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I love spring time on the Hill because of all the blossoms and new greenery on campus. They have recently been putting mulch up around campus in preparation for it. I have also seen many different places that have new pieces of shrubbery, but the most important thing is that my favorite tree is back.
I am not sure what type of tree it is, but it has the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. They are so pink and happy! When I first saw them as I walking to class, I was completely overjoyed! They make me smile every time I walk by. There is something so uplifting about spring time. Now we are in the home stretch, and I relish all of the beauty of campus!
 My favorite tree
 This year’s issue of Contrast! On Thursday, after weeks of hard work and planning, my co-editor Jimmy and I unveiled the 2015 issue of Contrast Literary Magazine, McDaniel’s annual student lit mag publication.
It was a thrill to see everything come together! Not only had we put a lot of effort into the magazine — which turned out beautifully — and getting it published, but we also spent a lot of time organizing and promoting the event. We had to reserve space and equipment, order food, create and hang flyers, and get the word out on social media. Since a significant portion of the event is devoted to students reading their newly published pieces, we also had to make sure we had students who were willing to read to our audience.
When I got to the event space on Thursday, all of the chairs and food were set up, and the microphone and podium were set up soon after. All I had to do was put copies of the magazine around the room after having transported two boxes of them to the space that morning.
We probably had about 30 people show up to the event, and many of them came early, so it was fortunate that my co-editor and I had gotten there to set up before them. People loved the magazines and we all had the chance to hear some excellent readings of excellent writings by excellent authors.
I loved getting to hear everyone read, but I had a couple of other favorites from the event too. I loved being able to give our club advisor, who is also my academic advisor, a beautiful potted Gerbera daisy as a token of my thanks. And even more exciting was the fact that my alumni friends Nick and Charles, who were co-editors of Contrast two years ago, came to the unveiling. I think it speaks to what a wonderful publication and organization Contrast is that previous editors want to come back to McDaniel to support it.
Overall, the event was a success, and while I’m glad that all of the work leading up to the unveiling was successful, I’m kind of sad that it’s over. Between creating a beautiful book and planning a successful event, I have much to be proud of. Being a member of Contrast for four years and an editor this year has been a rewarding experience that I would never trade.
 A member of Africa’s Legacy performing her spoken word Last night, I went to the second annual United performance. It is a huge show put on by all of the multicultural groups on campus. It is a way for all of us to show support to one another and stand united.
I really loved different poetry pieces that people performed; Melanie, a member of Allies, performed one about black lesbian pride that I thought was awesome!
The dancing and singing was beautiful as usual. There were parts where audience members were allows on stage to do the dances as well. I went up on stage and learned a dance from the Asian Community Coalition. Also, the Black Student Union had soul music and a soul train line which I could not resist participating in.
The most important thing of all was the food! They had corn bread, meat balls, rice, kabobs, and much more. I definitely should have gone back for seconds.
My friend was in the fashion show as part of a sixties lesbian couple. She had the perfect outfit for it. I tried to help her with her hair before the show to create the perfect bump, but she was able to make it work regardless.
 My friend in her 60s outfit!
It was such an awesome thing to see here on campus! I love watching seeing how supportive people on campus can be. United is one of my favorite performances that takes place at McDaniel.
While in Washington, D.C. last week, I visited the Newseum. One of my former bosses in high school had practically ordered me to go sometime as he was confident I would love it. He was entirely right.
The Newseum had six stories of exhibits, much more than I was expecting. On the bottom floor, there was a segment of the Berlin Wall, taken the year that it came down, which already made my admission fee worth its value. The West side was covered in graffiti and the East Side was practically bare, though I could see a few places where it looked like graffiti had been washed off. The wall came down and the Cold War ended only six years before I was born, which always astounds me. It feels like history, something that must have occurred many decades ago, but it was really very recent.
 The West side of the Berlin Wall was a stark contrast to the East side. The main exhibit that I had come for is what gives the Newseum its name. I walked into a dark room with over six hundred newspapers under special lighting, dating back to the 1700s. The curators had picked front pages of newspapers from the days that major events across the United States, and in some cases, the world, had occurred. It was really intriguing to see the way the news had been portrayed at each different point in time and what had been deemed important enough for what space.
 An Iranian newspaper from the time of the Iranian Hostage Crisis. Additionally, they had that day’s newspaper from a major newspaper in every state and some from various countries across the world. The amount of space and coverage each topic received was cool to see, as well as small tidbits from random areas.
I did have to pay $20 to get in, which is hefty as D.C. has the Smithsonian museums which are all free, but the money was well spent, and the ticket was valid for the following day, too. I definitely recommend going when you have a lot of time to spend exploring.
When I first came to college, I was expecting to have a variety of relationships with friends, professors, coaches, classmates, and other students that will, unfortunately, remain strangers. I have been surprised, mostly pleasantly, by those relationships. I know many of the people I have met here will be people I could contact in ten years and still be able to get their help, and I would help them in return.
However, there has been one relationship that I never expected: one with one of the men that work the front desk at the gym.
It has developed over time. My freshman year during outdoor track season, I would walk into the gym and right up to the desk a few times a week to ask for the closet in the back of the gym to be opened. My equipment is kept there and I needed it for practice. The same man has worked there at that time since I got here.
And now, two years later, when I walk into the gym around 4 pm, he either tells me the closet is open or grabs his keys to open it unless I signal that it’s not needed that day.
It’s a small thing, but it reminds me that we are all, to an extent, dependent on each other to help the college run and to help further our lives. One action or achievement or failure affects the people around us and gives them something to write about, or inspiration, or an idea, or even a lesson in what not to do.
No matter what it is, directly or indirectly, we learn from and help each other, and I think that’s what college is all about.
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