Are other people finding themselves somewhat deceived by the vision of college that is exhibited to us over television and movies? I remember thinking that college was going to be this place where the fun was never ending and that the campus was a bottomless oasis of intellect and creativity. But now that I’ve been here for several months, I feel as though I’m coming to the horrible realization that college isn’t anything more than just another school.
I’m speaking mostly to freshman, since we are the ones whom this realization hits the hardest. Everyone remembers, or will soon remember, the moment I’m having now. Sure, I came into school knowing that it wasn’t going to be anything super special. It is still school, after all. But entertainment does have a way of creeping into your blood so that you still have hopes and ambitions, deep down, for what’s going to happen in these next four years.
I will admit, though, to my own pathetic nature here. People have often told me, especially in the context of school, that “an experience is only as boring as you make it,” before adding, “and Asa, you are not a boring person.” So apparently the disenchanting experience here is somewhat my fault. I think that sounds like a fair assessment.
But what about this experience is inclining me to be so boring?
Ah … touch.
Consider this: your place in college and high school is incredibly similar. Parties have the same drive and intention as always, except now we’re worried about security rather than our parents. The drama between our interpersonal relationships hasn’t changed in the slightest. The only difference is that we think it has.
All of us are still too focused on getting wasted and making out like we’re forgetting to do anything else. I’d say the only thing that has changed is that we’re all shouldering a lot more responsibility. Personally, the heaviest burden I’ve taken on is that of self-observation. Now, rather than just simply being immature, I actually get to watch myself doing it.
But then again, perhaps it really is just me. Maybe I really am the one who is so boring, not college. I’m just not ready to take on all this extra responsibility, so I’m finding myself overwhelmed, and then, in true adolescent fashion, blaming it all on something else. Does this sound familiar?
Often I find myself approaching problems to which I see no solution, but rather than looking for one, like all the great philosophers, I just sit and pout. But I make sure that I’m using large words while I pout, so that people will think I’m making some kind of important revelation, rather than just pouting.
This is what I’m learning.
But maybe this is what you do in college. Maybe you discover new concepts and schools of thought just to spend all of your time applying them to your own pathetic life. Wouldn’t be the first time that I’ve done it. After all, is this really all that different than the angry punk rock stages of my freshman year in high school?
The expression came in the form of music, photography, writing, and more. A student coffeehouse kicked off the event on Thursday night. “I’d say about 50 percent of the performances were socially or politically motivated,” Fetter said.
The creativity continued on Friday with an intimate breast plate workshop for women led by Arla Patch. Later in the evening, Quaker Deborah Saunders held a gathering on spiritual centering and social change.
On Saturday, Skip Schiel illustrated the power of frozen moments in his photography exhibition on the Civil Rights Movement. The exhibit included Apartheid and Post-Apartheid images and Civil Rights peace walks.
On Saturday night, Guilford’s Director of Community Learning James Shields and his reggae band Imani performed. Shields interjected the musical flow with powerful commentary on the roots and meaning of reggae, which has derived from Africa as the people’s music. Imani represented music as a movement in itself.
On Sunday, Chuck Fager conducted a workshop on writing, a powerful tool of action and expression, and Lenny Kohm presented a slide show of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge entitled the last great wilderness.
The weekend’s participants also conducted a panel. The panelists emphasized their calling to their respective art forms and the importance of being vessels for social change.
Social Change Through the Arts was sponsored by the third-year QLSP members. “The idea was conceived from a brainstorm,” Mitchell said. “It is something that interests us all … We all have our art forms that we peruse as much as possible.”
The idea of social action through nonviolent means is one that is central to Quaker values. QLSP coordinators found it particularly relevant in the context of current world events.
“It is like we’re in the kitchen and the world is the stove with pots boiling over everywhere. So where do we start?” Fetter said. “Art is really important to us, as is social change. This is what we can do, and this is what we saw last weekend.
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Voice From the Underground
Asa Fager
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February 28, 2003
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