Ben Carter
Erin Rosen
David Amuda
continued from page 33
continued from page 37
continued from page 39
The crowning achievement of Ben’s four years at Thacher was receiving The Charles L. Tutt Silver Bowl for Integrity and Responsibility. He says he was surprised but honored to have been chosen for the Award, claiming he was not a stand-out leader in the class and felt others were more worthy and deserving. Ironically, if one reads the inscription it is apparent why Benjamin F. Carter would be the choice.
ond, the work of over 30 key modern poets— most of whom Bei Dao knew personally— who have transformed the genre of Chinese poetry; and finally, the skill of “close reading” whereby students learned to analyze poems in a “reverse-funnel” approach, from the words outward to meaning. Outside of class, Erin was a frequent attendee at Bei Dao’s office hours. At first he seemed a bit overwhelmed by her 10 year’s worth of questions; but by the second week, Somehow Ben’s return to his roots set the path upon viewing that day’s list of questions, he smiled for his wonderful and diverse life. From farm and said, “You’re really interested in this stuff, laborer to engineer to management consultant aren’t you?” to high-tech manager to agribusiness owner (really another way to label a farm laborer!) During office hours one day at the end of the semester, Bei Dao asked Erin why she hadn’t spoPerhaps the words of “The Banquet Song,” ken more in class that day. She replied that she sung by so many of diverse backgrounds and had found the poem for that day to be quite long career paths in life, can help to explain why and difficult, and that because she had translated Ben Carter was chosen for The Tutt Bowl. the poem into English, she had a hard time going back and forth quickly between the two versions. Bei Dao expressed his surprise that May old Casa Piedra not fade from our hearts, she had translated the poem; Erin just shrugged Till our hearts cease their restless tattoo! and said that she had translated all the poems May honor, and fairness, and kindness, and truth they had read thus far so she thought it was natBe ours till life’s struggle is through. ural to translate this one, too. Bei Dao looked May the stamp of the School even more surprised; he was quiet for a moment, Be the stamp of our lives and then said, “Well, we should see if we can’t Whose honesty carries us on, get them published.” Subsequently, Bei Dao To do the best work in the world that we can arranged for the translations of 30 to 40 poems Till the best we can do is all done. e to be published in the March 2003 issue of New American Writing, for which he will write the preface. Erin never imagined that any kind of publication would result from taking Bei Dao’s class, and she feels lucky to have the opportunity to continue to work with him and his poetry.
ment. In his free time, he became involved in his community as a basketball referee for the California Interscholastic Federation and the local YMCA.
Erin’s interest in poetry and China endures; as at Thacher, she continues to seek experiences that provide her both with personal and communal sustenance. She completed the Bar Exam this summer and will clerk for a federal judge in southern California this coming year. When asked how she felt when she was awarded The Tutt Bowl, she said that although she wasn’t certain what the Award meant, she was very humbled to have received it. As she explains, perhaps the humbling feeling arises “because The Tutt Bowl is meant to recognize something intangible and seemingly elusive, yet also something essential about a person. It is quite humbling to step back and consider who you are, to think at the end of the day upon the summation of a day’s flights of emotion, and fancy, and impulse, and to try to assess who it is that is now falling asleep. Knowing one’s own weaknesses and failings, it is even more humbling to think of others considering your character, and then honoring it. This realm of thoughts leaves me with a deep sense of undeservedness. And yet gratefulness, too.”
David looks back and views his Thacher experience as “exceptional [good] fortune”, and his post-collegiate years as a time when he was “operating without a safety net.” He needed to become self-supporting the moment he left college and had to forgo some enrichment opportunities in the process.
Bookshelf continued from page 46
even before Thacher. Being the daughter of two documentary filmmakers (Academy-Awardwinners Terry Sanders and Frieda Lee Mock, daughter of long-time Thacher chef Lee Quong), Brittany traveled extensively as a child, worked in various film-related projects, became an accomplished photographer, and garnered commendation for her artwork. Her camera became the means for discovery and capturing stories, be it her eleventh-grade photo essay “Break the Mirror” a look at the similarities between the old and young; her Senior Exhibition “Artists of Ojai;” her Brown thesis, a children’s book, Pickle the Parrot, about a lonely parrot in Los Angeles who dreams of flying with the wild LA Parrots; or her latest work, I Was There. Throughout these projects, Brittany demonstrates artistic sensibility and natural talent in the visual arts balanced with a deep understanding of human perception that is remarkable for one so young.
David notes a common theme between his academic and professional experience. He was attracted to Thacher, Santa Clara University and his two employers because they each had strong values. Thacher and Santa Clara each stressed community service, integrity, and leadership. Eaton and Schlumberger were both companies that “allowed him to be honest.” One of the reasons he left sales, however, was because he found it trying on an ethical level. David notes, “I always adhered to my own personal code of values but that can be a liability in the work place.” While continuing with Schlumberger, David decided to continue his education. He enrolled in evening certificate programs at UCLA Extension in Manufacturing Engineering and at Cal State Northridge in Production and Inventory Management. That experience cemented his plan to pursue an MBA and he applied to a number of top business schools in 2000. David was accepted everywhere he applied and selected University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, based on the cultural fit, moving east once again in 2001. David is now focused on expanding his international experience. He recently returned from an MBA trip to Asia and plans to study abroad in Barcelona next spring. He’s considering postgraduate opportunities in South America.
With seven years of work behind him, David’s taking more chances and doing those things that will build his global perspective. He claims he doesn’t “have a clear vision for the future, but [is] headed in the direction he wants to go. I’m doing something different that will pay off.” When will he finally believe he’s accomplished something significant? David considers the question carefully and responds: “I will feel that I’ve been successful if I can help someone else achieve success the same way others helped me to beat the odds.”
While David may still anticipate adversity, he’s proven his ability to overcome obstacles as Leaf through I Was There. Savor each nuance, Erin’s manner of living has been—and will con- they arise. His quiet focus and solid values treat every sense, and explore others’ percep- tinue to be—intellectually stimulating poetry have taken him from South Central Los Anin motion. e geles to a world of opportunity. e tions and truths. e Spring / Summer 2002 page 47