Ticks and Talks Around the Clock

Ashley smiles for the paparazzi. The paparazzi being Cindy and I.

We participated in a challenge course today in Bristol, Rhode Island. It began with basic trust exercises and worked up to saving our world by lifting each other coffin style through two yard high fire-surrounded holes. Well, we actually imagined the fire, and the saving our world part.

No ticks for us!

We were given socks that didn't let ticks through and doused ourselves in bug spray and sunscreen. Throughout the day, we were reminded to check our scalps and arms for ticks. A lecture was given about Lyme disease before we went off to do the course, but I thought it caused too much worry for some students.

Candid.

Our day from eight to four was spent at the challenge course, and it was interesting to see how the group dynamic changed through that time. Our class is trusting, honest, and kind. We started these challenges with laughter, and enjoyment. As the challenges got harder, students got frustrated because everyone had ideas, and planning took to long in our imaginary timed situations. Our class is great because everyone has unique opinions and is incredibly passionate and experienced; we all feel remarkably close. These amazing traits became a burden in almost all challenges. Everyone was talking at once and not really listening to each other. We all felt unhappy that our amazing classroom bond wasn't clicking in nature.  

Diana,  Maya and Ashley try and cross the water to get
to the Brown party with alum Emma Watson. 

I did my best to step back during this challenge course and practice listening. The group agreed that we all had different things we needed to adjust to make progress, and for me that meant letting others figure things out. It became most difficult when the speakers weren't planning efficiently, or were talking over each other. I just wanted to say may opinion, but I knew that would make the situation worse.  

This is where the Brown Educational Leadership Lab (Bell) students get to learn every day.

I talked with Blair, a counselor from University of Massachusetts Amherst who mentioned the "create your own major" option at her school. After asking her more questions about it, I realized this was an amazing opportunity I hadn't explored. A lot of schools I have researched have this option, yet I've never considered it. She is considering switching her major to a make-your-own-major that mixes her love and extensive experience in piano with business. I could create a major that mixes social justice, writing, theater, history, English, dance and include a few classical voice lessons in there too! 

The next Tarzan? I think so!

Erin and I met with classmates Phoebe and Tyler for dinner, and discussed presidential candidates, specifically Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. On the way to dinner, we got splattered with grimy smelly mud from a mud pile that was deeper than it looked. We got to the Ratty, and ran straight to the restroom to wipe it all off. We looked pretty ridiculous wiping our flipflops off in the sink, and trying to get rid of the splatters on our legs. We thought it was pretty hilarious.