Long time no blog !! Hi hello, it’s been an interesting spring to say the least. I keep expecting myself to have just a ~normal~ college semester…but I just finished my fifth and somehow none of them have really fit that bill. I watched a tik tok recently that suggested that whenever things in life don’t go exactly to plan…just say “well, it was good for the plot.” As an avid reader and story-consumer–I think that fits my prerogative pretty well.
Before J-term ended this January, I headed up to Reading, Vermont (near Woodstock, VT) to stay in a cabin with friends for Middlebury’s mandatory two week quarantine. It was an absolute blast aside from the fact that I was finishing my 20+ page paper for my J-term class. I spent the month researching the history of disability (primarily policy and student experiences) at Middlebury since 1990. I was really proud of the work I did but was glad when the month was over so I could enjoy free time with friends who I hadn’t seen in almost a year !! During these couple of weeks I binged most of the Bridgerton books (which were addictive but still…meh writing wise imo) and also blew through The Plot which I ADORED.
In February we finally arrived at Middlebury and went into our mandatory on campus quarantine. Classes started, albeit online. I moved into my room. Things were snowy and peaceful. It was a strange first couple of weeks. I ended up moving into a different dorm to have a larger space–and that was a move I’m extremely grateful for. After so much time apart my social scene this semester was unexpectedly challenging–I’m looking forward to having a break from it all this summer and returning with a fresh outlook in the fall. In retrospect, I think I allowed myself to put too much pressure on relationships…but hindsight is always 20-20.
This spring I was enrolled in four classes–History of U.S. Radicalism, Literature Post 1945 (basically postmodern lit), Foundations of English Literature, and my History Junior Thesis. I did a LOT of reading and writing this semester, but I felt so engaged and connected with my material. I wrote an exciting paper on the Weather Underground for my Radicalism class, read new favorites like Beloved + Invisible Man, and surprisingly enjoyed foundational English lit like Paradise Lost and The Faerie Queene. My biggest endeavor of the semester–academically–was my junior thesis. I wrote about the Canadian suffragette Nellie McClung, and examined how her novels demonstrate the intersections of her maternal feminism and eugenic ideologies. It was a huge project but I’m extremely proud of my final piece of writing…though I may be a bit rambley (and overuse semicolons)!
Outside of my classes, I spent a lot of time hanging out with my friend Isabel + her cats Bao and Moose. I also worked as a public speaking coach again and also served as a paid reader for the Disability Resource Office. The student (+ my now friend) was enrolled in a Medical Ethics class that was fascinating to do readings for and made our sessions go by so quickly. I also interned for Brent at Triada Literary agency reading Middle Grade and YA manuscripts for him–I had an absolute blast and learned so much over our time together! In addition, I continued my work on the campus hotline, but otherwise spent a lot of time reading, going on hikes, wandering around campus, or hunkered down in the library.
This was a difficult semester, I’m not going to lie. It wasn’t the sunshine and roses return to in person college classes that I was hoping for and even expecting. I think part of me was a little naive, part a little generously optimistic, but I don’t regret returning to campus. For all of the hard times this spring brought me, I had a lot of fun and had a lot of joy as well.
This summer I’ll be nannying for a pair of children I adore and working at The Novel Neighbor. I’ll also be traveling a bit to start research for my senior thesis–I was so grateful to receive fellowship funding from Middlebury to kickstart this project. Hopefully this summer can serve as another reset, with lots of time outside, lots of time reading, lots of time reflecting, time traveling (fully vaxxed!) and time spent with friends. With a healthy does of therapy in there as well, I remain, as always, optimistic about what’s to come.
Mary!!! I feel like I never leave blog comments anymore, but I was so delighted to see a new post from you that I thought I should write a small note 🙂 In any case, what interesting classes you had this past semester! I’m really intrigued by your research of disability policy/advocacy at Middlebury; I know students at Brown did something similar in their efforts to make a disability center on campus (I think it’s incredibly important to research and discuss!). And a senior thesis! So very exciting — what are you writing it on?
Sending wishes for much rest and reading this summer! <3