ETHNOGRAPHY

              Quotes & Messages

           

There is clear difference is the air from the first time I sat at the Bell Tower and the last. Crunchy red leaves are falling and piling around campus, swirling in the wind as students commute to class. The grass is dull, and the bushes are beginning to thin, a clear message that fall has begun. Cold, and sharp, the wind fiercely gusts around me. I notice that the people walking by have started to dress in bulky layers, and the odd few pass still dressed in shorts and flip flops, unable to let go of the idea that it will warm up again. Unfortunately, as these shivering individuals pass by, I reminded with each icy blast of wind that things will only get colder. The air about campus has drastically changed. Gone is the free-spirited, care-free essence that summer brought out in us all. Now, a sharpness, more focused atmosphere has fallen over campus. Some see fall as a bad thing, but I prefer say that things are just falling in place...or so I hope. People continue to rush by, and almost everyone is carrying a white cup full of Starbucks coffee, now well equipped for the weather. Vote early posters and campaigns adorn the lawn, and pamphlets are being passed out. Some people pass by, too focused on the latest text message, e-mail, or media update to notice the happenings going on around them. People walk by with their portfolios decorated with stickers, and slogans. Just as some people have chosen to adorn their book bag with political, humorous, and thought-provoking quotes. It is clear as I sit in one of the most central places in campus, there are quotes, messages, and interpretations to be seen.

SMALL THINGS

 Bell Tower

On my commute to class each day I pass the Bell Tower. I usually breeze by, in a rush to get to class. But on this particular day I decided to stop and absorb what was going on around me that I normally pass by. As I stood there, looking around, a glimpse of white caught my eye and I looked down to see what it may be. Someone had spray painted "appreciate the small things" on the walkway surrounding the tower. The text is rather small, and easy to overlook, but I suppose that's the point. It almost fell like a "sign" if you will, seeing this as I was absorbing life going on around me. It was exactly was I was trying to do - appreciate the smaller things in life. I observed friends, colleagues, and professors walking in groups conversing about things going on in each others life. Some were relaxing, and sun bathing listening to their iPod's perched upon the base of the Bell Tower, a few by themselves gazing up at the clear blue sky. Perhaps they were doing the same thing I was...soaking it all in. Sometimes if you don't stop once in awhile, life will pass you by I soon realized. I saw political posters staked across the lawn for the upcoming election (which I haven't really educated myself on like I should), and free passes to local clubs strewn across the pavement. Couples walked hand in hand, each pair making a story for themselves. There was so much opportunity, and every step was down a different path, and I found that if I didn't stop and think about the choice I make, the people I interact with, or even stop to read the little spray painted signs I see I might miss my chance to become the best possible me. As I stood, transfixed by how much I overlooked in my everyday life, the Bell Tower began to ring and I was instantly thrown back into my routine. But this time with a new appreciation for the smaller things in life and that each detail overlooked may just be an opportunity missed.

LOST

"It amazes me sometimes that even intelligent people will analyze a situation or make a judgement after only recognizing the standard or traditional structure of a piece."
-David Bowie

Sometimes I wish that we didn't have to explain ourselves. We could just feel, do, be as happy as we please. I wish that I could just be. And that I could figure things out for myself, without everyone blatantly or subliminally forcing their opinions into my mind. Even if someone doesn't say anything, it's written across their face and I can easily read it. Why can't they just stop? Leave me alone. Let me be. Let me LIVE. In due course of time, I'll figure out what needs to be figured out, and until then let my happiness continue regardless of what you see, or interpret. You see, that's the problem. People see what they want to see, but they don't know everything. They run with one little perception and blow it into something that it isn't. It's a lot like the part of our memory that makes up a story between point "A" and "B" when we can't remember it. You see one thing and think that that makes something else. Feeling, relationships, and life aren't concrete. There are no right and wrong answers. So why does everyone feel the need to make me feel like there is? Life is just perception anyways. You can't get it wrong. Sure going against the "norm" is considered wrong, only because the majority of society doesn't go against it. Doesn't mean it's wrong, it's just a different perception. That's the beauty of life, and learning. I see one thing and you see another. It's how we learn and grow. Can mistakes be made? Not really. So why can't I just put my whole heart and soul into something, if it makes ME happy? I perceive this is such a way that I feel complete. Is that wrong? I think it's wrong of you to analyze the outside before completely understanding the inside. It's a shame that people do that, and ruin it for those who are, or were happy. You see now it's too late to feel that again. At least, for me. And it's too late to do anything about it. I'm too late thinking about this, too late becoming more independent, and too late realizing that I was happy, regardless of others opinions. Too late. So what now? Continue on hoping to find happiness that is "accepted"? Or try again at the one thing that made you feel complete?
I wish I knew.
I do know.
But I won't do it.

ADVENTURES

For my English 1101 class, we were assigned to meet with our writing group at Atkins Library and find a text that would assist us in the development of our literacy narrative project.The day seemed like it would be very dismal, it had been storming all night and continued up until the time we were scheduled to meet at the library. I woke up really late and had to drive to the library in order to make it on time. Once we had all arrived safely we walked into the doors of the library and our adventures began.

After aimlessly walking around overwhelmed by the sheer size of the library, we soon realized that books could be searched for on the computers located at the front desk. Christopher and I began searching for books that would aid in the creation of our entire writing group's personal literacy narratives while De Shaun and Tanner wrote down the call numbers for the possible books. At first I thought the assignment was to find  individual books that would relate to our narrative, but Tanner quickly informed me that it was a singular text that we were all to share. Christopher quickly came up with the idea that we should use The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.

The call number for the book was very confusing and much different that the system we learned in high school. We ended up looking for the book on the second floor, and soon realized that we were making a huge mistake. This floor was full of textbooks and texts that teachers would be searching for. We walked back downstairs and asked the librarian for assistance. She looked for the book on her computer and proceeded to tell us that the particular book was located on the fifth floor in the juvenile section.

The elevator was very scary and small. Before this assignment I wasn't even aware that Atkins Library had more than four floors! I soon found that it actually has ten. When we reached the fifth floor we were overcome by the quietness and stillness of the room. The views were breathtaking, but it was so small in respect the floors below. The aisles of books were very tight, but clearly marked and we had no trouble finding our book.

After reading a few pages of the book, and reading the preface and covers we began writing in our day books for the assigned five minute writing.