Note: This is my “I Don’t Have Enough Time to Write Another Blog Entry Because My Exam is Coming Up” entry.
The Tulips have their own blog that the five of us rotate (what is supposed to be) every two weeks chronicling our experiences at different events and with planning our literacy program. My second blog entry of the year was posted yesterday (I don’t even know precisely what it means, but for some reason I want to describe it as “campy” or cheesy (most of the blog entries from the past four years closed with “Tulip Love, (insert Tulip’s name here)), and I’ve copied and pasted it below for your reading pleasure in case you’re wondering what we’re up to on the literacy program front:
Posted by: Meghan Yi, 2014 Tulip Court
Sunday December 14, 2014
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Despite the forecast of tons of sleet and snow this week, winter has not slowed down the Tulips! The past few weeks have been busy ones as we’ve been working “super” hard putting the finishing touches on our Imagination Ink: Calling All Super Writers literacy program, volunteering at holiday themed events in the city, and winding down our semesters at our respective schools.
Imagination Ink: Calling All Super Writers has been a major work in progress since we were first selected as finalists way back in May. All five of us brought novel ideas for the literacy program (pun intended) to the table: Caitlin suggested using a graphic novel as a teaching tool, Jillian created a worksheet on how to dissect and discuss books with students in a highly educational way, Tara shared her background in lesson planning to give us a concrete game plan to lead us in the classrooms, Kassie’s optimism and creativity reminded us to aim big, but to also have fun with the process, and I pushed for the overarching theme of teaching students the importance of recognizing issues in their community, reaching out to and learning from local role models and leaders, and actually doing something about it to make their home in Albany a better place (the students are, after all, our next generation of leaders!). After pulling bits and pieces of our individual proposals together we are nearly ready to debut our collective literacy baby, a cohesive and engaging program we really feel is going to rally students to be excited about improving their literacy. We look forward to sharing Imagination Ink in several schools in the coming months!
Besides the literacy program, we’ve been busy meeting with and working with you, our favorite Albany community members, at events throughout the city. Last Wednesday, we helped flip the light switch, listened and danced to the awesome a capella music provided by the Albany High School music department, and ate the always amazing donuts from Cider Belly at the City of Albany Tree Lighting with Mayor Sheehan.
On Saturday, Tara and I set up food for post-race festivities, handed out shirts at registration, and directed 1700 eager (and brave!) runners to the starting line at the 18th annual Albany Last Run, a 5K through the Capital Holiday Lights in Washington Park. (Registration closed out before I could sign up, but mark my words, I will be running it next year…literally with bells on!)
Finally, on Sunday, we worked on Santa Claus bookmarks, clothespin angel tree ornaments, and paper star cutouts with children and their families visiting the craft station at the Empire State Plaza Tree Lighting hosted by the New York State Office of General Services and SEFCU. Tara, Kassie, and I even got to meet and snag a picture with Santa!
As if that wasn’t enough to keep us busy, our fall semesters just finished and/or are wrapping up (ha, are you sick of these puns yet?!). While Jillian finished her semester a couple of weeks ago at Union and is participating in a prestigious dance program in Bali for a few weeks on an incredible scholarship, Caitlin, Kassie, and Tara are in the midst of their finals at Siena and St. Rose. As for me, I have one more exam and a million and one things to do here at Albany Med before I return home to Maryland to hibernate, relax, and celebrate the beauty that is Christmas with my family and friends. It has been one crazy semester, but when I stop to take a deep breath, reflect on it all, and count my blessings, I thank God for all of the awesome opportunities and wonderful people He has placed in my life!
Looking forward to everything 2014 will bring for you and me, and wishing you the happiest of holiday seasons,
Meghan
In addition, we’ve been asked to submit regular blog entries for the Special Events Office blog. For our first entry, we each took a part of the selection process to explain from our own point of view. It can be read here.
Meghan'sMind 