Oh how the time flies by

It’s 10:02 on a Thursday night, and right now I should not be typing this article. Instead, I should be studying for my fourth communication theory test, but let’s face it, if I’ve learned one piece of valuable life information here at college so far, it’s that sometimes you just have to let go of doing the “right” things and instead do the fun things.
As you may know if you are a frequent reader of “So It Goes,” I have been religiously attending the Contemporary Film Series documentaries in Sykes every Thursday night over the past few weeks. So being that tonight’s movie -Fruitvale Station- was the last one, I knew I couldn’t miss it, thus ending the streak.
When we got there, the theater was packed with students. The vibe was kind of crazy (in a good way), with people talking about their days and reconnecting with each other. I’m pretty sure the attendance was high because of a class requirement to view the film, but nevertheless, it almost reminded me of a regular movie theater back home, and it was nice to reminisce. The movie was about the 2009 shooting of Oscar Grant at the BART Station in Oakland, CA. There were so many great moments in the film, I highly recommend you see it if you get the chance.
Aside from the documentary, a couple of other notable things happened this week, a week that went by unusually fast in my opinion.
On Monday I went to see Tim O’Brien, author of The Things They Carried, deliver his keynote address. His speech was touching; he told the audience stories about his experiences with parenthood and his two sons, how he reads to them at night, among other things. Towards the end, Tim said something about how much he loves his sons, and how he wants to be there for them for their entire lives, even though he knows he won’t be able to. That confession was truly “from-the-heart” and (although I tried anxiously to hide it) it made me tear up.
On a personal side-note, I had a kind of falling out with my dad before I came here to West Chester. So when I heard this speech, it gave me some perspective on how things in my life have been playing out lately. I wondered, “What are the things that I’m carrying around?” Sure, the literal objects like books and binders and pens count, but I realized that the emotional baggage that I (and everyone else here on campus) carry, is way heavier. It’s not something we usually think about until it’s pointed out to us, but then it’s like a slap to the face.
On a more light-hearted note (speaking of a slap to the face), did anyone else see the snow this past Tuesday? I was the only one of my group of friends that had an 8AM class that day, so I came back excitedly telling them all about it (like it was some kind of urban legend or something). Even though fall is my favorite season, I’m psyched to see how beautiful the campus will look once winter comes around.
On Wednesday night, I went to the first of two sessions at Sykes to become a certified ally. According to http://www.glaad.org an ally (the “A” in LGBTQA) is someone who helps “others understand the importance of equality, fairness, acceptance and mutual respect.” The power point was quick but informative, and the whole atmosphere of the room was open and understanding. Personally, I’m pretty excited to be part of a movement that promotes fairness and equality both here at WCU and throughout the nation. Who knew getting involved was so easy (and dare I say enjoyable)?
My high expectations from last week were definitely met. This week went by fast, but I’m contributing that to how busy it ended up being. I hope your week’s expectations (whatever they may be) were met with flying colors. Remember to learn from all your experiences throughout the week. This week I learned how to stand up for others as an ally, to recognize my own emotional baggage, and that sometimes you have to take a break from school and just have fun. I hope that the lessons I learned this week will help all of you too.
The clock hasn’t quite struck midnight yet, but I think I’ll end this edition’s column here. We can’t always be Cinderella you know. So it goes.
Rachel Alfiero is a first-year student majoring in communication studies. She can be reached at RA806657@wcupa.edu.