2009 Wrap Up
Better late than never, I like to say. Although perhaps four months late please observe (behind the cut) my 2009 year in pictures and whatnot
January
January brought about a complicated yet enjoyable break in Michigan. It hurt to leave and I came back with a most horrendous cold that almost had me in the hospital. It also brought duty in BK (now I’ve been on duty in every building but John St.) and all the joys of winter training. Tanya and I had a joint birthday party that, with the exception of my 16th birthday party, was probably the best I can remember. I spent a lot of time with a lot of wonderful people and started off the new year right.
Song: Plus-44 - Baby, Come On
February
February meant new RA selection with meant the beginning of a whole slew of wonderful new friendships as the new staff was chosen. Tanya and I presented at the SDACA Leadership Conference (at least I think that was in Feb.) and a bunch of us applied to be Orientation Leaders. Nothing too crazy.
Song: Ben Lee - Cigarettes Will Kill You
March
Secrets were discovered about the 2009-2010 MT staff and I found myself thinking a lot about what my friendships meant to me and learning how to keep my mouth shut. March found me chilling and focusing on finishing out my sophomore year. I finally had to face the consequences of not drawing enough boundaries with my floor despite an overwhelming love for them and Sean, Matt and lots of cigarettes in the courtyard helped me through.
Song: Something Corporate - Ruthless
April
It was decided, Matt and I were officially floormies for the next year, living it up with next year’s Honors Freshmen on 16. Room Selection meant plenty of time to play around with friends new and old and I found myself excited about the upcoming summer and my job as an Orientation Leader.
The Submarines - You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie
May
It was an honor to be given MT’s Programmer of the Year but a real sadness to see the year come to an end. I said goodbye to my baby Twelvers and relaxed a little in Fulton with a building full of friends. Jetted to Michigan before OL training to celebrate the wife’s birthday and found it harder than ever to leave the mitten again.
Song: Hurricane Bells - Monsters
June
June brought OL training and introduced me to a group of extraordinary people I am so lucky to have spent my summer with. I cemented amazing friendships that already existed and planted the seeds for new ones to bloom. Things didn’t work out so well with Lexi but it was nice while it lasted. I got to see In the Heights as well as my favorite band (with my floormie) and spent some time upstate meeting new people.
Song: Panic! At the Disco - Northern Downpour//Third Eye Blind - Why Can't You Be?
July
July was a wonderful month spent on beaches (or Miami), cruise boats (OLs tell ‘em) and SI with Dave&Crew. I got to see Conor Oberst and Jenny Lewis with Seanzy and see what life could look like after being a GA when I visited Keith in Queens. Despite the exhaustion of Orientations I had a wonderful July.
Song: Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
August
I was sad to see my excellent summer come to a close but ended with an amazing trip to the Poconos with my family. I had never really been on such a family vacation and despite the dysfunction I have to appreciate the people who helped make me who I am. RA training marked the start of a new school year and I had high hopes. SRA training with some of the best and an AMAZING MT staff helped quell fears about entering my junior year, relationship troubles and the general concern about a new floor and the new Themed component.
Song: Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried
September
A friend’s relapse and family issues made September a hard month for me. I wasn’t able to start off as friendly and open as I wish I could have been with 16 and the fact that I was trying to prevent the mistakes made with 12 made for a bumpy start. However, the support of an amazing floor partner as well as all my friends helped me make it through and get to know this amazing set of freshmen.
Song: Placebo - Drag
October
I started to get back into the swing of things in October. Almost all my classes with Dave as well as the awesome power of the 16th floor made my life that much better. I got to see Minus the Bear with Mattie as well as raise money for some amazing charities. Overall, October was a great month for me.
Song: Minus the Bear - Memphis&53rd
November
Things got sticky with staff dynamics and November marked the beginning of a lot of changes. Despite that, I spent a lot of time with some of my favorite gingers, Matt and I identified our mini-mes and I went to an RD2B conference that reaffirmed my Higher-Ed goals.
Song: Tegan&Sara - Where Does the Good Go?
December
It was an honor to present with Tabby at Stonybrook to a bunch of other RAs, 16 took on the UN and the floor was turned into a Harry Potter/Winter Wonderland. An end of the semester banquet had the RAs dancing it up in 106 and I jetted back to Michigan in time to see the newest addition to the Arrowood Family. My year ended perfectly with most of my back-home besties and truth be told, it was almost impossible to leave once January came around. Plans to live together after I graduate were made and a new year began.
Song: Stars - Your Ex-Lover is Dead
2009 marked yet another year of great change for me. It feels as though every year I grow more and more, such is life. I am grateful for the amazing experiences 2009 afforded me and although some friendships didn't survive the year, I couldn't be more pleased or count myself more blessed to have the strong, amazing people I have in my life. With each year I see myself grow and get closer to my goals. Even though I still have a lot of work to do, I know that the people in my life and my own drive will get me there someday.
Goals: 1. Discover new great music. 2. Keep up with my poem a day blog (drivecaptaindrive.blogspot.com). 3. Go easier on myself and others. 4. Love more openly
Song of the year: Jareem Kay - Have It all
January
January brought about a complicated yet enjoyable break in Michigan. It hurt to leave and I came back with a most horrendous cold that almost had me in the hospital. It also brought duty in BK (now I’ve been on duty in every building but John St.) and all the joys of winter training. Tanya and I had a joint birthday party that, with the exception of my 16th birthday party, was probably the best I can remember. I spent a lot of time with a lot of wonderful people and started off the new year right.
Song: Plus-44 - Baby, Come On
February
February meant new RA selection with meant the beginning of a whole slew of wonderful new friendships as the new staff was chosen. Tanya and I presented at the SDACA Leadership Conference (at least I think that was in Feb.) and a bunch of us applied to be Orientation Leaders. Nothing too crazy.
Song: Ben Lee - Cigarettes Will Kill You
March
Secrets were discovered about the 2009-2010 MT staff and I found myself thinking a lot about what my friendships meant to me and learning how to keep my mouth shut. March found me chilling and focusing on finishing out my sophomore year. I finally had to face the consequences of not drawing enough boundaries with my floor despite an overwhelming love for them and Sean, Matt and lots of cigarettes in the courtyard helped me through.
Song: Something Corporate - Ruthless
April
It was decided, Matt and I were officially floormies for the next year, living it up with next year’s Honors Freshmen on 16. Room Selection meant plenty of time to play around with friends new and old and I found myself excited about the upcoming summer and my job as an Orientation Leader.
The Submarines - You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie
May
It was an honor to be given MT’s Programmer of the Year but a real sadness to see the year come to an end. I said goodbye to my baby Twelvers and relaxed a little in Fulton with a building full of friends. Jetted to Michigan before OL training to celebrate the wife’s birthday and found it harder than ever to leave the mitten again.
Song: Hurricane Bells - Monsters
June
June brought OL training and introduced me to a group of extraordinary people I am so lucky to have spent my summer with. I cemented amazing friendships that already existed and planted the seeds for new ones to bloom. Things didn’t work out so well with Lexi but it was nice while it lasted. I got to see In the Heights as well as my favorite band (with my floormie) and spent some time upstate meeting new people.
Song: Panic! At the Disco - Northern Downpour//Third Eye Blind - Why Can't You Be?
July
July was a wonderful month spent on beaches (or Miami), cruise boats (OLs tell ‘em) and SI with Dave&Crew. I got to see Conor Oberst and Jenny Lewis with Seanzy and see what life could look like after being a GA when I visited Keith in Queens. Despite the exhaustion of Orientations I had a wonderful July.
Song: Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
August
I was sad to see my excellent summer come to a close but ended with an amazing trip to the Poconos with my family. I had never really been on such a family vacation and despite the dysfunction I have to appreciate the people who helped make me who I am. RA training marked the start of a new school year and I had high hopes. SRA training with some of the best and an AMAZING MT staff helped quell fears about entering my junior year, relationship troubles and the general concern about a new floor and the new Themed component.
Song: Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried
September
A friend’s relapse and family issues made September a hard month for me. I wasn’t able to start off as friendly and open as I wish I could have been with 16 and the fact that I was trying to prevent the mistakes made with 12 made for a bumpy start. However, the support of an amazing floor partner as well as all my friends helped me make it through and get to know this amazing set of freshmen.
Song: Placebo - Drag
October
I started to get back into the swing of things in October. Almost all my classes with Dave as well as the awesome power of the 16th floor made my life that much better. I got to see Minus the Bear with Mattie as well as raise money for some amazing charities. Overall, October was a great month for me.
Song: Minus the Bear - Memphis&53rd
November
Things got sticky with staff dynamics and November marked the beginning of a lot of changes. Despite that, I spent a lot of time with some of my favorite gingers, Matt and I identified our mini-mes and I went to an RD2B conference that reaffirmed my Higher-Ed goals.
Song: Tegan&Sara - Where Does the Good Go?
December
It was an honor to present with Tabby at Stonybrook to a bunch of other RAs, 16 took on the UN and the floor was turned into a Harry Potter/Winter Wonderland. An end of the semester banquet had the RAs dancing it up in 106 and I jetted back to Michigan in time to see the newest addition to the Arrowood Family. My year ended perfectly with most of my back-home besties and truth be told, it was almost impossible to leave once January came around. Plans to live together after I graduate were made and a new year began.
Song: Stars - Your Ex-Lover is Dead
2009 marked yet another year of great change for me. It feels as though every year I grow more and more, such is life. I am grateful for the amazing experiences 2009 afforded me and although some friendships didn't survive the year, I couldn't be more pleased or count myself more blessed to have the strong, amazing people I have in my life. With each year I see myself grow and get closer to my goals. Even though I still have a lot of work to do, I know that the people in my life and my own drive will get me there someday.
Goals: 1. Discover new great music. 2. Keep up with my poem a day blog (drivecaptaindrive.blogspot.com). 3. Go easier on myself and others. 4. Love more openly
Song of the year: Jareem Kay - Have It all