[INTRO MUSIC PLAYS]
KIMBERLY: Hello, and welcome back to Hoo’s at the Writing Center! I’m Kimberly
ELENA: I’m Elena
KARISSA: And I’m Karissa!
KIMBERLY: And today, we have multiple special guests, Mady, our lead consultant at the writing center, and Frances, one of our lead OAs! You might have heard her in our uh, last episode actually, where she talked to us about creative writing, so check that out if you haven’t already. We wanted to give a shoutout to all of these wonderful people, but also to our, uh, other seniors, Sarah – uh, Sarah D, Sarah H [Laughter], and Tara. Uh, because they couldn’t be with us for certain circumstances, but we are so excited to have, uh, both Mady and Frances here, and we wanted to give you guys an opportunity to meet them, and gain insight on their college and career paths, and their experience at the writing center. Really just dedicating this time to them as they say goodbye to us next month. But basically, we are just so excited to dedicate this episode to our wonderful seniors at the writing center, and, uh, you know what, we’ll go ahead and do some introductions! Mady? Do you wanna, uh, [Mady laughing] tell us your – you, I already said your name, your majors and how long you’ve worked at the writing center?
MADY: Yeah, totally! Uh, well first of all, thank you for having me, I have never been on a podcast before so I’m very excited – um, so, yeah! So, my majors, I study Spanish and English Lit, um, I’ve been at the writing center for...it’s a little complicated! I’ve been working at the writing center for two years, uh, I took a year off, in the middle, I got this job sophomore year and then my junior year, I was abroad for, um, the whole academic year – so I wasn’t here, and I came back, senior year! I would say, two years! Two years working at the writing center.
FRANCES: Hello everyone, it’s me Frances, back at it again. Um – [Laughter] I am a Journalism and Film Studies double major, and I have been working at the writing center also since sophomore year, Mady and I were in the same cohort. Um, yeah, and I guess this is my third and final year working at the writing center!
KIMBERLY: Lots of sad faces. You can’t see our faces, but we – lots of sad faces [Laughter]. Yeah, so those are only just two of our wonderful seniors at the writing center, um, and actually we just wanted to start off like...how, how are you guys? Like it’s...it is a crazy time right now, and it must be even crazier given the fact that you guys are graduating, you’re spending your last quarter here in a, a pandemic, and also online, so what – what are some feelings, to start us off?
MADY: Ugh, well, you know, it sucks. It really sucks. Um – [Bitter laughter] I – I think it’s tough, I know one of the things like, for me that’s happened, which has never happened before, is like, I just am so tired, I don’t really – my motivation for like, learning new things has gone down a lot, which...is really hard! Because that’s always been...even when school is tough, even when, you know, assignments are overwhelming and I’m stressed, I’ve always enjoyed classes? And being able to learn, and being around people, and I feel like – uh, I don’t enjoy it as much! I’m just really tired! So that’s been hard too, because you always expect your...uh, senior year and certainly your last quarter of high school or college or whatever it is, to kind of be like the ULTIMATE, y’know...I love being in this place, I love being around these people, and it’s really hard to, uh, to have lost, that! But, I’m also just so grateful to be able to finish up school, and to see everybody, and to, y’know. Have this online world at my disposal, where I can at least, like, keep up to date with things, so. Yeah.
FRANCES: Yeah, um...it’s definitely, I agree, it’s definitely been tough, it hasn’t been easy being a college senior right now, it’s crazy because, you know, I have like so many um, what’s the words, like – memory apps, like I have my Snapchat flashbacks, I have Google photos and I have like, Timehop, and like, every day, I always get a reminder of like, “Oh, a year ago, or like two years ago, or like three years ago today, here’s a picture from then!” or whatever, and I’m like, “She had no idea...that her senior year would turn out like this! Like, she just really didn’t know. So it’s like, really crazy, like reflecting back on the past four years of like, my college experience, and – just knowing that it ends in a global pandemic online – um, has been really hard to deal with and it’s definitely been hitting me a lot more, recently, as graduation approaches. I think we’re actually like – exactly a month away or something like that from graduation? So – [sighs] yeah, I don’t know, it’s very bittersweet in the most...extreme way, I guess, um – so yeah, it’s just been tough, I’ve been trying to find the silver lining every day, um, in all of it, and just making sure that I keep up with my friends, and keep up with the writing center, and keep up with just like, everything else that I like, love and am involved with. Um – so, that’s really what’s been...keepin’ me sane, lately.
KIMBERLY: Yeah, I mean...I just, can’t imagine what it’s like for your whole class, just like, dealing with – and all the seniors of like, high school, and just dealing with all of the emotions, and all that stuff, and um – when we were thinking about our next episode, we were like “oh I think we wanna dedicate it to the seniors, and I think we wanna just give them – some room, to like, talk about what’s been going on, and just like – at least give them – at least honor them in a way that, you know, supplements the sort of chaos that has happened this quarter. But yeah, I think all of your, your...all that you said is just, so valid, and I’m just, you know, I – for what it’s worth, you are just all wonderful human beings and like, you know, I hope it ends strong! We were just talkin’ about how spring quarter, it’s – it’s a little difficult! [Pained Laughter] So, in honoring you guys, we actually wanted to take you back down memory lane and wanna give you some questions to – just so, just to give our listeners out there an opportunity to learn about your like path, your journey, your story, just really give us the – the full biography in twenty minutes [Laughter]. Because you guys are just so – amazing, and we really want you to feel that you have an opportunity to talk about what college has been for you. Uh, we’ll try not to get emotional, but um, we’ll [Laughter] – go ahead and go throw out some questions and uh, you guys can go ahead and talk about, or – say whatever comes to mind, or uh, uh, you feel [is] right.
KARISSA: Alright, so, of course, we have to start at the beginning: four years ago, why did you guys choose SU? What drew you to the campus, what like, appealed to you when you were submitting your applications four, five years ago?
MADY: That’s a good one. Actually – I have a fun...that’s a fun fact about me, because...I first heard of SU and experienced SU when I was 13, because I went to a summer camp that was held on campus at SU. So when I was 13, I spent three weeks living in Campion [laughter] takin’ classes in Pigott, with this like – old Czech professor guy...um, so, yeah! So, I had been at SU for this summer camp when I was a teenager, which also is just like, probably the best thing I ever did when I was a teenager; it was like a very formative, very important summer for me? And so in high school, when it came to – we had like career, college fairs where we had to hear like, different presentations from different schools, and they were, um...a lot of schools, you know, I’m from Washington, so a lot of schools in Washington, Seattle U was one of them! And I was like, “Oh, I remember Seattle U, that was where I went to camp!” So I signed up for the info session and I was like, “You know what, this is...this seems pretty cool.” So I think it was...you know, during my senior year, it was one of the places I applied to, the place I was deciding between uh, was Seattle U or a school in New York, so they were like – very different options for me [Laughter] I see Frances is saying, “Me too” [Laughter]. Um, and I went back to visit both schools, and loved both of them, and got accepted into both of them, and ultimately...it came down to a few things. The first thing was...having – so the school I was applying to in New York wouldn’t guarantee me housing and I was like seventeen, and I was coming from this like, tiny town, and I was like “There’s no way I’m finding my own apartment in New York, on my own. Like, there’s no way, I will get murdered.” [Laughter] And, so, that was a big part of it! But then I, I went to go visit SU on the campus, and it was just like...it was this like, beautiful summer day, and all these memories came back, and I just really vibed with like, the feeling of the campus, being in the city, but having this community that felt so, like, calm and peaceful and, um...and, yeah! And I think a big part of it was knowing that I could be involved in community service, if I wanted to; it was something I did in high school, um, having that opportunity was huge, um, yeah! And I think it ended up just feeling like the right fit for me, which it definitely was. I think everything just came together, and yeah! That was my story.
FRANCES: Seattle U was my dream school – I don’t think a lot of people know that, actually, but I really, really wanted to go to Seattle U. I was like, obsessed with the idea of moving to Seattle, and being immersed in the coffee and the music and the gloomy weather and like all that – I just romanticized it so hard, so, when I was starting to think about colleges junior year of high school, um, I started looking up, like, uh, literally just ‘colleges in Seattle’ [Laughter]. Um, and it was really clutch that Seattle U is like a small, Jesuit, Catholic school, ‘cause I had gone to Catholic school for most of my life, I grew up super Catholic – I’m not Catholic, but it really sold my mom on it [Laughter] - but, you know, the more I found out about Seattle U, after I toured it, after I got to talk to like the admissions people, and I had a few upperclassmen friends who also ended up going to Seattle U – who I started becoming friends with even more once I came to Seattle U, which is really cool. But yeah, once I just started like learning more about the school and learning about the city I was like, “I wanna go here so badly!” Like, the social justice mission, like the small community – the small class sizes was really drawing me too, because I just knew I couldn’t do, like, a big public school class kind of setting. Um, but, yeah it truly was just like, I really wanted to be in Seattle, I had found like a school that really like, fit, everything I valued, I guess, basically, in higher education? And once I got in, I was between another school and New York, and I visited the one in New York and I was like, “It just...it isn’t the same, like I feel so much more at home at Seattle U,” and, looking back on the past four years like I genuinely – I truly know that it was the right fit for me, just what Mady said. Like it really has shaped me into the person I am today, so, I’m so glad I got to go here.
ELENA: That’s really cool. It was the same thing for me, Frances. I think it’s so cool to hear about, like, why people chose to go to SU, because I feel like – I don’t know! It’s cool to see like, how we’ve started out going to SU based on...either, like, we got a good scholarship or – you know, it was our actual dream to go – that’s really cool to hear about. So, going from there – what are some of the best things that you’ve learned since coming here to SU, or just coming to Seattle in general? And those could be academic things, or just like life skills, ‘cause I think we all learn a lot of those in college. We’re kind of like – useless high schoolers when we come into college, and then [Laughter] it’s kind of a crash course I feel like, in figuring out how to be, you know, an “adult,” quote un-quote.
MADY: So I’ll give you two answers. I’ll give you like a sappy, emotional, ‘This is what I learned in college’ answer, and I’ll give you a practical one, and I’ll give you the practical one first, which was: the first and I think arguably the most important practical thing I ever learned in college was how to navigate public transportation. I LOVE taking the bus. [Laughter] And, I remember, I remember actually, my...sitting down and talking to my dad about this, and him saying, like, “Even if it’s scary, the only way you’re gonna feel like you know your way around this city, or like, any city, is if you learn how to take the bus.” And, he was right! It was like, terrifying, the first time I ever took the bus was TERRIFYING! I grew up in a tiny town, there’s no stoplights, um, it’s like two lanes of traffic, the whole place, so like, no buses, no public transportation, and so I hadn’t really, like, ever done that, growing up. So, I think yeah, the first couple months in Seattle I just like, made it a point to like, take the bus places, or take the streetcar, take the light rail, and honestly, like – it just opened up this whole new world of possibilities for me. And I ended up, um, like one of my favorite things to do in the city is just like, go hang out somewhere by myself, or go like, explore a new part of Seattle! I loved taking the bus and just going to like, residential neighborhoods and like walking, and pretending like I had like “a real house,” and just kind of like...the freedom that I think that gives you, in terms of like, knowing how to get around. So that was my practical tip that I learned. Um, I mean I think in terms of like, what is like the life lesson that I learned...ah, there’s so, there’s SO many! I would boil it down to...I mean I think I learned how to be a more...open and kind of engaging or willing person? I found myself a lot more willing to like, put myself out there and, you know, make friends, or participate in classes, and I think, you know, like Frances was saying, the fact that it’s such a close-knit, small community, you’re kind of forced into that, sometimes? But really, I don’t think that I would be the same person without that. I think one of the things that I’m really proud about myself is that I can kinda like, be in a situation and know that I’m capable of, like, reaching out, and talking to people, and, you know, making friends with people, um, and that’s...I was not that kind of person when I started school here. I was a lot more shy. So I think that’s one of the things that I’ve...really liked about my SU journey.
FRANCES: Oh gosh, yeah. There are so many life lessons that I’ve probably learned every month, honestly, like, I feel like every – I feel like I’m constantly learning these things that like, even who I was winter quarter is not who I am spring quarter, which is crazy because – what’s the math on that? There are three quarters for every...twelve quarters! Okay, so, twelve quarters of just constantly, like, learning and growing in all aspects of life...it’s been really crazy to look back on. So, I guess for practical, like, academic, like, advice, I would just say – interact with the campus community, like, as much as possible. Just talk to any and all of your professors who just seem like they could be a great support system for you, and could give you like real, solid advice on your career path, or even just your academic goals, or just like, with anything, you know, like – find those, um...not necessarily like role models, but, those people who are willing to just like, hear your experience and like, talk it out with you, and like, let you know that you’re like, valid, even during such trying times, um, definitely talk to them. Even attending, like, really small like, cheesy events that the school holds – like, you have no idea who you could meet there, it could be like, your best friend, or even a guest speaker who came, could be someone who opened you up to like a new topic of interest or like new area or field of study that you like, maybe wanna pursue. Like, there are so many different opportunities for you to like, constantly learn about everything else around you. Like, my best friend is in the social work program, and she held a teach-in one time on the prison-industrial complex, and how Seattle U is like, tied into that, and I was like, “How would I ever have known about this if I hadn’t been friends with her, if I hadn’t like, wanted to engage, like, in these kinds of events they put on?” So I think, and I think it’s really cool that the small campus community adds to that, where you are able to attend these really like, um, niche and special events that are like, catered for certain departments or certain, um, clubs and organizations, but like, everyone’s welcome to go to them, which is amazing. So just like, take every opportunity you can to keep learning, keep meeting new people, and keep learning from all of them, um, I think it’s really special. Personally – oh, man, I can’t even...my head is so jumbled, like there is so many personal lessons to learn, I...I wanna say, um, don’t be afraid of like, how ugly change can be, because at the end, you’re gonna come out like a really beautiful butterfly who was in her little cocoon [Laughter] for a while, but you just, you just needed to go through that metamorphosis, you know? Friends come and go, it’s okay, you will find your people eventually though, like, I promise you, you will. No matter what, even if you just need like, a change of environment or whatever, like – you’re gonna find where you fit in and the people who will like, support you and love you. Oh man, don’t procrastinate! I procrastinate so hard! [Laughter] I need to stop – I still can’t, but, I’m still gonna – my gosh. Uhh...take advantage of all the sunny days! Always. ALWAYS. You will never, ever, ever regret it. Um, okay, last and final thing, I’m trying to think...that’s it, honestly! [Laughter] I can’t think of any more. I think – those are the main ones, anyway. I’ll come back, if anything else. But...those are the big ones, I think.
KIMBERLY: Well, I hope everyone is just jotting all this down as they listen to this episode because I think there’s a lot of valuable things that they just threw – and I know it’s just so hard trying to like, condense everything in a short time span, but we did want to give you guys an opportunity to talk about what are some, uh, favorite memories of the Writing Center, because we wouldn’t have been able to do this because the Writing Center is what connected all of us together, and, we wanted to give you guys just an opportunity to like, be nostalgic, be as sappy as you guys want to be!
MADY: Okay, well, I mean maybe – I’m gonna keep my mic on, so I can converse with Frances, because I have a feeling this is gonna – we’re gonna have to like, remind each other of things –
FRANCES: Yes, let’s do it! [Laughter]
MADY: But, um, I mean – okay, so I think, I mean, I remember our first year and just being like, simultaneously terrified of everybody else who worked there, but also like –
FRANCES: Yes!
MADY: – they were all so much fun! And, um...Nick? And all of Nick’s...stuff? [Laughter]
FRANCES & MADY: His antics!
MADY: I don’t know if you guys ever had any interaction with Nick, but he was a consultant who worked at the center and his like, lifelong dream was to get a chocolate fountain for the center, which –
MADY & FRANCES: [Laughter]
MADY: I think they actually did, last year! [Laughter]
FRANCES: Yeah, at the end of the year party, last year, Nick FINALLY got a chocolate fountain. [Laughter] And he was so happy! It was so wholesome.
MADY: It was great, yeah! But just like, I mean...all of our, you know, and still, all of our staff parties are so much fun – actually, one of my all-time favorite memories was our Halloween party this year, when we wrote our stories? Our like, scary stories? Um...oh, my god. I need to get a copy of those, they were hilarious. Um, Frances, what’s...what are your memories?
FRANCES: I have...I have a lot, um, remember the first Long Night Against Procrastination we worked on? Um, sophomore year…
MADY: Oh, yeah, I have that video still!
FRANCES: Yes, yeah! [Laughter] Um, yeah, Mady and I and a few other consultants, uh...worked LNAP, and...I don’t know, it was just like a really fun shift –
MADY: Yeah!
FRANCES: – because there was all this food and games laid out, but like – you know, it was towards the end of the night so I think like, everyone had died down, so we were all just like, messing around, playing with all the things that were meant for like, everyone else to come – and it was just so fun, like we were all there so late too, so, it was really kind of like…
MADY: Yeah.
FRANCES: And it was like mid-winter quarter, so we were like, losin’ our minds, but at least we were like, bonding with each other? Which is so fun, I really loved that night. And then – I don’t know if this is necessarily like, a memory, but just like an overall thing I guess? Like, I think just my favorite part about the writing center is that like, it has always – er, I don’t know if it’s like a memory, but it’s just always been like the healthiest work environment for me? Like, I only have good vibes in the writing center, like –
MADY: Yeah.
FRANCES: I truly, like, cherish every moment that I ever spent like, physically or like doing work for it, and like, the fact that we all just have everyone’s best interests at heart, and are always just like “Self-care, make sure like, you know –”
MADY: Yeah.
FRANCES: “No crossing of like, boundaries or anything like that,” and we’re all just very like, in-tune with each other and we all like, know how to check in and – I don’t know if that’s like a memory, but it’s just like the overall – the overarching feeling I get whenever I think of the writing center. It’s just like, it’s just been my favorite place to work at, like, ever. So, yeah.
MADY: Totally. Yeah, I agree. It’s gonna be hard...going forward to other jobs, having this as like, my...standard. ‘Cause it really is, absolutely the most amazing group of people I’ve ever worked with. From like, coworkers, to directors, just such – I totally agree. Such an amazing support network. Yeah.
FRANCES: Yes. Yeah.
KIMBERLY: Just wanna call myself out – I’m a Cancer, and the tears are just, sitting on my eyes!
MADY & FRANCES: [Laughter] Aww!
KIMBERLY: They’re ready! Ah – [Laughter]
MADY: Okay, I’m not letting myself cry – yet. I have my last –
FRANCES: Yeah, I know –
EVERYONE: [unintelligible emotional talking over each other]
ELENA: You can ugly-cry after the podcast.
EVERYONE: [Laughter]
ELENA: Once the camera’s off, all bets are off. [Laughter]
KIMBERLY: [Laughter] Anyway – so, unfortunately we do have to wrap up this episode. Um, but we just wanted to give, uh, just even like, half an hour of just being able to talk with, uh, our wonderful seniors, our current seniors, uh, at the writing center. And we are so thankful for all five of them – there’s five? Yes. Math? Yes. [Laughter] Um – so, we are so incredibly grateful to have been able to interview our wonderful seniors and we know that we are going to be, as we said, highly emotional right after this.
ELENA: Please send so much love to them, because they work SO hard, and they’re SO amazing, and we truly can’t wait to see what’s next in store for them.
KARISSA: If you would like to see more content, or have any ideas for upcoming episodes, please email us at [email protected], and tune in next time – and also feel free to check out our blog, it’s suwritingcenter.weebly.com?
KIMBERLY: Yes.
KARISSA: Perfect. Okay. I’ve been rehearsing it in my head so I won’t forget. And there’s also a lot of content from our wonderful seniors on there. So you can read that, get to know their writing style a little bit more, hear their voice in a different kind of setting, and support them that way as well.
KARISSA: Also, follow our social media so you can just be updated about how wonderful they are, and see the wonderful work that they do, and be updated about what’s in store next from them.
KIMBERLY: This has been another wonderful episode on –
EVERYONE: Hoo’s, Hoo’s At The Writing Center! [Laughter]
KIMBERLY: Thank you all for listening, thank you to, uh, Mady and Frances, we love you guys, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
FRANCES: I love you all.
MADY: Thank you.
FRANCES: Thank you for having me.
ELENA: Thank you for being here!
FRANCES: You guys, of course. You know I love it. I love the podcast. [Laughter]
ELENA: The podcast loves you too. So much.
FRANCES: Oh, my god, waterworks, you guys.
EVERYONE: [Tearful laughter]
FRANCES: You’re gonna make me cry! Don’t do this to me.
EVERYONE: [More background laughing/sobbing]
KIMBERLY: Be a Cancer. Be a Cancer, you guys.
ELENA: I’m an Aquarius, this shouldn’t even be affecting me!
EVERYONE: [Laughter]
[OUTRO MUSIC PLAYS]
KIMBERLY: Hello, and welcome back to Hoo’s at the Writing Center! I’m Kimberly
ELENA: I’m Elena
KARISSA: And I’m Karissa!
KIMBERLY: And today, we have multiple special guests, Mady, our lead consultant at the writing center, and Frances, one of our lead OAs! You might have heard her in our uh, last episode actually, where she talked to us about creative writing, so check that out if you haven’t already. We wanted to give a shoutout to all of these wonderful people, but also to our, uh, other seniors, Sarah – uh, Sarah D, Sarah H [Laughter], and Tara. Uh, because they couldn’t be with us for certain circumstances, but we are so excited to have, uh, both Mady and Frances here, and we wanted to give you guys an opportunity to meet them, and gain insight on their college and career paths, and their experience at the writing center. Really just dedicating this time to them as they say goodbye to us next month. But basically, we are just so excited to dedicate this episode to our wonderful seniors at the writing center, and, uh, you know what, we’ll go ahead and do some introductions! Mady? Do you wanna, uh, [Mady laughing] tell us your – you, I already said your name, your majors and how long you’ve worked at the writing center?
MADY: Yeah, totally! Uh, well first of all, thank you for having me, I have never been on a podcast before so I’m very excited – um, so, yeah! So, my majors, I study Spanish and English Lit, um, I’ve been at the writing center for...it’s a little complicated! I’ve been working at the writing center for two years, uh, I took a year off, in the middle, I got this job sophomore year and then my junior year, I was abroad for, um, the whole academic year – so I wasn’t here, and I came back, senior year! I would say, two years! Two years working at the writing center.
FRANCES: Hello everyone, it’s me Frances, back at it again. Um – [Laughter] I am a Journalism and Film Studies double major, and I have been working at the writing center also since sophomore year, Mady and I were in the same cohort. Um, yeah, and I guess this is my third and final year working at the writing center!
KIMBERLY: Lots of sad faces. You can’t see our faces, but we – lots of sad faces [Laughter]. Yeah, so those are only just two of our wonderful seniors at the writing center, um, and actually we just wanted to start off like...how, how are you guys? Like it’s...it is a crazy time right now, and it must be even crazier given the fact that you guys are graduating, you’re spending your last quarter here in a, a pandemic, and also online, so what – what are some feelings, to start us off?
MADY: Ugh, well, you know, it sucks. It really sucks. Um – [Bitter laughter] I – I think it’s tough, I know one of the things like, for me that’s happened, which has never happened before, is like, I just am so tired, I don’t really – my motivation for like, learning new things has gone down a lot, which...is really hard! Because that’s always been...even when school is tough, even when, you know, assignments are overwhelming and I’m stressed, I’ve always enjoyed classes? And being able to learn, and being around people, and I feel like – uh, I don’t enjoy it as much! I’m just really tired! So that’s been hard too, because you always expect your...uh, senior year and certainly your last quarter of high school or college or whatever it is, to kind of be like the ULTIMATE, y’know...I love being in this place, I love being around these people, and it’s really hard to, uh, to have lost, that! But, I’m also just so grateful to be able to finish up school, and to see everybody, and to, y’know. Have this online world at my disposal, where I can at least, like, keep up to date with things, so. Yeah.
FRANCES: Yeah, um...it’s definitely, I agree, it’s definitely been tough, it hasn’t been easy being a college senior right now, it’s crazy because, you know, I have like so many um, what’s the words, like – memory apps, like I have my Snapchat flashbacks, I have Google photos and I have like, Timehop, and like, every day, I always get a reminder of like, “Oh, a year ago, or like two years ago, or like three years ago today, here’s a picture from then!” or whatever, and I’m like, “She had no idea...that her senior year would turn out like this! Like, she just really didn’t know. So it’s like, really crazy, like reflecting back on the past four years of like, my college experience, and – just knowing that it ends in a global pandemic online – um, has been really hard to deal with and it’s definitely been hitting me a lot more, recently, as graduation approaches. I think we’re actually like – exactly a month away or something like that from graduation? So – [sighs] yeah, I don’t know, it’s very bittersweet in the most...extreme way, I guess, um – so yeah, it’s just been tough, I’ve been trying to find the silver lining every day, um, in all of it, and just making sure that I keep up with my friends, and keep up with the writing center, and keep up with just like, everything else that I like, love and am involved with. Um – so, that’s really what’s been...keepin’ me sane, lately.
KIMBERLY: Yeah, I mean...I just, can’t imagine what it’s like for your whole class, just like, dealing with – and all the seniors of like, high school, and just dealing with all of the emotions, and all that stuff, and um – when we were thinking about our next episode, we were like “oh I think we wanna dedicate it to the seniors, and I think we wanna just give them – some room, to like, talk about what’s been going on, and just like – at least give them – at least honor them in a way that, you know, supplements the sort of chaos that has happened this quarter. But yeah, I think all of your, your...all that you said is just, so valid, and I’m just, you know, I – for what it’s worth, you are just all wonderful human beings and like, you know, I hope it ends strong! We were just talkin’ about how spring quarter, it’s – it’s a little difficult! [Pained Laughter] So, in honoring you guys, we actually wanted to take you back down memory lane and wanna give you some questions to – just so, just to give our listeners out there an opportunity to learn about your like path, your journey, your story, just really give us the – the full biography in twenty minutes [Laughter]. Because you guys are just so – amazing, and we really want you to feel that you have an opportunity to talk about what college has been for you. Uh, we’ll try not to get emotional, but um, we’ll [Laughter] – go ahead and go throw out some questions and uh, you guys can go ahead and talk about, or – say whatever comes to mind, or uh, uh, you feel [is] right.
KARISSA: Alright, so, of course, we have to start at the beginning: four years ago, why did you guys choose SU? What drew you to the campus, what like, appealed to you when you were submitting your applications four, five years ago?
MADY: That’s a good one. Actually – I have a fun...that’s a fun fact about me, because...I first heard of SU and experienced SU when I was 13, because I went to a summer camp that was held on campus at SU. So when I was 13, I spent three weeks living in Campion [laughter] takin’ classes in Pigott, with this like – old Czech professor guy...um, so, yeah! So, I had been at SU for this summer camp when I was a teenager, which also is just like, probably the best thing I ever did when I was a teenager; it was like a very formative, very important summer for me? And so in high school, when it came to – we had like career, college fairs where we had to hear like, different presentations from different schools, and they were, um...a lot of schools, you know, I’m from Washington, so a lot of schools in Washington, Seattle U was one of them! And I was like, “Oh, I remember Seattle U, that was where I went to camp!” So I signed up for the info session and I was like, “You know what, this is...this seems pretty cool.” So I think it was...you know, during my senior year, it was one of the places I applied to, the place I was deciding between uh, was Seattle U or a school in New York, so they were like – very different options for me [Laughter] I see Frances is saying, “Me too” [Laughter]. Um, and I went back to visit both schools, and loved both of them, and got accepted into both of them, and ultimately...it came down to a few things. The first thing was...having – so the school I was applying to in New York wouldn’t guarantee me housing and I was like seventeen, and I was coming from this like, tiny town, and I was like “There’s no way I’m finding my own apartment in New York, on my own. Like, there’s no way, I will get murdered.” [Laughter] And, so, that was a big part of it! But then I, I went to go visit SU on the campus, and it was just like...it was this like, beautiful summer day, and all these memories came back, and I just really vibed with like, the feeling of the campus, being in the city, but having this community that felt so, like, calm and peaceful and, um...and, yeah! And I think a big part of it was knowing that I could be involved in community service, if I wanted to; it was something I did in high school, um, having that opportunity was huge, um, yeah! And I think it ended up just feeling like the right fit for me, which it definitely was. I think everything just came together, and yeah! That was my story.
FRANCES: Seattle U was my dream school – I don’t think a lot of people know that, actually, but I really, really wanted to go to Seattle U. I was like, obsessed with the idea of moving to Seattle, and being immersed in the coffee and the music and the gloomy weather and like all that – I just romanticized it so hard, so, when I was starting to think about colleges junior year of high school, um, I started looking up, like, uh, literally just ‘colleges in Seattle’ [Laughter]. Um, and it was really clutch that Seattle U is like a small, Jesuit, Catholic school, ‘cause I had gone to Catholic school for most of my life, I grew up super Catholic – I’m not Catholic, but it really sold my mom on it [Laughter] - but, you know, the more I found out about Seattle U, after I toured it, after I got to talk to like the admissions people, and I had a few upperclassmen friends who also ended up going to Seattle U – who I started becoming friends with even more once I came to Seattle U, which is really cool. But yeah, once I just started like learning more about the school and learning about the city I was like, “I wanna go here so badly!” Like, the social justice mission, like the small community – the small class sizes was really drawing me too, because I just knew I couldn’t do, like, a big public school class kind of setting. Um, but, yeah it truly was just like, I really wanted to be in Seattle, I had found like a school that really like, fit, everything I valued, I guess, basically, in higher education? And once I got in, I was between another school and New York, and I visited the one in New York and I was like, “It just...it isn’t the same, like I feel so much more at home at Seattle U,” and, looking back on the past four years like I genuinely – I truly know that it was the right fit for me, just what Mady said. Like it really has shaped me into the person I am today, so, I’m so glad I got to go here.
ELENA: That’s really cool. It was the same thing for me, Frances. I think it’s so cool to hear about, like, why people chose to go to SU, because I feel like – I don’t know! It’s cool to see like, how we’ve started out going to SU based on...either, like, we got a good scholarship or – you know, it was our actual dream to go – that’s really cool to hear about. So, going from there – what are some of the best things that you’ve learned since coming here to SU, or just coming to Seattle in general? And those could be academic things, or just like life skills, ‘cause I think we all learn a lot of those in college. We’re kind of like – useless high schoolers when we come into college, and then [Laughter] it’s kind of a crash course I feel like, in figuring out how to be, you know, an “adult,” quote un-quote.
MADY: So I’ll give you two answers. I’ll give you like a sappy, emotional, ‘This is what I learned in college’ answer, and I’ll give you a practical one, and I’ll give you the practical one first, which was: the first and I think arguably the most important practical thing I ever learned in college was how to navigate public transportation. I LOVE taking the bus. [Laughter] And, I remember, I remember actually, my...sitting down and talking to my dad about this, and him saying, like, “Even if it’s scary, the only way you’re gonna feel like you know your way around this city, or like, any city, is if you learn how to take the bus.” And, he was right! It was like, terrifying, the first time I ever took the bus was TERRIFYING! I grew up in a tiny town, there’s no stoplights, um, it’s like two lanes of traffic, the whole place, so like, no buses, no public transportation, and so I hadn’t really, like, ever done that, growing up. So, I think yeah, the first couple months in Seattle I just like, made it a point to like, take the bus places, or take the streetcar, take the light rail, and honestly, like – it just opened up this whole new world of possibilities for me. And I ended up, um, like one of my favorite things to do in the city is just like, go hang out somewhere by myself, or go like, explore a new part of Seattle! I loved taking the bus and just going to like, residential neighborhoods and like walking, and pretending like I had like “a real house,” and just kind of like...the freedom that I think that gives you, in terms of like, knowing how to get around. So that was my practical tip that I learned. Um, I mean I think in terms of like, what is like the life lesson that I learned...ah, there’s so, there’s SO many! I would boil it down to...I mean I think I learned how to be a more...open and kind of engaging or willing person? I found myself a lot more willing to like, put myself out there and, you know, make friends, or participate in classes, and I think, you know, like Frances was saying, the fact that it’s such a close-knit, small community, you’re kind of forced into that, sometimes? But really, I don’t think that I would be the same person without that. I think one of the things that I’m really proud about myself is that I can kinda like, be in a situation and know that I’m capable of, like, reaching out, and talking to people, and, you know, making friends with people, um, and that’s...I was not that kind of person when I started school here. I was a lot more shy. So I think that’s one of the things that I’ve...really liked about my SU journey.
FRANCES: Oh gosh, yeah. There are so many life lessons that I’ve probably learned every month, honestly, like, I feel like every – I feel like I’m constantly learning these things that like, even who I was winter quarter is not who I am spring quarter, which is crazy because – what’s the math on that? There are three quarters for every...twelve quarters! Okay, so, twelve quarters of just constantly, like, learning and growing in all aspects of life...it’s been really crazy to look back on. So, I guess for practical, like, academic, like, advice, I would just say – interact with the campus community, like, as much as possible. Just talk to any and all of your professors who just seem like they could be a great support system for you, and could give you like real, solid advice on your career path, or even just your academic goals, or just like, with anything, you know, like – find those, um...not necessarily like role models, but, those people who are willing to just like, hear your experience and like, talk it out with you, and like, let you know that you’re like, valid, even during such trying times, um, definitely talk to them. Even attending, like, really small like, cheesy events that the school holds – like, you have no idea who you could meet there, it could be like, your best friend, or even a guest speaker who came, could be someone who opened you up to like a new topic of interest or like new area or field of study that you like, maybe wanna pursue. Like, there are so many different opportunities for you to like, constantly learn about everything else around you. Like, my best friend is in the social work program, and she held a teach-in one time on the prison-industrial complex, and how Seattle U is like, tied into that, and I was like, “How would I ever have known about this if I hadn’t been friends with her, if I hadn’t like, wanted to engage, like, in these kinds of events they put on?” So I think, and I think it’s really cool that the small campus community adds to that, where you are able to attend these really like, um, niche and special events that are like, catered for certain departments or certain, um, clubs and organizations, but like, everyone’s welcome to go to them, which is amazing. So just like, take every opportunity you can to keep learning, keep meeting new people, and keep learning from all of them, um, I think it’s really special. Personally – oh, man, I can’t even...my head is so jumbled, like there is so many personal lessons to learn, I...I wanna say, um, don’t be afraid of like, how ugly change can be, because at the end, you’re gonna come out like a really beautiful butterfly who was in her little cocoon [Laughter] for a while, but you just, you just needed to go through that metamorphosis, you know? Friends come and go, it’s okay, you will find your people eventually though, like, I promise you, you will. No matter what, even if you just need like, a change of environment or whatever, like – you’re gonna find where you fit in and the people who will like, support you and love you. Oh man, don’t procrastinate! I procrastinate so hard! [Laughter] I need to stop – I still can’t, but, I’m still gonna – my gosh. Uhh...take advantage of all the sunny days! Always. ALWAYS. You will never, ever, ever regret it. Um, okay, last and final thing, I’m trying to think...that’s it, honestly! [Laughter] I can’t think of any more. I think – those are the main ones, anyway. I’ll come back, if anything else. But...those are the big ones, I think.
KIMBERLY: Well, I hope everyone is just jotting all this down as they listen to this episode because I think there’s a lot of valuable things that they just threw – and I know it’s just so hard trying to like, condense everything in a short time span, but we did want to give you guys an opportunity to talk about what are some, uh, favorite memories of the Writing Center, because we wouldn’t have been able to do this because the Writing Center is what connected all of us together, and, we wanted to give you guys just an opportunity to like, be nostalgic, be as sappy as you guys want to be!
MADY: Okay, well, I mean maybe – I’m gonna keep my mic on, so I can converse with Frances, because I have a feeling this is gonna – we’re gonna have to like, remind each other of things –
FRANCES: Yes, let’s do it! [Laughter]
MADY: But, um, I mean – okay, so I think, I mean, I remember our first year and just being like, simultaneously terrified of everybody else who worked there, but also like –
FRANCES: Yes!
MADY: – they were all so much fun! And, um...Nick? And all of Nick’s...stuff? [Laughter]
FRANCES & MADY: His antics!
MADY: I don’t know if you guys ever had any interaction with Nick, but he was a consultant who worked at the center and his like, lifelong dream was to get a chocolate fountain for the center, which –
MADY & FRANCES: [Laughter]
MADY: I think they actually did, last year! [Laughter]
FRANCES: Yeah, at the end of the year party, last year, Nick FINALLY got a chocolate fountain. [Laughter] And he was so happy! It was so wholesome.
MADY: It was great, yeah! But just like, I mean...all of our, you know, and still, all of our staff parties are so much fun – actually, one of my all-time favorite memories was our Halloween party this year, when we wrote our stories? Our like, scary stories? Um...oh, my god. I need to get a copy of those, they were hilarious. Um, Frances, what’s...what are your memories?
FRANCES: I have...I have a lot, um, remember the first Long Night Against Procrastination we worked on? Um, sophomore year…
MADY: Oh, yeah, I have that video still!
FRANCES: Yes, yeah! [Laughter] Um, yeah, Mady and I and a few other consultants, uh...worked LNAP, and...I don’t know, it was just like a really fun shift –
MADY: Yeah!
FRANCES: – because there was all this food and games laid out, but like – you know, it was towards the end of the night so I think like, everyone had died down, so we were all just like, messing around, playing with all the things that were meant for like, everyone else to come – and it was just so fun, like we were all there so late too, so, it was really kind of like…
MADY: Yeah.
FRANCES: And it was like mid-winter quarter, so we were like, losin’ our minds, but at least we were like, bonding with each other? Which is so fun, I really loved that night. And then – I don’t know if this is necessarily like, a memory, but just like an overall thing I guess? Like, I think just my favorite part about the writing center is that like, it has always – er, I don’t know if it’s like a memory, but it’s just always been like the healthiest work environment for me? Like, I only have good vibes in the writing center, like –
MADY: Yeah.
FRANCES: I truly, like, cherish every moment that I ever spent like, physically or like doing work for it, and like, the fact that we all just have everyone’s best interests at heart, and are always just like “Self-care, make sure like, you know –”
MADY: Yeah.
FRANCES: “No crossing of like, boundaries or anything like that,” and we’re all just very like, in-tune with each other and we all like, know how to check in and – I don’t know if that’s like a memory, but it’s just like the overall – the overarching feeling I get whenever I think of the writing center. It’s just like, it’s just been my favorite place to work at, like, ever. So, yeah.
MADY: Totally. Yeah, I agree. It’s gonna be hard...going forward to other jobs, having this as like, my...standard. ‘Cause it really is, absolutely the most amazing group of people I’ve ever worked with. From like, coworkers, to directors, just such – I totally agree. Such an amazing support network. Yeah.
FRANCES: Yes. Yeah.
KIMBERLY: Just wanna call myself out – I’m a Cancer, and the tears are just, sitting on my eyes!
MADY & FRANCES: [Laughter] Aww!
KIMBERLY: They’re ready! Ah – [Laughter]
MADY: Okay, I’m not letting myself cry – yet. I have my last –
FRANCES: Yeah, I know –
EVERYONE: [unintelligible emotional talking over each other]
ELENA: You can ugly-cry after the podcast.
EVERYONE: [Laughter]
ELENA: Once the camera’s off, all bets are off. [Laughter]
KIMBERLY: [Laughter] Anyway – so, unfortunately we do have to wrap up this episode. Um, but we just wanted to give, uh, just even like, half an hour of just being able to talk with, uh, our wonderful seniors, our current seniors, uh, at the writing center. And we are so thankful for all five of them – there’s five? Yes. Math? Yes. [Laughter] Um – so, we are so incredibly grateful to have been able to interview our wonderful seniors and we know that we are going to be, as we said, highly emotional right after this.
ELENA: Please send so much love to them, because they work SO hard, and they’re SO amazing, and we truly can’t wait to see what’s next in store for them.
KARISSA: If you would like to see more content, or have any ideas for upcoming episodes, please email us at [email protected], and tune in next time – and also feel free to check out our blog, it’s suwritingcenter.weebly.com?
KIMBERLY: Yes.
KARISSA: Perfect. Okay. I’ve been rehearsing it in my head so I won’t forget. And there’s also a lot of content from our wonderful seniors on there. So you can read that, get to know their writing style a little bit more, hear their voice in a different kind of setting, and support them that way as well.
KARISSA: Also, follow our social media so you can just be updated about how wonderful they are, and see the wonderful work that they do, and be updated about what’s in store next from them.
KIMBERLY: This has been another wonderful episode on –
EVERYONE: Hoo’s, Hoo’s At The Writing Center! [Laughter]
KIMBERLY: Thank you all for listening, thank you to, uh, Mady and Frances, we love you guys, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
FRANCES: I love you all.
MADY: Thank you.
FRANCES: Thank you for having me.
ELENA: Thank you for being here!
FRANCES: You guys, of course. You know I love it. I love the podcast. [Laughter]
ELENA: The podcast loves you too. So much.
FRANCES: Oh, my god, waterworks, you guys.
EVERYONE: [Tearful laughter]
FRANCES: You’re gonna make me cry! Don’t do this to me.
EVERYONE: [More background laughing/sobbing]
KIMBERLY: Be a Cancer. Be a Cancer, you guys.
ELENA: I’m an Aquarius, this shouldn’t even be affecting me!
EVERYONE: [Laughter]
[OUTRO MUSIC PLAYS]