Hampshire College

E-mail: dgr05@hampshire.edu
Hometown: San Diego, California
Entered Hampshire: Fall, 2005
Areas of academic interest: Philosophy (Phenomenology), Labor Studies, Marxian Economic Theory, Music

The reasons I chose Hampshire are complicated, really. Long story short (sort of), I was completely dissatisfied with my high school experience and I wanted to be in a different learning environment. At first, I thought that I needed a "prestigious" college to be surrounded by bright and interesting people. During my college search, however, I quickly found that I didn't want my education to come from "prestigious" liberal arts colleges because those environments were guilty of one or more of the following (a) did not foster a student-focused environment (b) seemed all the same (c) had students/alums who described their academics in three words or less. Boring, boring, boring. When I went to look at other more "alternative schools," they sounded just like the other ones...just socially more progressive. As I began to interview with these colleges, it was obvious to me that I had too many academic interests! Worse still, I was made to believe that it was not a good thing for me to have more interests than can fit in a major. All of the programs previously offered to me sounded far too restrictive and I began to panic: "What if I change my mind and want to study something else? Will my time at X institution be wasted if I change my mind? Maybe I’ll have to triple major and still try to graduate in four years?" Finally, I had my interview with a Hampshire alum and he got me so, so, so excited about Hampshire. At Hampshire, I could study what interested me the most -- no matter what that was and no matter now many "disciplines" I had to bring in to do it. Hampshire suddenly came alive. I could see myself here -- and not just "being" a Hampshire student but really thriving. I think it really helped for me to hear someone talk about Hampshire honestly: what they liked about it, what they hated about it, what they're doing now, etc. He also helped me to figure out why the other schools I had been looking at didn't feel "right." Everyone else I had met during the college process seemed like nice people...but people that I wouldn't really want to go to college with. My alum interviewer and I could definitely have been classmates had I gone to Hampshire ten years ago. SO -- I wasn't able to make that a short story, huh? In any case, I ended up choosing Hampshire because Hampshire, to me, seemed (and still is to me) real, honest, and vibrant. Real people don't have interests that can be shoved into the constraints of a major nor do their brains compartmentalize information that way...in the "real world" you don't get letter grades...etc. Hampshire offered me (and still continues to offer me) a tremendous amount of freedom and, more importantly, Hampshire also trusted me to do good things with that academic freedom.

The teaching style at Hampshire is really unique. First of all, all of our classes are seminar-style where the professors lead class discussion. That, in and of itself, can surly be found at other institutions... but show me a place where we call our professors by their first names and undergraduates are treated like fellow colleagues? I think Hampshire professors make a huge effort to move away from a certain sort of hierarchical pedagogy where professors are supposed to throw pearls of wisdom at their students. Professors are also really involved in their students' work and are just as invested in it as the students themselves. I'm such a big fan of how Hampshire does education.

The Hamphsire community is also unique. I guess that's the stereotype here: we're all unique. And, for the most part, I'd say that's true. Mostly, Hampshire students are relaxed, like to hang out, and really care about what they do. A good portion of the students here also really have an activist cause that they really care about.

For fun, I love to knit, bake cookies, play board games, you know... fun domestic things. I am also in the process of hawking some jewelry for a couple of turntables and a mixer -- I'm so into turntablism right now. Lately, I've been listening to DJ Qbert, A-Trak, and Grandmaster Flash...I'm really inspired! In fact, one might even say that I'm "itching to skratch." (HA!)

Currently, I'm a Division II student who went from studying "political science" to "political philosophy" to "phenomenology, labor studies, and a dash of Marxian economic theory." The details on how I arrived there are quite complicated -- so, if you're interested, ask me when you come to visit Hampshire!

My Division II is mostly about understanding the question of the meaning of being as it relates to women and their participation in certain and specific labor markets. Most of my coursework in Division II has consisted of philosophy courses in political philosophy, metaphysics, and phenomenology. I also take courses in labor history, women and the workforce, and I'm currently drawing up an independent study on philosophies of work. Additionally, I've done some coursework focusing on American capitalism and on Marxian economic theory. For fun, I also take courses on experimental/avant garde music and I'm looking into courses on electronic music soon -- I hope to manufacture some beats or breaks of my own before I graduate Hampshire. Div III? I thought it was taboo to ask Div II students what they want to do for Div III. But if you must know... I truly have no idea. However, a few questions are popping up for me during my Div II that I hope to address at some point. For me, these are: - How can we understand the experience of the female-identified working body? How does class and race complicate that experience? - How can we understand that relationship in terms of power and ontological status? Is power a separate question? Is that relationship purely ontological or is it also mediated corporally? How does patriarchy play a role in this? - What is the status of the U.S. labor movement? How/why has it been historically understood as a male struggle? Is that the case today? Why or why not? If that is the case, what might the implications be for the female-identified working body? Is that experience made more or less visible depending on class (e.g., pink-collar work versus white-collar work)...etc. - How does the phenomenon of capitalism in the U.S. effect this (there are some ways that it is very unique than other Western countries)? If there needs to be change (actually this is not an "if" in my opinion), where do we look? Should we look towards social movements, economy, philosophy, or some permutation of all of the above and, possibly, more?

Hampshire has given me the confidence to just go out there in the real world and do whatever I want. When I grow up, I want to be awesome. That said, I'm thinking very seriously about a PhD in a program that is interdisciplinary where I can combine western philosophy, social science, and law (anyone from Cali out there might know where I'm speaking of)...or perhaps I'll get my J.D....or perhaps I'll forget all of that and go become a make-up artist/DJ. Or maybe I'll do all of the above. All I know is that I'll be ready for whatever lies out there. I really just don't know -- I feel pretty optimistic about the future and there are just too many possibilities.

The opportunity to enjoy a very personal relationship to your studies is pretty unheard of...and the resulting existential crises that ensue are probably a very unique experience to Hampshire. It's a great chance go really get to know yourself and, hopefully, get comfortable with yourself. I mean, it's one thing to go off to college and study "political science" (whatever that means) like I almost did and be more or less attached to it depending on how much I liked the program...but there really is nothing like being fully invested in what I'm doing because it's all me all the time. And...to see that change over time is really quite amazing because I see that I'm growing both as a person and as a student. Just when I think I know what I'm about...I go and do something else and surprise myself. It can be a very existentially trying and existentially rewarding experience all rolled up together. This Hampshire thing--it's so hard to explain because it can be so personal!

Favorite books: Portnoy's Complaint, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Goodbye Chunky Rice

Favorite food: Popcorn.

Favorite animal: Dogs. Specifically, miniature schnauzers. They are just so darn cute and stubborn.

Favorite faculty: Falguni Sheth, Margaret Cerullo, Ernie Alleva, Lise Sanders, John Drabinski

Favorite music: this is a tough one, it really depends. I've already listed the turntablists I'm listening to...I'm also a HUGE Jamiroquai fan. I don't talk about that much, but it's true. I'm totally in love with Jay Kay. I also like Aesop Rock, Ghostface Killah, Beck, Four Tet, RJD2, Kaki King, and Ben Folds/Ben Folds Five.

Favorite time of day: I'm a night owl.

Advice to prospective students: This is all about YOU, so here's some random advice: 1) Don't be afraid to admit to yourself and others that Hampshire might be terribly wrong for you. 2) Don't be afraid to admit to yourself and others that the only place you could possibly thrive is at Hampshire. 3) If you are all about Hampshire, expect that most other people in the outside world are going to hassle you for it because they just don't "get it." This is OK!! Not everyone will understand what a Div III is, how much work a Hampshire education ACTUALLY involves, etc. You will probably be working harder than a lot of your friends but you'll be loving your college education a lot more than most of your friends. You may not be able to explain this to the outside world in a way that they'll "get" because they're still asking why you don't get "real" grades. This is OK!! I bring this up because it is sort of a weird situation...most students might be pressed to explain why they chose one school or another, but Hampshire students sometimes have to justify the school itself! This is hard work. My advice is to just accept this situation and it's your call as to whether or not to fight for it. In my experience, people who think that they "know what's good for you" won't get it and you can flip a coin as to whether or not you want to duke it out with them. 4) The college search is getting really insane these days and there are far too many pressures on all of us. Parents, money, prestige, location...the list goes on. I don't care what they tell you, your college choice isn't really going to determine your chances of success at life. But it determines a lot of other important things that never seems to get stressed in all these college discussions...like: Who are you? What are your passions? How might you give back to the world? How might you give back to academia? What does it mean to be educated in today's world? What is the relationship between knowledge and power (and gender, race, and class)? How do you plan on becoming comfortable in your own skin? College is this really cool place somewhere in between La-La-Land and the Real World so it's a great opportunity to learn more than just facts and figures and get a good GPA and GRE score. It's an opportunity to make good (and bad) relationships with folks and try to get a different perspective on the world BEFORE you jump in to whatever plans you have after college. Sorry, I'm sounding really flaky but, I swear, college is NOTHING like the Princeton Review says it is...Hampshire College in particular. 5) If you're thinking about Hampshire seriously...TALK TO PEOPLE! Talk to alums in your area, talk to current students, talk to faculty...I suggest this because everyone has a very different experience of Hampshire. We all go through the same school but often have wildly different things to say about it or stories about our adventures. Don't try to think about whether or not the people you meet are going to do the same things as you (although it's always awesome when that happens), but think about whether or not you'd want to be around these folks for most of your time. Hampshire is a small community! A very wonderful community at that...but it is very unique! 6) Floss. People don't do this enough. I find that sad fact highly problematic. 7) Use SPF 30 or greater at all times but especially if you are going to take one my tours. I like the sunshine and I'll probably keep you in it for as long as possible -- I'm Californian like that.