Fun in Philly

This July, the Vanderbilt cohort will not only study Novel Writing, Rhetoric, Calculus, and Computer Science in Nashville, Tennessee, but we’ll also venture North East to tour the wonderful city of Philadelphia.

Our journey - digital edition!

Weeks prior to the logistical bombardment, Don advised us to sit down at our computers and research places that we’d like to visit in Philadelphia. He wanted us to construct our own lists then discuss them at our cohort dinner to come up with a collective and finalized one. Putting forth our preferences and coming up with a list, was easier than it seemed. Everyone was cooperative and open, prompting us to whip up a completed list pretty fast. Our final decisions were made based on price (do we want to spend that much money?), popularity(will we be stuck in long lines?), and location (is this a 5-minute walk from the hotel or an hour-long car ride?) - all communicated through our group chat and our dinner.  

Pep, known as "the cat-murdering dog"

For Philadelphia, this is what we came up with: Eastern State Penitentiary, Reading Terminal, Independence Hall, One Liberty Observation Deck, and Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

The Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) is a former American prison, that operated from 1829 until 1970. Instead of being a site for punishing criminals, it was one of the first of its time to emphasize reform and rehabilitation - with its system of separate incarceration. Prisoners were kept in solitary confinement to ensure that they silently reflect on their behavior. Moreover, the prison was built on religious ideals, with church-like silence for prayer, penance, and reflection, and each cell having a skylight representing the eye of God. Hundreds of prisons were modeled after ESP. 

Interestingly enough, in 1924, the governor of Pennsylvania sentenced Pep, a dog, to a life sentence at ESP after attacking and killing the governor’s wife’s cat. To this day, many believe that Pep was falsely accused and unjustly served life in prison. 

Reading Terminal is a public market, established in 1893, where over one hundred merchants (two of which are descendants of merchants from the market’s initial opening) reside 7 days a week to sell a diverse array of products. Fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, cheeses, meats, sandwiches, and fish to name a few. The market has a grid pattern with stalls for vendors and open-seating areas - so you can choose to stroll the market or sit and enjoy your treasures. 

Reading Market

By George! caught my eye, from the mesmerizing pictures of fresh pasta, cheesy pizza, and its philanthropy - for every cheesesteak bought, a portion of their earnings goes to feed a hungry child. At Herbiary, the scents of soaps, incense, and essential oils are used for aromatherapy and other natural remedies.

Independence Hall, constructed in 1753, is the building where major events in America’s history took place - most notably the Declaration of Independence and U.S Constitution were debated and signed. In 1915, at a convention held at Independence Hall, overseen by former President William Howard Taft, the League to Enforce Peace was formally announced. This organization to promote world peace, would soon evolve into the League of Nations and then the United Nations.  

One Liberty Observation Deck, also known as Philly from the Top, is an observation deck located on the 57th floor of the One Liberty Place in Center City -  the central business district of Philadelphia.  Observers get a 360-degree panoramic view of Philadelphia's skyline - and nearby skyscrapers. In the midst of the bustling city, the observation deck provides a beautiful view at all times of the day.

Panoramic view from the observation deck

Magic Gardens is an art museum with an indoor gallery and an outdoor setup. It prides itself as a site for unconventional artwork, using bicycles, dolls, glass, mirrors - you name it - to create artwork. Before bought, the property was to be demolished and made into an expressway to connect different highways, however, Isaiah Zagar, Philly Magic Gardens founder, saw more to the property. Zagar and his wife rented and purchased several of the buildings on the property and converted them into murals and galleries. With the help of community members, in 2002 he was able to buy the rest of the property. Magic Garden is a site that encourages community, creativity, inspiration, and houses “outsider” artwork from around the world.

One current exhibit is called Alla Abajo/ Down Below: A Reaction to Our Times by Ornella Ridone. Her work features stories of Mexican and American residents, with themes of gender and the lives of women - all embroidered on discarded clothing.  

Magic Gardens - look how cool this is!!

Doing research allows these locations to resonate more with me. As a strong supporter of rehabilitation of inmates, a food enthusiast, someone interested in the foundation of our nation, someone who has an affinity for heights, and an art appreciator, I cannot wait to visit these places in person. 

One Month Till Liftoff

"This orientation is for all the details you forgot to tell your parents at dinner," a lighthearted Don joked as we kicked off our orientation at Lovonya Dejean Middle School on a gorgeous summer evening with a crimson sky. Monday night was the grand finale of all informational sessions (American Idol just ended, please forgive me), which marked our final opportunity to bombard Don with questions before our trip to Nashville. 

May was a month filled with proving calculus theorems, writing 10-page cross-cultural ethnographies, and directing Shakespearian tragedies. The conclusion of finals week at Contra Costa College commenced the beginning of summer break, kicking off the countdown to our time in Nashville. 30 days, 7 hours, and 14 minutes until we head to Vanderbilt and stimulate our minds with the course of our choosing. I am extremely excited to study programming and computer science at Vanderbilt this July. Although I attempt to satisfy my curiosity by self-studying online and tinkering with my computer at home, I have little academic exposure to the discipline itself. I know this course will further my interest in the ever-growing field.

Transportation was a difficult dilemma, as my younger brother coincidentally had an orientation on the same evening. Luckily my father took the night off, taking my brother and preparing my mother and I for a night with the ILC. My mother and I arrived at Lovonya Dejean Middle School at 5:47 PM, slightly early but eager to begin the information-packed evening. Entering the building, the cafeteria-style tables and chairs immediately caught my eye. Lovonya Dejean was a venue I was familiar with. From the months of school board meetings as a student representative, I was used to the rows of foldable chairs for the public. I thank the school for letting us use their multipurpose room and I appreciate Don for choosing Lovonya Dejean because of its central location within the school district, accommodating to all of our transportation needs.

My mom (she's blinking I swear) and I listen to Don's presentation

Don began the night by giving a short speech on the agenda for the evening. He later introduced Vanderbilt and UChicago chaperones, Ms. Sciacca and Mr. Hillyer, respectively. The chaperones introduced themselves and explained the history and purpose of the ILC. Mr. Hillyer mentioned the potential of the students in our school district and how the ILC bridges the achievement gap. Both chaperones shared their prior experience with the ILC and their years within the education system as a teacher. This definitely eased my mother's worries as a parent. Knowing that the chaperones have participated in the ILC before, provided reassurance that I would be in safe hands.

After the warm welcome, Don broke us off into our respective cohorts. We began by introducing ourselves and filling out our final permission slip. We were later briefed about future blogging assignments and the drafted itinerary of our stay. While we had previously discussed locations to visit during our stay, the itinerary reminded me of how much we had planned for the summer. Following the logistics, fellow ILC alumni were brought in to answer any questions that our parents and cohort had. Vanderbilt alumni, Evan Garrison and Jahnvi Doshi, shared reflections of their time in Vanderbilt and in their visit to Philidelphia. I found it relieving to hear the experiences of the students themselves. I was filled with burning questions ranging from the course load to the food itself. My mother also shared her concerns and was reassured by Ms. Sciacca and the alumni.

I gained insight into the many aspects of Vanderbilt Summer Academy. Hearing Evan discuss the freedom and establishment of trust between adults and students, allowed me to understand that this program was a genuine college experience. Jahnvi inspired our cohort to take advantage of all opportunities that come our way for the duration of our stay in Vanderbilt. Evan also shared his ability to wake up at 6 AM every morning to go on runs. I found this to be very exciting, being a runner myself.

Being a few weeks into summer vacation, this orientation served to be a testament to the fulfilling summer to come. Meeting the alumni and hearing from Don and the chaperones, eased many of the concerns and questions that my mother and I shared. One month till liftoff and all that's left to do is pack!

O O O Orientation

Yesterday was the Superbowl of ILC informational meetings, in that it was the last one of the season, with the most people, and there was even a break for halftime. (Can you tell I don't know much about sports?) Regardless, the orientation was extremely informative and left me feeling like our time at Vanderbilt is finally within reach. 

My Dad and I 

Getting to the orientation itself proved to be a bit logistically challenging. As it turned out my younger sister also ended up with a similar school trip that required its own orientation meeting with a parent, and it just happened to take place at the exact same date and time as the ILC meeting. Because of this, our household implemented the divide and conquer technique, and while my sister and mother attended her meeting, my father had his first real experience with the ILC at mine. This was nice because try as I might, I know that if I were to recount all the information I would leave 6 things out and get 4 more wrong. There's a lot to go over when you are staying across the country for a month, so I am happy to leave it up to Don, Ms. Sciacca, and the former ILCers to paint a much clearer picture for my dad, a whole lot faster than I could. 

We arrived, about ten minutes early, to Lavonya Dejean Middle School where the meeting would be held, and walked in to find that Don was still talking to the chaperones. This ended up being great because it gave me and the rest of the Vanderbilt program a chance to briefly catch up.

The meeting began shortly thereafter, with Don covering a basic overview for the evening, and the chaperones formally introducing themselves to all of us. We hadn't yet met the U Chicago chaperone, Mr. Hillyer, and some of our parents hadn't met either of them. It turned out that Mr. Hillyer and Ms. Sciacca actually work at the same school, with Mr. Hillyer in an administrative role, and Ms. Sciacca as an English teacher.

Working in small groups

After the introductions and overview, we split into small cohort groups with our chaperones. This began with our parents finishing the last form of the whole program, (YAY!) and then we moved on to the more fun details of going through the itinerary. We solidified the attractions we are going to visit in both Nashville and Philadelphia, but I won’t go into too much detail about those here because I will be uploading a full post on them shortly, along with the rest of the Vanderbilt girls. For me, the most exciting part of this was seeing the flights and hotel arrangements. Having those dates on paper made it that feel much more tangible. Often times for me the trip seems like this far off thing that I can't quite wrap my head around, but I know what it's like to walk to through the airport and get on early morning shuttles, so picturing doing just that with Anna, Ana, Hawi, and Ms. Sciacca is very exciting.

Next, some former ILCers arrived and we were able to hear directly from them about their experiences in Nashville and with the program. Evan Garrison, who went to Vanderbilt with the ILC last year told us all about his unique experience at Vanderbilt, that unfortunately included a brief hospital stay. Evan was able to answer a multitude of questions about the specifics of life at Vanderbilt, covering everything from the weather to the food, which he explained was one of his favorite parts of the whole trip. He especially recommended a place called “Hog Heaven”, for while we are in Nashville, and while the name does not sound very vegetarian-friendly, Evan assures us that the desserts, and not just the BBQ, are great.

We also had the pleasure of hearing from Jahnvi Doshi, who attended the Vanderbilt program two years ago and the UChicago program last year. She provided unique insight having experienced both, and urged all of us to take full advantage of our time in Nashville, going after every opportunity with 100%. It was nice to hear from her about how much she enjoyed her time in Tennessee and hearing from both her and Evan revealed that the many things do vary year to year, meaning that our experience will be different and special in its own way.

Concluding the meeting, Don talked to us about some basic items for the packing list, reminding us that it is only a matter of weeks before the plans take off to carry us across the country. He then covered some loner Items with examples that we could check out up close. And that brought us just about to the end of the evening, but not without a photo opportunity of course!

Group Photo (It was colder than it looks) 

Overall, I had a great time at the orientation, going over the specifics of the trip, and preparing ourselves as much as possible. I can’t believe we’re are only about a month away and I could not be more excited!

An Orderly Orientation

My Dad, a stingy early bird, always tells me "If you’re early, you’re on time;  if you’re on time, you’re late; if you’re late don’t bother showing up.” He adopted this motto from some famous football coach, who has stunned the world by proving that the lessons learned in football can apply to real life. Football 101 or not, I operate my life by that motto.  

My Mom and I, listening.

As my Mom drove to the orientation meeting, I shifted nervously in the front seat,  my Dad’s (and a football coach’s) words rang through my head. 

We walked into the multipurpose room of  Levonja DeJean Middle School, at 6:00 on the dot ( the time we were supposed to arrive) - we were late. A sea of familiar faces turned our way, as we scurried to find a seat. It seemed that the meeting had just started, but it felt like my Mom and I had missed a large part of it.

Even though we arrived late, the orientation meeting was still as fruitful as expected. I was glad to see  Don, my cohort, and Tori after weeks of slaving over schoolwork, extracurriculars, and standardized tests. Their faces are a reminder of the excitement of the trip; they allow my mind to wander and daydream about the new things we’ll learn, the great food we’ll eat, and the amazing memories that we’ll create in Nashville.  

Evan, imparting his wisdom.

During the meeting, we got down to the nitty-gritty of the trip. First, the UChicago and Vanderbilt cohorts, along with their parents, split up. We then began going over our color-coded itinerary that laid out the details of plane rides, tourist attractions, hotels, blogging schedule, and class dates - making the trip seem less of a dream and more of a reality. To my surprise - and delight - a few Ivy League Connection alumni joined us to share their experiences and offer advice. Evan Garrison and Jahnvi Doshi - Vanderbilt alumni - gave us their first-hand account of the trip. They discussed the more personal aspects of the trip, that can’t be characterized in an itinerary or brochure. Like how Evan woke up at 6 to go on morning runs and was treated supremely at the university hospital after catching a bug or how Jahnvi went to ice cream with her friends after class and accidentally overpacked. Their insight was helpful in getting a clearer picture of the trip, as well as advice for when we get there. I now know that I must take full advantage of the social opportunities presented during VSA. If I have the option to stay in my dorm on a Sunday afternoon with a good book or go out with friends to get dinner - by all means Ana go out with friends, the book will be there in the days, weeks, and months to come, my new friends will not. 

The meeting exemplified Don’s organization and put-togetherness. Our itinerary was color-coded; Don’s clipboard outlined what he wanted to discuss in the meeting; the loaner items were neatly packed in bags, held together with velcro straps, and labeled. I appreciate Don’s ability to run things smoothly, neatly, and be a great communicator. It’s pleasing to know that someone’s life aligns closely with my early bird ideals and moreover - my concept of neatness. Such elements of the Ivy league Connection definitely makes the trip more worthwhile and heightens my anticipation for the trip.

(On a side note, in exactly one month, our trip begins!) 

The 2018 Ivy League Connection

Pizza Party Meet and Greet

Today was the first time that we got to meet Ms. Sciacca, our chaperone for the trip. It was so much fun, and I can’t wait to spend the summer with her and the other Vanderbilt ILCers. 

A little over a week ago Don put us in touch with Ms. Sciacca in order to set up a meeting dinner, as well as to decide on our itinerary for Nashville and Philadelphia. We had heard nothing but good things about Ms. Sciacca from Don, and I was so excited to finally get to see her in person. 

A creative spelling of my name. 

We quickly found out through the process of choosing a restaurant that Hawi, Ms. Sciacca, and I are all vegetarians, which was a huge relief, because although California is pretty herbivore-friendly, I have a suspicion that Tennessee may not be, and it will be nice to have some allies in the food finding game.

We all decided on Mod Pizza in Pinole as the place to go, because of the convenient location (for the majority) and the simple fact that pizza is a pretty universal crowd pleaser. Mod Pizza as a chain is especially nice because they allow each person to create their own custom pizza, which means no bargaining about toppings or compromising on flavors. 

Cameron Grant, who went to Vanderbilt last year with ILC was also able to join us, which was amazing because not only is Cammie my friend, so any chance to see her is always wonderful, but she has also had first-hand experience with what we will all be doing in a few short months, meaning that she can tell us things that even Don doesn't know. It was so nice to be able to hear from her about how much she enjoyed her time at Vanderbilt and a few insider tips on things that we can look forward to, including movies, bowling, and lots of icecream. 

Cammie Cheezin'

Once everyone had arrived we quickly ordered our pizza and proceeded to talk about everything from the itinerary for Nashville and Philadelphia to our schools and future plans. We bonded over pizza of all different flavors, sharing stories, laughing and planning our summer to come. Ms. Sciacca especially brought so much excitement about our trip, as well as her experience with the ILC in the past which was extremely comforting. 

Overall, I could not be more eager to get on that plane and head to Nashville with such an amazing group of people. When I was uploading the pictures of tonight it hit me just how immensely lucky I am to be able to share such a unique and incredible opportunity with Hawi, Ana, Anna, and Ms. Sciacca, I am certain that we are really going to make the most of it. Ms. Sciacca seemed to fit perfectly into our group as we grow closer together, and it was so great to learn more about her. I know that I have said this in almost all of my blog posts, and I am sure I will say it in more posts to come, but today's meeting made the trip seem just that much more real. I am still not sure that it has really sunk in that in just a little over a month we will all be boarding a plane to fly across the country, but I know I can’t wait. 

Can't wait for Nashville! 

Mod Meet and Greet

These past few weeks in school have been very busy; finals, essays, and AP tests have absorbed much of my time and energy. This Meet and Greet has been something to look forward to after long periods of exhaustion; even coinciding with the beginning of that mysterious transition in the school year where the end is approaching, teachers begin demanding less of their students, and everyone seems to have more spring in their step. I'm proud to say that I can now associate Ivy League Connection and my cohort with the wonderful and liberating feeling of the end of the school year. 

After enjoying our pizza!!

2018 Vanderbilt Cohort joined by Cammie

I could already tell that I would adore our chaperone, Tori Sciacca, not only by hearing the great things Don had said about her but also from her text messages. She has such an enthusiastic, positive, and youthful aura - one that was apparent in her text messages and by her choice of emojis. What made me like her, even more, was in the myriad of emails sent, one was regarding how to address our chaperones, as last year's Chicago cohort did, Tori said we could call her Mom!!! This comment made me, mentally, put my hand to my heart and exclaim,"AWWW", like one may do after witnessing a touching act of kindness. 

The 2018 Vanderbilt cohort decided to meet at Mod pizza in Pinole, extending the invitation to ILCers from last year's trip to Vanderbilt. Thankfully we were joined by Cameron Grant, who provided us with insider knowledge on the trip.  

Audrey was coerced into putting
asparagus onto her pizza.

We spent the evening enjoying pizza and discussing elements of the trip: the heat, the humidity, the hot rain, and being in a permanent state of hotness. We even learned to never underestimate the heat and always seek out airconditioned areas. Maybe I'm overstating how much we discussed the heat, but as an amateur in the realms of extreme weather, I think I reserve the right make  90-degree weather a big deal. Albeit, we discussed fun group activities that are part of the summer program, such as organized outings to the movie theater, games of Quidditch, and chess matches. I even learned that great friendships can be fostered during this experience. Cammie made a friend who she is traveling to Mexico with, in a few weeks!  

From this outing, I have made several realizations as well as a list of goals for myself for the trip. First, that I love my cohort, we are a group of fun, kind, clever, and ambitious women, and I already know that we will enjoy each other's company during the summer. Next, that our chaperone is the coolest, and exceeded my initial expectations - definitely worthy of being referred to as Mom. My ever-growing list of personal goals for the summer—go outside my comfort zone, make new friends! Take advantage of opportunities to sleep, I will be kept busy and exhaustion may overcome. And even in the grueling heat, enjoy myself!!

Red Vines and Photography

Today was the ILC tutorial, or in other words, the day where you get a crash course in being an ILC-er. We covered everything from how to properly upload pictures, to remembering quarters for laundry when we are living across the country.

The Library

Today was also the first time that all of the 2018 Ivy League Connection cohort members were together in one place (and Don of course). Even though I had already met everyone except Shreejal, it was really cool to be able to get to know them a bit better, especially Kayla, Anna, Shreejal, and Hawi, since we go to different schools.

We all met up at the San Pablo library, which I had never been to, and it was both brand new (apparently it was only finished a few months ago) and gorgeous. We arrived at around 12:50, which was really nice because it meant that I had no rush to get out of the house this morning and that we were ready to go inside right when the library opened, after taking a quick group picture. Thankfully, Don had reserved a conference room for us to use in advance, because the library filled up pretty quickly.

Once inside, we set up our laptops and Don passed out thick packets full of in-depth information about virtually all aspects to the ILC. We began by going over basic etiquette around the use of our phones and emails as part of the ILC, as well as best practices for the adult world in general. We moved on to more information about blogging and the specifics around formatting, emphasizing what, when, and how to blog. Don also went over the characteristics of a bad blog, and so in order to avoid falling into the trap of giving a blow-by-blow on exactly what we covered, (something that is part of the “don'ts” section) I will fast forward to what was probably my favorite part of the tutorial: taking pictures.

Everyone 

I love photography, so naturally, I really enjoyed being able to roam around the outside and inside of the library, snapping photos. My mom is letting me use her camera for the ILC, and while it is not comparable to one of Don’s gigantic cameras (with even bigger lenses). I like using it, because, besides taking really nice pictures, it is pretty big and heavy, which makes me feel like a real photographer. I took pictures of everything I could find that looked remotely photo-worthy and ended up with 54 photos in the span of less than ten minutes (I even managed to get a few with the elusive Anna).

One of My Favorites 

We returned inside to eat Red Vines and finish up the tutorial. We went over the packing list as well as the items that Don can loan us for our trip (he is very prepared). Seeing that packing list made the fact that I am going to be spending a month at Vanderbilt this summer with really cool people, and learning about a subject I am very interested in, feel just that much more real.

Overall, I had a great time getting to see all of this year’s cohort and learning more about what the future of the ILC holds. I am so excited for this summer and the rest of the journey.

Tutorial Day

I arrived at our meeting location surprised to find that such a modern and orange building was a library, and by orange I mean orange. The color itself is almost overwhelming, like a five-year-old who was painting a butterfly but decided it was too drab so instead they coated the paper from corner to corner with orange paint. Albeit, paired with modernity, somehow the designers of the building pulled off their ambitious color choice - a relief that they did not venture too far into five-year-old painter mode.

The orange library.

Even though we arrived before the library opened, there were still people waiting patiently out front for the doors to open. It made me happy to see that libraries were not becoming antiquated, although kids these days suggest otherwise. Inside the library, similar to its exterior, was a vibrant and colorful environment. The carpet was blue with dark swirly patterns, reminding me of the ocean, the walls had murals, there were comfy chairs( as Maxime noted), and there was a conference room where we worked for the day- but best of all there were books!!

You can always count on Don Gosney to bring everything but the kitchen sink to a meeting, ergo we had to drag a whole cart full of equipment from his car to the library- his scanner, fold-up-table, and much more. Be that as it may he is an exceptional Red Vines provider- a greatly appreciated snack, perfect for a long meeting.

Once we settled in the conference room Don taught us how to properly format, write, and post our blogs. He stressed the fact that people from all over the world will be reading them, from admission officers at Universities to people in Russia- thus it is important that we be interesting critical thinkers, and use our writing to show not tell. Hopefully, my tangent on the overwhelmingly orange library achieved that.

My bud, Audrey 

Practicing was difficult for me, it took me a little longer than others to properly format my writing as well as download pictures from my camera to mediafire. However the experience did allow me to improve my technology skills- I managed to post this blog,  that shows something.

In the conference room two large windows gave us a lovely view of the parking lot, and soon enough as the dark clouds looked like they wanted to rain, rain began to patter against the glass. Watching it reminded me of how much I love California weather, and how it'll differ greatly from muggy Tennessee. That moment hit me like a ton of bricks, the fact that I’m going to travel across the country to study at a prestigious university for a month had finally materialized. For the past few months. the idea had been floating around, almost as if it was a dream or a figment of my imagination. But it was finally becoming a reality- it’s crazy how things turn out.

Beautiful, foggy California weather

Vanderbilt Cohort

You've read in the newer blogs about the multiple photos taken of the Vanderbilt cohort.  Most of these were taken for their use on their profiles and other uses.  A few might be used in their blogs but most will go unused.

So...here are a few of the headshots just so the world might get to see them.

Looking casual holding up the light post

Cohort, Coffee, and Cameras

On Sunday afternoon Ana, Anna, Hawi, Don and I all met up to learn about blogging and take some photos.

We started by joining Don near the café where we would be doing our blogging, to take some photos. Fortunately for the pictures, and unfortunately for our eyes, the sun seemed to be particularly bright on Sunday and at our first location, on the steps of an old train station, we were all trying our very best not to squint. In the end, all the grimacing was totally worth it, because the warm yellow wall behind us matched perfectly with the colors of our blog and even the Vanderbilt colors. After a few more locations, of which most were thankfully in the shade, it was time to head back to the café for some blogging.

Don suggested Kaleidoscope Coffee for the meeting, which I had never been to before, and as soon as we walked through the doors I was glad he had. The interior was beautiful with exposed brick, cool art on the walls, and even some very comfortable looking giant bean bags in the back. 

So much fun! So much blogging! 

After getting some drinks, and a scone for Ana, we settled down to get to work. The first step was choosing the theme (overall look) of our blog, which was harder than it had seemed to be at first because it had to accommodate all the elements that we wanted. Once we had determined that, we moved onto the fun details that make our blog unique, fonts, colors, sizes, and more, fortunately we did not have any trouble agreeing on the these and decided to go with the Vanderbilt colors as a base. Finally Don added the aforementioned banner picture along a few other details and we were done.

Next it was time to learn about how to do the blogging itself. We covered how to make a blog post and the specifications for each one that I will hopefully be implementing correctly in this first post. Finally Don gave us a crash course in the photo sharing program we will be using it was time to head home.

My favorite part of the day was getting to know Anna and Hawi better, (Ana and I were already friends) and I can't wait to spend the summer with such a amazing group! 

An Afternoon of Tea and Blogging

On Sunday, I hopped out of my car ready to embark on a new journey with the ILC. This four-hour meeting would be the Vanderbilt cohort’s first official get together, encapsulating a fabulous photo shoot, tea at a cool cafe, and blog making. Not to mention, the beginning of new friendships and precious memories. 

We began the outing by meeting by Don’s gray minivan, where after our parents signed a few papers, we buckled into his car and drove off to the destinations of our photoshoot. Despite nature’s inconvenience (blinding sun, wind, butt splinters, and muddy ground) the photo shoot was a fun way to start the day. 

After, we settled in a very cute cafe. It had tables and chairs to one side, and off in the corner was a lounging area with bean bags, a couch, books, and board games. It was the perfect place to spend a few hours creating a blog. I’ve never been tech savvy, but creating a blog was quite simple. We chose the theme, colors, font, photos, and other elements that would be displayed on the blog. 

Although I did enjoy having a photo shoot, drinking earl grey tea, and eating a good scone, by far, the best part of the day was getting to know my cohort members. I can’t wait until the summer!