Weh dem ah doo.
Coming off some news that portends extremely well for the 2014-15 school year, and a trip to Wallingford earlier this week to speak at my alma mater about, coincidentally, foreign language and study abroad with Alice Kaplan and assorted veterans of the school's remarkable study abroad program. My visit happened to coincide with the last push of the Admissions Season and I was delighted to be of service in that capacity while catching up with old teachers and classmates who now work there as coaches/teachers/administrators. A joyful time.
Earlier today, I sat in on a panel featuring two warriors in the fight against human trafficking, one of them an investigative journalist and author coming from a government background, the other a staff attorney on a privately-funded fellowship working at an organization that provides services for the trafficked and does impact litigation on their behalf.
The picture they painted, several corners of which I'd already had light shined upon, was bleak but shot through with bits of hope, and if nothing else, left me properly enflamed to strive to do the right thing when presented with the legislative, professional, counseling opportunity.
After that, as the first forks of lightning touched down, I was on my way to fill a prescription, crossing the street by that tall Engineering School library when I spot, verging onto my path, a man who looks a lot like Dr. Cornel West.
Me: Dr. Cornel West?
DCW: Oh, hey.
Me: Tochi.
DCW: Nice to meet you. You a--
Me: I'm a student here, at the law school. I heard you were around these parts nowadays.
DCW: Yeah, they's some good people here. So, where you from?
Me: Born in Massachusetts, raised in Connecticut.
DCW: Hmm...you know, I was just hanging out with one of your illustrious alumnus. Peter [forgotten], the first black [forgotten].
Me: Really.
DCW: Yeah, he musta been Class of...'82? 81? Yeah, 'cause he was [forgotten] Class of '78. So you're a law student here? 1L or 2L?
Me: 1L
DCW: How's it treatin' you? This first year.
Me: I'm sloggin' through. You know.
DCW: Well, you will flower and flourish.
Me: ...thank you. You know, you just made my day.
DCW: And you mine.
And then the rain started coming down pretty hard and the woman waiting at the bus stop was smiling because she saw what had just happened and how starstruck I was, and I was rather proud of myself for having kept myself from fanboying until at least his back was turned, whereupon I wore a Cheshire grin all the way to the pharmacy.
In fact, I'm smirking right now.
Earlier today, I sat in on a panel featuring two warriors in the fight against human trafficking, one of them an investigative journalist and author coming from a government background, the other a staff attorney on a privately-funded fellowship working at an organization that provides services for the trafficked and does impact litigation on their behalf.
The picture they painted, several corners of which I'd already had light shined upon, was bleak but shot through with bits of hope, and if nothing else, left me properly enflamed to strive to do the right thing when presented with the legislative, professional, counseling opportunity.
After that, as the first forks of lightning touched down, I was on my way to fill a prescription, crossing the street by that tall Engineering School library when I spot, verging onto my path, a man who looks a lot like Dr. Cornel West.
Me: Dr. Cornel West?
DCW: Oh, hey.
Me: Tochi.
DCW: Nice to meet you. You a--
Me: I'm a student here, at the law school. I heard you were around these parts nowadays.
DCW: Yeah, they's some good people here. So, where you from?
Me: Born in Massachusetts, raised in Connecticut.
DCW: Hmm...you know, I was just hanging out with one of your illustrious alumnus. Peter [forgotten], the first black [forgotten].
Me: Really.
DCW: Yeah, he musta been Class of...'82? 81? Yeah, 'cause he was [forgotten] Class of '78. So you're a law student here? 1L or 2L?
Me: 1L
DCW: How's it treatin' you? This first year.
Me: I'm sloggin' through. You know.
DCW: Well, you will flower and flourish.
Me: ...thank you. You know, you just made my day.
DCW: And you mine.
And then the rain started coming down pretty hard and the woman waiting at the bus stop was smiling because she saw what had just happened and how starstruck I was, and I was rather proud of myself for having kept myself from fanboying until at least his back was turned, whereupon I wore a Cheshire grin all the way to the pharmacy.
In fact, I'm smirking right now.