The Mindful Writer

Sweet Briar College CORE 120

December 18, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on What Message Are We Sending?

What Message Are We Sending?

by Kayla Reid It’s safe to say that no two cases are precisely the same; however, similarities can usually be found if examined close enough.  Despite the sexual misconduct allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh, he was recently confirmed to the … Continue reading

December 11, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Rocky Mountain High: A Colorado native reflects on the rise of recreational marijuana

Rocky Mountain High: A Colorado native reflects on the rise of recreational marijuana

by Tatum Wallis In 1937, Samuel Caldwell was the first person to be arrested for possession of marijuana in the United States. Since then, there have been approximately 26 million marijuana-related arrests across the U.S. In 2012, Colorado pioneered the … Continue reading

December 11, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on The Talk of the Town — Small College Paradise: A focus on outdoor activities at a small, private college

The Talk of the Town — Small College Paradise: A focus on outdoor activities at a small, private college

by Emily Wrenn It was a hot and sunny afternoon in August. First year students at a small, liberal arts college, called Sweet Briar College, were running around campus trying to get to their various orientation week activities. Emily Wrenn, … Continue reading

December 11, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Liberty Ridge: Time-Worn Faces

Liberty Ridge: Time-Worn Faces

by Darian Anderson Liberty Ridge is a nursing center that reeks of urine, the smell of necrosis on a portly shaped woman’s coccyx, and freshly made feces. There are women and men who range from a mere 90 pounds to … Continue reading

December 11, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Annals of Photography — Life Stories from Medford Taylor: How photography has changed over the years

Annals of Photography — Life Stories from Medford Taylor: How photography has changed over the years

by Haley Campbell As a 78-year-old photojournalism professor shares his previous and current careers in a recent interview, his eyes twinkle remembering his past. Medford Taylor has been taking photographs for almost 40 years. Taylor says, “A lot can happen between … Continue reading

December 11, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Capitalized Perspective: Letter from Washington

Capitalized Perspective: Letter from Washington

by Britt Larson-Jackson It is a small city that has large significance. People of all different shapes and sizes, from various ethnic groups, in different colors and from different cultures, swarm its streets, scurrying to complete their tasks before the day … Continue reading

December 11, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on ANNALS OF TECHNOLOGY — Turing Tried and Turing Tested: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence

ANNALS OF TECHNOLOGY — Turing Tried and Turing Tested: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence

by Lucy Wasserstein Two players, a man labeled “1” and a woman labeled “2,” stand in a room, separated from a third player, the interrogator, by a wall. A teleprinter allows communication between the two rooms. The interrogator does not … Continue reading

December 11, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Get Spooky

Get Spooky

by Jennifer Markey As the month of September starts to come to a close, it seems as if there is more than just the season that’s changing. With the cooler weather whipping in, students begin to bring out their jackets, … Continue reading

December 10, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on The “13 Reasons Why” Contagion Effect

The “13 Reasons Why” Contagion Effect

by Abigail Koppisch In 2007, contemporary novel writer Jay Asher published his first novel entitled 13 Reasons Why, which is a New York Times and international best-selling young adult novel. The novel had become such a hit that Universal Studios purchased … Continue reading

December 10, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on THE DEPARTMENT OF GRATITUDE: America’s Thanksgiving: After 200 years, how does America now celebrate turkey day?

THE DEPARTMENT OF GRATITUDE: America’s Thanksgiving: After 200 years, how does America now celebrate turkey day?

by Sara Story Thanksgiving, now a national holiday in the United States, was celebrated independently by individual colonies and states for over two centuries, after the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Natives shared a harvest feast in 1621. It wasn’t until … Continue reading

December 10, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on A Black and Yellow Legacy

A Black and Yellow Legacy

by Ingrid Stacia PPG Paint Arena, home of the the Pittsburgh Penguins. It is the first of the seven games in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final against the Nashville Predators. The Stacia family sits in the last row of the highest … Continue reading

December 9, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Annals of Honey Bees — The Buzz: A look into the plight of the honey bee and how people are helping

Annals of Honey Bees — The Buzz: A look into the plight of the honey bee and how people are helping

by Annika Kuleba A simple, white two-tiered box sits under a plot of trees on a cool spring day. Someone in a white, long suit stands near it with tools. You become curious, so you go to investigate. At first you … Continue reading

December 8, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Walking A Worn Path: Sisterhood

Walking A Worn Path: Sisterhood

by Hannah Epstein Imagine: you close your eyes, take a deep breath, pause for a moment, and then continue to walk. You’re walking on memories, memories from people you know and people you don’t. You see the buildings where hundreds … Continue reading

December 7, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on The Transition of Life

The Transition of Life

by Kambray Williams On April 8th, 2012 my twelve-year-old self never thought it would be the last time I saw my father. I was vaguely asleep in the room next to my parents as I overheard my father, Dick, speaking to my … Continue reading

December 7, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Autism Awareness Event

Autism Awareness Event

by Hannah Denson As a high school student involved in the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) class, students learned about the process of event planning, principles of finance, and how the ecosystem is involved in running a business. As our … Continue reading

December 7, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on A Year of Service

A Year of Service

by Sarah Straczek “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” – Winston Churchill. With each day that passes, I am reminded by life itself of how blessed we all are in this … Continue reading

December 7, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Profiles: Permanence

Profiles: Permanence

by Sarah Schindler October 20th, 2018. Sarah Schindler watches her acquaintance, Ashley Landen, tattoo another person. She was using a professional tattoo gun this time, after practicing for years with sewing needles, cotton balls, rubbing alcohol, and ink. The tattoo was … Continue reading

December 7, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Entertainment: The Secret Date

Entertainment: The Secret Date

by Shay Young-Mitchell On a Cold Night on September 22, while tap clubs were going door to door tapping members, there was a new excitement in the first years’ residence hall. Dogs were running down the hall chasing each other, … Continue reading

December 7, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Across Oceans and Continents

Across Oceans and Continents

by Zoe Steenwyk When Vic Lindsay and his wife caught wind of a university being built from scratch in Abu Dhabi (a primary city in the United Arab Emirates), they were more than intrigued.  Within a few months they packed up … Continue reading

December 7, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Payback is a Bitch

Payback is a Bitch

by Grace Sizemore “Payback is a bitch” was written on his truck windows in pink lipstick. The lettering stood out compared to the dark tint. He walked out to see us finishing the rage enforced words. I walked down the … Continue reading

December 7, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Annals of Modern Medicine — The Dark Side: “We will look back and wonder how we could do this to our people.”

Annals of Modern Medicine — The Dark Side: “We will look back and wonder how we could do this to our people.”

by Olivia Kolenda On a humid Friday night late in June, I came home to find my mother sitting outside on the deck, which was surrounded by colorful flowers she had planted, keeping my father company, as he grilled dinner. … Continue reading

December 7, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on A Great Big World: How “Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” Trumps Other Legend of Zelda Games

A Great Big World: How “Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” Trumps Other Legend of Zelda Games

by Emily Raine A black screen covers the screen of a video game console. Then, a gleam of light and a soft, gentle, female voice urging someone to wake up fills the space of the once black, empty screen. The … Continue reading

December 7, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on ANNALS OF BEAUTY — Am I Beautiful Yet?: A conversation on the assumed notion that to be beautiful, you must go through pain.

ANNALS OF BEAUTY — Am I Beautiful Yet?: A conversation on the assumed notion that to be beautiful, you must go through pain.

by Siena Annable Warm, yellow lights shine upon the deep-red and glittering gold costumed dancers as they tiptoe their way onto the center of the stage. A symphony orchestra begins to play Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, and fluttering ballerinas, dance gracefully … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Annals of Education — Strike Out: Will teachers ever be seen as an essential resource for education or will students continue to receive poor education as a lack of state funding?

Annals of Education — Strike Out: Will teachers ever be seen as an essential resource for education or will students continue to receive poor education as a lack of state funding?

by Isabella Frost Beth Knappenberger an older woman that stands around 5 feet 6 inches with brown hair shoulder length hair and an abled body that still works out every single day, arrived at her job late May of 2017 … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on The Not-So-Current Cinema — “The Power of One”: A Moving Non-Americentric Discovery of One’s Voice

The Not-So-Current Cinema — “The Power of One”: A Moving Non-Americentric Discovery of One’s Voice

by Genna Dalrymple 1930, the year the South African film introduces the main character “Peter Philip Kenneth-Keith,” “Peekay,” or “PK” alongside his English mother, African nanny and her son, PK’s best-friend, Tonderai. All is well until their cattle farm meets … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on ANNALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE — The Bees and the Trees: How the ecosystem at Sweet Briar College mirrors the larger world

ANNALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE — The Bees and the Trees: How the ecosystem at Sweet Briar College mirrors the larger world

by Jacquelyn Vari This past summer, as Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA began the weeks of preparation for new and returning students, another species was on its way to be welcomed by the campus community. Italian honey bees … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Stress Relief: A Dancer’s Story

Stress Relief: A Dancer’s Story

by Danielle Dawson On a warm afternoon in late April 2018, a high school senior and her mom drove to Sweet Briar College, a small women’s college in rural Virginia, for a tour. Danielle had lived in Virginia her entire … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Profiles – Saving the Youth: How does Braden Barrie leave an impact on millennials?

Profiles – Saving the Youth: How does Braden Barrie leave an impact on millennials?

by Beth Kidd The teenage generation of this time is constantly undergoing many traumatic experiences at this point of their lives. Some of them listen to music to help cope with the pain that today’s society brings. One musician that … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Profiles — Jo Rodgers’ Pictorial Stories: Vogue.com’s Contributing Travel Writer’s journalistic take on Instagram captioning

Profiles — Jo Rodgers’ Pictorial Stories: Vogue.com’s Contributing Travel Writer’s journalistic take on Instagram captioning

by Macy K. Spence If Instagram was a library, her feed would without a doubt be a page-turner within it. She will quite literally charm your socks off with her wonderful way with words, and the manner in which she marries … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Annals of Bubbles — Has Anyone Ever Burst your Bubble?: The absurdity of how a small thing could bring such joy to a grown-ass adult

Annals of Bubbles — Has Anyone Ever Burst your Bubble?: The absurdity of how a small thing could bring such joy to a grown-ass adult

by Pauli Born Sitting in class, I pondered what my next topic would be, knowing that this had to be a banger because my previous works had bombed. As I observed my classmates, I noticed their excitement. Some girls immediately … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Personal Essay — My Musical Journey: Singing In High School and Becoming A Sweet Tone

Personal Essay — My Musical Journey: Singing In High School and Becoming A Sweet Tone

by Isabel Viner On an evening in early September, at Sweet Briar College, a women’s college in rural Virginia, an outdoor event known as Quad Rocks was well underway. Quad Rocks is a fun way for all students, especially first … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Profiles — Commitment: How international student Meenakshi Verma has transitioned to life in the United States and at Sweet Briar College

Profiles — Commitment: How international student Meenakshi Verma has transitioned to life in the United States and at Sweet Briar College

by Emma Hines In a quiet hall on the fourth floor of Meta Glass, a residence hall for first years at Sweet Briar College, an alarm went off at four a.m. The alarm wasn’t the result of a careless swipe … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Annals of Higher Education — Jumping In: Are colleges prepared for Generation Z?

Annals of Higher Education — Jumping In: Are colleges prepared for Generation Z?

by Maggie Groetsch On November 20, Rachel Stigall sat in front of her open binder working on her latest math packet at her college’s nearby cafe named The Library. “Of course I’m working on math when I have an American Government … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
1 Comment

The Price They Pay

by Caroline Waters It was a dreary humid Thursday in July at the Kentucky Horse Park when Kelley Farmer and her horse “Unexpected” were cantering around a 3’3” hunter course. The rain fell down as the claps arose following her … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Talk of the Town: Afternoon of Bonding

Talk of the Town: Afternoon of Bonding

by Elizabeth Martin The early weeks for most first-year college students are tough. Students are away from home, some for the first time, and surrounded by strange new people. College tries their best during orientation to get the students to bond … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Annals of Careers: Career Mindsets Change

Annals of Careers: Career Mindsets Change

by Haley Miller According to the Huffington post, Walt Disney, the creator of our beloved childhood, was once a newspaper editor. That was his beginning career. he was told he lacked imagination and had no good ideas. Julia child is … Continue reading

December 6, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on The 13 Reasons Why Contagion Effect

The 13 Reasons Why Contagion Effect

by Abigail Koppisch In 2007, contemporary novel writer, Jay Asher, published his first novel entitled, 13 Reasons Why, which is a New York Times and International best selling young-adult fiction novel. The novel had become such a hit that Universal Studios … Continue reading

December 4, 2018
by JGB
Comments Off on Welcome

Welcome

This blog contains articles written by students in various sections of The Mindful Writer, one of the classes in the Leadership Core program at Sweet Briar College. The Mindful Writer is a workshop-based writing course that helps students become confident and effective readers and … Continue reading