But Trust Me on the Sunscreen

Well, folks, here we are at the end. Our last day of Student Success Seminar is tomorrow--we'll finish up your final reflection presentations, fill out class evaluations, and indulge in some sort of snacky goodness. Our time together isn't really over of course--I'll still see you in Music History every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the rest of the school year, and Jason will still be in his Chaplain's office, ready to dispense counseling and thoughts and balm for the soul.

For your final blog (due by 11:00 pm this Friday, November 19), please type up thoughts about your final reflection presentations--the actual content of who you were, who you've become, and who you hope to be, as well as how you decided to impart that information to the rest of the class. If you can include pictures, videos, or transcriptions of your work, all the better. And finally, before you leave for Thanksgiving Break next Tuesday (and, please, do remember that the break doesn't begin on Tuesday until your final class/lesson/rehearsal is over) leave a last round of comments on your classmates' blogs (at least five comments--any blog since the last round of comments is fair game) and leave a comment on this blog post telling me whose blogs you commented on.

Finally, let me tell you that I've really enjoyed getting to know you all this semester. I know it sounds a bit mom-ish, but I'm really proud of all of you. Some of you have had to really examine your lifestyles, or your goals, or your commitments to yourselves. And yet you all keep on keeping on, becoming ever more yourselves.

And so here's a last bit of life advice. It's a bit old, but it pretty much sums up everything else I'd pass on to you, had we the time.

Don't Know Much About History...

OK, not really. I am a Music History teacher, after all. But I am looking forward to hearing a bit more about ConverseHistory from Dr. Jeff Willis, as he takes us on our historical tour of the campus. We'll be meeting on the front porch of Wilson. If you need to be a few minutes late, look for us there or on front campus, which Dr. Willis says will be our first stop.

Our blog topic for this week will allow you to stretch your imagination a bit, Converse-style. Converse is an institution that really loves her traditions, both long-standing and relatively new. Thus, for your blog this week I'd like you to invent and describe a new tradition or revamp an old one for Converse College or any of her many parts (Petrie School, Athletics, First-year class, etc.) And yes, I realize that the phrase "new tradition" is somewhat oxymoronic. C'est la vie.

As usual, blogposts are due by 11:00 pm on Friday night. You might actually want to wait until after our tour to type up your blog, though--the tour might give you some good ideas.

So I'll see you on Tuesday in front of Wilson. Dr. Willis tells me that we'll also be visiting Twichell, Dexter, and the cemetery...