Since I posted last, a lot has happened…my summer plans have turned out great, I’ve made tons of new friends, I am looking forward […]]]> It’s been so long since I’ve posted!

Since I posted last, a lot has happened…my summer plans have turned out great, I’ve made tons of new friends, I am looking forward to school, and I am gearing up for a week of work.

First, let me update everyone on my fellowship. Working with ArtsMemphis and the Kinney program has been amazing. I can truly say that everything I have experienced has shaped what I think about the Arts and what I think about myself. I have been mostly working with educational stuff at ArtsMemphis: getting updates for the Student Ticket Subsidy program which allows students to go to Arts events at little to no cost. Additionally, I’ve been working with the annual event Conservation Through Art by helping everyone gear up for the big event this fall. As for Kinney, I have been mostly planning a big service plunge, Midtown Service Day. This event is geared towards freshman on the last Saturday in August…it’s a chance for service minded students to get their feet wet in the Midtown community. For more information visit the new and improved Kinney site (also my project) at www.kinneyprogram.com

As for the end of the summer, I will be doing some work for ArtsMemphis before school starts back. Before that though, we will give our final presentations for our fellowship and move our stuff to our rooms for the fall. For me, that’s Resident Assistant room 312 (I think) in Glassell. Yep,  I’ll be one of those dreaded RAs next year…If you don’t know what an RA is…you will pretty soon. A Resident Assistant is pretty much just that: an assistant to the residents of the campus. Usually, an RA is assigned a hallway and they look out for the general wellbeing of the hall, including the not-so-fun tasks of handing out Alcohol and Noise Violations and handing out hall-fines. On the cooler note though, RAs are also great people to turn to for advise, roommate issues, etc… Anyway, training for the RAs starts in the middle of August, so I’m starting to look forward to that as well as look forward to the start of school.

My feelings on school are getting mixed though. I really like having a 9-5 job and being around my friends and significant other. When school starts back, so does the hectic schedule of volunteer work, rehearsals, classes, homework, being a RA, and the mix of everything else I do at Rhodes. I’m really getting scared that starting this up again in August will make things stressful on my new relationship as well as my social life with my friends at Rhodes and U of M. Hopefully I can strike a good balance though and try to keep things less stressful than last semester. I’m only taking 3 four credit classes, so hopefully my academic stress will be down to a minimum.

Right now I’m at home getting ready to embark on a week long trip to Tennessee Tech. I’ll be home for tomorrow (Saturday) then I leave for Tech on Sunday…hopefully back in Memphis by next Saturday. I had mentioned my sig-other above…I’m really starting to miss being around that special someone that I’ve practically spent all of the past few weeks with. It’s going to be hard to get through a full week without having them around, but I think we will both survive.

I think that will be all for this post…

Have a good rest of the summer!

I am one of a few students that will be on campus this summer. What each individual does varies from […]]]> Yesterday I packed my life up and moved it across campus!

I am one of a few students that will be on campus this summer. What each individual does varies from work-study, to research, to internships.

I will be in Memphis this summer participating in the Summer Service Fellowship. In its basic element, the fellowship allows a number of students to live on campus while serving the Memphis community in some element. My “element” this summer will be at ArtsMemphis. I am really excited about serving as their summer intern. For me, this lets me get a foot in the door with the arts community here in Memphis and allows me to make even broader connections for when I graduate. Did I mention that it will also look great on my resume?

Current students and upcoming students, keep an eye out for these opportunities. They are literally everywhere in a city like Memphis! If you know what you want to do after college, or just want to explore your options, go ahead and experience it first hand by staying at Rhodes for a summer and volunteering or interning in your field.

I’m going to keep my blog rather short today, I have a long 4 hour drive back home. Before my internship starts on June 1st, I am going to spend a little time with my family back in McMinnville, Tennessee. I was born there, and spent 17 years of my life living and learning in my small home town. It was definitely a bit difficult making the switch from small town to large urban city, but it was worth it! Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my home town, but the experiences you gain from going to and living in different places amazes me. When I go home, I am able to comment on different points of view than before and I am able to give a different perspective on many issues that are brought up at family get-togethers and discussions with my friends. Rhodes was a great choice for me. I wanted to stay in state (not only for the financial benefits, but also to be close to my family), but I wanted to get a top-of-the-line education. I’m happy to say that I have found both here at Rhodes.

When I get home, I’ll be lazy for a week. Just sleeping, watching TV…gaining a few pounds. Then we are off to Gulf Shores for a week of vacation. I’ve told myself that I will leave the laptop at home and keep my Blackberry turned off, but… that’s going to be hard! I was able to spend 4 days without any kind of electronics a few weeks back and it was hard, but amazing. Instead of texting my friends, I actually talked to them. Instead of spending my day reading funny articles on the web, I actually spend time walking around and enjoying the earth. I really hope I can do this again while I’m in Gulf Shores, but I don’t know if I can make it. Nonetheless, it should be a great trip and a great time for me to get closer to my family.

On Wednesday I came to Rhodes to talk with a few professors and community leaders about the Clanjamfry festival that is held yearly at Evergreen Presbyterian Church across the street from Rhodes. Evergreen is really generous about their space and allows Rhodes to use their sanctuary for large gatherings such as convocation at the beginning of each academic year. I was honored to be asked to participate in the planning of the festival, my job being to get Rhodes students involved! I am taking on my duty and starting to spread the word now. Take a look at the link above and keep the festival on your mind until the big weekend in September (19-21). I promise that you all will hear more and more about it as the date gets closer!

Today’s link is one of the coolest pieces of art I’ve seen in a long time. It’s called “Monroe or Einstein”. I wish I could tell you the artist’s name, but unfortunately the site doesn’t list it. The site has some pretty vulgar advertisements on it, so I decided just to put the picture directly in the blog. First, look at the picture close up, then step away from your screen and walk farther and farther away. I think you will see what the title means. After you have stepped away, start walking toward your screen again…that’s when it gets really freaky!

Have a great summer!

Signing off,

Tyler

It’s midday and I am shuffling through some homework of my Music Literature class…no…we don’t read books about music. Rather, we […]]]>

It’s midday and I am shuffling through some homework of my Music Literature class…no…we don’t read books about music. Rather, we listen to music spanning from the 10th century (with Gregorian Chant) to modern music and analyze each piece based on the elements of style. One of today’s pieces is a John Cage piece for prepared piano (you attach a bunch of things to a piano and it creates different sounds): Sonata number 5 from his Sonatas and Interludes.

Anyway, on to the point of my blog today. Spring has sprung at Rhodes! I am finally in my shorts and able to study outside…it’s great after all the cold weather from the winter. I’ve been able to get out every day and enjoy the scenery of Rhodes and Memphis and really have some fun. I took a picture of some of my friends from my Religious Studies class going biking right before Rites of Spring.

Rhodes also hosted Rites to Play this past weekend. Rites to play is set up by the Kinney Program and gives the community a chance to come to a free carnival-style day on the lawn at Rhodes. The AO”Pies” set up a pie in the face booth, there was cotton candy, a walk on water booth, snow cones…it was great.

If you have read my other recent blogs, you know that I am a Bonner Scholar. I do a lot of my service work this semester in a community school close to Rhodes. A friend and I teach basic music appreciation to grades PreK through 5th and really enjoy what we do. Below I posted some pictures of some of the kids we get to interact with and the space that we teach our larger classes in. The past few weeks we have been introducing them to the different instrument families by letting them experience the instruments hands on. It’s a great, uplifting feeling to be able to share something you love so much with kids.

For first-years: Rhodes offers a cornucopia of opportunities for you to get involved in. For me, it’s music, service, and leadership. For you, it could be something totally different. The website talks about tons of stuff that we have available on campus, but more importantly, there are tons of things that are not listed that you can do as well. Don’t get bogged down by the idea that Rhodes is all about academics…all work, no play. You will be living in Memphis at a college that is very involved in its community and its students. Get out there and have some fun…but remember…that paper is due at 5!

Today’s link is a bit “nerdy”… This article talks about the diet of prehistoric man and how it links to today.

Have a great week and…Happy Spring!

Signing off,

Tyler

First, let me just comment on how much is going on at Rhodes right now! Classes are heading around third base, ensembles are preparing for final concerts, […]]]> Long time no post!

First, let me just comment on how much is going on at Rhodes right now! Classes are heading around third base, ensembles are preparing for final concerts, and we are starting to get a glimpse of the Rhodes class of 2012!

As you may know, I am a Bonner Scholar here at Rhodes. Every Spring, a new class of potential Bonner Scholars come in to interview for one of the 15 spots for the upcoming year. Last weekend, the current Bonner Scholars and the candidates got some great opportunities to interact with each other.

Future students (and current students), remember that you don’t have to be a Bonner Scholar to do service work here at Rhodes. Tons of opportunities are available around campus, especially with the help of the Kinney Program.

This week, the Rhodes Music Department has been fortunate enough to have Dr. David Skinner from Cambridge University in residence. Dr. Skinner is an expert on early music and is in direction of a world renowned choral ensemble, Alamire. On Sunday, the Rhodes Singers and Women’s Chorus will sing a concert of early music under the direction of Dr. Skinner and with the help of Alamire.

Hopefully everyone will take advantage of the opportunity to interact with our guest. This truly is one of the things that makes Rhodes so special. Not only do we have the highest standards for our professors, but we constantly get the opportunity to bring in world famous scholars that are passionate about their fields of study.

Some advice for upcoming students: take advantage of all the opportunity Rhodes (and Memphis for that matter) has to offer. Rhodes students, faculty, and staff put lots of time into getting our guests to come here. Usually, these are once in a life time opportunities that you will be sorry you missed if you don’t take advantage of them! For example, just this semester, the Music department has hosted Libby Larsen and David Skinner…this is something that not many schools can proudly boast about! Simply, don’t let opportunities pass you by!

For a cool link, I recently discovered my new favorite artist, Rodney Smith. Take a look at his website (and if you really want to get on my good side…buy me a print!)

Signing off,

Tyler

It really is absurd to talk to people who are convinced that the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast from Hurricane Katrina is complete. This […]]]>

It really is absurd to talk to people who are convinced that the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast from Hurricane Katrina is complete. This isn’t the place to rant on and on about the moral, ethical, social, and political injustices involved with the disaster, but I do hope to give readers an insight into the problems that still exist. I also hope to let prospective students see all of the opportunities that are available for service work here at Rhodes.

I spent my spring break volunteering in New Orleans helping to rebuild the still devastated city. Some people have come back and rebuilt, but many have not. The picture beside this paragraph really highlights this fact: rebuilt on the left, rubble (left from 2005). In many cases, those who haven’t rebuilt…can’t. Many were denied insurance because of red-lining and many have little to no funds to rebuild.

It’s hard to imagine what water can do (keep in mind, the hurricane wasn’t what caused most of this damage, it was the flooding from the breaking of the levees). Beside this paragaph are some pictures that show the power of the water damage. On the left, steps lead up to nothing. No, this house was not torn down. When the levee burst, the gush of water flattened and washed away this house and all houses surrounding it. On the right, the structure of this building has basically collapsed due to the water pressure…it was likely submerged for up to three weeks.

The Rhodes Rebuilds group was so big this Spring that we split into three separate groups to do work. My group went to the Amistad Research Center from 8-12 and worked in the Lower Ninth Ward from 1-4 (the Lower Ninth was the most affected by the flooding.) At the Research Center, we helped Archive collections dealing with African-American culture. Although we weren’t rebuilding in practice, tasks such as these are crucial in the rebuilding of the city as a whole. For more information on who they are and what they do…click here. At left, is a picture of me taking a break from archiving in NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana.) In the Lower Ninth, we worked with an organization called NENA (Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association) who connected us with projects to be completed in the Lower Ninth. At right, is a picture of our group, plus another volunteer group working to clean up debris from someone’s back porch.

All in all, this trip was another uplifting part of my time at Rhodes. Upcoming freshman (and even current students) there are tons of ways to get involved with your community (local, national, and global) here at Rhodes. Programs such as Kinney, Rhodes Rebuilds, Tex-Mex, and CODA allow everyone on campus to get involved in some way or another.

Keeping with today’s NOLA theme, my link is one that is on CNN’s website. It is an eye-opening report about Hurricane Katrina that really helps to explain what happened and the effects.

I would love to hear some feedback about your volunteer work or your experiences with Hurricane Katrina, don’t be afraid to leave comments! Also, prospective students, feel free to leave questions in the comments boxes. I make the best effort to always respond.

Signing off,

Tyler

Granted, right now it is raining, but still….it has been amazing.

70 degrees in February?!? […]]]> Before psychology begins, I just want to comment on the amazing weather of the past two days.

Granted, right now it is raining, but still….it has been amazing.

70 degrees in February?!? A call for celebration.

The week isn’t looking as bad as I had thought it was going to be. The tests seem fairly easy and the papers due are going to be just fine.

Upcoming freshman: don’t make the mistake of only packing “winter clothes” or “fall clothes” after fall and winter break. Memphis weather changes randomly so pack a little bit of everything! Three days ago, I was in a sweater and big jacket…today I’m in shorts!

Maybe the weather is all about global warming:

here’s a cool link where you can see the flood risks associated with global warming.

Class is starting! Got to go,

Tyler

I get kind of anxious about posting stuff to the internet. You post one bad thing on the world-wide-web and you can become just like Chris Crocker (Leave Britney […]]]> Hey there.

I get kind of anxious about posting stuff to the internet. You post one bad thing on the world-wide-web and you can become just like Chris Crocker (Leave Britney Alone!!!!).

Nevertheless, welcome to reading about the lives of a few Rhodes students.

My page does some-sort of justice to me: the words say a few random things about me and the picture really tells all. Keep on reading, or better yet, come up and talk to me around campus (or when you come to campus if you are a pro-stud) if you really want to get to know me better.

Onto my thoughts for the day:

NyQuil and Stress

First and foremost…I’m sick. Rhodents, please take your vitamins, drink fluids, and GET SOME REST. Today, it’s just my throat that is killing me, but I have been weak and moody all week. Not to mention the horrible toothache I have (it’s the wisdom teeth.)

Partially because of my illness and partially because of school itself, these first four weeks have been a lot harder on me than my first semester was. Tests, quizzes, papers, and horrendous schedules are making me look a lot like the lady in the picture. My desk is piled with papers and empty cans. Bonner is taking up so much time (I’m a Bonner Scholar) and my Music Lit. class has already made me shed a few tears this week…and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

Birthday

My birthday was on Thursday. I’m finally 18 years old! Yes, for all who do not know…I came into Rhodes at 17 because of the way I decided to finish high school. Since I’m technically writing this on Wednesday night for all to read when we go live on Friday morning, I’ll have some updates about how my birthday went later. (What he really means, readers, is that he wants immaculate birthday gifts left outside his room.)

Concert

The Rhodes Singers have a concert at Idlewild Presbyterian on Saturday at 5 PM (I really hope that is the right time.) We will be performing, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.

So yea, you hate classical music. My friends, Karl Jenkins will make you love “classical” music. Actually, this piece is far from “classical”–I encourage you to come hear it. We scream, animals get scattered in all directions, we charge to war, we ring bells, and we burn people with torches: all inside a church! It really is a must see if you are into music in the slightest. I bet even the most tough skinned frat boys on campus would enjoy hearing the singers start, fight, and end a war. Here is his website. The CD is on iTunes if you want a quick preview.

I think I’ll end my posts with a few things…word of wisdom for the pro-studs out there and a neat internet link.

Upcoming freshman…take care of yourselves! Eat healthy, study when needed, and get lots of sleep! Enjoy your birthdays…take time to reflect upon your last year and look forward to new goals and experiences. Go to concerts (no reasoning here…it’s just what you should do).

Las Vegas Goes Green?

This is a step in the right direction (or should I say “left” direction) for all of us who wish this world was a bit greener.

Signing off,

Tyler T.