivate a program of study that germinates into all aspects of our life, moving with the journey that does not stop at graduation, but continues throughout our life. Not more than a few days ago, there was an alumni event, where many arrived to see how the college had changed. Almost all of the past graduates mentioned how great a place the school has turned into, and wish they could do the experience again. 

In essence, life is not a series of destinations, but a journey filled with discoveries, memories, and the need to grow. Many schools have lots of “stuff,” but what Prescott College lacks in weight rooms, it excels in preparing students to think clearly, intentionally, and pushes them to explore what the words happiness and contention truly mean. 

To me, I could not imagine going to school anywhere else, and I have visited many colleges, and spoke with many of their admissions staff. Prescott College conjures up different feelings for different people. For myself, I feel supported, energized, excited, explorative, empowered, and among many other words, exceedingly grateful to be part of an institution that reminds us “we are powerful beyond measure...[and] as we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Live the journey,

Jordan

Who have I become?

Who have I become? For I do not feel like the same person when I started here three years ago. My time here has been filled with many beautiful nights, many daily challenges, and many times of genuine and amazing growth directly attributed to the Prescott College community.
Currently, this is the beginning of my junior year, and I have ventured into a way of life that several years ago I couldn’t have even imagined. In blogs past, I have referred to the poet Rainer Maria-Rilke in doing my best to explain the tendency for people to have all the answers to all of the questions unsolved within their hearts. Essentially though, if we had the answers, life would be monotonously boring and full of disenchantment. Gratefully, and as Prescott College consistently notes, life is a journey, not a linear formation of destinations, but rather an ever evolving, ever transforming story that changes based upon how we perceive the world, and how strong and capable we feel that we truly are.

I am sure that as a perspective student, or one who has already been admitted, many questions come about, and in many ways, even I still don’t have the answers to some of the ones I came here with, this is after three years of attendance at this amazingly effective institution. Alternatively, some of these big questions that arise can be answered very simply with yes; you will find affordable housing, you will make friends that will probably last a lifetime, and you will take classes that can be found at no other college, which will challenge your current ways of thinking, but you will grow into a way of being that positively transcends your current lifestyle beyond anything you are currently perceiving.

In essence, I will significantly go over some very effective steps toward alleviating a few of the major anxieties that are you probably being faced with as either a prospective or newly admitted student. Furthermore, you are not preparing for college alone, many have gone before you who can offer advice, such as myself. Moreover, and equally important, it would be incredibly irresponsible of Prescott College to not support our newly admitted students in the most committed way possible.

 

How do I find housing?

Again, to put this simply, you will definitely find housing that suits your needs. This may take a few different living environments so that you may better understand your needs within a household, but there are an extraordinarily diverse amount of living accommodations available for those who are willing to explore.

There are many ways to go about the process of finding and moving into a place that feels like home. I find that websites like craigslist to be secondary sources rather than the end all, be all. One must also remember that they are not the only one looking for housing, and that sharing a house is a much more affordable option that vying for a studio apartment. Some of the efficiency apartments around town can cost almost $700 a month, whereas sharing a house like I do, the cost is $300 per month. Moreover, I did not look for housing until after orientation. This is a common concern, but one must reflect upon whether one would like to pay for a months rent without being town, or let the journey run its course and secure housing during the ten days after orientation, which is more than enough time. Please believe me when I say this, letting people know that you are looking for a room will be the most effective way to locate housing. There are more rooms for rent in Prescott then there are students who need them.

In terms of college support with housing, there is a housing fair that helps people locate others who are looking for a place to stay, along with local rental proprietors who only work with Prescott College students.

 

When it comes to finding a place to call home, the answer to what the place looks like is different for everyone, but the process is generally the same. Be patient, and don’t worry that you might be sleeping in somebodies yard, unless you truly choose to do so.

 

What am I going to study?

The answer to this question will not be an answer but more of general recommendation to reflect upon your deepest needs and desires. Once this is done, and it will take time, you will grow toward a course of study that is significantly meaningful to you.

Some direct ways to figure this out:

1.  Explore your interests. How will you know what you like if you have never explored it before? How does one know they want to be a doctor of they have never volunteered in a hospital or clinic? 
2. In order to better understand who we are, we must understand who we are not? We should not be afraid to take classes outside our realm of comfort. Who knows what we might find? I started with an elementary education competence, and after an 800 mile horse-packing expedition focusing on integrated awareness, a few classes in social justice, and speaking with many supportive faculty members, I am currently creating a self-designed competence in Sustainable Social Development.

Start with Exploring what is needed, rather than what is wanted.

Begin with yourself, and expand from this central point. Through reflecting on our own needs, we can become better prepared to help others, and live into a lifestyle that creates much growth and lasting happiness.

Our parents, friends, co-workers, and everyone else in the world can support us in many wonderful ways. Alternatively, there are going to some who do not. We cannot blame others for the decisions that we make, nor can we do what others say is “good,” when we know in our hearts it feels like absolute poison.

In the end, wherever we go, there we are.

Taking a quote from a memoir written by Victor Frankl during his time of surviving in a concentration camp:

“Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”

In effect, Prescott College is not for everyone, but for those who call it home, it is an environment that has shed light on many places of darkness. We don’t have lots of “stuff” like many others schools, and we don’t have a big cafeteria, but rather, Chef Molly who maintains a first name basis with many students, and brings in local meats, vegetables, and grains from farmers who I have personally met.

Prescott College does not assess us students based upon our capacity to memorize unemotional statistics. Instead, it is the content of our character that is put to the test, and it is our responsibility, along with the great support of faculty and staff, to find our “own way.”

Live the journey,
Jordan

Arizona’s Wetlands Explored through Prescott College

I just finished a block course here entitled “Wetlands Ecology and Management” with long-time faculty Walt Anderson, yet another Environmental Studies class informing my goal of teaching Biology/Ecology to highschoolers. After reading that sentence and remembering that Prescott College is located in Arizona, many of you are probably crying foul. Perhaps you even exclaimed something aloud, something like “You can’t study wetlands in Arizona! That’s preposterous!” Maybe you even threw your arm up in the air, index finger extended in a Doc Brown-esque moment of eccentric energy. I, too, was once uniformed and excitable as you, dear reader, but hopefully I can allow you to understand another aspect of Arizona as I do now.

When you mention Arizona, most folks picture a desolate wasteland, populated only by saguaro cactus and spontaneously appearing turkey vultures that begin to circle you expectantly when they sense you are nearing your demise. And while there are areas in Arizona that resemble that mental image, this state is actually one of the most diverse locations I’ve had the privilege to experience. For those of you stubbornly holding onto the idea of Arizona as a barren desert, I submit the following:

Pictured: Arizona Not Pictured: Desert Habitat

Arizona is actually quite a wet place depending on what watershed you find yourself in, and over this block my eyes were opened to the wonderful riparian communities that call this state home. Our journey started at the Hassayampa River Preserve, a Nature Conservancy site dedicated to providing habitat for many Riparian species of the Basin & Range province of Arizona where the ecology has been heavily impacted by Phoenix and its perpetual sprawl.

We entered a lushly vegetated reserve with an abundance of ecological diversity and a fair amount of water flow year round, as well as multiple standing pools of water that were providing homes for migrating birds passing through the area. This place seemed to be a desert oasis, pristine aside from a few educational placards and the trails running through it.

Hassayampa River Preserve

Our class was asked to look for and identify “signs of change,” and with no other instruction we set off in pairs and tried to fathom as many unnatural features we could in different locales around the area.

We found introduced and invasive species, the trails and educational placards, some alteration of the stream channel, and the educational center that had been built on the grounds. What none of us realized was that this riparian reserve had been a paved RV and ATV recreation area only 40 years prior. At that time, it was filled with trash, human waste, and heavily impacted by Jeep and ATV races through the creek channels. The vast majority of vegetation that we saw, and the “pristine” conditions that we observed were a result of efforts put into revegetating and revitalizing this place on behalf of the biotic communities that lived here previously and the shrinking riparian communities elsewhere around the state. At that moment, I was struck with no small measure of hope for our natural world to heal itself with the aid of humans. This would be a feeling that I experienced many times over the block, as we visited many locations that at one time had been ecologically decimated by human use, and now harbor species that have moved from other areas impacted by humans.

Through our scientific surveys of many of these areas, I came to a deeper understanding of the plight many wetlands face here in Arizona and around the world.

-Zach Schiewetz

OH YEAH BACK FROM SUMMER

My summer was awesome!!!  I completed two independent studies with one of my favorite professors, Zoe Hammer, reading Michel Foucault.  They were so challenging and awesome!  It took me about an hour to get through four pages in his books...but it was worth it.  Enough about academics though...let's talk about my roadtrip!

About two weeks after last semester ended an opportunity arose that I couldn't pass up.  Two of my friends were roadtripping to Austin, Texas and then homeward bound to Philadelphia!  I had some money saved and I wanted to surprise my sister for her birthday...so I went for it.

The first leg of our adventure was to drive straight south to Tucson.  This is about a 4 hour drive with like a 20 degree increase in temperature.  It seems pertinent to mention that we were in an '87 Diesel Mercedes Benz with no air conditioning.  I may or may not have wimpered about this as we approached the shimmering heat of southern Arizona.  Of course...we're all Prescott College students so eventually we were saying things like "Wow, brah, this heat is mega cleansing...I feel like all the toxins are totally leaving my body and my vibes are all aligned...Let's go charge some crystals."  But seriously...and we meant it.

Once we made it to Tucson it was time for a break so we got some lunch and made a new friend:

Right. 

From this point we drove drove drove east through New Mexico and into West Texas.  Texas has a lot of really threatening signs regarding littering...it's cool.  Seriously do NOT mess with Texas when it comes to littering...  Driving through El Paso was strange.  We took a moment of silence for the women in Juarez.  It was very emotional and we talked about it for awhile, driving through the night.

Eventually we made it to Fort Stockton, Texas which is one of the WEIRDEST places I've ever been.  Seriously soooo weird - and I'm from New Jersey!  Home of some of the weirdest stuff on earth!  After parking in front of a gentleman's club to rearrange the car (it was closed..this was at like 3:30am) we headed over to Walmart and slept in the parking lot.  I forgot to mention that at some point the humidity kicked in and all of our water bottles started sweating and my hair got really puffy.  It was awesome.

I woke up early the next morning with quite the neck cramp.  My friends were still sleeping so I naturally decided to go into the Walmart and try on some swim suits.  This outrageously fun 6am activity proved fruitless.  I may be from Jersey but I can't rock swim suits featured on the Jersey Shore.  And apparently one pieces are only meant for older women?...it was very discouraging.

After some breakfast we were on the road again and by 4pm we made it to Austin!  Oh wait I forgot to mention our flat tire...that was exciting. 

And by exciting I mean terrifying at first.  We thought we had a fuel leak...but it was just a loose radiator cap.  Matt and I went to look for rocks to shove under the front tires while Sam set up the jack.  About 200 feet down the road Matt suddenly goes "ADDIE WATCH OUT!"  I looked down to see a massive snake slithering toward me.  Much shrieking and fearful gesticulating ensued. 

So flash forward to this horse tail and then all the way to Austin, where we left off.

Austin is an awesome place.  It seemed to me that instead of hanging out on the stoop, on the block, Austin folks hang out on the Green Belt aka sweetest inner city water holes ever.  I love swimming so I was basically in heaven.

I loved Austin and met some great people there.  Plus you can't go wrong with a brown and gold sparkly (one piece!) swimsuit from the 90s.  I was bound to have a great time.  One night my friend Sam and I did some urban exploring/deriving (citation: Guy Debord).  We found a restored theatre that showed classic movies all summer.  That night they were playing a Thin Man movie and I LOVE the thin man movies...old mysteries...check 'em out!  We ate way too much popcorn.  Waterholes and old movies in fancy restored theatres...I was blissed out.

Capital building in ATX

no teef to eat my beef

Eventually it was time to get on the road.  Sam and I bid goodbye to Matt (because he lives in Austin) and were on our way.  I miss Matt's Mom....she was so cool.

Hahahahaha!

PIZZA GAMES.  One of the best signs of our roadtrip.

Goodbye, Texas.  You are a gorgeous place.

We took three days to get to Philadelphia.  Driving through Louisiana Sam and I talked about the oil spill a lot.  Then Shreveport was basically deserted.  I had a definate energetic shift: upset, sad, compassionate. 

Drove through Arkansas and made it to East Memphis before total exhaustion set in.  The next day we drove through Tennessee and listened to a lot of Dolly Parton.  Especially the song about her Tennessee mountain home where life is as peaceful as a baby's sigh...  Besides the traffic I think I got what she was saying :)  Last thought on this leg of the trip:  the bayou is amazing.

Made it to Radford, Virginia and stayed with another PC student.  Her parents were so cool also!  The next morning they made us a pancake breakfast with fresh fruit from their garden and introduced us to Buttercup, the Vulture.

Yes.

So we drove drove drove through VA, West VA, Maryland, and finally made it to Pennsylvania (SHWEW!).  Sam drove me to the Septa station and I was almost home.

The train ride was awesome.  I love the east coast.  I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and joy.  When I made it to the 30th street station I made a really nice cheerleader take this picture:

 

MADE IT!

AND I successfully surprised my sister, Paige, for her birthday.  She thought that I was a burgler but that's another story...

Love always from your admissions liason,

Addie

Indecision 2010

Hello to all you blog readers! Bonjour! Guten Tag! Jambo! Konnichiwa! Aloha and Kalimera! It realize that it has been a while since I sat down and wrote a blog--for that, my deepest and most sincere apologies. It's not that I haven't meant to write...it's just, well, I'm having trouble commiting to one specific topic. I sit sometimes, staring at the computer for what feels like hours, starting topic after topic and never finishing one. Making decisions can be really difficult sometimes, especially for someone like me. I like to start new projects all the time...the only trouble is staying focused on one specfic thing. Its so easy to float from project to project, topic to topic, plan to plan--but then all you really have at the end of the day are few half-finished projects, blogs, or degree plans....
So you probably guessed by now that I'm not really talking about being indecisive with blog topics exclusivley. Thats right, folks....I'm having trouble with my degree plan. But I'm not too stressed about it. In some ways, I guess I should be. I never really had a clear answer to that question I'm sure we've all been asked in our lives: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I've wanted to be a lot of things...Clown, Ballerina, Judge, Princess Spy, Farmer, Fortune Teller, Fire Dancer, Rythmic Gymnast, Environmentalist, Aquarist, Journalist, Flight Attendant, and the list goes on. Most of these things I've wanted to be in the last few weeks alone. So maybe I should be stressed, right? If I can't even finish a blog, how can I expect to choose a MAJOR?

This, my friends, is the part of the blog where one would expalin to you the *key* to managing their hectic life, focusing their interests, and sitting down and creating a plan for oneself. Sorry to dissappoint, but I don't have the key. What I do have, however, is a network of support at Prescott College. Just the other day I had a minor freakout when a class I was planning on taking in the fall had to be rescheduled. WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO???? My degree plan needs to be finished by next semester if I want to graduate on time...... Fortunatley for me, the people who work at Prescott College are INCREDIBLE.

I headed over to the registrar's office to try to get myself into another class. I was met with the friendly ladies in the registrar's office who sat me down and guided me through which classes were still open and which worked with my schedule. After writing down a few course titles, I ran off to the advising center and had a long chat with Heather Knowles (who runs the Advising Center) about planning out a schedule that could work for my degree plan. The only problem was, I hadn't finished writing out my degree plan...i hadn't even fully committed to my competence. We sat down and talked for a bit: What kinds of things are you interested in? What kind of job might you like to have? These were questions I had asked myself before. Though I still didn't have a clear answer, we were able to start a dialogue about all the different things I was thinking about so far. I was interested in all sorts of things but I didn't know how they could fit together. I was interested in Cultural/Regional Studies, Environmental Issues, Conservation Projects, Ecotourism, Marine Biology, and the relationships between organisms and their environment. How could I ever mesh all those things into one competence? I could imagine myself one day working for an eco-tourism company of some sort teaching others about environmental issues, the natural history of certain species, or the impact humans have on the area. Thats when we began to get an idea of what I should be studying...

Though I had orisinally planned on a more generic "Natural History and Ecology" competence, it seemed to Heather Knowles (and soon, myself) that I was describing more of a career in "Environmental Education". I really hadn't even thought about that. Education classes seemed so far off from what I wanted to study--it never really seemed like something that I might want to combine with my other areas of study. Looking back, it seems like a natural course of action. Education and Environmental Studies are so clearly related that I am almost kicking myself for not realizing it sooner. I was so focused on CHOOSING a competence, that I hardly considered CREATING one unique to myself...and that was one of the primary reasons I came to Prescott College in the first place.

So, I'm testing the waters. I think that's important. making a commitment to a specific major isn't something you should enter into lightly. So far, this one feels right. It may sound kinda cheesy, but Prescott College is really awesome that way. If you play around in the areas that fascinate you, your competence has a way of finding you. I'm glad I chose this school. If I had picked another school, I'd barely be finished with my General Requirements and I wouldn't even have had an opportunity to figure out what I'm passionate about. I'm two years in at PC and I've been dipping my toes into every possible area of study. Maybe I haven't made a solid decision yet. But I have time to figure it out...and with the resources a school like Prescott College offers, I know it will be an adventure the whole way.

Erratically Yours, Sydnie.

Independent Studies and Creativity

Here at Prescott College you’re given the opportunity to customize your education to an extraordinary degree, and one of the best examples of this is the independent study (IS). Through the independent study structure here you can design a class for yourself that encompasses elements of other classes you’ve taken but expands your education in a way that currently offered classes can’t. This manifests in different ways depending on the content area. Some Adventure Education students have used this unique system to create academically rigorous adventures for themselves involving ice climbing in the northern states or caving in Mexico. But the independent study is not exclusive to any one area. I am currently enrolled in an independent study to create a functional library for my future as a teacher, a comprehensive database of resources to help make biology and ecology relevant for my future students.

Artists have an especially fun time with the IS system, allowing them to create entirely new projects that have never been done before; some of which become classes in the future. My partner is currently working on an independent study in Dance, involving dancing every day for 2 weeks in a different environment each day. Today we utilized a computer as an environment, creating a Youtube playlist filled with advertisements to be displayed behind us by a projector, and entertaining assorted random people through Chatroulette. Dressed in aluminum foil, computer chords, and headphones, we did an interpretive dance about technology in modern society.

These sorts of projects are common here; innovation is something that we are encouraged to take part in, rather than pushed away from at our school.

If you have an interest in following a Prescott College Artist through the Independent study process, feel free to check it out here:

http://edanceproject.tumblr.com/


Sincerely,
Zach

Summer 2010 Block A: Herpetolgy

Prescott College summers here have been drastically re-imagined this past year. Whereas the summer term used to be a reflection of fall and spring terms; it is now composed of four blocks. These blocks are slightly shorter than the ones in fall or spring semester; three weeks instead of four, so one has to fit even more experience and information into a shorter time period.
My first block of the summer was Herpetology; which focused on studying reptiles and amphibians of southeastern Utah and western Colorado. In addition to learning about the evolution and morphology of these critters-

-we each had to design our own project that would utilize information gathered in the field as well as peer reviewed journals and field guides.

My personal project revolved around caudal autotomy; the ability of lizards and some snake species to shed their tails when threatened and escape predation, and more impressively the ability to grow them back later.

I think one of the greatest things about the personalized projects here is that I become so much more invested in the material when I know I’m going to have to teach it to the class. I feel like there’s a lot of unintentional learning that happens during this process as well. For example; did you know that lizards are always right or left hand dominant like us? I certainly didn’t. Turns out, the left handed lizards are always more clumsy and so loose their tails more often as a result of not being able to run from predators. You can tell that one to all your left handed friends, I’m sure they’re love it.

We learned a ton about performing population surveys in the field, it was quite eye-opening to begin to learn how you go about setting up a scientifically sound field survey in an undergraduate class. We also learned that in a pinch, you can make a head dress out of a tee-shirt to keep the gnats off your face and out of your nose/eyes/ears.

We also discovered a ton of related and equally enthralling material about biotic soil crust…

… Indigenous cultures…

…and that the health food store in Moab, UT, does in fact carry the best ice cream on earth, which happens to be made in NH. Go figure.

I think I saw more spectacular natural bridges, arches, and ruins while hiking through the canyons for this trip than I have in the rest of my life. In sort; it was fantastic. While I admit the shorter block was hectic at times as far as getting work done, I am already loving summer courses. It just doesn’t get any better than watching a woodhouse’s toad sit on a tiger salamander.

Take care all,

Zach

Summertime

To me, summer is bittersweet. Sure, it can be a time to relax and soak up some sun, but more often then not, I spend the time thinking about school. I miss Prescott College when term isn't in session. Call me a nerd, but I actually look forward to my block and semester classes. Its exciting to think about the new term. It reminds me of elementary school--you know, buying all your school supplies and slipping them into that new backpack, laying out your "first day" clothes and sneaking a peek at your new text books....Okay, so maybe I'm a nerd. But when has that been bad? Prescott College is the type of school that you WANT to be at. Lucky for me, that doesn't end when Spring Semester does. Summer Term 2010 has officially arrived! Seperated into 4 "blocks", Prescott College has turned into something of an educational "summer camp" of sorts. Students enroll for short, but intensive classes which can sometimes take them all over the world. Rather than creating a summer term that lasts from May to August, our Block system divides the summer into 4 chunks so students can pick and choose when they have classes. Some classes might span over multiple blocks,heading to Nepal, Alaska, Africa, or Costa Rica, while others might last only one block and either stay in Prescott, or travel to Kino Bay, Baja, Utah, or the Grand Canyon. What makes this an EVEN BETTER choice is the fact that financial aid is available for those summer months! Students who file their FAFSA forms intending to take a summer semester are eligible for 3 terms of financial aid, making summer classes not only logical, but affordable.
Sydnie

Stay Curious, Stay "Foolish"

 As the seasons change, so do I, and it is with this change that creates new perspectives and growth in this seemingly chaotic life. For the past year and a half, I have participated in accelerating the outcomes of many current students at Prescott College. As a Student Admissions Counselor, I have spoken to many people, giving them advice on how best to approach this labyrinth of choosing a college. Every once in a while, someone approaches me and says, “Hey, you helped me figure out my life, and now I am here because of you. Thank you so much.”
I am not trying to toot my own horn, but I believe that sometimes, I forget how much of a difference I make in others lives.

Waking up in the morning, it can be easy to walk through the day feeling completely independent of everything else in the world. This can’t be farther from the truth. Every breath we take, every step we plant, and every blink of our eyes creates a resounding vibration that resonates the entire universe. Someone might say, ‘I don’t feel like I am ever making a difference in my job, home-life, or overall experience.” Again, our lives are defined by perspective.

For there are many jobs that may seem menial; for example, the job of a janitor could seem unfulfilling, but this depends upon perspective. Someone has to make sure the working environment runs smoothly and efficiently in terms of making sure items get recycled, facilities are clean enough so that others will not become sick, and so forth.

In effect, it truly comes down to following our bliss, and keeping open eyes to the effect we have on others. This becomes superbly present when looking for a job on campus. There are truly a great amount of options for all different interests. Some current examples are: Performing Arts Assistant, Cook/Baker in the café, Video Tech, Community Events Coordinator, Tutor/Consultant…. All of these jobs have certain attributes that we may not always enjoy, but asking ourselves the essential questions, ‘why do I do, what I do?’ and ‘who benefits from what I do?'

It is never a great challenge to find a job on campus, whether we have work-study or not, there are always more than enough. Where the challenge lies is within the reason for choosing a particular path.

“The future is not a result of a choice among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created… created first in mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not someplace we are going to but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination.” – John Shire

There is no such thing as luck, only change, choice, and the connection between. I ask all of you prospective students to live a life filled with curiosity and reasonable “foolishness.” Let truth be your guide, and nothing else, within this you will always find bliss. C’est la vie.

Jordan

Oh Captain, My Captain

This is an ode to President Dan Garvey. For I have known him for the past two years since attending this school. He has brought many ideas into my head, heart, and hands that have stayed with me for quite some time. This is especially true before leaving on the Arizona Trail expedition, he had dinner with the team before embarking and we asked if he had any advice, he said, "I don't want to put any assumptions onto the table. This is your journey, now go and live it." And live it we did.

Sitting on the front porch watching the horses before dinner while playing the guitar, Dan sat down next to me and told me he used to play the guitar quite often as well, this was before he contracted Multiple Sclerosis. For his right hand is not as agile as it once was, but he asked if I wouldn't mind strumming while he put his left hand on the frets. There I was, sharing a guitar with my college president, all the while watching Arabian horses running through a field, and smelling a delicious dinner being prepared.

Like most faculty, instructors, and administrators here at Prescott College, they all show themselves to be people, rather than a talking mirror. I still go out to breakfast on a regular basis with my first writing professor, Jeff Fearnside, along with his wife who works in the registrars office.

To me, this college is very academically, emotionally, and physically challenging, but it also feels like a truly sustainable living community. It will be hard to leave after graduation in 2012, but I believe that I will always remember the friendships that presented themselves. For Prescott College is not a set of buildings, or a sign out front with a logo, but the people who are creating this beautifully productive environment. It will be different to not have Dan around next year, but he will be back to teach a few classes in the fall of 2011. Furthermore, I am hopeful that the new president, Dr. Kristin Woolever, will transform this college to meet the needs of the future, all the while maintaining the wonderful community we currently reside in.


O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

                                                    -Walt Whitman 
 
Here is to a great man, and a great future for the college he helped produce; along with a legacy that will continue sailing with the winds of grace, dignity, and compassion.

Gentle seas, 

Jordan

Our Life Belongs to Our Dreams

The semester is winding down and we have less than two weeks left. This has been quite a transformational set of months. I started out with the idea of gaining a competence and certification in Elementary Education, then slowly moved away from this already defined path and into a self-designed competence called Sustainable Community Development. Lately, I have been researching more of what this means.


Overall, life moves fast here at Prescott College. I came here in the fall of 2008, and it has been superbly engaging since then. I have gone to many amazingly beautiful places, discussed various topics with the utmost passion, rode a horse 800 miles, changed my course of study, and participated in countless events, all since I took my first step on orientation.

It is an interesting opportunity to be able to attend a school like Prescott College, and the school is changing, much like everything else; for change is the only constant, and in order to not become stale, we must move with the river of energy. As for immediate change, President Dan Garvey will be retiring at the end of June, and Dr. Kristin Woolever will be stepping forth to fill the position. Dr. Woolever comes to Prescott College from the University of New Hampshire at Manchester, where she is currently Dean and Director of the Campus. Prior to UNH Manchester, Woolever led the Antioch Center for Creative Change at Antioch University Seattle in a reorganization that included the development of alternative course delivery models and innovative, cross-disciplinary graduate programs in environmental studies, management, organizational psychology, systems thinking, and strategic communication.

Moreover, the college has acquired the alley way that previously split the campus in half. Now, we have purchased this piece of property and will be reinvigorating it by taking down the telephone poles that expose various wires putting them underground, and the ecological design class has been planning what we will see in the near future. This will greatly beautify the campus, and will create a more integrated environment. Currently, the alleyway has been closed to cars, and has begun the process of redefining the current nature of the campus.

In terms of residential options, there are a few ideas in the works that will include a dormitory for around 150 students, but this has yet to be set in stone. The college will probably not see this for another year.

As for the summer class schedule, this has been changed from a block and quarter system to a semester filled with four block classes. Examples of these classes are: Public Art-Mural Painting, Expeditionary Sailing, Surfing & Oceanographic Principles of Wave Dynamics, Aboriginal Living Skills, Jungian Studies…. Moreover, there will still be classes that take up most or the entire summer, which include: South America – Land of Contrasts, Maasailand – A Study in Community Activism, Sustainable Nepal, Studies in Alaska, Ecological Design at the ECOSA Institute….

In essence, our world is constantly changing, and if we are going to be active in our environment we must move with the belief that our life does not belong to us, it belongs to our dreams.

Peace be the journey

Jordan

P.S.
If you ever think you are too small to make a difference, you have never slept with a mosquito in the room.
                                                                                                                -African Proverb

Well, the semester is coming to a close and I feel pretty good about all that I've accomplished academically, personally, and politically.  I made the decision to get a double competence in Psychology and Cultural and Regional Studies and wrote two independent studies for the summer.

Some highlights from this spring:

This is my partner in crime.  We started a feminist zine last semester and my sister did the cover art for our most recent issue...so cool!

I organized a lot with my class, PERC.  We did "Coffee Talk" (free coffee, breakfast, and news publications every Tuesday morning), Game Night, workshops on health, addiction & recovery, how to graduate, time management, etc.  This flyer I made was for a textiles-themed get-together.  Laurie Silver is actually the Dean of Student Life here at the College.  Not only did she teach me how to knit, she also didn't mind my totally ridiculous pun.  I love going to a small school!

 

I have been developing a workshop on the three waves of feminism (and all contemporary feminisms) and their differing perspectives on pop culture.  This semester I held it for freeskool a few times, at some mini-WEB conferences (Women's Empowerment Breakthrough - Sydnie volunteers with them too...amazing organization that is very active and holds an annual three day conference up at Mingus Mountain for local teenage girls), the Praxis Youth Action Conference (my friend's senior project, it was amazing, Rebel Diaz came and did the keynote and an incredible performance), and the Nonviolence Skillshare (sponsored by the Peace and Justice Center).  I basically talk foundational feminist history and theory and then the group and I collaboratively deconstruct videos like Lady Gaga & Beyonce's "Telephone" or Jamie Foxx's "Blame It".  We discuss things like mind pollution, sexuality's relationship to political power,  art, and bell hooks.

I took a course called "Dreamwork" for block, then "Family Systems Theory", "Peer Education Practicum", and an independent study on Carl Jung, "Jungian Depth Psychology".  All of these classes were absolutely incredible.

We did a silly April Fools joke for this month's freeskool...Normally the Catalyst logo occupies the back inside cover:

It's been a wonderful semester.  And now...

I'll be doing some intensive reading of Michel Foucault's Discipline and Punish as well as Madness and Civilization for my independent studies.

Don't let my degree fool you...this summer I will be reading Foucault in my hiking boots, adventuring in Colorado and the southwest. 

:)

your student admissions counselor,

addie