Thrillers

Thrillers.

A lot has happened since I left you. I guess I have been suppressing memories of this certain something, this certain someone, who has made an impact on so many lives over the years. It happened too soon, and now I’m not quite sure what to make of it all. Maya Angelou wrote about our past, fusing it with our present agony, our loss. “We had him.” Michael Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009 and I have finally accepted this harsh reality. Dubbed the “King of Pop,” Michael was a musical genius and humanitarian. His 1982 album, Thriller, is still one of the best-selling albums of all time. Tonight, in honor of the enchantment and energy Michael brought to this world, I will write on thrillers.

Maybe you haven’t checked out Dean Livingston’s blog, but you definitely should. The Senior Interviewers CRUSHED  the Deans of Admission in the annual kickball tournament!  We made history, as the deans were undefeated until this fateful day. Want to know what’s thrilling? Thrilling is going to practices for the kickball tournament on weekends in almost one hundred degree weather. Thrilling is shopping all around Williamsburg and even Newport News to find just the right materials to play harmless, yet witty pranks on the deans in the office.  This year, we chose to be the “pirates.”  As President Reveley reminded us at lunch a week ago, the College was funded by some stolen booty from pirates who were caught by James Blair himself!  Thrilling is  telling your tours that you can’t take them into the Sadler Center due to a wild bob cat that entered the building unexpectedly (true story).

My team and I are currently working on a project within publications and media. We are seeking to add audio tours to theWilliam and Mary Admission website for certain places that are a little further off of the traditional tour routes. I’m in charge of creating a clip for the William and Mary Bookstore! We have also been working to update some information sheets on academic disciplines here at the College. These include everything from Africana Studies to Health Sciences.  It has been thrilling to work with my team on these projects. We are also working on a layout for a new student activities and involvement pamphlet for our visitors.

Yet, beyond dominating on the kickball field/court (we had to play inside this year because it rained), attempting to update some publications and give tours in one hundred degree weather or tornado watches, there is something thrilling about meeting the students. This facet of the internship is particularly memorable. There is something extraordinary about sitting down with each one of you and listening to your passions, your innovations and inspirations. Many of you have persevered through academic challenges, struggled through social inequalities and made a difference in your world. These are students I wouldn’t mind calling fellow Tribe members, I wouldn’t mind calling my friends. You share stories of homelessness, experiences with teachers and mentors, you may sometimes even give me faith for the future.  Some of you have been published, some of you run marathons, and some of you have taken service trips to places I may never see. It is hard for me to believe that these are my last few days of interviewing. On my wall next to my desk next to my computer are your sketches, thank you cards, recordings and collages. You’ve left pieces of yourself and I am grateful. That’s the thing about thrillers, you never forget them.