Lois' Blog

Au Revoir!

Literally meaning: "to the seeing again." Goodbye until we meet again.

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And just like that, we have reached the end of the year! It's unbelievable how fast time flies. Finals week was ROUGH, but blew by in the blink of an eye. I took my finals a week early because the week we were supposed to take finals, I was scheduled to work. Thus, when everyone had a lowkey Week 10 to study, I was taking finals and crying internally. There was a day that I took three finals in a row and it was probably the most stressful thing in my entire life, but hey, it's over, we made it!

Thanks for sticking with me this year and reading about my experiences at the University of Denver! I hope I was able to share some more insight about life at DU and all the adventures and fun times we have here on campus! This whole summer, I will be working at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts before I head off to Glasgow, Scotland for study abroad! Here are some work views (they're pretty nice, if I do say so myself ;)):

I will be in Scotland for a semester studying at the University of Glasgow. I will also be traveling to the Netherlands, London, Ireland, and possibly France while I'm there! I'm thrilled to study abroad, and it's so awesome that DU allows us the opportunity and chance to go. 

It has been my pleasure blogging on the DU experience, and I hope these posts were able to shed some light, as well as provide information/resources about Denver for you all! Feel free to look back through all my posts from the 2016-2017 school year before they are taken down in mid-June! What a ride, my friends. What a ride. And without further ado:

Goodbye until we meet again. 

PLP Banquet

Literally, if there's ever an opportunity to grab free food that isn't dining hall food, GET ON IT.

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That would be my advice to any incoming student. Seriously. Free food is the best. Today was the Pioneer Leadership Program's end-of-the-year Banquet. It's a time to celebrate the seniors and their upcoming adventures upon graduation. It's cocktail attire, so everyone gets dressed up and nice - and it's a lovely way to sort of end the year with this close-knit community, sending the seniors off to their future endeavors. 

The dinner was held on the fifth floor of SIE, the new International Studies building. It is a beautiful venue, with large gorgeous open windows encompassing two sides of the massive room. The inside was decorated with little twinkly lights, paper flowers, and there was even a photo booth. The PLP Banquet isn't just a time to celebrate the seniors, but it also feels like a good moment at the end of the year to say, "Hey, we made it" to each other. Finals are rounding the corner, many sophomores are looking forward to studying abroad, it's honestly a really busy time for everyone involved, but on this one night, everyone gets together to take a breath and keep pushing through. And not to mention: we get REALLY good food. 

It can be an emotional night for the seniors, since it's their last PLP Banquet, but it's ultimately a night for us to be together one last time before summer arrives. Despite my constant stress of finals and projects, I'm glad I took a break out of my hectic schedule to attend the Banquet, because I had a wonderful time and it was, in itself, a de-stresser. And free food, y'all. Never pass up free food.

Scene Designing

As a Theatre Major, one of the requirements to graduate is that we have to take a design class, be it: scene design, lighting design, costume design, or sound design, we need to take a design to get our major. I'm currently in Scene Design, and part of our final is to create a model for a show. I chose to design for the play, A Streetcar Named Desire. Through this class, we've learned how to make ground plans, front elevations, charrettes, as well as learned the skills on how to talk with other designers and directors working on the same show. 

It really isn't an easy class, but as long as you try, you're pretty set. Attendance is significant because much of what you make is done in class. Unfortunately, since I begin working the week that finals usually are, I have to take all my finals early. So for my scene design model, instead of being due next week, I have to haul butt and finish it today, so that I can have it done by our Thursday class. I literally sat in the Theatre Department today for eight hours making my model for the final. Is it perfect? No. Does it get the message across? Yes. Did I pour my blood, sweat, and tears into this thing? YES.

Sitting and making the model for eight hours really sucked, but it gave me a newfound appreciation for designers within the Theatre community, especially since making models is a pretty normal thing to do when designing shows. Mine isn't even the fanciest or most well-done, but hey, it's done. Here's to surviving this week and getting finals in a week early compared to everyone else!

It's Lit

It opened. It happened. We did it.

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We closed Cycle Three of the Senior Capstones today! In my last post, I was talking about how this was an incredibly hectic week for me, but hey, we did it. We are here and we are alive.

This cycle, I was in a show called, 10,000 Cigarettes, and we were the first performance to kick off the night. Our play begins with the sound of out-of-rhythm ticking clocks and high pitch noises crescendoing in the darkness. The sounds intentionally make the audience feel trepidatious, uncomfortable, and anxious, much like how the wait to smoke a cigarette is. The play starts with each of the characters sharing their love of cigarettes, talking about styles, brands, and fantasies of smoking across and through time and space. Everything is very dreamlike and surreal, but soon, coughing ensues. It is only at the end of the play do the audience realize that the characters' dad passed away at a young age from smoking. The play closes with the return of the steady clock sound, as the characters continue to wait for their next smoke break.

Cycle Three ended the Senior Capstones on a strong note. Each of the five plays had their own quirks and appeal, but as a whole, I would say that this has probably been the best Cycle of the Three this year. Though it's always sad to close a show, we had a lovely run and wonderful time with each other. Now it's on to focusing solely on finals!!

Community Change Initiative

My year-long group project with the Pioneer Leadership Program came to a close today! We have successfully completed our presentations, and now it's on to the freshmen to continue creating a sustainable change within the community!

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Because I was in a show earlier in the night, my group was placed as last to go in the program, so there was slight (a lot of) pressure to do well because everyone would be focused for the last group. My group tacked the issue of racial inequality within the justice system, and it was definitely a process. We did not end up having a sort of end-all special "event" to summarize our project, but essentially, our process was our project. My group comprised of four young college women, three of us being women of color, and it took a while to not only build up resources, connections, networks within the Denver Police Department and various other Denver volunteer organizations, but we also had to build up our credibility. 

Though this project comprised of efforts for an entire year, we all learned that nothing is truly impossible if you really work hard to get it. We never thought we would be able to officially meet with Police Chief Robert White to talk about our project, but we did, and we also met with Deputy Chief Matt Murray. Granted, the process took a long time to kick off and gain approval from the police department, but when you try hard enough and look and ask in the right areas, it isn't hard to reach people you didn't think you would be able to reach. 

CCI was grueling work this year. But now that we can reflect back on it, it was most definitely a worthwhile project. It's work, time, and commitment, but it taught me that to make a community change and difference isn't as impossible as we might think it is. 

Smokin' It Up

The final cycle of the Senior Capstones opens this Wednesday! Hoopla!

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If I can get through this week, I can get through anything. Our first show for the Senior Capstones, as well as our huge PLP Community Change Initiative presentation is this Wednesday. At the same time. Yup.

For the Pioneer Leadership Program, we've been working in teams this whole year on a community change initiative (CCI) project, and at the end of the year, there's one night where we all gather in the Special Events room in the library, decked out in our business attire, and present to many many people what we've been up to for the past 30+ weeks. This night happened to fall on the same night that we open the final Senior Capstones. Yikes is right. Thankfully, I worked out the timing with my PLP Director, and everything is good to go. But the thought of Wednesday night stresses me out, so I'm not going to think about it in the meantime. 

But on the other hand, yay for the final Capstone performances! I'm currently in a show called, 10,000 Cigarettes and in a nutshell: the play shows you smoking from a different perspective. Whether you are or aren't a smoker, 10,000 Cigarettes asks the question of how many cigarettes is enough - 1, 2, 3 . . . 10,000? It neither condemns or glorifies smoking; it tells the reality of smoking from a smoker's perspective. This play is face-paced, funny, and moving - and the awesome part is, we're a cast of all women, and specifically, women of color. This cycle is directed by all men, and even many of the casts are male-dominated. We are a cast of four strong women, which will definitely strike an image this cycle.

(And another pretty awesome thing is that we're not actually smoking. It's all water vapor. How cool is science??) Don't miss out! 

Almost There

We're coming into the last stretch of the quarter! Three more weeks to go!

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It's hard to believe that Week Nine begins in a few days. The light at the end of the tunnel is so close! This is the part of the school year where if you can get through this, you can get through anything. You're seeing all of your friends at other universities done, all the high school seniors are graduating, everyone is finishing up and letting out for summer, and then it's us at DU chugging along for another three weeks. 

I'm so ready to be done, but I'm also not. This year is different because even after the school year ends, I work the entire summer at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and then I leave shortly after to head to Scotland! AHH! But we won't think about that yet.

We technically have 11 weeks in our spring quarter this year. Our finals are on Week 11 instead of Week 10, which is why we still have another three weeks-ish. Unfortunately, I have to haul butt and get everything done on Week 10 because I start work on Week 11. At the DCPA, I work with their summer program (which is like a summer camp for kids from preschool to high school), so my shifts are essentially 8am-5pm Monday through Friday. It's pretty grueling work, but I love my team and I definitely need all the $$$ I can get before studying abroad! But since the programs begin Week 11, I had to ask my professors if I could move my finals to Week 10. The down side: I have to study and get all my work in a week earlier than everyone else (I literally sat in Kaladi's the other day for six hours cranking out a research paper). The up side: I'll be done and moved out before anyone actually starts their finals! 

Keep me in your thoughts, everybody. The end is near!

CPR & First-Aid Certified

I can now potentially save your life. Whoot!

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This summer, I will be working at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts as their front desk coordinator. Last year, I was a teaching assistant, as well as the front desk coordinator, but this year I will be working full-time at the front desk! Working at the front desk is pretty awesome because it means that I'll get paid substantially more (which is good since I'm studying abroad), and I'll also be part of their core faculty team! It's just a little more tedious because being part of that team means I'll have to go through some more extensive training, hence the six hour CPR and first-aid training today.

The unfortunate thing about the training was I had to miss all my classes today to go to it since it was 9am-3pm. The struggle with working with all professional adults is that they aren't in school, but I am. Since I'm the only person on the core team in college, I have to work to fit my schedule with theirs. However, I spoke with all my professors beforehand, so I was able to get in my work early and even one of my classes was canceled.

I woke up early, ate breakfast, and hopped on the lightrail to the Denver Center. Though six hours seems like a long time, the training went by quickly and was pretty fun. The people I work with are all incredible and beyond hilarious, so time moved fast. We had newly-furbished models/mannequins to practice on for CPR, and there was a fire simulation with equipment that seemed as if we were playing the wii. Though a six-hour training can seem like a drag, it's worth it if you can potentially save a life. 

Here's to the Mothers

 Mother's Day is one of my favorite holidays, but honestly, it shouldn't even need to be a holiday. Mother's Day is everyday. We should be constantly celebrating the important and strong women in our lives that provide for us, care for us, and give everything they can to ensure a better future for their kids. A huge cheers to all the mommas out there.

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I was fortunate to be able to go home this weekend to celebrate Mother's Day with my family. Thanks to DU's lightrail system being so convenient, I was able to get home quickly using public transportation. Nowadays in Denver, traffic on the highway is beginning to get worse and worse, so I have been utilizing my RTD pass to the fullest. I'm able to get on the University of Denver lightrail and go straight to Union Station, and then from Union Station, I am able to take an express bus that takes me all the way home. The whole commute takes less than an hour, whereas if I drove, I would probably be stuck on the highway for much much longer.

As we embark on Week 8, getting off campus was definitely needed. This is the time in the quarter where we begin rushing towards the finish line. The light is there at the end of the tunnel, but we're also not ready to be bombarded with finals and papers and presentations. We're ready for the end of the year, but for the end of the year to get here, we have to get through finals week. And since many of us are studying abroad in the Fall Quarter of 2018, we had the added pressure of not just studying for finals, but finalizing and figuring out plane tickets, abroad itineraries, etc. etc.. 

It was good for me to go home and forget about all my responsibilities for a while. I was able to see my grandmother, my dog, hang out with my younger brother, and just spend a nice afternoon with my family. We also had a dinner party that night with some family friends, and we all ate until we were about to explode.

Ultimately, getting away from campus, seeing my family, and forgoing schoolwork for a short while was beneficial in relieving some pent-up stress: I have a show opening next week, as well as a major presentation to give for over 90 people. I have a final presentation for my Communications class coming up, and two big finals to prepare for. And since I begin working at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts the week of June 5th (which is our finals week), I have to take all my finals and get all of my work in a week early. The stress is real.

But though the stress is super real, this is the life of the quarter system. We feel as if we can't continue on, but we can. We're tough, we're fighters, and we push through until the end. Just like mothers. The life of a mom is probably just like the quarter system - there's always something to do, stress levels are high, and work seems to never end. But mothers always get through it, and so will we. Here's to the final stretch of spring quarter 2017, and here's to all the remarkable female figures and moms in the world. Today (and everyday) is for you!

Aloe From the Other Side

Last week, it hailed and rained and stormed and sleeted. And then rained some more. Today, it is close to 85 degrees with no clouds in sight. That's Colorado for ya.

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As part of DU's common curriculum, every student here needs to take a science sequence (that spans three quarters), usually their sophomore year. The exception to forgoing the science sequence is only allowed if students test out of taking science through AP courses. My brain does not do well with science, so I had to take the full-year sequence. I'm in my last quarter (and sequence) of a course called, Our Dynamic Earth. It is essentially a low-key geography class that counts toward the science sequence. My professor is Helen Hazen, and she is the cutest human-being I have ever met. She understands that the majority of students in this class are only taking it to fulfill the common curriculum requirement, and makes the content applicable to all majors. We talk a lot about climate change and how we, as people, influence the world in good and bad ways. She is also British, so her English makes everything that much more intriguing to listen to. 

We are currently embarking on Week 8 of the quarter system, and this week, all our labs are canceled. Instead of going to our regular computer labs and working on our assignments via the internet and the GIS programming systems, we are required to go to the Denver Botanic Gardens to complete our lab. Two friends and I went today, and MAN, the weather is gorgeous. It's incredibly hot, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather it be nice and sunny when trying to finish a lab outside, as opposed to wet and rainy. Some of my friends had to do the same thing last year, but instead of getting sun, they ended up getting snow - so it was much harder for them to enjoy the Botanic Gardens experience. 

Coincidentally, the day we went to the Botanic Gardens was also a day of free admission, so we didn't even get to use our ticket stubs. They were having a sale on many of their plants, succulents, flowers, vegetables, herbs, etc.. thus, all admission into the Garden was free. I went with two of my friends and we felt like we were thrown back into elementary school field trips. We were waltzing around the different areas with our lab sheets, pausing to look at each sector of the Garden here and now. We were probably a funny sight to see - three grown college students walking around like 12 year olds, excited to see plants and flowers. 

Long story short: we do some pretty fun things here at DU that go beyond the typical science "labs." Like taking field trips. 10/10 would recommend.