INTRODUCTIONS

1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?

My favorite course of study has been in school. It was my 2500 film class here at CU. In this course we worked with film that was 16mm. I loved this class for many reasons. I became extremely close with my other classmates, my teacher was awesome, and being able to express my own creativity through film is a privilege.

2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?

The longest paper I have ever written was roughly 15 pages. It was a research paper on the documentary Food Inc. There were endnotes and a bibliograpghy included.

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.

My favorite paper was something I wrote my junior year in high school. We were assigned a paper that had to do with US History and I was able to write about 1960s America. I am obsessed with that era, and having the opportunity to spend my time researching the topic was really cool.

4. Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?

Since I have been enrolled here at CU, I have actually not had much writing to do. Many of my classes are production based, so we would work on projects instead of writing. Writing used to be one of my favorite passions, and now I struggle with it. I enjoy creative writing, because I am able to express my ideas more that I would with a research paper.

5. Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments are welcome.

To be honest, I am not a huge reader. I have a hard time sitting down and focusing on a book. But this summer I started reading (and still am) The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Trip by Tom Wolfe.

6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?

As of right now, Wes Anderson impresses me. He not only directed and wrote my favorite films, but the way he goes about it is what leaves an impression. Anderson is not a mainstream director, which I appreciate as an aspiring independent filmmaker. His words, " I want to try not to repeat myself. But then I seem to do it continuously in my films. It's not something I make any effort to do. I just want to make films that are personal, but interesting to an audience. I feel I get criticized for style over substance, and for details that get in the way of the characters. But every decision I make is how to bring those characters forward" wrap up how I feel about him.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?

I enjoy traveling and immersing myself in cultures that are new to me. I have been on many trips, but the most important trips to me have been my visits to Israel (for vacation and to study) and my two month stay in a rural village in Tanzania, where I helped rebuild schools and taught English to children.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

Everything I read in newspapers gets me thinking. Sadly in a negative way for the most part. Because of this, I have stopped reading the newspaper for a bit, and focus on what I have in front of me. I am aware of what is going on in the world, but I rather not read it for now.

9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).

I love music so much. I wish I could play an instrument so badly. Instead I go to as many concerts I can and appreciate what these artists can do. This summer I went to a Fleet Foxes concert and was so moved. I have been to countless shows of all kinds, but this performance blew me away. This band is brilliant. They have such talent that I literally started crying.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply.

The friendships I have created this past summer living in Boulder has changed me. I know who is real and what is important in relationships. I love the fact that I met these friends later in my college experience, but I know that they will be with me for the rest of my life.

11. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go.

"No matter how bad it gets, I'm always grateful to know that I don't have to stay with the negative"- Maya Angelou