The Medallion #38 Late Fall 2022

the

a publication by the FSU Honors Student Association

7 19 38

Issue #38 December 2022

The Ophelia Complex

Student Submission: Save the Bees

Home for the Holidays

CONTENTS

05 Winter Traditions Around the World

11 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Choeeta Chakrabarti

17 Quiz: Which Meditative Activity Are You?

25 Home for the Holidays

04 Letter from the Editor

08 Holiday Reading Suggestions

14 The Ophelia Complex

19 Student Submission: Save the Bees

A DISCLAIMER

Any thoughts, opinions, political beliefs, or otherwise personal ideas are representative of the student writer, and not of the Honors Program itself. The Honors Student Association strives to offer platforms for discussion and critical thought for its members, and The Medallion is happy to be a part of that.

Writers for this edition include: Sarah Toole, Max Mitchell, Moriah House, and Callista Payne.

Letter from the Editor Dear Reader, Hello, all! This semester has been a fun one, and I hope this edition of The Medallion will be just as fun.

The theme of this edition is "Reflections", so I'm going to start us off by refelecting on my time with HSA. I started as a landis liaison: a now defunt position on the marketing team that helped to communicate with Freshman in honors housing. When I was there, I found my community within HSA, and rejoined as a newsletter chair before being ultimately elected to Director of Marketing.

The year that I was elected to serve, 2022, has been a wild one. My family has undergone life changing surgeries, my mental health journey has found its true boulevard, and the team of writers for The Medallion have ijmpressed my nonstop by filling the gaps where I couldn't. This edition is compiled of holiday joy, contemplation, and one of my own personal pieces, where I talk through my time as a woman in the professional world.

I'm very grateful for the people who have helped me not only survive this year, but to succeed in it. I cannot express enough gratitude to Max Mitchell for his moral support, Angelina Astic for her unmatched energy, Moriah House for her calming presence, and Alexis Dorman and Ava Terry for putting out content when I couldn't remember the Instagram password (a few too many times).

With that, I give you my final ever....

All the best.

Your Editor-in-Chief,

Callista Payne

Winter Traditions of the World

By Moriah House There's a reason Thanksgiving to New Years is often called "The Holiday Season"- across the world, this time is filled with celebrations, gatherings, and festivities! Here's a look into just a few of the unique traditions that will be celebrated around the globe in the next few weeks.

Japan: KFC Christmas Dinner In Japan, the most popular Christmas meal is finger lickin’ good. That’s right, Japanese families typically enjoy KFC on December 25th! There are several origin stories for this tradition, but according to the KFC website, when an American customer requested chicken because he couldn’t find a Christmas turkey in Japan, KFC saw an opportunity for a Christmas-themed marketing campaign. It has certainly been successful! At some locations, Christmas day sales are 10 times higher than average, and it’s estimated that 3.6 million Japanese families celebrate with KFC. These days, KFC offers a “Party Barrel” Christmas package which includes cake and champagne, and must be ordered weeks in advance!

Jamaica: Junkanoo In Jamaica, Boxing Day and New Years Day are marked by the celebration of Junkanoo, a spectacular street festival involving music, dancing, and elaborate costumes. This annual tradition has been occuring for over 500 years!

Although the true origins are unknown, its roots can be traced back to West Africa. According to folk legend, Junkanoo’s name originates from an African tribal chief named John Canoe who demanded the right to celebrate with his people after being brought to the West Indies by the slave trade. The annual parade in Nassau starts at 2 am, and in the true holiday spirit anyone can participate, even tourists!

(Providing they follow the rules established by the National Junkanoo Association.)

Scotland: Hogmanay In Scotland, the arrival of the New Year is celebrated with a 3 day festival called Hogmanay. This tradition is said to have originated from Viking invaders celebrating the Winter Solstice in the 8th and 9th centuries. Today, Edinburgh is home to the largest Hogmanay, which begins on December 30th with a torchlight procession involving real fire and, of course, bagpipers! And if you need some sustenance after all that excitement, you can enjoy a traditional Hogmanay meal of haggis, neeps, and tatties (which is a really fun way to say haggis, turnips, and potatoes.)

I hope you've enjoyed learning about just a few of the unique Wintertime traditions that can be found around the globe. However you are celebrating this Holiday season, remember to stay safe and have fun!

Holiday Reading

By Moriah House

I know one thing I'm super excited to do over Winter Breakcatch up on my reading list! A whole month with no classwork to stress over means you'll have the free time to curl up with some hot cocoa and read some books! I've put together a few recommendations I hope you might enjoy checking out this holiday season.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn is the perfect whirlwind holiday romance for book lovers. This lighthearted novel tells the story of Dash and Lily, two book-loving teens who exchange a series of whimsical clues and dares through a red notebook. The plot takes you on a journey through New York City, and is filled with quirky characters, sarcastic humor, and holiday charm. And, Netflix recently adapted Dash and Lily into an 8 episode miniseries you can watch over winter break, when you have time for TV again after acing all your finals! (After you read the book, of course)

One More Thing B.J. Novak may be best known as Ryan from The Office, but he is also the author of One More Thing, an offbeat and hilarious collection of 64 short stories. Some people just have all the gifts. Ever wondered what would happen if there was a rematch between the Tortoise and the Hare, or if Encyclopedia Brown became Wikipedia Brown? This book has all the answers, and much more. The stories vary widely in length, but all of them are original, entertaining, and full of delight. And, you can check out from the pop lit section at FSU’s very own Strozier Library! As soon as I return it...

The Nickel Boys FSU will have the honor of hosting #1 New York Times bestselling author Colson Whitehead on February 23rd, as part of the Opening Nights Series. Whitehead has written many award winning books, but if you are looking to choose just one to read before his visit, I would recommend The Nickel Boys. Based on the true story of the Dozier School, The Nickel Boys is a suspense-filled historical fiction novel set in the Frenchtown neighborhood of Tallahassee. This book is heartbreakingly beautiful, and it keeps the reader wanting to know what’s coming next, when you know what's coming next can’t possibly be good.

Want to meet Colson Whitehead?

The Colson Whitehead author event will be held in the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 7:30 PM. Tickets will be available for purchase online on Thu, Dec 15, 2022 at 11:00 AM, and will be $30 for FSU students and $50 for non-students. tickets.openingnights.fsu.edu

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: DR. CHOEETA CHAKRABARTI Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Anthropology

BY MORIAH HOUSE Q: What led you to anthropology?

A: I haven't been an anthropologist most of my life. I did my bachelors in biotechnology, chemistry and zoology, and I was going to go into medicine. But after I did my masters in sociology, I knew that I wanted to dedicate my academic career towards human rights issues. There were two main ways I could go about this, I could either go into anthropology or law. I chose anthropology because I'm interested in crosscultural variation.

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your research?

A: From the beginning, one of my primary research interests has been the growth of nationalism.

In India, there is a Hindu nationalist movement that has been growing for years now, and has become increasingly powerful.

I was interested in looking at how nationalist rhetoric circulates and is maintained in society, but when I was in the middle of applying for grants to do my field work in India, things were getting really violent. So I had to pause that, and around the same time, Trump had just come into office and I was seeing kind of the same thing happening in the US, the rise of white nationalism. Of course, there are major differences in ideology, but at the end of the day, the ways they are perpetuated and maintained are very similar. I decided to shift my focus to the US, and I did a rapid ethnography with alt-right supporters and white nationalists.

Since then I have focused a lot of my research on public health and medical anthropology.

At UF, I was looking at social determinants of health, what determines health outcomes between populations and what sociocultural factors and structural barriers determine the health of a population. I'm going to start some new projects based on different areas of public health, and at some point, I want to merge my interest in nationalism and my interest in health.

Q: What is your favorite course to teach?

A: I think it has to be Sex & Culture. It’s a class where every student has some opinions and experience in the topic. It produces amazing discussions and challenges students' preconceptions. I learn something new every time I teach it. It’s wonderful to appreciate that humans have cross-cultural diversity in sexual practices, and it’s such a stigmatized topic, which makes it even more enthralling to teach to a large class of undergraduates.

Q: What brought you to Florida State university?

A: The job. At UF, I was a medical research scientist, and I really missed teaching. When I saw this position open up, I was like, this is exactly what I want to do. I wanted to continue my own research, change it a little bit so that I was able to bridge in nationalism and medical anthropology, and this position would allow me to do that. Plus, I get to teach! I love teaching. I get very energized with teaching.

Q: What are you most proud of in your career so far?

A: My teaching, because I enjoy it so much. I feel very passionate about my research because those topics are very dear to me, but teaching just energizes me so much. I love interacting with students and exploring the world with them. I think I'm most proud of the diversity of courses and diversity of students that I’ve been able to teach.

I feel very passionate about my research because those topics are very dear to me, but teaching just energizes me so much.

I love interacting with students and exploring the world with them."

Q: Do you have any advice for students?

There are ways to take your college experien ce beyond the classroom, and getting on your professor’ s radar will help with that. These four years are so unique in the kind of opportunities you are given."

Q: What is your favorite thing about working at Florida State university?

A: I love the people here. The second I came here for my interview, I felt like everyone was so welcoming, and that has continued.

In almost every interaction I have, people are friendly, warm, and down to earth. I love that about FSU because it’s conducive to great collaboration, great research, and a great work environment. You just look forward to coming to work.

A: Be proactive about going into professor's offices, nudging them, and emailing them. There are ways to take your college experience beyond the classroom, and getting on your professor’s radar will help with that. These four years are so unique in the kind of opportunities you are given.

I wish I could redo my undergraduate studies. I know everyone says this, but I would do so much more.

Also, take as many diverse classes as you can. I feel like American students don't really know how well they have it here. How wonderful is it that you can be an accounting major, and you can take classes in fine arts? You can't do that in other countries. In India, for example, you have to decide pretty early in life whether your track is going to be engineering or science or art, and you stick to that. You can't really take classes outside of your area.

You don't have to do that here, and that's incredible. So I think people should take more advantage of that.

In almost every interaction I have, people are friendly, warm, and down to earth. I love that about FSU because it’s conducive to great collaboration, great research, and a great work environment."

The Ophelia Complex:

A term used to link femininity, drowning, and loss of sense of self I'm a woman, and I have a job (I know, shocker). Although women entering the professional world isn't exactly front page news, I feel like women are still constantly grappling with who they are in terms of their femininity when focusing on building up their careers. My whole life, my mom instilled that you had to fight to be taken seriously in this world- which is true to an extent. She pushed me to wear makeup to job interviews, buy professional clothes that focused on the feminine parts of my body, and to work hard to be seen as a professional. Since I've moved away from my parents, I've noticed myself continuing to use these tricks in order to be looked at as a valued member of a team.

I work in an archive- it is a SUPER fun job and I love just about every part of it. But, I only work with men.

Specifically two older men. One of them is my boss, and another is a direct co-worker, and the expectation is that although that co-worker and I are equals, I should defer to him when it comes to decisions made around the office.

Sometimes I do! He knows a lot about western history, so when it comes to identifying a cowboy spur or a piece of farm equipment from the Civil War era, I tend to ask for his opinions. But, when we're working on items related to minstrelsy, the topic of my Honors in the Major thesis, I don't feel particularly obligated to ask him about what it is I'm holding. It doesn't necessarily help that my moms only advice in this situation would be to seem more professional (more outwardly, maturely feminine), and that my dads was to quit and find a job that didn't expect those things from me. It's not even that this is new to me -I've had a job since I was 14, and I've yet to have a female boss. Beyond that, almost all of my professors are men - the power dynamic described above follows us into every part of our lives, and the relationships that female identifying students develop with professors is also riddled with the ins and outs of the Ophelia complex.

The Ophelia Complex is a term coined by Gaston Bachelard used it to link ideas of femininity and drowning, but has been adopted to discuss the incredibly nuanced experience of women, especially with their relationship to men. This complex is also used as a way to depict the direct power dynamic between men and women. When men are put into positions of power, and women are forced to follow the dynamic, they lose a sense of self. Instead of knowing exactly the why, what, and where of what she should do, women would instead fall into this "what would HE think" to make decisions and develop opinions.

The complex comes from a play, so as a theatre major I feel pretty connected to it.

Ophelia is a character in Shakespeare's Hamlet. She is in love with the titular character, but is also dependent on her loyalty to her father in order to make it through the world successfully. Ultimately, when Hamlet ends their relationship, kills her father, and leaves for England, Ophelia drowns herself.

Okay, I know what you're thinking: getting a job does not mean women are out here drowning themselves everyday, or that their boyfriends go murder their dads. But, the complex itself gives a way to look at women and the cultural expectation for them to depend on men that might be newer, and provide a better understanding to the way women are treated in - and out of - the work place.

I feel like almost everyday I'm drowning under the pressure of balancing my femininity in a way that makes me feel empowered, but still lets me be treated as an equal

Women are set up to find themselves dependent on men in a way that infantilizes them, just as Ophelia was permanently infantilized by her father int he play. So far as we live in a world with the Ophelia Complex, a dependency on men could lead to an entire absence of opinion.

So far as we live in a world with the Ophelia Complex, a dependency on men would lead to an entire absense of opinion, placing women in a position to be used and objectified by their male counterparts, rather than working in a way that showcases their unique abilities and skills. Outside of the workforce, women aren't spared from this phenomenon. All men in authority positions have the ability to participate in the things that make this complex a very real part of life for so many female identifying people. In a college classroom, women could be expected to accept the opinions of their male classmates or professors, rather than establishing their own ideas and presenting them to the room.

The expectation that I work underneath rather than alongside men often makes me feel like Ophelia - dependent on the men in her life to tell her what to do, when to do it, and how to finish the job. It doesn't help that the men at my job denied my request for a trash can in the bathroom, and joke that I'm so young that I look like a Little Girl.

Even though my boyfriend hasn't murdered my dad and run to Europe, I feel like almost everyday I'm drowning under the pressure of balancing my femininity in a way that makes me feel empowered, but still lets me be treated as an equal.

Editor (and writer's) note: I wrote this piece way back in the Spring of 2021. At the time, we couldn't find a way to make this piece fit the themes published in The Medallion, but reflections seems to give me that chance. I've decided to leave the piece as it was written, with the note that I still have that same job. I still battle with sexism everyday, and am now the only woman in my department, let alone my office. The cowboy is also now the biggest ally I have in the department, and constantly fights to make my voice heard.

However: I strive, each day, to represent strong women in state government, as well as the arts. I will break down the barriers I can, one cutesy powerpoint design at a time.

Callista Payne

WALKING

CRAFTING

DANCING

YOGA Which Meditative Activity are you?

People would describe you as:

Active

Which sounds better: A relaxing night in or hanging with your friends?

Relaxing night in

Creative Do you find enjoyment in being still or moving?

Hanging out with friends

Would you say that you're laid back?

When your favorite song comes on do you: nod along to the tempo or vigorously groove?

Stillness Nod along to the tempo

Movement

Vigorously Groove

Yes

No CRAFTING

WALKING

DANCING

YOGA

You reflect a lot and take inspiration from the world around you. You are optimistic and find the beauty in everything.

You enjoy moving, but also taking time to slow down, reflect and take in everything around you.

You can be an energetic and expressive free spirit, but also someone who enjoys the small moments.

You enjoy being social and around people, but are a calming presence among your friends.

(Drawing, Painting, Photography)

SARAH TOOLE

SAVE THE BEES A FUNDING PROPOSAL FINAL PAPER

Sarah Toole, Junior: Public Health and African American Studies Sarah tells usthat her inspiration in all she does is her grandparents, and would like to thank them for their years of effort and labours of love that got her to where she is.

Introduction Bees are critical to our humanity and the environment as they promote biodiversity, balance, and pollination. Of the three, pollination is undoubtedly the most important to us human beings. If not for pollination, some food production would not be possible. Lack of food production would cause a Domino effect and likely lead to a food shortage and higher poverty levels. No bees, no us. This is a universal given, yet not enough attention is paid to the fact that bees are dying at alarming rates at intervals across the globe.

The richness (also known as diversity) and overall abundance of the bee population have taken a significant dip. I see the reasons for this being urbanization (or urban development, impervious surfaces) and local habitat characteristics. In an urbanized area of the city of Curitiba, bee species richness has declined by 45% from the 1980s to 2015 (Cardoso et al. 2018). In the same urbanized area of the city of Curitiba, there were 112 bee species in the 1980s, and there are, as of 2015, 63 bee species (Cardoso et al. 2018). These two figures speak to the loss in species richness (aka. diversity) of the bee population. It should also be emphasized that the female bee population is declining too. This is critical as the female bees are the workers who “bring home the bacon” (with the exception of the Queen). Studies show that the female bee population is declining due to local habitat characteristics and flaws that arise out of the phenomena of urbanization. In most bee species, to produce female reproductive bees, it takes more food resources than it takes to produce male bees. A scarcity of nectar and pollen would contribute to fewer female bees, as there would not be enough extra to go around (Banaszak-Cibicka et al. 2019). Not only are female bees the only workers in their respective colonies, but the female bees that are reproducing would need extra resources. The dying female worker bees could not provide these, and the whole colony would then die, as the male bees are practically useless. In addition, impervious surfaces (urban development/urbanization). An example can be seen of this in Toledo, Ohio. Bee abundance declined with increased canopy cover and increased impervious surfaces (Burdine et al. 2019).

When bee abundance declined with increased impervious surfaces, if there was an incline of floral resources, the impact on the population was significantly reduced (Burdine et al. 2019). With this second statistic, we see that the bee population is suffering globally, from Brazil (Curitiba) to the United States (Toledo, Ohio).

The second statistic also proves that even if one factor seems to affect the bees, an abundance of another can cancel it out and help protect the bees. This all culminates into why the research question of “What is most contributing to the bee population’s decline and is it urbanization” is critical.

These facts, figures, and statistics show that the bee population is declining on a global scale. Based on what we currently know, we have a need to find out how and why the bee population is declining. As aforementioned, the bee population and we coexist and cannot survive without one another. The research question I will address is: “What is most contributing to the bee population’s decline, and is it urbanization?” It should be noted that this study on the effects of bee richness (diversity) and overall bee abundance is different and unique from any study done before as it combines all the elements and factors of urbanization (distance of resources, number of resources, amount of development) that may be contributing to the bee population’s decline. It is not clear which is contributing the most, but evidence shows that all these factors contribute to bee population decline at some point or another.

Methods/Expectation(s) To study the bee richness (diversity) and overall bee abundance, and to answer the research question “What is most contributing to the bee population’s decline, and is it urbanization?” I have decided it most effective to study fifteen cities in Texas.

Texas was the chosen study location, as it is in the Southeast United States, where bees are common. The fifteen cities studied in Texas will be chosen at random but will be studied over a five-year period. The five-year time frame will allow for the bee richness (diversity) and overall population abundance to be studied in each city and studied before and after. There is a difference between measured and studied in this experiment. The bee richness (diversity) and overall population abundance are what will be studied before and after. To gauge this, the distance of resources (yards away from bee nests where resources exist), number of resources (number of flowers), and the amount of development (percent of the ground covered in impervious surfaces and buildings) in each city will be measured. These are also what I refer to as “the factors and elements of urbanization.” I use different terminology for each to differentiate between the two and make the study easier to evaluate and read. It is reasonable to ask how the “factors and elements of urbanization” will be measured. To measure the distance of resources, measurement tools will be used (such as yardsticks, etc.). To measure the number of resources, field testing will be used to count. To measure the amount of development, consultation with city experts will occur, and records will be used to compare the amount of development now versus twenty years ago and then compare the bee population. To study the richness (diversity) of the bee population, a large test group will be captured (by transferring the bees into a breathable box) before and after the

experiments (to evaluate the change, if any), studied to gauge the species makeup and sex of the test group, and released. To study the overall abundance of the bee population, the large test group used to test richness (diversity) will be used. The overall abundance of the bee population will be tested by counting the number of bees one-by-one as they are released. I believe that these methods of measuring and studying will give the best and most accurate ideas and offerings as to how and why the bee population is declining.

Assessment(s) After the five-year experiment has concluded, the fifteen cities will be compared to the statistics from before the study began and compared to one another. The cities will be compared to one another to answer the main question around this study and experiment, “What is most contributing to the bee population’s decline, and is it urbanization?”. In studying and comparing each city, we will be able to look at changes and trends to figure out what is most contributing to the bee population’s decline. Result wise, I expect that the fifteen cities studied will vary in results but be consistent with the adverse effects of urbanization. It is expected that the fifteen cities will have fewer female bees, the fifteen cities will decline in overall abundance/population of the bees, the fifteen cities will decline in species richness (diversity). I expect that these results will be consistent with past studies and inferences made early on in the investigation.

Conclusion(s) Throughout this experiment, it can be observed that the experiment is full and rich with information, measurements, and studies that cover every possible reason why and how urbanization is negatively affecting the bee population. It can be emphasized that this study (and measurement(s)) on the effects of bee richness (diversity) and overall bee abundance is different and unique from any study done before as it combines all the elements and factors of urbanization (distance of resources, number of resources, amount of development) that may be contributing to the bee population’s decline. Future work should focus on reducing the environmental impacts of urbanization and possible manual assistance to the bee population if needed. Manual assistance could be relocating bees to safer habitats or the relocation of resources that bees take advantage of to closer and safer areas for the bees. However, what must be reiterated in doing so is that extensive research, testing, and planning must be done not to harm the bees or their environment. If we are trying to save the bee population, our job is not only to do so but to do so carefully with respect. Other options for helping the bee population survive (both now and into the future) are hiring personnel to scout locations for urban

development that do not impact the bee population and hiring personnel to check on the bee population and provide resources if needed. After all, bees have a domino effect on our resources, health, and quality of life.

Bees are imperative to human life and the environment as they encourage biodiversity, balance, and pollination. Of the three, pollination is clearly the most important to our humanity. If not for pollination, much of our food production would not occur. Lack of food production would cause a Domino effect and likely lead to a food shortage and higher poverty levels. If bees do not exist, neither do we. If bees die, so do we (slowly). This is a universal given, yet not enough attention is paid to the fact that bees are dying at alarming rates at intervals across the globe. This is why I have crafted an experiment to test the research question: “What is most contributing to the bee population’s decline, and is it urbanization?” This is critical to ask and test as bees are individually dying across the globe, and the bee population as a whole is taking significant dips due to the different “factors and elements” of the growing and significant problem of urbanization. We must continue testing and researching our questions, theories, and hypothesis about how to help the bees and bee population. We know why; we would all die or live miserable lives without the tiny little buzzing pollinators. They may be annoying when they sting or buzz around your head, but it is a minor inconvenience compared to how we would function without them (or how we would not/how we would barely function without them). Save the bees! Support the “save the bees” project with a financial grant to study the effects of urbanizations on the bee population.

References Jamieson, M., & Wilson, C. (2019). The effects of urbanization on bee communities depends on floral resource availability and bee functional traits. PloS one, 14(12), e0225852. Retrieved February 01, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225852 Cardoso, M. C., & Gonçalves, R. B. (2018). Reduction by half: the impact on bees of 34 years of urbanization. Urban Ecosyst 21, 943-949. Retrieved February 14th, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-018-0773-7 Burdine, J.D., & McCluney, K.E. (2019). Interactive effects of urbanization and local habitat characteristics influence bee communities and flower visitation rates. Oecologia 190, 715–723.

Retrieved February 14th, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-019-04416-x Theodorou, P., Herbst, S., Kahnt, B., Landaverde-González, P., Baltz, L. M., Osterman, J., & Paxton, R. J. (2020). Urban fragmentation leads to lower floral diversity, with knock-on impacts on bee biodiversity. Sci Rep 10, 21756. Retrieved February 14th, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78736-x Species and functional diversity - a better understanding of the impact of urbanization on bee communities. (2021). Science of The Total Environment, Volume 774, 2021, 145729, ISSN 0048-9697,. Retrieved on February 14th, 2021, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721007968 Banaszak-Cibicka, W., & Dylewski, L. Impact of urbanization on wild bees underestimated.

(2019). ScienceDaily. Retrieved on February 14th, 2021, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190306100626.htm

HOME FOR THE

HOLIDAYS

By Max Mitchell

THE UBER CRUISES PAST THE SIGN DENOTING “TALLAHASSEE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT” AND ARRIVES UNDER THE OVERHANG IN FRONT OF THE TERMINAL. IN 5 HOURS, I’LL BE BACK HOME IN PENNSYLVANIA, LEAVING BEHIND THE PALM TREES AND TEMPERATE CLIMATE OF TALLAHASSEE. I SAY GOODBYE, GRAB MY BAGS AND STEP TO THE TSA. A 40 MINUTE FLIGHT TO ATLANTA, 90 MINUTE LAYOVER AND 2 HOUR FLIGHT TO PITTSBURGH PERSIST AHEAD OF ME. GOING BACK HOME IS QUITE THE LIFESTYLE JOLT FOR ME. IT'S GOTTEN EASIER EVERY TIME I'VE GONE BACK, BUT ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY MORE DISTANT. ON ONE HAND, I'M EXCITED TO SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY ON ONE ROOF, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND THE MEMORIES OF FRIENDSHIPS AND YOUTHFUL BLISSGROW MORE AND MORE ISOLATED FROM WHO I AM NOW. LAST YEAR WHEN I FIRST LEFT HOME FOR SCHOOL, MY FRIENDS AND I WOULD TEXTABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO SEE EACH OTHER ONCE WE GET BACK HOME. WE STILL FREQUENTLY STAYED IN TOUCH.

THIS YEAR HOWEVER, AFTER SO MUCH TIME APART AND DIFFERENT LIFE PATHS, THAT HASN’T HAPPENED AS MUCH. TRUTHFULLY, AFTER BEING HOME FOR THIS PAST THANKSGIVING, I THINK I AM OKAY WITH THAT. THERE’S NO HARD FEELINGS, JUST GROWTH AND DISTANCE. I THINK IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING, ALBEIT EMOTIONAL AND CONFUSING. I’VE SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN TALLAHASSEE CREATING A NEW LIFE, WITH A NEWFOUND INDEPENDENCE SO IT’S A LITTLE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO BE OUT OF MY USUAL COLLEGE ROUTINE. I FEEL AS IF I’VE OUTGROWN MY HOMETOWN AND RIGHT NOW I’M FIGURING OUT A BALANCE OF THAT GROWTH AND APPRECIATING WHERE I’VE COME FROM.

GOING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS HAS COME TO MEAN A TIME TO SPEND WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND AS A PERIOD OF ESCAPE FROM COLLEGE-TO RECLAIM THE SIMPLICITY OF CHILDHOOD AND RELAXATION.

Follow Us on Social Media FACEBOOK: "FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM" INSTAGRAM: @FSUHSA HONORS PROGRAM: @FSUHONORS

Editor-in-Chief: Callista Payne Content: Max Mitchell Moriah House