Personal Life and Project

Hey there,

It’s time to wrap things up--the semester, big life decisions, a million unpacked things in my dorm, and the results of my personal project.

My personal project came about in an effort to gain more control of my time. Life in college dictates so much more of my every day than I was expecting. It isn't the classes or studying. I enjoy that. I think it is the little moments of time. The constant sharing of space with someone else. The dull glare of the lights and walls in my dorm room. All the time I wish I was at home with my family or with my friends. Mediocre meals eaten alone in the Marketplace. The accumulation of all these moments of accommodation made me feel off balance like all the things that make me who I am just don't matter as much here.

With my project, I wanted to invest time in myself, in creating a life here that had more purpose.

Remember my little idea called “Bike, Books, and Big?”  Consider those done, done, and done.

Bike  

Okay, I admit this is a tad misleading. I do not have a traditional bicycle that I ride around campus. This refers to Spin Class. For some of last semester and all of this semester, I hopped on a cycling machine next to my lovely gal pal, Kate, and that was how we spent our Thursday nights. If you would like proof of the this feat, then maybe just check out my calves or ask our delightful instructor, Bri.

Cycling is one form of exercise that I really have fun doing, and it allowed me to invest in my health while also bonding with a friend. So win-win! Also I hope to find a cycling class to take at home this summer! Win!

Books

If you've read any of my blogs or know me at all, then you know that I find sanctuary in written word. But I've discovered that even though I packed 65 books and found a place for all of them in my tiny half of the room, I haven't had much time to read.

In the midst of everything else this semester, I made my way through three books--each one matching an aspect of my personality.

• Evicted by Matthew Desmond. It was on dozens of Must-Read lists from NPR to New York Times to Amazon to Barack Obama. Evicted is a non-fiction book that follows the stories of eight families in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as they try to have meaningful lives in the midst of poverty while others make large profits off their troubles. At times, I had to put the book down because I was overcome with a mixture of anger and sadness at the systems that seek to make the lives of the poor even harder. However, I am happy that I finished it and happy with the time I decided to read it. This semester, I spent more than 30 hours volunteering at the Johnson City Housing Authority, and what I learned from this book helped me be a better service to the agency. I even think I want to focus my future studies on Public Policy regarding housing and urban development.

• To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. This one took the longest to get through even though it was technically the shortest in length. Virginia Woolf is an amazing writer, but she writes in “stream of consciousness” style, so sometimes it requires very close, slow reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it and all the time it took to finish. Hard books like that often result in a better feeling when you finish, and it was just lovely to read.

• The Idiot by Elif Batuman.  This was an impulse buy when I was in a little bookstore in D.C, and it was one of the best decisions I made all semester. The main character is a lot like me, a freshman in college and trying to understand how to be an adult and communicate online (set in the 90s so by online, I mean e-mail) and how to find meaning in what you study. It was all such dry humor and interesting observations about this time in life. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in words and identity and awkward college experiences.

Big

The final facet of my project was my time at the Boys and Girls Club, where every week I visit my "Little Brother". Every Thursday afternoon I go and hang out with him for an hour or so. We eat snacks, read books, and play games. It's a nice way to forget about schoolwork for awhile, and just focus on making it a good time for this little kid I've grown to adore. Unfortunately, this Thursday will be my last afternoon with him, due to a factor explained below.

*Final* Thoughts

Overall, the combination of these activities has greatly benefited me personally, and I am glad that I was required to prioritize this type of self-improvement.

I have one huge personal update to tell everyone though.

This is my last blog and last “Collo” assignment.  I have been accepted to transfer to Rhodes College in Memphis. There are so many reasons that this is the right decision for me (like my major, my family, my relationship, my love for Elvis [mostly a joke]) but none of them mean that I regret my time at ETSU. I’ve met some wonderful people and learned so much from incredible professors and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery and memories I’ve made here.

So while I will no longer be a “Colloquist” in the same sense, I will always remember my days here as meaningful and use the experience to shape my next few years in college.

Until Some Other Time,

Maddie

Charity Ball Shenanigans

Hey everybody, 

It is hard to believe the Charity Ball is over. 

As a member of the Honors College Student Council, I have been anticipating and planning this event since the beginning of the school year. Now that it has come and gone, it is time to share some thoughts and pictures. 

Thoughts! 

• Venue: Amazing! I have been characterized as having "extravagant taste", so the Carnegie Hotel did not disappoint with all the gorgeous light fixtures and decorated ceilings/walls. I'd like to live there. 
• Food: I had a delicious red velvet cupcake! That was the highlight, but there were also small snacks for everyone like mini quesadillas, chicken on a stick, vegetable eggrolls, and spinach dip.
• Friends: I suppose Kate was my date. We got ready and rode together, then joined our pals Steven, John, and Jonah at a table with some of their friends. They are lovely company and ~interesting~ dancers. 
• Charity: We raised over $6,000 for the local charity, Small Miracles, an equestrian therapy facility that serves members of the community who have disabilities and even veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress. Overall, it was an extremely successful fundraising partnership with CIDA, and I know our hard work was worth it!  

Pictures! 

The ever-so stylish Luke and I 

Kate, Steven, his famous bolo tie, and I 

There isn't much to say except that the night was a success! Everyone seemed to have fun dancing and hanging out with friends! If you are reading this and you did not have a good time, please let me know so we can fix it for next year!

In other news: I am trying to find somewhere else to wear my dress. 

Until Next Time, 

Maddie 

March for Our Lives

Hello hello hello!

Happy Final Month of Classes!

If you read/watch/hear the news at all,  you know a few things:
1. Yet another school shooting has taken the lives of students.
2.  The majority of America wants Congress to do something about it--the breadth of which can be determined by your political beliefs/ constitutional interpretation, etc.
( Main thing we can agree on: desire for safety in our schools, churches, and communities)

These past few weeks have been full of activism on the national stage, but sometimes it is hard to feel that same fervor locally. I didn't expect much to be happening for this issue in East Tennessee. Last week, however, I was fortunate enough to experience something that changed my mind: March for Our Lives.

The day of the March was a Saturday. It was cold. It was raining. It was the middle of the afternoon. All of these factors could typically contribute to a small turnout. My brother and I arrived, expecting to see a few other college kids and families. In reality, I was blown away by the number of people in our community who showed up on this dreary Saturday to march for change. It was 2 miles, and I was surrounded by fellow citizens from every generation. An older couple--both using walkers--were doing the march next to us and said, "We've been fighting against gun violence since we were about your age!" This comment put the movement into perspective for me. It may be frustrating as a young person to see these shootings time and time again, and wait as congress does nothing to protect us, but others in our nation have been going through this for decades. The American epidemic of gun violence is not a recent epidemic.

We stopped in a park about halfway through the march to share a moment of silence for those killed in the Parkland school shooting and all other victims of gun violence in our nation. Then we continued and ended at the ETSU Cave patio to begin a rally. Starbucks donated some hot coffee to warm us up, and as we drank, local organizations handed out information and voter registration forms.

Speakers from many different perspectives shared their personal encounters with gun violence and voiced support for common sense reform. The group included ETSU students, Johnson City teachers and law enforcement, a local Moms Demand Action organizer, and even the Vice-Mayor of Johnson City. It was truly a remarkable display of democracy right here on campus and in our city.


Some pictures are included below:

My brother Garrett and I post-march and pre-rally

I know that the current political climate can make every issue polarized, but this is one thing we can all come together to work on. We should not have to fear for our safety in public spaces.

If you want to become more informed and involved, please check out these links. 

Everytown for Gun Safety

Moms Demand Action (not just for moms) 

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

Signing off to send a letter to Congress (Join me!), 

Maddie 

Project Proposal

Greetings everyone! 

For Collo this semester, we were asked to pick a personal project. Something we have wanted to work on for awhile, but feel like there is no time. 

I gave this assignment a lot of thought, and what I've come up with is a three-tiered self-improvement plan. 

The "Body, Mind, and Soul"  approach or alternatively "Bike, Book, and Big" 

The first facet of this project will relate to fitness.Voluntary exercise has never been an interest of mine. Ya know, I wouldn't exactly call myself a gym rat. Alas! this past semester I discovered an activity that I really enjoy: cycling class. It's a "fun"-filled hour of hills and sweat and pop music. It is one way to be active, and I actually love it (plus my bff Kate does too). 

We usually go to class on Thursday nights, but I'd like to take the commitment as step further. As part of my project, I will be spending at least 10 hours cycling. I'm also giving up sugary drinks for Lent, only drinking water, tea (of the herbal variety, not sweet), and coffee for the next 40 days. This should also contribute to a general improvement in my health. 

The second facet of my project regards a topic I have written of extensively: books. I love reading, but as a Political Science and English double major, it seems most of what I read is infuriating (news) or required. However, I would really like to get back into reading for fun. So as the "Mind" part of my project, I'm going to work on reading books. To accomplish this, I will cut out pointless scrolling on my phone before bed and pick up a book instead. Then I can blog about what I'm reading. 

My first choice is called Evicted by Matthew Desmond. It is about  "poverty and profit in the American city"; it has fueled my desire to work on housing issues and become a better volunteer for my Service Learning job at the Johnson City Housing Authority. After that one, I would like to try a classic fiction book like a Virginia Woolf novel. 

The final facet has to do with my soul. Every week, I continue to mentor my "little brother" for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. My time with him--just playing games or helping with homework-- reminds me of the good that comes from just being a friend. This kid is so sweet, and I love being a person who can just encourage him. It's like having a younger sibling without all the hassle of arguing and driving them around. 

I think it will be more than 25 hours worth of work, but all of it is meaningful to me. Anyway, I think this project will help me to focus on the values I chose last semester: justice and love. 

I hope I come out of this semester with a greater appreciation for my health,  a couple new book recommendations, and a better relationship with my little brother. 

Maddie 

Where do I go from here?

Hello friends,

If you read the title of this post, and immediately starting singing a Pocahontas ballad, let's talk later.
I like you.

Today's topic (and it seems to be the topic of every day) is the future, but more than that--What kind of life do I want to live?

In our last Collo class, we discussed the characteristics of what makes good, useful, happy, and successful lives. The verdict is that all of these are quite subjective, but most of them include some aspects of love, service, fulfilling occupations, and living according to personal standards.
For me, these are not mutually exclusive. If I'm living a good or useful life, then I'll likely be happy and successful in my own eyes.
So, a happy life is what I want to focus on for my future.


As someone who loves to plan, who has lists for my to-do lists, and who is comforted by details,
the future is a daunting topic of discussion because of all the unknowns.

Luckily, I found some guidance to make it more simple. Where did I find it, you ask? Divine intervention? A crystal ball? A prophetic dream?
Nope, take another guess... a book!
Once again, I find the answer to my questions in written word. More specifically this time, it was Joe Biden's new book Promise Me, Dad.  One of the first pages is inscribed with a quote from Immanuel Kant! ( Probably none of you will geek out about this connection, but he is known in philosophy as the father of Transcendental Idealism, and he is super important in Political Science)

His words give me simple guidelines for the future I want.

"Rules for Happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for."

Immediately, it made sense to me. Those three directives fit very clearly into my disposition.
Maybe I can't predict where I will live or exactly what job I will have. I know things I'm a fan of now will change; maybe I'll get tired of my bangs and maybe Nashville will be too crowded when I decide to settle down, but a few things in my life are constant. So, I feel comfortable doing a breakdown of goals and following these rules.

A Happy Life

Short-Term (aka the sweet, sweet bliss that will be Christmas break) 

• Something to do: READ!!! I have so many books that need my attention. Also as it will be Christmas and I have to make my happiness a priority, I must consume lots of cute sugar cookies, and most importantly, give all the presents I've been working so hard to get right. 
• Someone to love: This one is the easiest. I'm surrounded by the most wonderful people in the whole universe like my perfect boyfriend, Grayson (I finally get to see him soon, so woohoo!!!) and my crazy family, full of relatives I fiercely adore--most significantly, my cousin/best friend/soulmate/ life coach Amanda. They will receive showers of compliments and gifts and quality time with me in the next few weeks, and I will be overflowing with a feeling of wholeness and probably tears of joy.  
• Something to hope for: A White Christmas!!! I know this is a long shot as I live in middle Tennessee and I've already checked the weather. BUT I have seen every Hallmark Christmas movie and I really believe in miracles, so fingers crossed! Even if it doesn't happen, I also hope that the good people of Alabama choose not to elect Roy Moore and that maybe we save Net Neutrality. I'd use Christmas miracles for that too. 

Mid-Term (5 years) 

• Something to do: Well, I will be 24 and likely enrolled in law school or some sort of graduate program. I genuinely love learning, and I think I should use any knowledge I get to make a difference, so perhaps I will be participating in meaningful discussions and research.
• Someone to love: Still Grayson. Five years from now, I think we'll be married and every day I will get to hold his hand and make him feel appreciated for how amazing he is and we'll have cute little pets we can love, too! 
• Something to hope for: In 5 years, hopefully I have a restored sense of faith in the country that I love so much. My hope is that in 2022, we are committed to justice and good governance and equity. Also on a more personal note, I think I'll be hoping for more time to spend with my family. It's scary to think about life without any of the people I love now.

Long-Term (10 years) 

• Something to do: This puts me at 29, so I hope to be working as a lawyer or some sort of expert in policy research. Also as a hobby, I hope to have a really nice garden with lots of flowers and only the vegetables I like. 
• Someone to love: Never changing, always Grayson (and my family and Joe Biden) 
• Something to hope for: I don't know if I'll have a kid by then and I'm terrified even thinking about it now. But if I did, I hope I'm the mother he/she deserves, one that loves him/her with every ounce of who I am and teaches him/her to love that way too. 

Okay, so you may have some thoughts about my predictions. You may think my idealism is coming into play, and that I won't end up with my current boyfriend, but I know I will because I would have thought that too before I met him. He's the one I would have never planned on when I was thinking of life three years ago. My education and career were always the main focuses of my plan, and maybe I'd find someone along the way as an established adult. Yet, here I am: 19 and super in love. I mean I watch romantic comedies now, and I think "Hmm... Tom Hanks isn't that great." because I have someone better. Isn't that wild? I have this perfect person for me who beats the king of rom coms!!!

Anyway, I'm feeling really happy and blessed right now, even in the heat of finals week. 

Thank you to any dedicated reader that made it to the end of this. 

I hope you all have things to do, people to love, and hopes to believe in. 

Until next time, 

Maddie 

Volunteering:Honors College Student Council, Habitat for Humanity Store, and My Little Brother

So, this semester is almost over!  I have so many things to wrap up--tests, papers, Christmas presents---and my volunteer experiences.

Therefore, prepare for a long post because I have three big commitments to discuss. 

The first is Honors College Student Council! My first political position at ETSU! 

Some of you may remember the first Collo class we had this semester, everyone voted for a representative for their programs. 

After some short rambling about my love for people, words, and Parks and Rec, I was lucky enough to be elected as the Presidential Honors Community Service Scholars Representative (the first one ever because we're a new program). 

Over the past few months, I have attended meetings to discuss and plan events that are important to the Honors College, such as the Social and Charity Ball.  I even joined a committee with outside meetings to plan the Social and smaller events. Though I have been pretty quiet in most of the meetings, it has been a wonderful experience for me to represent my peers and learn more about the way the Honors College works. Throughout the semester, I have invested 8 hours into this organization.  

Another service opportunity I participated in was volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Johnson City. I did three separate shifts totaling 10 hours. I really like it there because all the workers are so lovely and grateful for the help. You just walk in and get to work. Most of my duties included going through and/or accepting donations, then pricing items and finding a place for them on the floor.
My favorite part: the store gets so many books that all of them can't go on the floor, so the manager (Wendy) lets me take the ones I want! It's a dream come true. I've only taken two so far because I don't want to deprive the good people of the Tri-Cities, but it's always fun to browse for a new read while I volunteer.

Last one (and the most wonderful of all): my little brother!!

No, my mother did not have another kid. That'd be a crazy curve-ball and would really alter the balance of attention my siblings and I have carefully crafted.
I have a new little brother because I volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters
Program.  (20 hours of Service so far)

The process of getting a little was quite extensive. I had to fill out an online application, attend an orientation, go through a 2 hour interview, pass a background check and have 5 references interviewed, then do hours of online training/testing, and then finally get a match.
I originally thought I would be matched up with a little sister because they typically match by gender, but that's not what happened! Our local Boys and Girls club had several young boys who wanted to be a part of the program, but not enough older boys/men choose to volunteer.

My little brother, whom I met in October, is delightful. I won't say too many details because I don't want to share too much personal information about him on the web, but he looks a lot like me--red hair, freckles, green eyes. People think he's my real sibling a lot, so that's a fun little bit for us. For the purposes of the blog, I'll just call him Lil J.

I meet with Lil J every week for two hours. He's pretty shy, so at first I didn't know if he liked me, but now we're regular ole pals. Our favorite activities are playing pool and making paper airplanes. I've been trying to help him with his reading. He doesn't enjoy it very much though, so I have to bribe him with Reese's and cookies.

The next few weeks without him will be weird, but I'm gonna send a card and plan some fun stuff for when I see him in January.

Overall, my volunteer experiences this semester have been thoroughly enjoyable, and that was the goal. It doesn't feel much like a requirement when I'm doing things that make me a better person and bring joy to others. I'm looking forward to next semester!


Until Next Time (which will be only a few hours! I've got another one to do),

Maddie



Total Hours:
2 Helping at the Honors Tailgate
8 Honors College Student Council
10 Habitat for Humanity Store
20 Boys and Girls Club

40!

My Friend and Her Trumpet

Hello My Fellow Americans, 

^ Tribute to my main man, President Obama

You know what's great? Seeing someone you love doing something they love. 

This past Monday, I attended the Brass Ensemble performances to see my wonderful friend, THE Kate Carter, play her trumpet. (Other students and instruments were also featured, and they deserve praise as well. Good game, guys and gals!) Now, this concert has been very much anticipated on my part. I've heard many stories about Kate's high school concerts, and I've experienced the pain of losing her to hours of rehearsal everyday. So I was really expecting something great, and she did not disappoint. 

My favorite piece was "Bugler's Holiday" by Leroy Anderson. Kate's part was the prettiest. I don't exactly have any musical analysis for that statement, but I could feel it and hear it.

Pictured below, you will see I was lucky enough to get her autograph. Note also: her name is printed wrong. It's **Katherine** for future notice.

Seeing this performance and hearing all the holiday music also dredged up some nostalgia for my experiences in high school choir and orchestra. As soon as the tubas began an arrangement of an  "Adagio for Strings", I ached for my cello. I still regularly listen to string music when I'm stressed or driving or studying. It will be a part of me forever. 

Perhaps that is something I will pick up again one day, but for now, I am just happy to have such a talented friend to bring me Christmas joy. 

I sign off now to write a few more posts on other subjects! 

Maddie