August is…well, a lot. Writing up carefully thought out posts while vendors are cancelling last minute for orientation, and your boss just went into labor, leaving you in charge, is very difficult.* So, we decided it would be fun to make this month’s series very simple. We want to see your favorite part of campus!
Our contributors will head to their favorite spot and snap a picture. Then, they will share why this place is their favorite. Maybe it’s a moment of peace in a busy day. Maybe they run into all their students when they visit this place. Maybe it is just simply breathtaking.
August may be mayhem but we are all here because we love our work, our institutions, and our students. Being present in our own space is a fantastic way to keep the stress at bay so we can be our best selves.
Since I don’t currently work at a campus, I want to share with you on of my favorite spots at Fordham University, Rose Hill, where I did my undergrad. (Full disclosure, every spot on campus is technically my favorite because Fordham is my favorite place in the world. )
The Stage at Fordham Prep
While most of my favorite Fordham places are outdoors, some of my proudest moments occurred on this stage. During my four years at college, I was a dedicated member of the Filipino club on campus. They were my family. For a couple of years, we held our annual “Barrio” play in the theater at the Fordham Prep, the high school on campus.
Why this spot?
I will never forget the way I felt in the picture above. Keep in mind, I am not a dancer by any stretch of the imagination. A parent in the audience snapped this picture at the moment that the dance number wrapped up on stage. I was so utterly happy because I had done the whole dance, and I knew our play was a success. I had given everything to that moment, for a long time coming.
My friends and family watched me walk out as a new e-board member for the club on this very stage. The utter triumph, and nerve wracking moments, that occurred before, during, and after each performance, will always be with me. It was here I emceed my last ever Barrio, heartbroken that my time at Fordham had finally ended. It was also on this stage that I heard President Father McShane speak for the first time as a new student, four years before I had to say goodbye.
So, this stage felt like home, in some ways. I followed, led, and contributed actual blood, sweat, and tears onto those wooden floor boards. (Bamboo sticks hurt when you don’t jump out of them fast enough during a traditional Filipino dance! Anyone have a band aid?)
So, a stage is my contribution to #campussnapshots. What will yours be?
*Yes, I just made that entire scenario up.
