Assignment #20- Caroline Blitch- Hauling a Horse

How to load a horse onto a (two-horse) trailer: 

1. This step is optional and up to personal preference but I suggest grooming your horse before loading because it is less stressful to do so in the comfort of your own barn than with your horse tied to the side of the trailer outside.
2. Load all of your needed gear into the tack room of the trailer. 
3. Set up hay net in trailer to keep your horse occupied during the haul.
4. Put shipping boots or bandages on all four legs. Boots are much easier to put on and more protective. 
5. Put the ramp of the trailer down. If you are only trailering one horse, tie the divider to the right side of the trailer so you can load them on the drivers side.
6. Lead your horse in and swing the lead rope over the withers.
7. Exit the trailer through the side door and quickly move to the back of the trailer to untie the divider and put up the butt bar on each side. Be cautious of hind legs and stand to the side of trailer when doing this. 
8. Return to the side door and clip the trailer tie to halter and remove lead rope. Keep lead rope in trailer tack room. 
9. Put the ramp up and make sure it is latched properly. 
10. Double check that trailer tires are not flat and that brake lights/ blinkers are working. 

assignment 22- wanna bet i can make anything about being late?-emanuelle sippy

having moved around quite a bit—7 houses, 4 cities, 3 states—i am not fazed by leaving home. in fact, i'm ready to say bye to lexington, i'm ready to meet new people, and i'm ready for more intellectual rigor. But the question of college becomes much more complicated with the "where?" i won't be writing about one school because as i've stated in numerous blogs, i'm too indecisive for that.  i know i will feel most alive at a place in a city where there are museums and protests and restaurants are open past 10:00 pm. i know i want to be somewhere where activism isn't just allowed but encouraged, where it's embedded in a culture of students learning to question what we're learning, how we're learning it, the world we live in, our past, present, and future. i know i want to be somewhere where professors learn their students' names and TAs aren't the only ones giving feedback. 

a lot of this is because of the way my parents raised me. my mom has taught at some of the best small liberal arts colleges in the country, so i've drunk the cool-aid that "you don't want to be at a place that doesn't prioritize undergraduate education." we also eat late (Jewish and Indian time, doubly stacked against me on both sides of the fam), so that's the restaurant reasoning.

Assignment 22: that one time i was a translator - Hannah Qazi

Interestingly enough, I've found that in the most unusual of times, I've had some of my best experiences. For instance, the happiest I've ever felt was after I attended a funeral. These moments - as bizarre and random as they sound all share similar qualities and feelings that keep me up at night reflecting over. One of the most defining was at an Islamic Convention with my best friend. Although we'd been sent to this camp to expand our knowledge of our religion and culture - I gained something more through it. See, at this camp - despite it being in Washington D.C., the most American part of America - barely anyone spoke english. They spoke my mother tongue of Urdu, which was the one language my best friend was yet to be fluent in. Needless to say, this made things quite difficult for her. She became isolated from her community and couldn't understand the tasks given to her. So, I took it upon myself to act as her guide and translator, despite my painfully American accent. Little by little, she began to add bits to her vocabulary and we managed to get by pretty well. This moment defined the importance of inclusivity and compassion for me. For I had realized the many ways my friend had returned the gesture and acted as a translator for me. Rather than translating language though, she translated life experiences with her three additional years of knowledge. If we didn't have someone to guide and include us, we would be lost. This moment drove my passion for humanitarian work and led me to get involved in organizations like UNICEF. It drove me to strive for a community of learning and fairness marked by mutual respect - one that is critical to a university like UCLA.

Assignment 21: Violet - Hannah Qazi

For a majority of the second grade I did not speak. Over the course of one summer, I had lost all the friends I'd grown up with - and the confidence to make new ones -  because I moved. While this may not appear to be a struggle worthy of sharing, it's a defining aspect of who I am. I've struggled with social anxiety for most of my life and even had my hearing tested because my timidness interfered with my learning. I personally found comfort in being an introvert, but my parents and teachers always tried to push me out of my tiny bubble. Although I'm grateful for their efforts and it was in their best intention to help, it did nothing. It wasn't until I found my people/fellow introverts that I really started to open up. As I've grown, I've taken significant steps past my comfort zone, enough to even join activities like speech and debate. I still struggle to express my opinion at times, but over time I've learned to cope with it and speak. 

Assignment #22 - Megan Ewing - I Toe the Line

I’ve always felt like I’m walking the line between two opposing sides of everything. I am a middle(ish) child (The second out of four) so, according to birth order theory, I am a diplomat. I’ve seen myself fall all too easily into this role for a long time. I rarely have arguments with people, but when I do, they’re pretty tame and end quickly because I can always understand both sides of the argument. I frequently end arguments within my family or between friends. I am an Enneagram type 9, so I guess diplomacy is my personality. But, I also see myself toeing the line between who I am and how I see my experiences. Am I really a caring, giving, altruistic person or am I the most selfish person I know? Are my daily headaches/migraines a symptom of a greater issue I need to get resolved or is that just normal? I don’t know. Maybe I never will, but what I do know is that I have a power that this world desperately needs in this time of polarization and personal feuds made political: diplomacy.

Assignment #20: How to eat biryani - Hannah Qazi

Oof, it took a while for my brain to process enough words to come up with a solid answer to this prompt, so bear with me. I may not have many skills to share, but this is one I'm pretty confident in. Prepare yourself because you're about to get cultured. But before you can dive into the glorious heap of deliciousness in front of you - you first have to educate yourself to truly appreciate the beauty of this dish. This means you need to familiarize yourself with your own spice level. Let me give you some advice, if you think tabasco sauce is spicy, put the spoon down and walk away right now. Save yourself.

Once you've established just how much heat you can handle, it's time to ration how much yogurt and water you need to calm the spice, and accomplish this mighty feat. See, if you put too much yogurt, you get this runny mess of rice and chicken, a rookie mistake that easily could've been avoided. But if you put too little...well, my friend, you've played yourself.

The final step you have to take is to throw out ANY and ALL raisins, carrot bits, egg bits and peppercorns you see, your tongue will thank me because that stuff is nasty. Once you've managed to complete all of these steps, you're as golden the rice on your plate. 

Assignment #23- Ellis Padgett- Perfect Playlist for Comfort

I put this playlist together exactly one week ago, but I couldn't figure out for the life of me what it was "The Perfect Playlist" for. So it sat in my Spotify, simply titled "The Perfect Playlist For."

Now it is the perfect playlist for comfort, but I will probably change the title again in a few days. In fact, it will probably return to being "The Perfect Playlist For," because every time I listen to these songs I am in a different head-space, so their meanings change a little. But for now, as I am stuck inside this house, these songs offer me comfort. Cohesively, these songs all follow a relaxed tempo, have beautiful lyrics, and rely on vocals instead of heavy instrumentation. I think they're all really beautiful in their own ways. 

1. The Friary - David Keenan

When I first heard this song, I thought the artist sounded like Shrek (though he's Irish, not Scottish). David Keenan has a way of singing that I haven't found in any other artist. He's very give and take; his guitar intros seem uncalculated, and he shifts from relaxed to intense very quickly. Instead of following the formulaic pattern of nice verse, exciting chorus, David Keenan reaches a sort of peak near the end of his songs, like he's finishing an exciting story. Which he is. The Friary, while I don't quite understand the lyrics, grows throughout. He follows the verse-chorus pattern, but changes his guitar and voice as he wants so nothing is repeated exactly as it was. This gives the song a sense of freedom, and I find comfort in the loose structure. 

2. Relatively Easy - Jason Isbell

I actually understand the lyrics in this one, and they are what I think is the comforting part of this song. The first lines, "Are you having a long day/ Everyone you meet rubs you the wrong way," really hit home sometimes. We all have days where we are just through with people. Later in the song, there is a drop and rise, similar to David Keenan. This adds dramatic effect, allowing the listener to really invest in the song, and find comfort in its words.

3. Even the Darkness Has Arms - The Barr Brothers

This has one of the coolest guitar parts ever. Once again, the lyrics are caked in mystery, but somehow you still know they're beautiful. The comforting part about this song is the way he sings. It's a fast paced song, yet he seems as if he's in no rush at all. 

4. Broken - Jake Bugg

I personally like this guy's voice a lot, but others don't because it has this weird tamber. For me, his voice is comforting. The guitar part also shifts from very high to very low for they chorus, which adds a certain richness. Even as the singer climbs in vocal range, the beat remains steady. No rush- always relaxed.

5. Honeybee - Steam Powered Giraffe

This band is the weirdest band I have ever come across. This is one of the only songs of theirs I like; but I like it because it reminds me of a barbershop quartet the way their voices intertwine. It is steadily paced. The chorus is especially interesting because the singers echo each other. And every chord they create is spot on, you wouldn't believe it. I think it's comforting because of the effortless way they harmonize; and because it relies on the vocals instead of on heavy instrumentation, like a lot of these other songs. 

6. Cobwebs - David Keenan

Another David Keenan song! He sings the same way, very give and take. Even with nonchalant vocals, the lyrics in this song have a certain darkness to them. He says, "Come away from the window ledge/ You'll catch your death of cold and you'll be no use to anyone/ Least of all me." He climbs really high vocally in this song, building emotion before dropping back down. I think it all works together to create something very pretty and comforting.

7. Blue Skies - Noah and the Whale

This is the only song on here that isn't acoustic guitar. Quite literally comforting, it's about how a bright future is coming even if you don't see it right now. 

Assignment #23 - The Perfect Playlist for a Good Mood - Irene Kim

Looking through my Spotify playlists, I couldn’t really define the songs into one distinct category. Most of them, though, fall under a sort of feel-good mood genre, so I hope that works! I’ll listen to these songs any day, whether I need a mood-booster or just for fun.

1. September — Earth, Wind & Fire
You’ve probably heard this song before (and if you haven’t, you need to! :)). It’s just a generally upbeat and happy song, and since my mom’s birthday is in September (noting the title), my family and I play it every year on that day, so there are lots of happy memories attached.

2. Stronger — Clean Bandit
This is not a parody or cover of Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger.” I first heard of this song as a dance choreography by 1MILLION, and it’s one of my favorites now! I think Clean Bandit generally incorporates a lot more string and beat into their songs, which I find makes them more upbeat and uplifting than other artists.

3. Dancing Queen — ABBA
I can’t say enough about ABBA or the Mamma Mia! soundtrack. I particularly love Dancing Queen, because it was my mom’s favorite song, too, and we love to listen to it together. The lyrics almost emanate joy and youth but also nostalgia.

4. Sunday Best — Surfaces
This song became very popular not long ago, I think when a YouTuber appeared in one of Surfaces’ music videos—the song itself is genuinely good though. It’s definitely a more lighthearted song, but it’s a great road trip song or song to sing with your friends—each line is just pure positivity!

5. Mr. Blue Sky — Electric Light Orchestra
I don’t know why, but when I first heard this song on Spotify, I thought it was by the Beatles. They have a similar vibe to their songs. The song again is pretty upbeat, and the chord change from the opening verses to the chorus is always satisfying for some reason. And the personification of Mr. Blue Sky is interesting, too!

6. Hey Jude — The Beatles
This is a very versatile song; you can listen to it in any mood, really. I don’t know why, but it reminds me of a mom giving advice to her daughter—I used to say that if I had a daughter, I would name her Jude just so I could play this song for her! But the ending is super long (it’s just a lot of na-na-na’s) so I almost never finish it to the end.

7. Put Your Records On — Corrine Bailey Rae
Again, my mom introduced me to this song, but it’s so good! She says it gives her “Parisian vibes” for some reason. The lyrics, the music, and the rhythm just sound super gentle and mellow, almost jazzy—it’s a very nice song to listen to when you’re outside, or in the morning or any sort of peaceful environment!

8. Take on Me — a-ha
This is a timeless song, a classic. Even my little cousins in Korea know it, and I remember when we were visiting, they would all start dancing to it whenever I played it on my phone; it was adorable! So many funny memories attached.

9. Here Comes The Sun — The Beatles
Another Beatles song! This would have to be my top favorite song, after Bohemian Rhapsody (but that doesn’t really fall under the good-mood category). This is a special song, because it was the first song I learned on the piano (as far as I can remember), and every time I hear it, it just puts me in a good mood!

10. Smile — Charlie Chaplin
This is probably the cringiest of them all, and the oldest song, but my mom used to sing it to me as a baby, and I love the lyrics! and it’s another great song to listen to outside or somewhere quiet and peaceful. We only listen to Nat King Cole’s recording of it, but the song itself is just nice.

Assignment 22: That's a weird combo- Sam Chavez

I'm a Floridian, a Minnesotan, a Coloradan, a Mexican, and maybe even an Italian you'd have to ask my Mom. This unusual mix of characters shapes the unique 5'8 beast they call Sam today. From air boating in the swamps of Florida, to ice skating on our backyard lake in Minnesota, to panning for gold with my grandparents in Colorado, all the way to seeing photos of my Dad's grandma, who I never got he honor of meeting, my different experiences have shaped my character into something special to me. This life full of experiences has already lended me skills that I never thought I'd have. I can effectively run away from an alligator hiding under my moms car (yes that happened), I can hit 50 MPH sledding down a hill into lake, I can pan for gold, and I can make a pretty decent Tamale. Moving states and learning many cultures in my 16 years of life have already shaped a unique person out of me, and the scary part is, Im just getting started.

Assignment 21: Tree:1 Sam:0. - Sam Chavez

My entire childhood was enveloped by baseball. I was always at practices and games from the time I was 3, and to be honest, I wasn't that bad. Rising T-Ball star Sam Chavez, #3 was sure to make it to the big leagues right? Wrong. During a summer game in 2006, my little baseball career was going to be put on halt. While running as fast as my little 4 year old legs could carry me, I tripped on first base while my foot was bent in the wrong direction. I started crying, as one does, and was taken off the field to my parents. That day we went to the doctor to make sure everything was okay. They took X-rays, and everything was just fine they said. Go back and play some more baseball they said. It'll be fun, they said. So, after 3 more days of me consistently telling my mom how bad it hurt, she assured me I would be fine and told me to get ready for my next game. So I did and I played, hobbling everywhere I went. When she realized that even ice cream wouldn't get me to stop fussing, she figured we ought to go back to the doctor. They took more x-rays and what do u know?? My foot was fractured. Never would've seen that coming. They told me I'd be out of the game for at least 4 months. Little Sam was NOT okay with that. I did everything I could to get back on the diamond as fast as possible; I did my physical therapy and wore that bright orange cast like a champ. They said that my foot wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure of baseball and it wasn't a good idea to return to playing even after my 4 month recovery. But as soon as fall ball came to town and I was out of my cast, I was right back at it, and I never had any problems with it again. Though by baseball career wouldn't last forever or make me millions in the MLB, it did show that persistence overcomes negativity. I couldve sat there like a normal 4 year old and watched Elmo all day (I kinda did) but instead I worked to get back on the field as soon as I could. So no more broken bones would get little Sam down and out ever again.

Assignment 20: How It's Made- Sam Chavez

Working at a busy Go Kart track for a few months has left me with more mechanics knowledge than I would have expected. From people flipping their karts at 45 MPH, to people driving straight through the barriers, we see lots of weird issues that require maintenance on the karts themselves. The most common one of all though, is a tire that needs replacing. On my first shift, a tire flew off of a kart and landed 50 yards away from where the kart was, which- you guessed it- is bad, so correct replacement is imperative.
1. If the bad tire is already off, then this step is of no importance, so you can skip it. If the tire is still connected to the kart though; which it usually is, you will need to remove it. To do this, you will need a 18mm Allen wrench and patience. There are 6 bolts that connect the wheel to the disc which is connected to the main frame, so you need to unscrew all 6 bolts. These bolts are upwards of 5 inches long so patience is key.
2. After all 6 bolts are off, the tire is disconnected from the disc and can be removed from it. After the tire is off, you must check to make sure the bearing is still intact. If it is, then it can be slipped out from the middle of the tire and used in the new one. It it is not, then you'll need a new bearing.
3. Once you have a new tire and a working bearing, you can do the reverse of steps 1 and 2. Put the  bearing in the new tire and slide it on the wheel post so it is close enough to the disc that you can start inserting the bolts.
4. Re-screw all 6 bolts and TIGHTEN.
Then you have a new tire on a go kart.

Assignment #22 - who I am - Buddy Goodwin

I am a country boy. I am a city boy. I am an unusual combination of both. I was born and raised on a very large farm in Carlisle, Kentucky. I lived there until I was ten. I would spend my days roaming the country side as I was practically always outside. Then when I was 10 I moved to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. I lived there for a few years and then moved once more to another large city, Lexington, Kentucky, where I reside today. This suburban life was much different than the rural life I was used to and had a large impact on me. I have provided this context because it helps one to understand my personality today. I still love the outdoors. I love warm sunny days where I can be active and outside for 10 hours a day and I love nature. I also love hanging out with friends. I love Friday night board game nights and sleepovers. While I am a fairly social person when I want to be I am also sometimes a home body. I enjoy spending time at home with my family as much as going to high school parties. This is probably because through all the times I've moved my family has been right there with me and my whole life I have gotten along well with my four brothers.

Assignment #21 - metal leg - Buddy Goodwin

This summer I was playing lacrosse in the Chicago Cup tournament in Chicago and broke my leg. The upper part of my tibia bone broke off and allowed for my knee cap to dislocate as well. I had to be rushed to a hospital and then transferred to another one. I ended up having surgery later that night and woke up to my leg in cast and three metal screws in it. It would stay that way for the next few months. This was an extremely difficult obstacle that had popped up in my life. It happened right at the beginning of summer so my whole summer was gone. This also meant that I could not go to a summer bible/sports camp that I had been looking forward to for over a year. I am also a very active person and this meant that I couldn't do anything physically for the next few months. It also made daily necessities like using the bathroom and showering extremely hard. In addition to all of this I was in pain for a majority if the time. The time that I was immobilized in a cast was very hard for me. After about three months though I got out of the cast and out of a brace that I had been wearing for a few weeks. I was able to slowly start doing the things that I loved to do. I had physical therapy twice a week for about a month and a half. This got my leg stronger and back to where I was comfortable walking on it again. At this time it was around November and lacrosse season was set to start in February. I decided then that I was going to get back into good enough shape and get my leg strong enough to be able to play that season. I started going to the gym twice a day. I found a personal trainer in lexington that was cheap and that I really liked and started going to him multiple times a week. I did this for almost three months leading up to our first game. It ended up all paying off. I got to play and start in our first game. I had our teams first goal of the season but more importantly I had such a fun time with my teammates on the field.

assigment #22 - lily gardner: a letter to the tin man with his foot in my backyard

In the style of “Had the Vines Budded, Were the Pomegranates in Bloom,” S Brook Corfman.
My father was Methodist then he was ten and smoking a pipe on the back porch. Now he’s in quarantine and all I can do is notice the condensation dripping off a glass, even if it’s not iced tea. I keep trying to listen to the water on the walk. I keep saying There will be a world after the pandemic. It’s not quite true but I keep describing the same things differently, as my crumpling back when I sit for a test or the floaters that overtook my great aunt’s vision. The sensations of gluttony and scarcity won’t stay put in my eyebrows. I forget and then remember, exhausted as soon as I open my eyes. I had a friend whose father died, it was as if he never existed. She lives with her aunt who’s a pharmacist because her mother moonlighted to Ohio long ago. She hated boys. I don’t know if I’m more worried or impatient about what will come. Not even Robert Frost can help. When I ride on both paths, I have to swerve my bicycle, around the worms that come out after a spring rain and used condoms. I decided just to sell the bicycle. Carbon neutrality, for what it’s worth. But what’s the point of money, for an experience you can never have? Maybe if I go to the temple where they called out my name, with the Methodists, I’ll find some solace. I’ll kneel down and pray for the tin man with his foot in my backyard to convince me that Margaret and Adolfus were just dreamers with too many nightmares.

Assignment #21- Ezra Mulalic- chess

Whenever I was in the third grade, I used to go to the Eagle Creek library pretty often, and after school they would have chess games and some on the weekend. It took me a little while to understand how to play the game, like how the pieces move and the layout of the pieces go, and when I finally understood how the game worked I was hooked on it. I kept returning to get more experience and hopefully get that sweeet taste of victory. After about a week I finally got my first win against another one of the kids there that was about my age, and I was hooked on the idea of winning. I kept playing and playing winning and losing, mainly losing, and after a couple weeks I heard of a chess tournament there were going to have on a Saturday there. This got me excited and I started playing chess everywhere I could to get the most experience. I was preparing to get this victory in the tournament, I couldn't possible take a loss. When the tournament day came, I woke up early and I felt sure I was going to win. I went to the tournament, beat the first person and lost immediately after that. I was devasted and it really ruined my chess progression. Since then I haven't had the same passion for the game, but maybe one day the passion will be returned.

Assignment #20- Ezra Mulalic- How to start playing piano

I've been playing piano for quite some time now, and I would say I am an adequate player. The endless capabilites and sounds that can be created is just a quality that can not be overlooked. I feel that everyone should be able to play some level of piano.

Step One: Get yourself familiar with your keyboard, and the texture of the keys and the layout. Notice the alternating pattern of white and black keys, and just start messing around for a little.

Step Two: Learn the way which the keys go up starting from middle c, going in the order of c, d, e, f, g, a, b, and then c. Get familiar with that order.

Step Three: Now being able to read the notes and translate that into keys can be quite difficult. You first have to be able differentiate the clefs the notes can be in, the treble clef is normally for the right hand (sometimes can change), and the bass clef is normally for the left hand. Get comfortable with how they look, and whenever you have to play both hands, the sheet of music will place the right hand line on top of the land hand line.

Step Four: Understand the placement of the notes on the measure lines and the corresponding notes. This will take a while but fully learning this will allow you to start playing music and having fun.

This should be a very beginning experience to your piano playing fun!

Assignment #20 - How to play Fortnite - Buddy Goodwin

One of my favorite things to do in my free time is play video games. I enjoy a wide variety of video games but my favorite one to play is Fortnite. Fortnite is a third person battle royale game that took over the internet in 2017. In this post I will be laying out a list of steps to follow if you wish to play and succeed in Fortnite. (The first step starts after one has already downloaded the game and opened the application)

Step one: Once you are in the lobby you want to hit the yellow button on the bottom right of your screen that says "ready". This will send you into matchmaking which typically takes about 30 seconds and will then send you into a match.

Step two: Once you are in the battle bus, which is a blue school bus with a hot air ballon on top of it that keeps it floating in the air, then you will have the opportunity to jump out and skydive to any location on the map.

Step three: My favorite place to land a plan called Salty Springs. Once you have landed look for a house and go inside. Inside the house there will be weapons scattered across the floor that you must locate and if you get lucky there will also be chests hidden throughout the building.

Step four: Locate these chests and open them. More guns and ammo, or "loot" will pop out. In Fortnite there are 5 different rarities of weapons. Gray, Green, Blue, Purple, and Gold going from worst to best respectively. Assemble the best loadout of five weapons that you can find in the house or houses and go outside for battle.

Step five: Run around the map and avoid the storm in order to locate other players. Once you find a player aim your gun at him and shoot him. My best piece of advice when your are in a fight is to shoot at the other player then build a wall around you when he shoots back at you. Repeat this process until the other player is eliminated.

Step six: The final step is to continue to run around and eliminate everyone until you are the last player standing. Once this occurs you have won and you may start another game!

Assignment #20: How to Put on an Ankle Brace - M'Kiyah Baird

How to put on an ankle brace for flat feet. 

(The brace pictured was given by a podiatrist because my feet are abnormally flat. There are other braces used for volleyball or other sports you can buy elsewhere. This is for people that don't understand why it takes me so long to put these on.)

1. Put the brace on your foot. 
   
2. Strap the two laces to your foot. This is to tighten it and frame your foot so make sure you put it on right. 
   
3. Strap the two long straps on your foot, going across your foot and then coming around underneath. They should make an 'x' shape. 
   
   
   
   
4. Take the thicker straps and attach them around the top of the brace. This keeps everything in place. 
   
5. You're done. Now walk, run, and sleep in the brace as long as your heart desires.

Assignment #21: Failure - M'Kiyah Baird

One of my biggest setbacks was when I didn't make a certain club volleyball team. It's my junior year and I've been playing volleyball for roughly 6 years. Needless to say, the game has become my life. This particular club was one I hadn't tried out for since 8th grade and the competition level is super high at my age. However, making a team here could have given me spotlight and could have gotten me into college volleyball. Unfortunately for me, I was not very good. I knew that I had potential but the things I was doing then were not going to be enough. By the end of the second tryout day, I knew that I wasn't going to make it. 4 days out and the results were posted, my name nowhere to be found. I think I cried for a solid hour before I decided to move on and try out for another club. That club was pretty new which meant I wouldn't get much recognition from college coaches. I tried out anyway and made a team with some of my old teammates. Right now, I can't tell you how much I've improved and how excited I am to continue the season. I've not only seen my volleyball skills grow but my personality grow, too. I've gained a confidence I completely lacked at that first tryout and now I'm glad I overcame that failure instead of accepting defeat. 

Assignment #22: Unusual Circumstances - M'Kiyah Baird

I live in a family of giants. I don't know if I would consider it "unusual circumstances," but my entire family on my dad's side is full of tall, athletic people. My dad, who is only 6', is the shortest of the family of 11 siblings, while the tallest being around 6'7". Now, if you think about the fact that these 11 tall siblings all went off and had more tall children (all of them had at least two, most had more), you would get a glimpse of what family reunions are like. Most of the boys played football and the girls played volleyball. One of the brothers was a Harlem Globetrotter. All of their kids played multiple sports. So, thinking about my life experiences, I'm noticing the patterns I've picked up from that side of the family. I am 5'10" and some change and have played about 9 different sports, I love being tall and wish I was taller, and I'm relatively competitive. That being said, college is where a lot of my family members bettered themselves in the athletics area and others found new aspirations for life outside of sports. Thus, being a part of a tall family has taught me that your college experience isn't always defined by what sport you play but staying active throughout life makes you happier. Being a part of this tall family is most likely why I'm so determined to be great at any sort that I try. 

Assignment 23: The Perfect Playlist

A Blast From the Past

"High Fidelity" (2000) was a film that was remarkably ahead of its time. The film tells the story of Rob Gordon, a washed-up music junkie (played by the fantastic John Cusack) who spends his days creating perfect 5 song playlists. There's his playlist for his worst break up ever, his playlist of the top 5 soul tracks released between 1955 and 1965, and his playlist for his ex-girlfriend's dad's funeral.

Today, thanks to Spotify,  Apple Music, YouTube, and Pandora, creating a "perfect" playlist has never been easier.

On the other hand, Rob probably would be appalled by the slapdash way some of us throw together any group of songs above a certain tempo before we head to the gym, or take all those below a certain tempo and thoughtlessly label it “chillaxxx.” As Rob forewarned, “The making of a good compilation tape is a very subtle art. Many do’s and don’ts. You’re using someone else’s poetry to express how you feel. This <beat>  is a delicate thing.”

So for this blog assignment, create a "perfect" playlist for something. It could be your perfect playlist to listen to at the gym (boring!), perfect playlist for a rainy day, perfect playlist for anything. . . be as creative as you can. Once you have chosen a topic, select 5-10 tracks for this playlist, noting the song and artist, and write a few sentences explaining why you chose this song, what this song adds to your playlist, why you put it where you did, and how it works with the other songs you selected to create a cohesive perfect playlist.

Then create that list in Spotify (if possible) and share the link with mathhugh@aol.com 

In all honesty this is my way to crowd source interesting music so don't be a dolt and make a joke list please.

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, April 5 at 11:59 pm

May 10 is the last day to make up blogs 23-25

entry inspired by former Academy student John Cowgill

Assignment #23- Miller Luhan- The Perfect Playlist For.. Corona Time

By the way: I have been looking forward to this prompt because I love listening to music and making new playlists.
Also, just a disclosure- this is, in no way, aimed to copy Rita Wilson's playlist to listen to while in isolation, though it was slightly inspired by that. Instead, this aims to compile my thoughts and emotions, as well as what I wish could be doing and my hopes for the summer... basically its a playlist created to put a better spin on the things going on in the world right now. I have a video of the "good times" for each of these songs in my camera role and associate these songs with amazing people and events. Now I know that you won't have the same memories as me when listening to them, but hopefully it puts you in a better mood and brings you some comfort while stuck in quarantine, too!
P.S. there are some extras thrown into the actual playlist for your musical discovery.

Song #1- "Young and Alive" by Bazzi
This song makes me SO happy!! It basically makes me feel like I can not only be a kid but act like one- living carefree. I have also screamed these lyrics at the top of my lungs with my best friend Abbey in my car a bunch of times since its new release in 2020.

Song #2- "8TEEN" by Khalid
I have a video from last fall driving through the country on my way to the orchard with one of my best friends, listening to this song. But, I also have a memory from last summer when I went on the BEST trip of my entire life to Costa Rica with my parents. I remember my mom and I singing and dancing to this in our resort's bathroom. It played from our little portable speaker and we held up our hands for microphones.

Song #3- "Doses and Mimosas" by Cherub

Now, this one is a special one. I hear is EVERY single time I golf with my best friend Robby. And when I say every time, I mean every time. He even plays it when we work out- not that it's not a good song, but I usually need something a little more ummm... rap like. Anyways this song reminds me of this awesome person and the numerous golf days we spend together.

Song #4- "Magic In The Hamptons" by Social House
This song ughhhh LOVE it! Not only does it remind me of summer drives in the country, but it also brings back memories from this year's party bus to seniors. When it played, the entire bus stopped what they were doing to sing it loud and proud. I have a video of that, too haha!

Song #5- "This Life" by Vampire Weekend
This reminds me of sitting on the beach in the Bahamas a few years ago with my Dad's fraternity brothers and their kids. That was another amazing trip and experience; we spent almost every day island hopping with our little boat and visiting different places. My favorite was- as we like to call it- "Pig Island". Such cute pictures of those little babies!!

Song #6- "26" by Caamp
Yes, another golf story- this time with a different person, but still a speaker on the course is a MUST have in recreational play. Such a happy song listen to while spending time with friends in the outdoors. The uplifting beat is just so relaxing!

Song #7- "Rewind" by Tiera
Just before the whole virus thing broke out, Abbey and my parents and I spent a long weekend in Nashville visiting Vanderbilt. I loved the campus but I found that it was very expensive and we, unfortunately, would not get financial aid. However, that doesn't take away from the visit! The night before the tour my mom purchased tickets to a little concert and we spent the night listening to AMAZING music. This artist is the girl we listened to and this is her newly released single (as of last night)- so just to promote the experience and her as an artist, I encourage a listen!

Song #8- "Beer Never Broke My Heart" by Luke Combs
The best country music artist, in my opinion, is Luke Combs. This song reminds me of a kid at YoungLife Camp last summer who loved Luke Combs too and we spent hours talking about music and just life in general. YoungLife was an amazing experience in itself, but this song reminds me of the friends I made from other states, the ones that I will most likely never meet again, but have left a long-lasting impact on my life.

Song #9- "Laid Back" by Dallas Davidson
Flashback! One time freshman year I went to a UK football game with some friends and there was this nice (intoxicated) 30 year old guy who was holding his big speaker on his shoulder. Robby, Parker, and I all stood on the sidewalk and looked at each other like the guy was crazy. But, then I remember him telling us all to dance, and though we were reluctant, we all held hands in a circle in the middle of orange lot as this song played. It probably doesn't sound as funny as it was in the moment, but trust me, I couldn't stop laughing (not that that's not common)!

Song #10- "Sleepless" by Bblasian
This is a great party song. I remember there was a party after Keeneland last fall. The group of us ended up at one of our friend's houses and we all stood around the ping pong table with our arms on each other's shoulders shouting these words.

Finally, sorry that was such a long read haha! But, in terms of the order of the overall playlist (at least these first 10 songs because after that it becomes relatively random) I began with similar sounding songs, went to country, and then used Laid back as a transition from the country to more hip-hop sounding theme.

I hope you enjoy this little concoction- it certainly brings a little smile to my face! :)
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0NSj5IlmKuXyPEfW1X2nZz?si=aIuyOo7tQGSf9val1thqaQ

assignment 23 - a year in music - cole

So, I've been kind of excited for this assignment, which I know makes me a total dork, but I'm a big music nerd, so I had been sort of brainstorming ideas for how to incorporate the many songs I would like to into one cohesive playlist. I settled on making a "year in music," starting with songs that remind me of early spring, then working my way through summer and fall, before ending up in the dead of winter. Then, I realized the assignment was for 5-10 songs, so I'll be sending two playlists, the first of which will be the aforementioned, and the second of which will be just the songs that I discuss below (the "highlights" of the longer playlist).

1. Holocene - Bon Iver
Pleasant, simple, and subdued, this track has always reminded me of the first warm day in March, with snow melting and daffodils beginning to bloom. This song perfectly captures the end of winter and beginning of spring, and the ambivalence that comes with it.

2. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt.1 - The Flaming Lips
This is just a fun, quirky song by a really quirky band. Not quite as high-energy as some of the summer songs, but definitely captures the easygoing energy of that late-April, early-May warming of the air.

3. Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes - Paul Simon
The lazy river of songs on this playlist, it's warm, simple, and easy to listen to. Not perhaps the conceptual genius of some of the later songs on this list, but definitely the song equivalent of those first few lazy days of summer break.

4. The Knuckleball Suite - Peter Mulvey
This song just screams "summer." Or, perhaps more accurately, sweetly hums summer around a campfire with your family. It's a beautiful folk song that builds as it goes along, eventually coming to a climax that always brings me back to warm, humid summer nights.

5. Chicago - Sufjan Stevens
Straight-up baroque pop that really just reminds me of college football marching bands. The warm melodies balance out the autumnal instrumentation, making for September-y "Indian Summer" vibes.

6. Svefn-g-englar - Sigur Ros
Glacial Icelandic post-rock that signifies the transition into cold, dark November. Perfect for late-night drives, especially if you care more about the "feel" of the music, rather than the lyrics, because they're all in Icelandic.

7. How to Disappear Completely - Radiohead
The most beautiful song ever made. I love it with all my heart. Yeah, it's sad and slow and sappy, but its deeply emotional lyrics and melody perfectly encapsulate the darkest days of December, only without the Christmas spirit.

assignment 22 - pop! - cole

One of the few sets of unique circumstances that surround my generally unremarkable white, lower-middle-class, inner suburban upbringing is that which surrounds the beautiful game of football. I began playing when I was seven, a defensive end and running back whose majesty on the field could only have been improved had my helmet not been the size of the rest of my body. We didn't win a single game that season, and futility was a common theme throughout my entire seven-year career, but I loved every second of those losses. The game was basically my entire life. And once my eighth grade season rolled around, I had lost enough wait to become a "skill position" player for the first time since my third grade season in which I was a bowling ball running back whose job was to simply absorb as much contact as possible without being tackled. I was so excited that I was one of only three players to attend summer workouts with my coaches, workouts which ranged from filling in the various sinkholes in our field (which, in retrospect, is terrifying) to just deciding to go inside and play make-it-take-it for two hours (which, in retrospect, is probably why we were so awful at football). 

One fateful June day, however, we actually decided to work on football. Newly skinny and fast, my coaches made the momentous decision to line me up at wide receiver. My first few routes were immaculately crisp, and my hands seemed to engulf the comedically small middle school football, even if the passes coming my way weren't perfect. I had found my calling. Until one play, a simple dig route, five steps and a cut toward the middle of the field, but on that inside turn, I planted my left foot, turned, heard a "pop," and fell awkwardly to the muddy ground. Whether I stepped in a mini sinkhole, or just totally botched the concept of running is still undecided to this day. But the result was catastrophic. Unable to walk for a month, to run for four months, or to be as agile as once I was for the rest of my life, I have since been confined to fruitless attempts to integrate myself back into the athletic world, playing lacrosse and volleyball, and the nerdy, decidedly easy-on-the-knees world of speech and debate. But the question of "what could have been" regarding my life and football will haunt me forever. 

As far as college is concerned, I understand the impermanence of even the things that are taken for granted, and I think that the abrupt conclusion to my football career has allowed my to become more adaptable, to new, undesirable circumstances, like helping me to make the adjustment to a new city, new friends, and, once college has begun, the many changes that take place day-to-day in the most exciting period of one's life.

assignment 21 - a crushing defeat - cole

Perhaps this is recency bias, but the most significant failure of mine that comes to mind is one that occurred about a week ago at the state speech and debate tournament. The year prior, I was the state runner-up, the perfect combination of successful enough to garner respect, but not quite successful enough to let me rest on my laurels. And I entered this year's state tournament hoping for (and, if I'm being honest, expecting) a state championship. Instead, I waltzed into each of my rounds with the moxie of an odds-on favorite, got totally flustered mid-round, and lost 3 of my 5 rounds, not even "breaking" to the quarterfinal round. It was totally embarrassing, and considering that it will probably be the last tournament that happens until September (unless you count the now-online Tournament of Champions that will be funny for a couple rounds but get annoying very soon thereafter), it's a setback that I'm going to have to live with for a while. It's hard to tell what exactly I have learned from this experience other than not to take success for granted, but as time goes on and I have more time to reflect on it, I'm sure I'll be able to extrapolate a little bit deeper of meaning.

assignment #20 - lily gardner: just girly things

My name is synonymous with the word “truant,” or it was until we stopped going to school altogether. Thirty days. Common sense would say that I should be booted, or at least failing half of my classes. Some of my teachers might concur. But alas, here I am, sitting at home on account of state orders, not of my own flippancy.

Many times I have credited WikiHow with teaching me the fundamentals of living life. It taught me more than my mother ever could: how to cut bangs, put in a tampon, manage my time. It was my solace in the dark ages of being a “tween,” when nothing applied and everything applied and all the world was a mess of pubescent jumble.

It never taught me how to skip school.

So here we are, one step closer to a WikiHow byline, here to explain the fundamentals.

1) Inform everyone in advance, preferably at the beginning of the school year. I often think I have quite a bit to write on the little get to know you turkeys that consume the first few days of school. Between talking far too much and missing half the semester, best characterized as general obnoxiousness, I must justify my fatal flaws before they even begin to manifest. Of course, I email in the hours before I depart on my next flight, but I find that setting everyone up with low expectations of my in-person performance going into the game is greatly beneficial.

2) Leave. Perhaps this is the easiest part, once you’ve done your due warning, you can simply exit. Some have recommended that I try to take tests and quizzes before I depart, but I know either way I will be returning to work hell, so why ruin my time away as well?

3) Become best friends with the attendance ladies. This is, perhaps, the most crucial step. I recommend buying pedicures as end of year gifts, and bringing small presents at random. Even stopping in to say “hello” on the days you’re present does a world of good. I reached the best friends stage freshman year, since then, I’ve turned in unlimited notes for many excused absences.

4) Do only the work absolutely necessary. Returning back from a many day hiatus can only be described as an agnostic’s edition of hell. It is overwhelming, to say the least. Of course, the clearest recommendation is to do some of the upcoming work prior to departure. But we’re here to be realistic. Upon return, do your homework for the days you missed first, stopping only the fill in lapses in understanding. In a very structured way, you must next read up on all of the content you missed, texting your friends to ensure maximum understanding. It is only after those steps that one can actually begin the arduous process of making up the busy work of the days. Always check Infinite Campus, as half the things are, suggestions. Know that you will not be working out or sleeping until you have caught up, only to do it all over again two weeks later.

And so is my cycle, week after week, four day absence after four day absence. But of course, life would be nothing but the incarnation of nails on the chalkboard if not running, running, running.

Assignment #22 - Wes Davis - The Best Fit is Waiting for Me

I don't really have a top college. Of course I have schools I dream to go to but either by fear or financial incapability, I've barely even considered them when pondering the next chapter of my life. I hope that this fear doesn't cost me a worthwhile four years of my life, however I do recognize the need for me to break free from the bonds that keep me from pursuing these schools. Established schools such as Juilliard or Carnegie Mellon feel far out of my reach, but are they really? Maybe only financially.

Anyway, back to my experience. I do think I would be compatible for those aforementioned schools, and more that I didn't mention. Not to be "quirky" or "not like other girls" (lol) but I was painfully aware from the moment that I remember that I wouldn't be one to fit the mold of what was expected. I frequently fought my parents on the gender roles they tried to push down my throat and the blue they inundated me with from childhood. I rejected the masculinity that many today would consider toxic. While this speaks for my childhood, it did form how I did and continue to develop. I've had this awareness of the redundancy of ideals and notions that society has attempted to force upon anyone willing since the moment I can remember. 

This, I think, might have also been what first drew me to the theatre. Not only was it something that for boys my age was looked down upon, but it was something that I could explore the lives of others and experiment with what my truth is. One thing I love about theatre is that I always learn about myself through the characters I've been blessed to portray. Of course I learn about them too, but I believe it's that privilege to inhabit the lives and experiences of others that has also formed my own experience and my own truth. This awareness is double sided, both a blessing and a painful curse. Ignorance is bliss, and I frequently wish for such bliss. The reality of my experience and truth is one I don't yet have the yearning to express, but my experience is one that at one point brought me great pain. Now, however, it brings me pride. Diversity should be celebrated and nourished in society. 

Thus, I would be a great fit for schools like Juilliard. They promote diversity and a culture teeming with creatives from across the globe. A community of artists is essential not only to a young artist like myself, but also the overall community. My only wish is to make change and be apart of a community of artists that can bring light to those around them in times of darkness. Even if I don't go to Juilliard, even if I stay in the state I feel constricts my potential as an artist, I believe there is a place for artists in our local society, as there is everywhere. 

No matter where I go, the school that I spend my first four years of adulthood in will be the best fit for my experiences and my truth. That much I know. If Juilliard is my best fit, I'll be accepted. If not, then the best fit for me as an individual is waiting for me. As an artist, doors will always be open, for artists are needed by society more now than ever. I have faith that wherever I end up, it will be perfect for my current situation. 

assignment #21 - lily gardner: i, hammurabi

Last February, the chickpeas in the oven take an hour longer than the recipe says so that by the time we pull them out with the towels we use as mits, we’ve eaten the rest of our food, which is not saying too much. Into mugs they go, a scramble with the spatula as we dance around the kitchen - whooping.

I cup the mug with the little blue butterflies, popping them into my mouth, one after the other. As the boy stands behind me, waiting. Crack crack crack of the shells, splitting open. I keep throwing, addicted the rush when the molars hit and the cumin shatters into my mouth. I don’t want to hear his questions. “What is your story?”

“When is a time in your life that you’ve faced a challenge?”

In the back of my mind I knew I hadn’t faced any. At least none like the stories he was looking for.

Skip skip, win, checkmate doesn’t work when you can’t play by the rules. I, Hammurabi, promptly took a chomp into his arm. In an instant, my cousin was screaming. The folk singers still played without me, the first concert I missed all season. The next year, they were gone.

That’s my kind of strife.

It’s like baking a cake for your grandma, he says. Crack. Except you have no flour. Crack.

If the flour runs out then we drive down the road to Kroger and buy some. But they had to rush milk and eggs and flour up the hollers after the tornado to the grandmothers who had mouths to feed and bread to bake, lest their neighbors go hungry.

The first of the month can creep up on me. It doesn’t hit till I’m writing on my lined paper, sitting, waiting.

In the winter when the heat goes on, the line gets long, so much longer. They would start showing up on our ride to school and still be there when we can home.

But the drafts creep up through the cracks in the floor in the house that papaw built. That bitch Michelle - how could she have taken away the hot chocolate in the lunch lines? The kids are cold, but their parents feel the chill.

My aunt found God when the UPS truck crashed and my uncle discovered oxy. Her father, the postmaster, could never know. At work, her husband walked through the gates saying “slaves only.”

Their son works for the drug industry and voted for the man who keeps the makers of oxy in power. The barons fashion their own hollers to live in, right up the road from Wheelwright. Why’d you want to see the people you were making suffer?

She still calls him every day. We still vote for Mitch.

I know that narcolepsy is a medical condition but the only people I’ve ever met diagnosed with it are comfortable, nothing more or less.

I fall asleep easy at night. Trust fund girl and welfare queen, all at once.

Assignment 22 Sneha Amrit - off to the motherland

Throughout my life my family has taken many trips to India and almost all of them have left quite and impact on me. The last two trips we’ve taken stick out to me the most because both of these times I’ve gotten profusely ill and were both times when it was just me and my parents going and not my sister. I enjoy seeing my family a lot, and it’s not something that I get to do often considering that they all live in India, so when we go we have to make sure to hit all the pitstops. Going to India helps me adapt because none of my extended family speaks English so I have to brush up on my rusty Oriya quick. Usually at the start of the trip things are rough, but by the end I’m able to talk to everyone. My past two trips however have made me swear off going to India for the time being. Both times I got so sick that  I was just throwing up for a week and couldn’t eat. The first time I was so sick that we almost didn’t get let back into the states. Getting this sick twice has made me more grateful for when I’m healthy, and has made me more grateful for the good things in life in general.

Assignment 21 Sneha Amrit - I’m over this coronacation

I’m writing this blog late while we are all on coronacation, and a problem I’d like to solve right now is coronavirus. Why I want to solve it is both selfish and not selfish. On a selfish note, I’m really bored and this social distancing thing is not leaving me with many options for entertainment. Everything is also closed, which makes sense for public health reasons, but still limits my entertainment options. On a not selfish note the CDC has labeled this as a pandemic and as seen in Italy if corona is not curbed soon in the United States it is very possible that the United States healthcare will be overwhelmed like Italy’s was. Steps that we could all take is staying home when possible and engaging in social distancing when out. Hopefully scientists will be able to find a way for there to be affordable mass testing for the virus, so that we know who and how many are infected. Ideally a vaccine will be found and made available to the public.

Assignment 20 Sneha Amrit- How to Braid Your Hair

How to braid your hair

I find that when my hair is braided it is it’s most functional. It’s out of my face and stays put. I recommend braiding your hair to anyone who often finds their hair inhibiting their activities.

I enjoy braiding my hair, but in the process it can kind of be confusing.

1- part your hair in the middle and have two hair ties.

2-divide your hair into 2 sections.

3- Tie one of the sections up.

4- with the section that you did not tie up divide it into three sections.

5- take one of the sections that is on the side of the three sections and bring it UNDER the middle section.

6- now take the section of hair that is on the opposite side of the section that you just moved and bring it UNDER the new middle section.

7- repeat step 5-6 until you reach the bottom of your hair.

8- once you reach the end of your hair with a hair tie.

9- untie the half of your hair you set aside.

10- repeat steps 4-8 on the new side of your hair.

Assignment #23- Success sung by Post Malone- Benjamin Webster

The path to success, however defined by you, is a tough one that starts in the middle until you hit some obstacles. It's only through perseverance where things are fulfilled. Post Malone has been on this path singing about the lowest of lows and the highest of highs that come with success. He started out with no money and with his hit single "White Iverson" at 19 years old, he was thrown into a fast, nonstop climb to fame. This playlist has songs that categorize a feeling on the road to success, in order of when they happen.

Distress: Take What You Want-  Post Malone feat. Ozzy Osbourne & Travis Scott
The beat may not convey distress initially but the song is about distressed relationships with the weight of it all being carried by Post, Ozzy and Travis. It is a fire song with three different styles of music blending to create a fire track.
Longing: Leave- Post Malone
This is about leaving behind someone or something regardless if it hurts a little or a lot. Being alone cane be scary and uncertain. The chanting vocals along with the guitar make this a complete track.
Dejection: Up There- Post Malone
My personal favorite, this song deals with Post's apathy towards everything life is hitting him with. He doesn't want to deal with it anymore hence he wants to go "Up There." The track has a dejected outlook on it bu also a slimmer of hope that things might turn out better in the future. It's conveyed by the groovy tone and easy guitar strumming.
Desperation: Feeling Whitney- Post Malone
Despair is one of the worst emotions to feel. Post does well by singing about his past transgressions and issues in this somber song. Singing about his substance abuse and personal issues, Post gives his all.
Hope: Stay- Post Malone
This song is about an up and down relationship. Despite this, the song has a glimmer of hope due to its upbeat guitar and singing. Acoustic, Bass and even a slide guitar accompany this easy going song.
 Aspiration: I'm Gonna Be- Post Malone
This is an upbeat, fun song about how no matter what, you got to be what you want to be. It matches the feeling of aspiration and hope because of the song's message. Nothing can stop you from becoming what you were meant to be.
Fulfillment: A Thousand Bad Times- Post Malone
If you're on top of the world, you don't let anything drag you down no matter how bad it may be. This song is a middle finger towards whatever is "holding" you back.
Satisfaction: Go Flex- Post Malone
"Flexing" is a term associated with showing off your wealth or attitude. This song is satisfying because it's about finally having what you want. Everything is good so the natural inclination is to flex it.
Pride: Congratulations- Post Malone feat. Quavo
This song is self congratulatory as well as lauded with accolades. It preaches of how people doubt each other to make themselves feel better but if you grind hard enough your dreams can become a reality.
Amazement: Yours Truly, Austin Post- Post Malone
Crazy things happen in our lives. Sometimes you just need to sit down and contemplate how wild your life has become. This song is perfect for this because it's about celebrating and coming down from the "high" of your life.

Haley Noehren - Assignment #22 - Gerald the Glowing Mouse

When reflecting about my life, I originally began writing about the time I ate dirt, contracted a rare disease, and then had to get my lymph node under my jaw removed. Considering that happened when I was four, and it doesn't really affect me that much, I decided to re write this. So I was thinking about something that wasn't outdoorsy or running related and I chose something unique (kinda). Growing up my days were spent in my dads lab at UK. He's a biomechanist and physical therapist who focuses on ACL and lower extremity injuries and rehabilitation. When I was younger all I cared about was the medicine balls and resistance bikes I would play with in his lab. As I got older, though, I actually began to understand the science. After spending last summer sorting and digitizing 2,000 ish journal publications for my dad, I absorbed bits and pieces of what I was reading. Kinda cool. Apparently quadriceps strength correlates to the rate of ACL recovery - among other psychological factors. So yeah, growing up in a lab setting (and occasionally being subject to random pilot testing) is unique. But that's what I'm not here to talk about. I'm here to talk about the second aspect of my dads lab - his best friend/collaborator Dr.Fry.
 I have a slight interest in microbiology, and since my dad has connection to UK it was easy for me to make that my mentoring project. When Dr.Fry moved to Kentucky something else moved with him - his lab. And in that lab are some pretty cool things. That's right, he's got glowing mice. Well, glow in the dark mice. A current research study of my dad his collaborator is looking into myostatin - a muscle inhibitor. Since inhibiting the gene in humans would be unethical (it causes uncontrolled muscle growth), they get to use some pretty cool mice. And my job? I get to karyotype the mice and look at their muscle biopsies. The day I went to meet the mice Dr.Fry showed me a nystatin knockout mouse (one with uncontrolled muscle growth) and a normal mouse. When you shine the mice under black light, the certain muscle groups that the research is targeting glow. Like shine pink and purple and green. Then he sent me a picture of the collagen they examined under a fluorescent microscope -and it looks like something from an art museum.
Ok I'll stop geeking out over the mice and cool science gear (although I get to use the fancy pipets!). But my point is my life has been pretty unique. My minimal background and experience with microbiology and science in general, thanks to my dad, will help me if I do choose to major (or minor) in microbiology. What I get to do in Dr.Fry's lab will help prepare me for real life work, and give me real training with lab equipment. Ive already named two of the mice by the way. One is gonna be called Gerald and the other George. I've decided they will all start with G. I can't wait to see how my experience and skills with grow because of this unique opportunity to karyotype some glowing mice.

Haley Noehren - Assignment #21 - The Asthmatic who Runs

Yes, that's right, you get to hear more about running! Here's a little background, both my parents were runners. When I got to middle school it was decided that I should join cross country and track. For the first season, I could barely run a lap (that's a fourth of a mile, or 400 meters). I made a goal - run the straits and attempt to slowly jog the curves. For some reason though, I found it physically impossible to run more than the 100 meter straight. My lungs burned. I was physically inhaling but felt no oxygen actually entering my lungs. I was dizzy and lightheaded. I brushed it off though as just being out of shape (which I was). To add on to my dilemma, I was getting sick every other week. Nothing serious, just a cold or respiratory issues. My mom finally took me into the doctors office where they gave me the news - ya girl has got asthma. yay. For three years I had to take some weird steroid prescribed inhaler that tasted like strawberries twice in the morning and twice at night. That was a precaution- I still had to take my abuteral (the classic red inhaler) 2 to 4 times before I ran. It sucked. I felt like a medical experiment. My 8th grade year I was weaned off the steroid strawberry thing and told just to take the regular inhaler. I felt great - I had finally overcome asthma! Freshman year I came into high school with a fury to prove I was deserving of varsity. I did that and finally felt like asthma was a thing of the past. Then sophomore year hit me like a wall. Obviously asthma is a chronic illness, cause by many factors, that doesn't just disappear. I settled into my comfort zone - if I couldn't breath I slowed down. And that was never good. That track season I didn't PR. I let my weaknesses hinder my performance, and blamed it on the circumstances. Junior year I was hungry to overcome. I acknowledged that my asthma was always going to be a setback, but that it was something I could momentarily ignore. This year I did get a PR. Infact, I got many. By learning to push through my limitations and get comfortable with being uncomfortable I finally broke 22 min for a 5 K. Just last week I got a 2:45 min 800, something sophomore Haley said she could never do. Through changing my perspective I was able to overcome my ever-present obstacle of being an asthmatic who runs.

assignment 21-what’s a diving board?-emanuelle sippy

i’ve never gone swimming in a city fountain. the honorary streams of firefighters and horses don’t cool me down. but when i look at the mothers and children wading in the drip-drop down man o’ war’s neck, i don’t think of too cool for school spontaneity. they aren’t drawn to [il]legal waters as lawbreakers. their demeanor doesn’t remind teenage-risk-flaunting. they don’t seem like the type to worship white saviors. they don’t strike as the horse owner’s thanker. swimming in a city fountain not because there is a thrill to shallow water where you can’t dive or jump or cannonball, though no sign postage says so, a doctor might. not to say firefighters live a cushy life but the moms swimming aren’t commemorated for risking their lives, are at the door wading, while a loved one dies, aren’t owning the horses jockeys ride. they swim in the water, and i wonder how long, not why.

// reflecting on power and representation and race and positionality, i have more questions than answers. (but what's new? i'm jewish.) i'm not sure what it will take to combat these issues, but i know we need to listen and learn and reflect and have the hard conversations. and vote. vote for women esp. women of color. and as professor brittney cooper wrote, "folks are fine with women doing the custodial work of democracy...black women's issues matter specifically, not as an add on to other ppl's issues...we should ask why a revolution for women is never urgent enough to be a priority." 

Assignment #22- Miller Luhan- Airplanes

Ever since I was little, my parents have traveled almost every week for work. At least one of them was always home with me until I reached the 6th grade. At that age I was deemed "responsible" enough to stay home by myself while their businesses took them elsewhere. Through these experiences, though, I became independent- this sense of self provided me confidence in pursuing things that I would not have done otherwise. For instance, I like to travel and try new things.
While there are downsides to my parent's absences, a perk is their frequent flier miles: they allow us to go far and wide. Having so much experience and confidence in my traveling abilities and my independence as a person, enabled me to travel fly by myself for the first time when I was just 10 years old. Ever since then, I learned that I actually prefer to travel by myself- the experience is far more exciting when you get to navigate the airport's numerous visitors and signs on your own.
But anyways, my point is that with these qualities gained from experiences, your college would be a great fit for me because I would absolutely love to do a study abroad program sophomore year, for at least one semester- either in England to study my major, or a Spanish speaking country to further my language abilities.

assignment 20—how to write to a poem—emanuelle sippy

1. convince yourself that every idea/image/thought is worth something even & maybe esp. the weird, outlandish stuff 
2. get good at reading the scribbles you jotted down when you couldn’t fall asleep 
3. read other people’s work and be both amazed and saddened/angered that it’s not yours & yours isn’t /may never be that good
4. make multiple versions of the same document with slight changes & lose track of where they are, which one you like most, which you shared with X person for critique, which you shared with Y person to gas you up 
5. repetition !!  
6. leave things so that you come back with fresh eyes
7. come back without fresh eyes, thinking you want to be done with it & feel done with it but know it needs something / isn’t good enough / not sure who to ask 
8. find the old thing you forget you once wrote
9. metaphor !! but too many in one poem
10. laugh at the stupid idea you finally deciphered & think the idea you can’t is worth deciphering even though it isn’t 
11. think you are qualified to write a “how to write a poem” even though you aren’t

assignment 18—with rad ppl around me—emanuelle sippy

I’m not a bucket list person. This is a cop-out but it—of course, on a much more superficial and less significant scale—reminds me of what Elizabeth Warren said about the role of gender in this race. 

“Gender in this race, you know, that is the trap question for every woman. If you say, 'yeah, there was sexism in this race,' everyone says 'whiner,'" she said. "And if you say, 'no, there was no sexism,' about a bazillion women think, 'what planet do you live on?” If I want to do something stupid, for sh*ts and giggles that’s fine. Kinda boring but alright and if I want to do something that matters, that’s a “noble pursuit,” that could have a degree of impact, it's arrogant and/or too serious, too something. And it's not just that I don’t want to lay out my top priorities for the world, I don’t really want to for myself. I’m one of those people who knows what I need to do, if I don’t do it it's because I’m choosing not to, it's not that I’ve forgotten. The to-do list is in my head and although this kind of list could be liberating, could be more fun it feels like it would need to be checked off too. Also, I love Elizabeth Warren but #BlueNoMatterWho. Okay fine, before high school is over: survive high school and elect a Democratic President and enact policies and politicians at local and state levels who care about climate, racial, economic, and educational justice. Before college is over: keep those people in office, ensure they get stuff done, get others out. Before life is over: help redefine and redistribute power through learning and listening with rad people around me. 

assignment 19—ceaseless choice—emanuelle sippy

The best advice I’ve ever gotten was “You make a choice and then you can make another choice.” As someone whose super indecisive and overthinks everything, this is something that resonates with me. It lessens some of the decision-making-gravity. When making a decision is cumbersome, which it kind of always is for me, I just remind myself of this. It’s temporary. I can always make another decision. There are going to be countless choices, so I’ll need to. Mostly, I trust this advice because I trust and love and admire the person who shared it with me, and she feels the same way about the person who shared it with her. When I was bogged down in the pros and cons of something, sending her message after message it was refreshing. She didn’t say “I feel you” or “That’s so tough” or “I’ve been there,” and this meant much more.