Step 1: Feelings on the meeting
The meeting began in the library before class. Clare was running late because of work, so I waited on the couch in front of the lobby. I chose the area that was mostly empty so I would be hard to miss. I listened to music on my headphones while I waited. A few people moved in and out of the hub of couches. I didn’t feel too nervous about our initial meeting as we had spoken on occasion in the past few classes. After Clare got out of work and arrived we began the conversation on a very surface level. We spoke about our classes we were taking and how we felt in them. We were mainly comfortable in the classes we were in as we are both seniors, so these are our last few. I had fewer classes as I am graduating this semester while she had a few more to get through. The conversation flowed quite easily to what our majors are. First I spoke about mine, environmental economics. I gave a brief description of what my major entailed, trying not to stray too far into the dull concepts it contains. I explained how the majority of people with my major go into green energy or work in the government.
She shared that she was a fashion marketing major. At first I was under the impression that this was more focused on the designing of the garments. I remarked that a friend of mine was always designing clothes as he was also a fashion major. She then clarified that she actually did not have as much to do with the designing but rather the distribution end of fashion. This was quite interesting to me as I am also in a marketing class so the topic was a lot more familiar to me. We continued to go back and forth sharing what we planned to do with such majors in the coming years. Both our majors are quite versatile so, we were both hopeful for what the future held for each of us.
The conversation progressed to where we were living off campus. She was much farther down on Point Judith than I. As were are both 21, we talked about the relatively new experience of the bars in Narragansett. We talked of our initial impressions of the various hangouts across the town, as well as how each one was better or worse than others.
After talking about our current residence, we drifted to where we were from originally. I shared that I was from upstate New York. She is from mid-state New Jersey, so we are from very different areas. She lived close to Trenton and Philadelphia, while I am from a much more rural area. We did, however, share that we both vacationed in southern New Jersey near Stoneharbor. I actually used to bike to the town where she had stayed. Her town was much nicer to walk around, after all. After this, class was nearing its beginning so we walked to Balentine, ending the conversation at a healthy point.
Step 2: Chosen words
Hub: the effective center of an activity, network, or region
Region: the point from which an activity or process is directed, or on which it is focused
Flowed: go from one place to another in a steady stream, typically in large number
Streamed: move in a continuous flow in a specified direction
While we sat in the hub of student academia, we learned of things outside it. The conversation while beginning on school, began to flow to the outside. Leading us to conversations about our true selves instead of who we are as learners.
Remarked: regard with attention; notice
Attention: the action of dealing with or taking special care of someone or something
Versatile: able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities
Adapt: become adjusted to new conditions
With close attention to each new topic, we attempted to remark the similar connections we held with each other. Seeing just how versatile the human experience is and just how similar we all are to each other.
Impressions: an idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone, especially one formed without conscious thought or on the basis of little evidence
Conscious: aware of and responding to one's surroundings; awake
Drifted: digress or stray to another subject
Digress: leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing
Each connection we made to each other’s experience, based solely on the impressions we made in our own lives. Our attention drifting to each topic as we either sensed a common link, or searched to learn about an experience we never had.
Re-arranged:
While we sat in the hub of student academia, we learned of things outside it. The conversation while beginning on school, began to flow to the outside. Leading us to conversations about our true selves instead of who we are as learners.
With close attention to each new topic, we attempted to remark the similar connections we held with each other. Seeing just how versatile the human experience is and just how similar we all are to each other.
Each connection we made to each other’s experience, based solely on the impressions we made in our own lives. Our attention drifting to each topic as we either sensed a common link, or searched to hear about an experience we never had.