I spent today at something called "Brand Camp," sponsored by Jack Morton's Boston Office. Jack Morton isn't exactly an ad agency in the traditional sense; it's a Brand Experience Agency and Brand Camp is their way of spreading their agency ideals to recent grads. While I'm just out of grad school, it has been over 13 years since I finished undergrad... which placed me at about 13 years older than the average Brand Camper. But let me tell you- it was an incredible day. I have spent a lot of time lately thinking about where my career is heading. I don't really fit in within the world of higher education (although there is a chance that could be moving in a positive direction for me right now), I don't necessarily see myself in a traditional ad agency setting either. I have met with several people related to client-side marketing, and enjoyed it, but it wasn't until today that I discovered that a company exists that could tie together so many of my interests and skills. We talked today about how consumers experience a brand from so many touch points, and in order to really impact a consumer's experience, there needs to be buy in at every level, including employees. And there it was - my training experience at Disney, my HR experience, my Communications experience, my geeky love for data & analytics and my Advertising degree all rolled up into one. How cool is that? I never really realized that this sort of thing exists... but man, I felt a sense of excitement I haven't had in a LONG time. I love this kind of stuff!
One of my favorite things about today was that there was a great sell on the Liberal Arts degree. Jack Morton's managing director talked about his History degree, and how they love that there is a diversity of backgrounds within their agency. After YEARS of telling people that an undergraduate major is not important, as long as you learn to write well and think well... it was simply gratifying.
So we'll see what happens after today, but it was great to spend 8 hours thinking about things in a different way, and reminding myself that maybe a place (outside of Walt Disney World) where I feel real passion for the work does exist.
8.18.2010
7.22.2010
Why I feel bad for BP
OK, so I kind of feel bad for BP. I know the whole gulf oil thing is a giant screw-up, ruining the ecosystem for hundreds of thousands of organisms, people included. It's a disaster of epic proportions. And to have an underwater well without a disaster plan in place is completely irresponsible. BP is by no means innocent.
But here's what I started thinking about: BP by no means owns the ONLY underwater oil well. I did some minor research to find that there are close to 4000 oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. They are 15 structures operating at the deepest depths owned by a variety of oil companies.
The accident happened to a BP well... but it could just as easily have happened to a well owned by ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Shell. And guess what? None of these companies offered up a solution to BP's problem. Meaning that they ALSO were not prepared for a disaster of this magnitude and hadn't proceeded with proper due diligence when building a structure that had the ability to destroy the lives of communities along the gulf.
So yes, as the cries of "Boycott BP" echo around the world - I know that they were the ones unlucky enough to get caught with their pants down. But we have to remember that NONE of the oil companies would have known how to fix it, so we have to look at the industry as a whole. The other oil companies have nothing to be proud of - what's the phrase? "Where but for the grace of God go I."
But here's what I started thinking about: BP by no means owns the ONLY underwater oil well. I did some minor research to find that there are close to 4000 oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. They are 15 structures operating at the deepest depths owned by a variety of oil companies.
The accident happened to a BP well... but it could just as easily have happened to a well owned by ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Shell. And guess what? None of these companies offered up a solution to BP's problem. Meaning that they ALSO were not prepared for a disaster of this magnitude and hadn't proceeded with proper due diligence when building a structure that had the ability to destroy the lives of communities along the gulf.
So yes, as the cries of "Boycott BP" echo around the world - I know that they were the ones unlucky enough to get caught with their pants down. But we have to remember that NONE of the oil companies would have known how to fix it, so we have to look at the industry as a whole. The other oil companies have nothing to be proud of - what's the phrase? "Where but for the grace of God go I."
7.03.2010
Gets Me Every Time
I am not, by nature, a crier. My friend Niki & I were discussing last night while looking at wedding pictures that neither one of us are the type who cry at weddings - it's just not in either of our natures. This is not to say that I'm unemotional - to the contrary, I cry at funerals, sad movies, and any time I see my father tear up.... but weddings, graduations and happy occasions just don't inspire tears in me.
But there is one thing that gets me EVERY time. It's silly, and maybe just a little embarrassing. I cannot listen to the finale of the musical "1776" without getting completely choked up. I know it is merely a dramatization of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I know that only a small percentage of the signers are represented in the musical, that the declaration was not signed in one great ceremony but over a period of time, and that it's just a Broadway show about the Continental Congress and therefore more for entertainment than historical value. But there is just something about that final scene. For those not familiar with it, the final scene consists of a roll call of representatives from each state, each of whom steps forward and signs his name to the Declaration, followed by a dramatic gong of a bell:
"New Hampshire. Dr. Josiah Bartlett. {GONG}
Massachusetts. Mr. John Adams. {GONG}..."
and so on. The gong of the bell gets increasingly loud and dramatic, as does the orchestra swell in the background.
As the names are read, I get more and more choked up. I can't help thinking about what it meant for each of these men to sign their name to that document, branding themselves traitors to their home country and determined that what the colonies could attempt together would certainly be better than their current reality under England. I know the drama of it is cloying, and as a student of history should be wary of this purely emotional reaction... I don't know whether it's pride that I get to live here, nostalgia for a time when more people were proud to be Americans, or quite simply the perfect marriage of musical theatre and American history, two things that have always been passions of mine.
Several months ago I saw the amazing American historian and author David McCullough speak at a JFK Library forum. He was an absolute inspiration, and near the end of his remarks stated, "Read the books that you love. That’s the key. And reading aloud is a wonderful, wonderful way to bring a work alive, as is music. History should be taught with music. History should be taught with theater. History should be taught with art."
This weekend I will celebrate one my favorite holidays by watching my DVD of "1776" and perhaps tuning in to the CD in my car (the Original Broadway Cast with William Daniels has a superior finale and the preferred performances of most songs... the revival cast with Brent Spiner has better production values. I of course own both). I will celebrate the fact that the real meaning behind the 4th of July is the emotion, and that the art of theatre is able to stir these emotions in me.
Happy birthday, USA.
But there is one thing that gets me EVERY time. It's silly, and maybe just a little embarrassing. I cannot listen to the finale of the musical "1776" without getting completely choked up. I know it is merely a dramatization of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I know that only a small percentage of the signers are represented in the musical, that the declaration was not signed in one great ceremony but over a period of time, and that it's just a Broadway show about the Continental Congress and therefore more for entertainment than historical value. But there is just something about that final scene. For those not familiar with it, the final scene consists of a roll call of representatives from each state, each of whom steps forward and signs his name to the Declaration, followed by a dramatic gong of a bell:
"New Hampshire. Dr. Josiah Bartlett. {GONG}
Massachusetts. Mr. John Adams. {GONG}..."
and so on. The gong of the bell gets increasingly loud and dramatic, as does the orchestra swell in the background.
As the names are read, I get more and more choked up. I can't help thinking about what it meant for each of these men to sign their name to that document, branding themselves traitors to their home country and determined that what the colonies could attempt together would certainly be better than their current reality under England. I know the drama of it is cloying, and as a student of history should be wary of this purely emotional reaction... I don't know whether it's pride that I get to live here, nostalgia for a time when more people were proud to be Americans, or quite simply the perfect marriage of musical theatre and American history, two things that have always been passions of mine.
Several months ago I saw the amazing American historian and author David McCullough speak at a JFK Library forum. He was an absolute inspiration, and near the end of his remarks stated, "Read the books that you love. That’s the key. And reading aloud is a wonderful, wonderful way to bring a work alive, as is music. History should be taught with music. History should be taught with theater. History should be taught with art."
This weekend I will celebrate one my favorite holidays by watching my DVD of "1776" and perhaps tuning in to the CD in my car (the Original Broadway Cast with William Daniels has a superior finale and the preferred performances of most songs... the revival cast with Brent Spiner has better production values. I of course own both). I will celebrate the fact that the real meaning behind the 4th of July is the emotion, and that the art of theatre is able to stir these emotions in me.
Happy birthday, USA.
6.15.2010
Finding my Inspiration
Since I blogged last, I got married and graduated from graduate school. It's been a busy few months!
I'm also feeling a little lost. I don't mind my job, but I don't love it. I see signs of burnout in myself, where I get immediately frustrated with the people around me and can't inspire people like I used to. I had the most wonderful time surrounded by our family and closest friends at our wedding last month, and now I mostly feel lonely. There are hundreds of things I like to do, but I'm just not motivated.
I was not a bridezilla or someone who couldn't hold a conversation without mentioning her wedding, but I suppose that part of it is post-wedding letdown. I have been searching for new jobs but am finding that there aren't any jobs out there that get me really excited.
So- how do I get excited again?
I'm also feeling a little lost. I don't mind my job, but I don't love it. I see signs of burnout in myself, where I get immediately frustrated with the people around me and can't inspire people like I used to. I had the most wonderful time surrounded by our family and closest friends at our wedding last month, and now I mostly feel lonely. There are hundreds of things I like to do, but I'm just not motivated.
I was not a bridezilla or someone who couldn't hold a conversation without mentioning her wedding, but I suppose that part of it is post-wedding letdown. I have been searching for new jobs but am finding that there aren't any jobs out there that get me really excited.
So- how do I get excited again?
12.31.2009
A whole new decade!
I'm a sucker for "Best Of" lists -- so the end of the 00's (is that what we're calling this decade?) is quite delightful for me, as each magazine reviews the best movies/personalities/news stories of the past 10 years. 10 years seems like such a long time, and for me it has been the most defining decade of my life, so far anyway. I've probably said that every 10 years... but isn't that what living is about? Defining yourself and your goals a little bit more distinctly each year?
I started the year 2000 at Walt Disney World- did my coordinator shift at Garden Grill restaurant in the Land pavilion and rushed home to toast the New Year, arriving just in time to watch the ball drop - I spent that New Year's night with Judith, Jenn, Vaughn, Whirl and friends... and nothing makes me happier than knowing that I still count them among my very best friends. In February of 2000 Jenn moved back to MA, our roommate Keith got a dog, we moved to an apartment in Orlando and my boyfriend talked me into moving back home myself to New Jersey, under the auspices of finally settling down, getting married, etc. I got a job at Montclair State University and moved to Montclair, NJ... which I knew from the day I got the job was a bad decision. Even though Jenn had left, and Judith was planning to leave, I loved my Disney friends as my family, and was growing very close to them. But I got to be in NJ for when Judith arrived, and we bonded over being fish out of water. While my job at MSU was not exactly a dream job, I met incredible people there who will always be part of my life, and was given great opportunities to do what I wanted to do, develop a progam, teach a class... I probably wasn't grateful enough for the opportunities I had at MSU while I was there. I was closer to my best friends from high school, Niki and Kate, so we got to hang out a lot. I got back into performing, at the Studio Players in Montclair... and learned to be on my own when my boyfriend decided that he could do better than me and dumped me less than 2 years after I moved up there to be with him. I was hurt and bewildered, but it was the best thing that could have happened.
Everything happens for a reason, right? I also happened to be living in New Jersey in February of 2003, when my father had a stroke and our world got rocked. It was so inspiring to watch him work so hard to recover, and watch my mom be so unconditionally supportive of him. With my sister in Nashville, I was glad to be close enough to visit every weekend, help out when I could, and serve as a point of contact for my family through his recovery. (He's doing great now, by the way. You'd never know he had a stroke.)
Many trips to Walt Disney World, plus some trips to California, cemented the fact that I needed to get back to working at Disney full time. I applied for job after job, and finally got a full time job in reservations at Disney Cruise Line. Was it my Disney dream job? No, but it was AT DISNEY, where i needed to be to finish what I started. Moving back was hard, financially, but it was the best thing I could have done emotionally. I moved in with Bessie and Ryan, who became my Florida family, and eventually got selected to be an Entertainment Manager at my "home" park, Epcot.
That job changed my life - I made plenty of mistakes and learned plenty of tough lessons, but I also appreciated the fact that I looked forward to going to work every day. I got to share an office with Howdy, who had been so supportive of me through all of my moving back & forth, and uncertainty about where I was going and what I was doing. Working at Epcot also introduced me to John- who became my "can't live without" friend, my Florida partner in crime.
I got moved to the Magic Kingdom, which I treated as a great tragedy at the time, but became a great opportunity to learn more and do more than I ever thought I could. I came into my own at that park in a very weird way, and developed a confidence that I never really had before.
I also struggled while I was there, as I was dealing with being "single" for the first time since I was 17. I certainly made mistakes in that area too... but it all worked out for the best when I was a bridesmaid in my friend Niki's wedding in September of 2006, and met an adorable young man who asked me to dance over and over. I was in love faster than I thought I could be, but Shaun was and is exactly what I needed. He's funny without trying too hard, smart without being a showoff, and so sweet and caring that I can't believe I'm lucky enough to be the recipient of his affections. Unfortunately he lived in Massachusetts.
His attempts to move to Florida touched my heart, and were also coupled with a move at work that put me on night shifts in an area that was interesting and fun, but not the same challenge I enjoyed in my previous job. I loved visiting him in Boston- and Niki was there too, as well as Jenn only 45 minutes away and my friend Kristy not far away either- so I started looking for jobs in Boston and got a job almost immediately at Boston University. Would it be a good idea to move away from Disney AGAIN for a boy?
It was completely different the second time though. This time, it was my decision, not his. I cried upon saying goodbye to my friends: Bessie, Ryan, Howdy, and especially John, but I wasn't as sick with sadness as I had been in 2000. I was ready to go, ready to make the move, and ready to start a new chapter in my life. Even though I'm not a millionaire, I had accomplished a lot in my mind: I really felt like I made a difference in people's lives. I was starting to feel like I couldn't keep up with my fast and fancy-free Orlando lifestyle, and wanted to settle down.
So to Boston I came, where I started grad school, started volunteering at the John F Kennedy Library, and carved out a nice little life for myself. Shaun and I spent most of 2009 planning our wedding, I still get to visit my Disney friends, and I'm growing a nice little batch of friends up here too.
Oh- there were travels in there too - I cruised through the Panama Canal, hit up California 3 times, went to New Mexico & Colorado for the first time, and I'm packing for my trip to India that leaves tomorrow (so technically part of the next decade, not this one).
Is my life different than it was 10 years ago? Absolutely. But my 4 best friends in 2000 are my 4 best friends now, plus a few more added in. Our family lost Mom-Mom Chebra, my last living grandparent, but we added my brother-in-law, Clif, and just a few months ago my gorgeous niece Eden, and will soon be officially adding Shaun. My friends have gotten married, had beautiful children, some have gotten divorced, but they all are happy.
My life is pretty much the same as it was 10 years ago- no husband (well, at least not for another 128 days), no kids, no homeownership, no millions of dollars in the bank, but in so many ways I am so much richer than I was before. I appreciate more, I love my family and my friends more, I have the most wonderful fiance a girl could ask for. The 2000s have been very good to me... and I can't wait for all of the excitement to come in the next 10 years.
I started the year 2000 at Walt Disney World- did my coordinator shift at Garden Grill restaurant in the Land pavilion and rushed home to toast the New Year, arriving just in time to watch the ball drop - I spent that New Year's night with Judith, Jenn, Vaughn, Whirl and friends... and nothing makes me happier than knowing that I still count them among my very best friends. In February of 2000 Jenn moved back to MA, our roommate Keith got a dog, we moved to an apartment in Orlando and my boyfriend talked me into moving back home myself to New Jersey, under the auspices of finally settling down, getting married, etc. I got a job at Montclair State University and moved to Montclair, NJ... which I knew from the day I got the job was a bad decision. Even though Jenn had left, and Judith was planning to leave, I loved my Disney friends as my family, and was growing very close to them. But I got to be in NJ for when Judith arrived, and we bonded over being fish out of water. While my job at MSU was not exactly a dream job, I met incredible people there who will always be part of my life, and was given great opportunities to do what I wanted to do, develop a progam, teach a class... I probably wasn't grateful enough for the opportunities I had at MSU while I was there. I was closer to my best friends from high school, Niki and Kate, so we got to hang out a lot. I got back into performing, at the Studio Players in Montclair... and learned to be on my own when my boyfriend decided that he could do better than me and dumped me less than 2 years after I moved up there to be with him. I was hurt and bewildered, but it was the best thing that could have happened.
Everything happens for a reason, right? I also happened to be living in New Jersey in February of 2003, when my father had a stroke and our world got rocked. It was so inspiring to watch him work so hard to recover, and watch my mom be so unconditionally supportive of him. With my sister in Nashville, I was glad to be close enough to visit every weekend, help out when I could, and serve as a point of contact for my family through his recovery. (He's doing great now, by the way. You'd never know he had a stroke.)
Many trips to Walt Disney World, plus some trips to California, cemented the fact that I needed to get back to working at Disney full time. I applied for job after job, and finally got a full time job in reservations at Disney Cruise Line. Was it my Disney dream job? No, but it was AT DISNEY, where i needed to be to finish what I started. Moving back was hard, financially, but it was the best thing I could have done emotionally. I moved in with Bessie and Ryan, who became my Florida family, and eventually got selected to be an Entertainment Manager at my "home" park, Epcot.
That job changed my life - I made plenty of mistakes and learned plenty of tough lessons, but I also appreciated the fact that I looked forward to going to work every day. I got to share an office with Howdy, who had been so supportive of me through all of my moving back & forth, and uncertainty about where I was going and what I was doing. Working at Epcot also introduced me to John- who became my "can't live without" friend, my Florida partner in crime.
I got moved to the Magic Kingdom, which I treated as a great tragedy at the time, but became a great opportunity to learn more and do more than I ever thought I could. I came into my own at that park in a very weird way, and developed a confidence that I never really had before.
I also struggled while I was there, as I was dealing with being "single" for the first time since I was 17. I certainly made mistakes in that area too... but it all worked out for the best when I was a bridesmaid in my friend Niki's wedding in September of 2006, and met an adorable young man who asked me to dance over and over. I was in love faster than I thought I could be, but Shaun was and is exactly what I needed. He's funny without trying too hard, smart without being a showoff, and so sweet and caring that I can't believe I'm lucky enough to be the recipient of his affections. Unfortunately he lived in Massachusetts.
His attempts to move to Florida touched my heart, and were also coupled with a move at work that put me on night shifts in an area that was interesting and fun, but not the same challenge I enjoyed in my previous job. I loved visiting him in Boston- and Niki was there too, as well as Jenn only 45 minutes away and my friend Kristy not far away either- so I started looking for jobs in Boston and got a job almost immediately at Boston University. Would it be a good idea to move away from Disney AGAIN for a boy?
It was completely different the second time though. This time, it was my decision, not his. I cried upon saying goodbye to my friends: Bessie, Ryan, Howdy, and especially John, but I wasn't as sick with sadness as I had been in 2000. I was ready to go, ready to make the move, and ready to start a new chapter in my life. Even though I'm not a millionaire, I had accomplished a lot in my mind: I really felt like I made a difference in people's lives. I was starting to feel like I couldn't keep up with my fast and fancy-free Orlando lifestyle, and wanted to settle down.
So to Boston I came, where I started grad school, started volunteering at the John F Kennedy Library, and carved out a nice little life for myself. Shaun and I spent most of 2009 planning our wedding, I still get to visit my Disney friends, and I'm growing a nice little batch of friends up here too.
Oh- there were travels in there too - I cruised through the Panama Canal, hit up California 3 times, went to New Mexico & Colorado for the first time, and I'm packing for my trip to India that leaves tomorrow (so technically part of the next decade, not this one).
Is my life different than it was 10 years ago? Absolutely. But my 4 best friends in 2000 are my 4 best friends now, plus a few more added in. Our family lost Mom-Mom Chebra, my last living grandparent, but we added my brother-in-law, Clif, and just a few months ago my gorgeous niece Eden, and will soon be officially adding Shaun. My friends have gotten married, had beautiful children, some have gotten divorced, but they all are happy.
My life is pretty much the same as it was 10 years ago- no husband (well, at least not for another 128 days), no kids, no homeownership, no millions of dollars in the bank, but in so many ways I am so much richer than I was before. I appreciate more, I love my family and my friends more, I have the most wonderful fiance a girl could ask for. The 2000s have been very good to me... and I can't wait for all of the excitement to come in the next 10 years.
9.22.2009
Ready for my closeup
Lots of kids in my town played soccer or baseball. I never cared much about participating in sports- I was more interested in singing. My favorite toy was my mother's turkey baster, which I used as a microphone when I would perform song after song on my parents' driveway. I would recruit my younger brother and sister, as well as any other kids in the neighborhood, to put on shows in our basement.
I was not a shy child.
This was recognized by Sister Pat, the music teacher at my elementary school. She asked me if I'd like to be the ONLY kindergartener in the school play (normally reserved for 3rd grade and up- they needed one little kid to be the youngest princess in "The King and I"). I of course jumped at the chance, and thus began my career onstage. The school play at Grey Nun Academy led to community theatre productions, and eventually some "touring" too. I was good at memorizing lines, and even if I wasn't the prettiest little girl, or the most on-key singer, I had so much energy for it that I usually got to play the good parts. In one of the reviews for a production of The Sound of Music I was in at the age of 8, they described my "big voice" as Gretl - I was definitely always the loudest.
Performing was fun because it was something I happened into organically. I was the kind of kid who loved applause and taking a bow, and my teacher recognized that and gave me an opportunity. From there, I begged to audition for other shows- my mom never pushed me into it, or decided it's something I should be doing. It also taught me about rejection at an early age- sometimes, no matter how much you want something, you don't get it. I also learned to make the best of what I was given. I didn't always get picked for a lead role, but I was going to be the best person in the background that I could be.
When I was in high school, I decided to share my love of theatre with the younger kids in my town and started a group called Backyard Stars for kids 6 to 12. We held rehearsals 2 days a week during the summer, and put on a show each August. It was both a great way to earn money doing something I loved and a way to get the kids who played sports to expand their horizons a bit. I loved sharing what I knew, loved running rehearsals, and loved seeing how excited the kids were when they got applause.
I continued performing through college, but I knew that as much as I loved it, it wasn't ever going to be my career. Unlike the people you see on American Idol, who are blindly told that they are talented even when they are not, I always knew that I wasn't talented enough to really make it. I also like knowing when my next paycheck is coming.
I no longer sing into a turkey baster, but have retained my love of musical theatre and my admiration of those who make live theatre the most exciting form of entertainment there is; the only form of entertainment that will never be replaced by an online option. Applause doesn't sound nearly as good on YouTube as it does in person, I know that for a fact.
I was not a shy child.
This was recognized by Sister Pat, the music teacher at my elementary school. She asked me if I'd like to be the ONLY kindergartener in the school play (normally reserved for 3rd grade and up- they needed one little kid to be the youngest princess in "The King and I"). I of course jumped at the chance, and thus began my career onstage. The school play at Grey Nun Academy led to community theatre productions, and eventually some "touring" too. I was good at memorizing lines, and even if I wasn't the prettiest little girl, or the most on-key singer, I had so much energy for it that I usually got to play the good parts. In one of the reviews for a production of The Sound of Music I was in at the age of 8, they described my "big voice" as Gretl - I was definitely always the loudest.
Performing was fun because it was something I happened into organically. I was the kind of kid who loved applause and taking a bow, and my teacher recognized that and gave me an opportunity. From there, I begged to audition for other shows- my mom never pushed me into it, or decided it's something I should be doing. It also taught me about rejection at an early age- sometimes, no matter how much you want something, you don't get it. I also learned to make the best of what I was given. I didn't always get picked for a lead role, but I was going to be the best person in the background that I could be.
When I was in high school, I decided to share my love of theatre with the younger kids in my town and started a group called Backyard Stars for kids 6 to 12. We held rehearsals 2 days a week during the summer, and put on a show each August. It was both a great way to earn money doing something I loved and a way to get the kids who played sports to expand their horizons a bit. I loved sharing what I knew, loved running rehearsals, and loved seeing how excited the kids were when they got applause.I continued performing through college, but I knew that as much as I loved it, it wasn't ever going to be my career. Unlike the people you see on American Idol, who are blindly told that they are talented even when they are not, I always knew that I wasn't talented enough to really make it. I also like knowing when my next paycheck is coming.
I no longer sing into a turkey baster, but have retained my love of musical theatre and my admiration of those who make live theatre the most exciting form of entertainment there is; the only form of entertainment that will never be replaced by an online option. Applause doesn't sound nearly as good on YouTube as it does in person, I know that for a fact.
9.16.2009
Hail to the Chief
I was in kindergarten during the 1980 US Presidential election. In school, we were to draw a picture of who we would vote for (were we of legal voting age). Well, the night before this particular assignment, I had watched a special on TV with my grandmother: "Bob Hope for President." Being an impressionable 5 year old, I guess I didn't understand that it was merely a variety show for entertainment purposes; I truly believed that Bob Hope was running for President. So as my kindergarten friends drew their pictures of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, I drew Bob Hope.
I don't know if it was because of the giant picture of Bob Hope as my presidential candidate of choice posted at parent-teacher night, but since that time my parents have always gone out of their way to make sure that I knew my American History. February breaks that other kids spent skiing, we spent in Washington DC visiting the White House, Lincoln Memorial, and Smithsonian Institution. We visited Mount Vernon, Monticello, and FDR's mansion at Hyde Park during my childhood, and I always got books about the Presidents and First Ladies as souvenirs. By the time I was in 4th grade, I fancied myself quite the presidential scholar. I loved knowing mildly trivial things, such as Grover Cleveland's status as the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms or the bizarre notion that Eleanor Roosevelt's maiden name was Roosevelt (and her real first name was Anna). Wanting to know more about the Presidents fed my interest in US History, and led me to attend a weeklong stay in Washington called Presidential Classroom where high school students learned all about the nitty-gritty of running the US government.
I studied American Government at the University of Virginia, mostly because I was fascinated by all of the courses available about the Presidency. I never wanted to go into politics, I just loved how alive the subject made me feel. (And yes, my favorite Walt Disney World attraction is the Hall of Presidents.)
Since then, I have visited Presidential museums from Key West to Quincy, still loving the new knowledge received at each location. Since I'm in Boston, and I've always been particularly interested in the presidency of John F. Kennedy, I recently started training to be a volunteer docent at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
My presidential obsession can be a neat party trick (give me a number between 1 and 44, I can give you the President, as well as the corresponding First Lady), but it's also something that gets me excited. Is that so wrong?
I don't know if it was because of the giant picture of Bob Hope as my presidential candidate of choice posted at parent-teacher night, but since that time my parents have always gone out of their way to make sure that I knew my American History. February breaks that other kids spent skiing, we spent in Washington DC visiting the White House, Lincoln Memorial, and Smithsonian Institution. We visited Mount Vernon, Monticello, and FDR's mansion at Hyde Park during my childhood, and I always got books about the Presidents and First Ladies as souvenirs. By the time I was in 4th grade, I fancied myself quite the presidential scholar. I loved knowing mildly trivial things, such as Grover Cleveland's status as the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms or the bizarre notion that Eleanor Roosevelt's maiden name was Roosevelt (and her real first name was Anna). Wanting to know more about the Presidents fed my interest in US History, and led me to attend a weeklong stay in Washington called Presidential Classroom where high school students learned all about the nitty-gritty of running the US government.
I studied American Government at the University of Virginia, mostly because I was fascinated by all of the courses available about the Presidency. I never wanted to go into politics, I just loved how alive the subject made me feel. (And yes, my favorite Walt Disney World attraction is the Hall of Presidents.)
Since then, I have visited Presidential museums from Key West to Quincy, still loving the new knowledge received at each location. Since I'm in Boston, and I've always been particularly interested in the presidency of John F. Kennedy, I recently started training to be a volunteer docent at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
My presidential obsession can be a neat party trick (give me a number between 1 and 44, I can give you the President, as well as the corresponding First Lady), but it's also something that gets me excited. Is that so wrong?
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