This Green Place - by Kelsea Eaton

This post is written by Kelsea Eaton, Class of 2012. At GMC, she majored in Communications, founded and served as the President of the “The Spirituality Floor” and the Art Director of "Mountaineer", the student-run magazine at GMC. Besides school work, Kelsea also did many performances with the Shakti Tribal Belly Dance, and used her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to start "Eudaimonia Bellydance", a business that offers custom-made high quality bellydance costumes. Kelsea is also a freelance photographer. Read more about Kelsea here.

I first read this post in her personal blog "thelovemonster", and I think it beautifully describes the spirits and stories that each of us has gone through at GMC. I hope we will all embrace our experiences here, at our home, because soon ... everything will become just memories.

-Lan Tran

This Green Place

By Kelsea Eaton

March 2012

I guess before I start the copious amounts of homework that I have due tomorrow, I might as well make a little blog post. There's a ton of stuff happening in my life but I'm not sure what is even worthy of talking about. I guess, first of all, there is a month and a half until I graduate college. Thinking about that last semester and in the beginning of this semester wasn't so hard, but right now... it's just crazy. My cap and gown order form is due tomorrow, and I'm already dreaming up plans for a graduation party. I'm applying for jobs and dreaming of all of the different places I could go and the people I could meet. It's actually reallly, really exciting.

It is obviously very sad thinking about leaving Green Mountain. I mean, this place has been the closest thing to "home" that I have ever had. Green Mountain is home to me. My family is here. I know that's weird to say, but the relationships I have formed here are so special that I can't even imagine myself without them. The people I've met here have been some of the most kind, interesting, and wonderful people I could have ever wished to meet.  It's not even just my close friends that are so important. It's the people I walk by on the way to the dining hall, the people I have shared drunken late night cigarettes with, the people who I only see in the library. Every one of these people make up the intricate, and intimate, puzzle that is my life at Green Mountain College. I wish I could go back and re-experience some of the random encounters that I've had here that I know will never happen again. And not only will the experience never happen again, but nothing even close to being like it. That's what's so special about this place-- it's fleeting. It's impermanent.  We're all going to leave eventually. Whether you're a super, super senior or you leave after just a semester: you're a part of the puzzle. Someone has noticed you. Really. Coming to GMC is so special because you are guaranteed intimacy.

One of my family members told me that she hasn't made any real friends at college. Not one. This is the opposite of my college experience. I trust, care for, and genuinely love so many people here. The GMC bond is always there. You are all my friends and you always will be. If you've ever been in the city or at a concert and seen another GMC kid, you know what I'm talking about. We're connected. :)

I hope that if anything, the impression I leave on this school, or the people I've met at this school, is a passionate one. I feel a lot. Happiness, envy, lust, empathy; I have been here and I have loved. I've loved you all. Because you're a part of my story, a part of my home, and a part of my family. You're everything!

Just tonight, a group of some of my closest friends sat around a warm, dimly lit room and drank a combination of cheap wine and expensive, local beer.  We sat and we talked and we laughed. We learned so much about each other, from our family pets and family secrets; all it took was one night. One night away from facebook, words with friends, or texting...

That is what college is about, to me at least. The connection. The bond. We all come from completely different places and we've all had totally different experiences, but we've all come together to create what is known as this green place. What this place means to each of us may differ, but one thing will always remain the same...

You're a part of the puzzle and you're a part of the whole. So enjoy it while it lasts.

Make eye contact to those you pass, kiss whom ever you wish, and hold on tightly to the ones you love. Green Mountain is fleeting. Because one day you're an eager freshman packing your things into Bogue, and the next moment...

You're gone.

Congratulations to the Class of 2012 and also to our beloved Leanne and Kat - by Lan Tran

Today, May 12th, 2012, more than a hundred bright ladies and gentlemen of the Class of 2012 are officially graduated from Green Mountain College. This is the biggest graduating class in the history of our college, which also marks the 4th year of Dr. Paul Fonteyn's presidency, as he spoke in his remark: "Four years ago, we started together". Huge congratulations to the class of 2012 and best of wishes to whatever you plan on doing! Don't forget to check out the Green Mountain College Alumni Community, and keep in touch with us here at GMC and your friends! 

Also, I would like to extend my congratulations to the two graduating seniors in the Social Networking Team: Leanne Kopec and Kat Kehrt! They are truly wonderful ladies who are very passionate about what they learn and how they can use their knowledge to make differences in our lives.

 

Leanne Kopec (Profile | Her posts)

Leanne majored in Environmental Studies and Policy and minored in Psychology. I had the pleasure to work with Leanne last year when she served as the Secretary of the Psychology Club. She contributed greatly to the success of the Psychology club's major event "Pleading insanity in court", which we invited faculties and students to join us in a panel discussion. Leanne invited Professor Sam Edwards, Director of the Pre-law program, who approached this topic from the law perspective. Leanne was very diligent in her work, which made us think that things never went wrong in her hands. 

 

Kat Kehrt (Profile | Her posts)

Kat majored in Anthropology/Sociology. She didn't wait until graduation to make a difference; she started making differences when she was still at GMC. Lately, Kat has founded The Deepak Foundation, a non-governmental organization that aims to "to provide education and equal opportunities to children in developing countries regardless of their intellectual or developmental ability". The journey started when she took a year off before college and volunteered in Nepal. She met Deepak, a two year old boy who then had no visions and opportunities to grow. Since then and until now, for more than 4 years, Kat has worked really hard to support Deepak. After GMC, Kat will focus her strengths on making positive changes in more children's lives in Nepal. Make sure to check out her organization website (click here) and support her in this exciting and challenging endeavor.

 

Kat with Deepak

A quick recap of Spring 2012 through pictures (part 1) by Lan Tran

Hello!!! I'm Lan Tran, the newest addition to the Social Network team at Green Mountain College (GMC). I am an international student from Saigon, Vietnam. I will be a junior next year. At GMC, I study Psychology, and actively get involved with the Shakti Tribal Dance, Psychology Club and Anthropology Club. Feel free to ask me any questions about GMC. 

This summer, I will be blogging from the "concrete jungle" - New York City while doing a research internship in the Social Perception and Motivation lab at New York University. I will tell you later about the amazing Psychology program at GMC and how I get this internship. Let's just start with a quick recap of my Spring 2012. All pictures were taken by my phone. 

The beautiful tree behind Moses. This building is home to 80 residents, the Department of Adventure Education & Youth/Camp Development, the student-run Coffee house, and the Psychology lab. 

 

One of many fund-raising events of Shakti Tribal Dance for the Rutland Women's Shelter. I have been in the club and done performances since freshman year. We seek to express the beauty, the love and power of Divine Feminine through dance. Check out the club in Facebook! 

 

During the fund-raising event (picture above), Kristin Kelly, one of my friends, who then did an internship with the Rutland Women's Shelter, brought many jeans to the event so attendees could write encouraging messages to the women at the shelter. I wrote: "Be strong". 

 

Out-door picnic celebrating the "Carry your bag" week. Students were encouraged to carry a bag of recyclable items throughout campus in order to raise awareness for sustainability. 

Stretching after classes!!! Students practiced yoga in the lawn in front of Moses.

"Day of Silence", organized by GMC students, to honor and support the LGBT (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Trangender) community, who has dealt with abuse and unfair treatment around the world. 

 

The awesome cupcake in the dance party organized by PRIDE, a student-run activist group at GMC fighting for gender equality. The rainbow flag has been regarded as the symbol of the LGBT movement. 

 

The Honor's Floor did a bake goods and delivery services to support Matthew DiMasi, a member in our floor, who is now fighting against cancer. His treatment is going really well, and he hopes to come back to GMC in the Spring 2013! While at school, Mat is a Sociology major. He plays soccer and Quidditch (The Welsh Green Dragons). Come back Mat, we miss you!!!

 

My friend, Lauren, after the photo shoot with the Shakti Tribal Dance! Look at the dragon in her hair. Our instructor, also Philosophy professor, Susanne Claxton has always encouraged us to create our own style of dance outfits. Lauren took the dragon (from something else) and made it a hair accessory! Awesow job, Lauren!!! 

 

Reel Big Fish during Spring concert! We enjoyed their music a lot! The band combined guitars and drums with trumpets to make such an unique sound. 

 

Chilling in the Psychology lab! Just kidding, I was running participation sessions for the "Lemonheads Study". This is an on-going, long-term research project conducted by Professor Jen Sellers.

How is your Spring? Comment and let me know!

Her Nightmare by Krista Shugart

Last week a crowd gathered in Ackley to watch an interpretive dance by Green Mountain College students. The dance was choreographed by Jaid Cherkis and the dancers were Emma Wallace, Caroline Hogan, Karina Lorenc, Danielle Field, Charlene Smith, and Ryan Morrill. Lights, sound and support were by Ben Jankowki, Jhane Fletcher, Andrew Bullard, and Frank Kopp. The dance had thirteen scenes, and each scene was more intense than the other. I found myself grabbing my friends arm during several scenes of the play! It was an interpretive dance, so I feel a little weird saying what it was about because I feel like everything took something different away from it.

It was a very gripping interpretive dance about sexual violence, and the before and after. Charlene Smith was a featured dancer who started out one way in the beginning of the dance, and seemed to have evolved into a completely different person later in the dance after the sexual violence had happened to her.

I really applaud all of the dancers and the support team for putting on such a captivating dance that dealt with many real-life issues.

Prospective students: A group of people who enjoy interpretive dance meet weekly to dance, so if you are interested you can definitely become involved once you get to Green Mountain College!

“Welcome to my nightmare, I think you’re gonna like it, I think you’re gonna feel you belong.” –Alice Cooper (a quote on the brochure)

Healthy and Happy - Leanne Kopec

This past week or so I have been just a little bit under the weather.  Of course this would happen right at the end of the semester with finals and all of the things I have to do before graduation!  All semester I have prided myself on being very healthy.  Because I have been eating right and exercising, I did not get sick all semester or during the popular cold season.  So I was especially frustrated when I began to get a sore throat and feel a bit fevery last week.  Whatever little bug I had must not have been too bad though because I really only felt sick for about a day, but since then I have had a cough.   My roommate, unfortunately, got it really bad and she was in bed for days. 

So, especially with finals coming up at that point, we talked a lot about what was important in order for us to get better and stay healthy and vibrant for the stretch of finals and whatnot ahead of us.  A lot of this is very important all throughout college, as well, even when you’re not feeling sick.  I think that the main reason I started to get a little sick was because of stress.  It’s really amazing what a toll on your body stress can have.  So first, it is important to plan time for yourself; do whatever it is that you do that allows you to unwind; for me this is running and yoga, having a nice chat with a close friend, or simply just relaxing and maybe watching a movie.  This might be different for everyone but just make sure that whatever you choose is something that can help your body heal a little from the stress and can rejuvenate your mind.  Second, sleep!  Sleeping is either really hard or really easy when you get to college.  In other words, sometimes you sleep a lot and sometimes it feels like you can’t or don’t have time to sleep at all.  This can either be for social or academic reasons, but regardless sleep is so important! Find a balance that works for you and allows you to get the amount of sleep that you need. For me, the third key to my every day health and feeling good is what I am eating.  If I eat junk for a day I literally feel tired and have no motivation.  However, if I am eating well, I require less sleep in general and can be awake and focused all day.  Before I started getting sick last week, I knew I wasn’t eating right.  That, combined with stress, of course I was going to feel under the weather!  And, I know this sounds cliche, but being happy and smiling will improve your health as well as your motivation.  Really all of these factors work together, they can support each other, however, if one is missing or lacking, it may be harder to achieve the others.  

It is all about finding your own balance.  During the adjustment period going into college remember to concentrate on yourself, listen to your body, and find the things that work for you.  Also, I think that this is something that everyone should return to every now and again to assess ourselves and make sure that we are doing what we need to do to stay healthy!