Real Life, by Aron Phillips
Wednesday, April 26, 2006

The Final Countdown

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This semester has been tough. Coming back from a semester in NYC made the readjustment process a hard one. A lot of my friends were overseas this semester, but that allowed me to get a whole bunch of new ones. In looking back, I can’t believe it’s over. I mean, in just over a week, I will be officially a senior. WOW. Senior. Yea, top dog, el Capitan, etc. I can’t even fathom it.

Junior year was amazing though. In looking back at everything I did, I still don’t believe it. I mean, come on. If I was to tell myself this past summer that I would be writing for Dime Magazine in New York City, living next to the Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden, meeting NBA Superstars such as Dwyane Wade, Vince Carter, Jermaine O’Neal, Ron Artest, Steve Nash, Amaré Stoudemire, Kevin Garnett, etc. I never would have believed it. Wow, in some ways I still don’t.

But, in getting back to school and finishing up this semester, let me fill you in on what I’ve been up to for the past week or so.

Basically homework, papers and research. This past week, I had a paper due for my Astronomy class and U.S. Foreign Policy. I’ve been working on my Portfolio for Geopolitics as well as my Group Research Project in that class as well, and for Micro, since I presented my Air Jordan paper on the first week, I’ve just been able to sit back, relax and watch presentations.

My Astronomy paper had to be about some significant news since September in the astronomy world. I chose to write about NASA’s plans to crash a probe into the Moon in search of water. Pretty damn cool if you ask me. Owing to previous missions, NASA has found copious levels of hydrogen on both the north and south poles of the Moon, and they believe that there is frozen water down there. If, in this upcoming mission set for Fall 2008, NASA finds water, then Moon colonization will be on the horizon. This way, colonies can be setup on the Moon and act as a base camp for future missions to Mars and beyond.

My U.S. Foreign Policy paper had to be on a significant turning point in U.S. foreign policy. I chose the Uruguay Round which shifted the United States from muddled economic nationalism to true economic liberalism. The driving force behind this was the creation of the World Trade Organization following the Round’s conclusion in 1994. This was a very interesting turning point to write about, because the shift has significantly changed the face of U.S. foreign policy ever since. Ever heard of a thing called globalization? Yea…

So I’ve already told you that my Geopolitics Portfolio focuses on all types of illicit trade – sex, drugs, (no rock ‘n roll), slave, and arms trade – but my Group Research Project focuses on different ways that humans have transformed nature. This can be in all sorts of ways: dams, canals, bridges, etc. But what I’m focusing on is trying to predict the future and identify areas around the globe that are prime geopolitical targets for future construction. For instance, the Kra Canal is being discussed in Thailand. This is a canal that would cut through the thinnest portion of the country allowing for greater regional stability. This canal would provide that as it would become an ulterior “choke point” for world trade. Pretty cool.

Other than that, I’ve just been enjoying the outdoors – and surprisingly, even in one of my classes. For Geopolitics yesterday, we went out and walked around the campus assessing the different implications that went into planning the campus as it is. Very interesting – check out the pictures.

Also, yesterday was Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) and we watched a disturbing Frontline documentary in commemoration. A lot of students turned out for the film and many more came with us following as we went down to the reflecting pool for a candle lighting ceremony. We also brought students that are involved in fighting the Rwandan genocide as well as the current genocide taking place in Darfur. It’s amazing how after the Holocaust we said, “Never again,” and for whatever the reason this abomination is still taking place. It’s just so sad. But, in having that many people there last night that are committed to ending genocide for good, there is definitely hope.

Well, that’s about it folks. By next Monday your decisions will be made and I hopefully will be seeing you next Fall. I hope in the meantime, you finish up your senior years strong, fighting off senioritis and the beautiful weather as you struggle through AP English and all the other crazy hard classes you’re surely taking.

Shout out to everyone out there that has been reading this all year, and hopefully you’ve taken something away from it all. I’ve got my last day of classes tomorrow and then Finals all next week. So, wish me luck… PEACE.