In A Bread Loaf State of Mind

First, an update:

In looking back through my pictures from the past week, I realized that I've apparently been doing a ton of homework since the only photos I have are (totally un-posed) ones of my books, the library in town, my view from that library, and ones that show how late I got back to campus each night. The main reason I spent so much time studying this week was because I knew I'd be away all weekend at a wedding, so I got my school work completed (for everything up to and including Tuesday) ahead of time so that I could thoroughly enjoy this celebration...which I definitely did! As much as it looks like it, though, I didn't only study this week. I also went to a speech by author/historian Lucy Maddox, played Ultimate Frisbee for the first time in forever, heard fireworks reverberate off the mountains on July 3rd, went to class on the 4th of July, went to dinner at The Lobby for our traditional "No Work Wednesday," and started interviewing some of my peers. I decided on my final project for my Critical Writing course, and I don't want to spoil it just yet, but going through these interviews leading up to the project is such an inspiration. I so enjoy talking to these lovely people and hearing all about their teaching lives. Being here and surrounded by all these inspirational teachers is such a blessing!
 Above, the school books and my dorm when I come home late. Below, photos that prove I sometimes go into town. Additionally, more photos of the library view and the Vermont sunsets that I'm obsessed with.

[This one I totally stole from other people, but it's amazing. Photo credit: Sarah]

Next, another reflection:

Leaving campus this weekend was a really strange experience. Last summer, I spent a weekend away in Boston for Independence Day. This year, I didn't have the chance to celebrate elsewhere because we had class on Monday (that's what happens when your program is only 6 weeks long), but I did go back to the Midwest for a few days. Leaving campus is always a strange experience. Here at school, there is a communal, streamlined mentality; we all have a similar purpose that drives our focus in everything we do. Walking away from that mindset and back into the "real world" is always jolting because Bread Loaf starts to feel like your entire life when you're up on the mountain. The community here is so strong, vibrant and linked that it's strange to think that you had a life anywhere else before this. Leaving campus for a few days in the middle forces a shift into remembering that you do have a real, fulfilling life away from these buildings. 

However, the experience was even weirder because of the place I went. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hampton was a beautiful thing to witness, and I was so grateful to be present for such an incredible occasion. Their wedding brought together people I hadn't seen in more than a year, and catching up with all of them was truly life-giving. Seeing the newlyweds' joy and talking to old friends was revitalizing in many ways. After spending so much of the past year with the same few friends, it was nice to remember that there are more people in this world who have been keeping up with me in other ways, even when we don't see each other...the strange wonders of social media! But, at the end of the evening, it was really bittersweet because I had to say goodbye to those same beautiful faces, knowing that I likely won't see many of them until maybe another whole year goes by. In some ways, I guess that's just what it means to grow up and move on after college, but it's kind of tragic, isn't it, experiencing that much joy all at once, just to know that you won't have that same moment again. But that's life, I guess! 

After an event that caused such a whirlwind of emotions on its own, coming back to campus was terribly discombobulating. At times like this, it's no longer about being fluidly comfortable in the swing of things; now it's more about figuring out why exactly I am in this space. It's beautiful, sure, and the people here are incredible. But it has to be about more than that. To really feel the Bread Loaf state of mind is to recognize that what we do here (all the learning, reading, writing, teaching, listening, sharing...) is for not only ourselves, but our students. And, I know it's cliche, but our students are the future of our world, so we have to allow ourselves the opportunity to learn as much as we can for them. Yes, this experience also has to be about us Loafers (we are, after all, the ones spending our vacation days working our tails off instead of relaxing or traveling or whatever it is that normal teachers do). However, we are here to serve a greater purpose. If we want to make the world a better place for our own students, then we must first be students ourselves and absorb all that we can in order to disseminate our findings for them in new ways and with greater understanding. 

So, thank you, reader, for letting me work myself back into that state of mind through writing here. I know it's not the most exciting read this time, but at least you got some pictures out of it :)