Real Life, by Lauren Morse
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Blogging The Years Away...

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Recap of the week:

Last Friday was our end-of-the-semester choir concert. It wasn’t bad, I thought. Between choral pieces various members of the choir performed some solo pieces which were really good. Tonight I’m going to a dinner with current choir members to meet the choir director who was hired for next semester. She’s from Boston and just out of grad school. We had a chance to meet her along with the other job candidates earlier in the year when they came and guest directed choir rehearsals. She is absolutely great, and everyone I’ve talked to in choir is really excited about the new energy and direction she will bring to the program.

Last Thursday I went to see a senior project performance called "Pharmakos," written and directed by an L&C senior and performed by students. It took place outside at night, and was set in a time just after apocalypse had struck the world. I thought it was very beautifully done; I’m really impressed with all the student talent here that’s exhibited all year round (but especially with these senior projects).

Today was my last day of classes!

This deserves a quick summary:

Our last Molecular/Cell Bio class ended with an animated video touring the inside of a cell. The whole dramatic, sci-fi vibe makes it cool just for kicks, but being able to identify nearly everything occurring in this short film makes it even cooler . This has been one of the most amazing biology classes I have ever taken. Cell biology ROCKS. I’m even hoping to take some upper division molecular or cell classes my senior year, which I never thought I’d say.

The last O Chem lecture ended in applause. I have never been in a class where this has occurred. Yes, I’m sure some students were just applauding the fact that the class was, in fact, ending; however, I know most people will really miss our o chem. professor Dr. Duncan more than they’ll admit. Think of every possible stereotype of crazy organic chemist and crotchety old man and you will probably develop an exact image of Dr. Duncan. He’s one of the most endearing professors I’ve had.

Our last Statistics class. I’ve learned just how important different stats tests are when analyzing data, which I never truly appreciated the importance of. I went in to talk with my Stats professor Yung-Pin yesterday to ask some questions about data analysis I’m doing for a biology professor at L&C (pertaining to OR silverspot butterfly larvae), and he totally talked with me for about an hour. It’s so great to have professors who will do that for you. But I’m not going to lie: I will be so glad to be done with math classes after this class.

This year has been one of the toughest I’ve ever had, but even with these hard times, I wouldn’t change my experiences even if I had the opportunity to go back and do them all again. And that’s not to say that I didn’t make huge mistakes this year because I did. Taking on too much, not being true to myself and my own beliefs…But these mistakes have really been what have taught me so much about myself: what issues are really important to me, what sort of people I want to have in my life, what sort of person I want to become….The list goes on.

I spent a lot of time biking this past weekend; biking in beautiful, 70 degree Portland in the spring time. It’s hard to beat that. For the first time in a long time, I felt really sure about things. It’s so tough to be constantly doubting one’s self. Would it be better if I were doing this? Or did I make the right decision when…? But when you have this sense that you are in the right place, doing the right thing, it’s like this huge weight is lifted off you. A lot is changing right now, both for me personally and in the world at large. But I am happy about where I am and where I’m going, and that makes all the external uncertainty bearable.

I’ve got to go to my choir get-together now. But thanks to everyone who has read my blogs in the past two years! I’ve really appreciated all the emails with questions and support you’ve sent my way. I have grown rather attached to blogging, and plan on continuing, just not through L&C.

If you’ve got a question about life at L&C, I’m still at lmorse@lclark.edu, and I’m still more than willing to provide answers, even if I’m no longer an official blogger. Of course I’m also open to talking about life in general. I definitely plan on living every second of it.