New Blog

I have the shortest attention span ever these days, so I thought maybe a tumblr account would suit me better. I'll be blogging there from now on.

furnished.tumblr.com

The Science of Love

I wish I knew what it is that I wanted.

I'm Graduating!

About a month ago, I hastily put together 10 pages of poetry to submit to the Senior Writing, Literature and Publishing Awards at my school. Yesterday, I received word that I received the Senior Writing Award for High Distinction in Poetry, as well as the Academy of American Poets Prize.

According to the Academy of American Poets website:

In 1955, The Academy of American Poets established its University and College Poetry Prize program at ten schools. The Academy now sponsors over 200 annual prizes for poetry at colleges and universities nationwide, and has awarded more than $350,000 to nearly 10,000 student poets since the program's inception.

Many of America's most esteemed poets won their first recognition through an Academy College Prize, including Diane Ackerman, Toi Derricotte, Mark Doty, Alice Fulton, Tess Gallagher, Louise Glück, Allen Grossman, Jorie Graham, Kimiko Hahn, Joy Harjo, Robert Hass, Li-Young Lee, Brad Leithauser, J. D. McClatchy, Heather McHugh, Gregory Orr, Robert Pinsky, Sylvia Plath, Mark Rudman, Mary Jo Salter, Gjertrud Schnackenberg, George Starbuck, Mark Strand, and Charles Wright.

For the longest time, I was writing for myself--holed up in my room or in the corners of cafes--never really showing anyone my work except for workshop. After completing this thesis project, participating in the Senior BFA Thesis reading, putting my work out there and receiving such amazing words of encouragement and recognition, I feel really proud of all my hard work. I feel legitimized and validated as a writer--like hey, panic attacks and mental breakdowns aside, these four years really were worth it.

Translation: Means "I Love You"

Here is something like a confession:¹

Wednesday afternoon I had a panic attack in the library. All of the messy feelings and stress that I've been feeling for the past semester hit me all at once and I simply could not be there. I went home and laid in my bed and cried to my mother and she told me that I should see someone. So I am.

Things are better now. I've been good to myself--sleeping more, relaxing more, tackling things as they come. This video of Leslie Feist covering Broken Social Scene's "Major Label Debut" has helped, too.

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¹ Butler, Judith. "Imitation and Gender Insubordination" (1991). My thesis is haunting me.

Shambles, Part One

My Academic To Do List

• Write a poem for workshop, due 4/9
  
• Put together a presentation on Henri Lefebvre's "Contradictory Spaces," due 4/9¹
  
• Write another poem for workshop, plus an essay on a contemporary poet, due 4/16
  
• Present Honors thesis(-in-progress) to prospective and fellow Honors students at the Senior Honors Thesis Showcase, 4/18
  
• Finish and bind BFA Poetry thesis, due 4/23
  
• Read at Senior BFA Thesis Reading, 4/29
  
• Finish Artist Statement/Honors thesis, due 4/30
  
• Peace out of Emerson College, 5/19
  

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¹ I skimmed through this 30 page article and I don't understand any of it. It's 8pm the day before my presentation and I'm doing this instead.

Winter's Been Real Long This Year

Hello Saferide - San Francisco

I booked my ticket mostly on a whim back in November, one late night when I was home in Tucson. I was bored and restless, entertaining ideas of new places and possibilities. All romanticism aside, though, this trip couldn't have come at a better time--it's dreary and rainy in Boston today and I've been cooped up in cafes and libraries working on a midterm paper. I'm excited to see old friends and to hopefully make new friends. I'm ready to explore a place I've never been by myself.

And it’s time to call in sick and pack your bags and bring the toothbrush, withdraw from that savings account--what’s savings for? Time doesn’t wait. Hold the door, I’m coming! All that jazz

See you soon, San Francisco.