Special Connections

While many recognize the work of public librarians, there are librarians in many other settings who do specialized work.  Some of them work as academic librarians at universities in particular subject areas.  Others work at museum libraries, or at companies managing information resources.  There are even those whose job title doesn't include the word "librarian."

Every year, the Special Libraries Association's (SLA) Annual Conference is a gathering for these types of librarian/information professionals.  I was privileged to have the opportunity to attend SLA's recent 2016 Annual Conference in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

I applied to be a student volunteer at the conference, and was brought on to help at the registration desk, which gave me complimentary registration in exchange.  So right about 6:30 on Saturday morning, June 11, I arrived at the Convention Center and went to the registration desk at the Arch Street Bridge Hallway.  I spent the day helping out with the self-registration computer kiosks, where attendees would pick up their badges.  I put the badge, which printed out from the computer, into the plastic holder and handed it to the attendee along with other conference materials.  It was pretty straightforward work to do.  Susan, who works for SLA, trained us, and once that was done, the registration desk opened at 7 AM and stayed open until 5 PM.

Thanks to Kristen M., a fellow volunteer, who got this picture of me at the registration desk, and the one above of me by a sign for the conference near the desk

Serving at the registration desk provided a wonderful opportunity to meet so many people, and to get a sense of the variety of institutions, companies, and places people work at, including universities, government agencies, consulting firms, and other companies.  And there was also a wide range of places attendees came from geographically speaking, from Hawaii to the United Kingdom.  I really enjoyed meeting people, and even passing the time with the other people who manned the desks, both volunteers and those from the Convention and Visitors' Bureau, when attendees weren't coming by, as there was much ebb and flow throughout the day.  I was even delighted to see some familiar faces come by, people I know from back in Illinois.

The next day at 9 AM was the General Opening Session.  Tom Rink, the President of SLA (see picture below), offered a few remarks, and then awards and honors were presented for distinguished accomplishments in SLA.

Then, we were in for a real treat with the opening presentation by Erika Andersen, of Proteus International (see picture below).  She sought to encourage us in our work as librarian/information professionals with her talk about leading by learning, taking the initiative to learn things for which we lack enthusiasm.  The hard thing about learning is that as humans, we want to be good at things, and so we eschew things we're not good at.  But struggling and making mistakes is part of the process of learning something new.  This is all part of motivating ourselves to learn something new, being honest that we'll make mistakes, and turning to people who can provide fair, objective feedback.  Additionally, we motivate ourselves by stimulating our aspiration to learn as well as our curiosity, which is not something childish, but actually an important part of learning and growing.  Ultimately, while we'll be bad at something while learning it, we motivate ourselves by knowing we can be good at it.

Her talk was so insightful, and I was engrossed by every word she spoke, fixated the entire time.

Later on, I attended a presentation on the work of three solo librarians--they work at places where they are the only librarians on staff.  Melissa Dissent of BLUE Software, LLC, and Lexy Spry, of Widen Enterprises, talked about how they trained employees at their respective companies to handle special electronic management systems, with Lexy focusing on the Digital Asset Management system.  The third presenter was Sabrina Holley-Williams, the librarian at the Boston regional EPA office; she talked about the work she does in the library, and how she promotes the services and resources she provides, even through something like library posters.

I then went to a reception in the exhibit hall sponsored by the vendors, which many companies that provide electronic library systems and information databases and publishers, too.  I also viewed some posters on display describing studies people had done on services provided at their libraries.  There was a nice spread of food at the reception, including vegetables, hummus, and sliders (both burgers and falafel sliders).  While there, I met up with Mary, one of the librarians I got to know during my practicum at Argonne.  Then another Argonne librarian, Mary Alice, came by, along with her sister, and joined us.

The next morning, on Monday, I attended a session about the work of embedded librarians, who align their work with the goals their institutions or companies, and make contributions to achieve those goals.  This session was a Knowledge Cafe, because rather than being a formal presentation, we broke up into smaller groups to talk with each other.  These mostly included librarians at universities and government agencies.  They talked about the ways they build good working relationships with their colleagues in their organizations, demonstrating the immense value of the library in the organizational structure.  In some cases, the librarians supported important projects, like in helping college students grow in informational literacy.

Later that day, I went back to the exhibit hall to look around, and enjoy lots more goodies like cake and soft pretzels--fitting for Pennsylvania--provided by some of the vendors.  I then attended a presentation on Cuba as an International Business Opportunity.  John Kavulich, of the US-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, Inc., talked about some of the challenges posed as the United States seeks to normalize relations with Cuba, as Cuba has different expectations about this process than the Obama administration.

I then went from the Convention Center to the Marriott Hotel, conveniently connected by a sky bridge over 12th Street, to the All Sciences Poster Session and Reception.  These posters focused on work librarians are doing with more of a scientific focus, like doing outreach to colleges students studying the sciences, publishers of scientifically-related materials, scientific databases, and librarians in STEM.  One of those presenting was Jenny Hart, at the Crerar Library at the University of Chicago, who I met when I toured the library during my practicum.

From there, I walked a few blocks away from the Convention Center to a reception for SLA members in the Midwest at a restaurant called Strangelove, where I enjoyed good company and conversation with a few people, including two who work at Allstate in Northbrook.

Later that evening, I went to the Physics-Astronomy-Mathematics Division Open House reception at the Marriott, where I had the opportunity to talk with some academic librarians, and met up with Mary Alice and her sister again--and enjoy some nice food, including artisan breads.

I was back at the convention center right about 8 AM the next morning, Tuesday, for a session on Citizen Science efforts involving libraries.  Patricia Dawson of Rider University talked about how she, as an academic librarian, got involved in a project for monitoring the quality of the water in a lake in northeast Pennsylvania.  Then, Darlene Cavalier discussed her work with SciStarter, which provides resources for individuals interested in participating in Citizen Science efforts.  The big push is for libraries to provide tools and resources for interested individuals, because these efforts often involve spending a good deal of money to purchase the proper equipment.  Libraries can empower people to become more involved by removing the cost barrier by furnishing the equipment, which is a worthy way for libraries to engage with their communities.

For lunch that day, conference attendees received a voucher for the convention center food stand in the exhibit hall.  This was especially nice, because rather than getting a box lunch as I thought, I could select what I wanted to eat.  I then went to a session I felt was very pertinent to a conference setting, with a discussion entitled "Cultivate Your Network Like a Garden: Post-Conference Networking Tips and Strategies".  After taking some time to talk with people sitting around us, the presenters shared tips about how to maintain relationships with people, and ways to make connections.

Then it was time for the Closing General Session, with author Marilyn Johnson as the speaker (see picture below).

She used her talk as an opportunity to laud us librarian/information professionals for the important work we do in society, speaking to the "magic" we use to connect people with information.  I was very pleased that Marilyn offered such commendation for our work.  (Before the session started, I took advantage of the opportunity to introduce myself briefly to Tom Rink, and share about my career ideas.)

The opening and closing general sessions were a highlight of the conference for me, because it was the first time I've attended a conference that had such sessions.  They provided an opportunity for us to gather as a group, much like we were doing at the conference itself, and experience a kind of bonding, especially in the way Tom Rink encourage us to make the most of this opportunity to learn, and foster connections, and energize us to band together as members of SLA, encouraging us with metaphorically-driven commands such as "get our hands dirty" and "run with scissors".

Indeed, this conference was a good opportunity to get a sense of what this organization is like, and who its members are.  I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with many fellow attendees, not to mention meeting people at the registration desk.  I was also able to get a sense of the type of work people do.  I gained many new perspectives to consider about as I seek to launch my post-MLIS graduation career.  I could solidify my sense of what my work in this profession is about.  I am grateful to the SLA staff for allowing me to have this great experience, by giving me the opportunity to serve as a volunteer and attend this conference for free, and for all the vendors who sponsored the conference.

As the exhibit hall was about to close, I passed by the OpenAthens booth, a company that, according to its website, provides identity and access management software.  The employee there offered me the last of the tote bags they had to give away, which had a very catchy slogan.

I kept it on hand with me as I made my way home.  To celebrate my MLIS degree, and my one-year anniversary the Oak Park Public Library, it was fitting to take a moment during my layover in Washington, DC, to pose for a photo at the Library of Congress, to celebrate what librarianship is all about, that we make valuable contributions to society in a variety of ways that ultimately are all about helping people access information and then meaningfully use it.

Here I am, with the bag that reads, "Keep Calm, and Ask a Librarian."  Thanks to the woman who kindly got this picture of me.

In Tribute to a Gracious Lady

It's around this time of year when the United Kingdom celebrates the Queen's Birthday, usually the second Saturday in June, when the weather is suitable enough for outdoor festivities, regardless of when the monarch's birthday is.

Certainly Her Majesty Elizabeth II had a major milestone on her birthday back in April when she turned 90--and I'm fairly certain no other British monarch has been reigning on the throne up to that age.  This milestone comes a few months after she surpassed Queen Victoria's approximately 63 1/2-year reign in September 2015 to become the longest reigning British monarch.

Having been around for so long, much longer than other monarchs in Europe especially, she has developed what I feel to be quite a reputation, both with her subjects in Britain, and throughout the world.  Even here in the United States, people seem to be spellbound by her.

When going through my list of historical events in my personal almanac, I noticed that this past May 16 marked the 25-year anniversary of her 1991 address to a joint session of Congress, the first by a reigning British monarch--another notable event in the year I was born.

Looking over a transcript of the address, I couldn't help but notice her eloquent sense of graciousness as she spoke about the strength and stability both the United Kingdom and the United States have achieved by relying on the democratic form of government, and the good relationship both nations have, allowing them to face the challenges present in the world.

I think that's the one big thing that stands out about Her Majesty, how gracious of a demeanor she displays--even over her amazing sense of fashion.  I heard that when she visited the United States in 1976, the bicentennial year of US independence, she said the American Revolution was "a very valuable lesson", in teaching the British "to respect the rights of others to govern themselves in their own ways".  Quite a change from her predecessor George III, who wanted to do nothing more than give every American a bloody nose.  Indeed, it shows how the United Kingdom has come to embrace a commitment to ensuring the realization of the rights of its citizens.

So as the gracious Queen Elizabeth II celebrates with her people, I offer tribute to this amazing woman:  Long may she reign, even in the hearts of her people.

11 Years of Reliving

The calendar dates for this year 2016 from March 1 through December 31 align with the calendar dates in 2005, an inestimable year in my life.

So today, Wednesday, June 8, 2016, my thoughts turn back to Wednesday, June 8, 2005, the last day I spent as a student of Percy Julian Middle School, and the day of my graduation ceremony that crowned the experience I had there.

Last year, on the 10-year anniversary of that day, I wrote extensively about why my Julian experience was so significant in my life.

But throughout the past year, I've had a number of experiences that have spawned further reflection on my Julian experience, and what it means for my life now as an alumnus.

If I've counted correctly, I've been back inside Julian a little more than a dozen times since June 8, 2005.  During the course of the school year that is concluding, I've made 7 different visits.

Back in September, I was working on an assignment for one of my graduate school classes, writing a profile of both the Oak Park middle school library media centers.  I had a very nice time talking with Jamie Winchell, Julian's new teacher-librarian, and then looking around the library media center.  It was so interesting to get an inside look at a place I used as a student, now with the perspective of a burgeoning library/information science professional, to see how the library fits into the overall purpose of the school.

During that visit, my 8th grade math teacher Mrs. Rogers popped by the library to drop off passes for students to come there during lunch, and she came to chat with me briefly because I had informed her I would be there that day.  Learning of her retirement, I made a point to schedule another visit with her before the end of the school year.  And so I came back to visit with her one last time in May.  In the few minutes or so leading up to the start of the school day, we had a nice chat, talking about what happened in days of old when I was a Julian student, what's currently happening (like the PARCC test), and I shared about what's happening with me.  It was nice to transport myself back to the days of math class, and see what's happening at present.  Furthermore, throughout these past 11 years as an alumnus, I've kept in contact with Mrs. Rogers, and she has been for me a connection to Julian, so I can stay current with what's been happening.

After my visit with Mrs. Rogers, I walked down to the 3^rd floor and saw Mr. Vincenti standing outside entrance to his team wing.  I immediately went to greet him, and after prompting me with a couple of questions, he decided to invite me into his classroom—two floors above where I had science class with him—and we got into a good long conversation, with much reflection on what it means to teach.  He shared philosophy on teaching itself, and which involves showing genuine care for students, helping them engage with material, and go through the neverending process of learning.  He remarked how incredible it was to be having this conversation with me, one of his former students, that I've attained adult status.  This conversation was particularly meaningful for me as I reflected on what it means to engage students in teaching RE class.  (Notably, two students in my class were also students of Mr. Vincenti.)  Indeed, it was great being back in 1st period science class with Mr. Vincenti, just like it was 12 years before.

I had the opportunity to engage in some teaching efforts a few weeks later at the start of June.  I have been back at Julian to give presentations on meteorology in science classes.  I had contacted one particular science teacher about presenting a few months ago, and then we ended up finding a date in June, even in the midst of the flurry of activity at the end of the year.  What I have really enjoyed about giving these presentations is sharing my life's experiences that I've had since Julian with current Julian students.  And it's nice to have the connection, as I told them before I started that I was once a student at Julian like them, having been there at the pivotal moment when the building was brand new, and so was the 6th grade experience.  (In one of the classes, there were some students who asked me about what teachers were still around from when I was at Julian, and even at Irving.)

The students engaged well with my presentation, asking good questions, and sharing stories about experiences they've had with storms, prompted by some of my own "storm stories".  Being back for this presentation also reinforced my sense of vocation in library and information science:  I am able to engage in the work of helping people access information and make meaning of it--in this case, in the science of meteorology in which I have substantial expertise.  It's something I hope to do throughout my career.  And it was nice to reflect on this as I shared about my career path when a student asked me how I got interested in meteorology.  Indeed, it was great being back for 2nd period science class, like I had in 6th grade, as well as 1st and 3rd periods.

Outside of visits during regular school hours, I have been back at Julian for the Ethnic Fest, this year as well as the two years before.  (This year, I participated in the Ethnic Fest parade with my co-workers at the Oak Park Public Library, which stepped off at Julian--a juxtaposition of my current career path and a place that formed me so significantly.)

In November and February, I attended plays at Julian: West Side Story and Ballet Shoes.  Some of my RE students had roles in these plays, so I found it fitting to attend them, and enjoy the talent of all the students involved in the productions.

Teaching RE has certainly given me my most significant and involved interaction with current Julian students, as well as those who attend middle school at Brooks and elsewhere.  When I think about it, comparing my schedule to that of a typical middle schooler and family, there really wouldn't be much opportunity for our schedules to intersect.  Yet in taking the initiative to go where they're at, Religious Education class for an hour or so a week, I'm able to engage with them on a regular basis, in matters of faith, which is one of the most important aspects of life.  Indeed, my faith flourished while I was in middle school, in large part because of the deep appreciation for faith for myself that I developed in part because of seeing my Jewish classmates and friends so openly express themselves.  It's very fitting at the stage of life I'm in to turn toward the next generation and be part of the process of handing on the faith to them.  Faith is indeed a great gift that we are called to pass on.  It's such a joy that I can be involved in the lives of these young people by helping them grow in faith.  There's no doubt that it's one of the most important investments I have made in life.  And of course, it's nice to be able to relate to my students, especially those currently attending Julian.  Throughout my time in class, I would tell stories pertaining to the topics of the lessons about things that happened when I was in middle school.  As I presented something relatable to them, I was also able to relive middle school, a truly wonderful thing for me to do.

Reliving middle school keeps me fresh in what made it so impactful, in how it shaped me to be the person who I am today.  And that's exactly what I do each year on June 8, a day I consider as important as my own birthday, and celebrate just as much.  As part of my celebration today, I went by Julian, and even had the chance to step inside to drop something off.

While my graduation was a joyful moment of celebration of all I accomplished in middle school, it was also bittersweet as I bade farewell to the most cherished time of my youth years.  But while I've moved on from it as life would have me, looking back where I stand now, I delight that I've been able to relive middle school in the ways I have, by deliberately putting myself into contact with middle schoolers, through visits back to Julian, especially to present in classes, and in teaching RE.  As I progress forth in my own life, these experiences take me back to middle school, keeping me fresh in that experience that had such an extraordinary impact on me, and letting that impact reinvigorate me today.

Just as the plaque for my graduating class (see pictures below) still gives me a small place at Julian, so that experience continues to live on in my heart, compelling me to live for the glory of God as I fulfill my vocation or serving others before Him all my days.

For All the Faithful Deacons

Five years ago today, I was attended a special Mass at the Cathedral of Holy Angels, the diocesan cathedral in Gary, IN.  There I witnesses the ordination of several men as deacons, including Bob Marben, a member of the St. Teresa's community.

It was great being there for this special moment for him in his life and ministry.  He's a great man with many wonderful spiritual gifts that he is putting to good use in the community.

Remembering this occasion makes me think of the good work done by deacons in parish communities, whose responsibilities revolve around assisting at Mass and helping meet the needs of people in the community, which goes all the way back to the early days of the Church when the first deacons were appointed, as described in Acts 6.  I have heard many good homilies given by deacons on the select Sundays at Ascension Parish when they assist at Mass.

The late Deacon Joe Walsh offered some wonderful homilies in this regard.  Back in 2012, on Christ the King Sunday, he framed the occasion in light of The Lion King, as suggested by his wife Kathie Walsh.  He also offered her tribute at a special weekday Mass held on March 25, 2015, to honor women, as he said he wanted to give his homily from the ambo, even without its usual microphone set up there, instead of the little lectern, where he wouldn't be able to see Kathie.  Yes, may dear Deacon Joe rest in peace.

Deacon Roger Vandervest also contributed well to his work in the Ascension community, and continues to serve others in his role overseeing chaplains in Fullerton, CA.

Deacon Lendell Richardson draws deeply from his own experiences to encourage the faithful, especially when he spoke to the Confirmation students about what it means to live a life of faith and discipleship in God.

So yes, on this occasion, I offer praise and thanks for the wonderful deacons we're blessed to have and the faithful service they offer.

Getting Up Close?

Recently, Jason Samenow of the Capital Weather Gang published this piece in The Washington Post on storm chasing ethics, which caught my attention for a couple of reasons.

First, I would have never thought about putting the terms storm chasing and ethics together, though I would have readily considered many of the issues raised in the article.

Second, it caught my attention because five years ago this month, back in May 2011, I went on a storm chasing trip as part of my meteorology coursework at ValpU.

Storm chasing definitely is in the neighborhood of extreme and risky activities, though there's a continuum of how people approach it.

Scientific researchers chase storms every spring to get a better understanding of how severe storms form, especially those that produce tornadoes  As much as knowledge of the atmosphere has advanced in the past few decades, there's so much meteorologists still don't fully understand--for example, they still don't know why some storms form tornadoes and others don't.  Their studies will hopefully one day lead to more accurate forecasts for tornadoes--a very worthy aim.

Then there are the thrill seekers who want to the adrenaline rush of getting up close to a tornado, and certainly those who created the Tornado-Intercept Vehicle (TIV) intended it to be a fortification against the fury of nature while capturing footage of a tornado up close, while bolted down in its path.

Extreme weather events make clear that we humans are no match against Mother Nature's fury.  And there will always be people seeking thrills and trying to get as close to a violent storm as possible, even without any kind of scientific purpose for observing the storm.  The media, always looking to hype things up, no doubt plays a role in pushing the extremes of the envelope.  I'm not certain that footage of people getting up close to violent storms is going to encourage increasing numbers of people to let their guard down and get close, or even closer, because the urge to seek a thrill is embedded in personality to an extent.

In my own experience of storm chasing, we were headed out for educational purposes of learning how the atmosphere works in forming storms.  With this in mind, our professor emphasized safety above all.  There were many instances when we were out, and our professor would have us move into a different position to get out of the most intense areas of the storm--and certainly radar technology was crucial in making those determinations.  However, we still had to sign paperwork before our departure not holding him liable if something happened, because despite the best efforts to stay out of harm's way, extreme weather can make sudden changes that leave us unable to escape, whether a person had intentions of getting in a storm's most violent areas or not.

Regardless of individual inclinations to approach storms at close range, we ultimately must learn to respect the extremes of weather that we encounter on Earth.  As for how close to get, it's probably better to err on the side of caution and maintain a healthy sense of distance, as a way of showing respect for the mighty power of storms.

A Place of Many Roads

This weekend is the Indy 500 Race, #43 on my 200 Indiana Bicentennial Year list, in Indianapolis.

It's fitting that there is a car race of such prominence in the state dubbed "The Crossroads of America"--this nickname being #44 on my list.

There are many interstates that converge in Indiana.  I have been on a number of them while headed toward and coming home from locations in the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-South regions.

#45: Interstate 80/90, the Indiana Toll Road, which cuts across the northern part of the state, making way toward the Ohio Turnpike
#46: Interstate 65: it's a major north-south artery through Indiana.  It may be flat along the drive, but those fields are the heart of America's agricultural might.
#47: Plus, the decorative bridge at the exit for Columbus really stands out as such.
#48: Interstate 69
#49: Interstate 70
#50: Interstate 64
#51: Interstate 74
#52: Interstate 465, which runs in a loop around Indianapolis, which is #53 on list.

There's also US Route 41 (#53), running down the western edge of the state.  I traveled it five years ago this month while headed on a storm chasing trip, and it was a great drive through the state.  We passed through cities like Terre Haute (#54), Vincennes (#55), and Evansville (#56).

Vincennes has the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park (#57), commemorating an American victory over the British in the American Revolutionary War.

Additionally, the famed Lincoln Highway runs the northern part of Indiana (#58).

Indeed, Indiana is a happening place with its network of the convergence of all these roads, and so is a big part of keeping America moving.

Post-College: Three Years

So much happens in my life and in the world around me that my reflective side relishes the chance to stop and think about its broader meaning.  This blog has provided many wonderful opportunities for such musings, and it was inspired by the day three years ago today when I graduated from Valparaiso University with my Bachelor of Science degree.

Recalling this occasion takes me back to good times on the fields of Valparaiso.  In keeping with my list of 200 notable things about Indiana on my blog for the state's bicentennial celebration, here's some notable things about Valparaiso University:

#21: Heritage Hall, set in the western part of the campus, is the oldest building, which has had many uses over the years, and currently is the lawyering skills center

#22: The Brauer Museum of Art has some notable works of art on display, and it is set in the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts (VUCA), where theatrical and musical performances take place.

#23: The Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources is a pretty amazing library building, evoking a sense of "wow" upon entering.  I especially like going up the fourth floor, which has an outdoors terrace that offers splendid views of the campus, especially the Chapel, and beyond to the south and east.

#24: The Linwood House is a neat place set on the southern edge of campus, where 

#25: the Lilly Fellows, a very notable academic organization, has their offices, and is part of the noted Linwood neighborhood.

#26: The Linwood neighborhood is where  

#27: the Cottons lived, the first African-American family to move to Valparaiso, IN.

#28: The meteorology department has a radar tower in the western part of campus, which I was fortunate enough to have the chance to tour.

#29: Kallay-Christopher Hall is one of the newer buildings on campus, housing the meteorology and geography departments, with a fine weather center that has some great technological resources.  The center serves as a focus point for meteorology students for studying and also hanging out.  Its new design is pretty swell, as is the case with many of the new buildings on campus, like the Arts and Sciences Building.

#30: WVUR is the university's radio station.  I was fortunate to give weather broadcasts on the station during my junior and senior years.

#31: The Torch is the student newspaper, and has won some awards for the best Indiana college weekly newspaper.  I served on the news staff for a couple of years, and then served as co-weather columnist.

#32: The Gellersen Engineering and Mathematics Center has many superb amenities for the engineering students, which I am aware of because I interacted with engineering students often in classes pertaining to my meteorology major.

#33: The Chapel of the Resurrection has a labrynith with Jesus's "I AM" references.

#34: Otto Paul Kretzmann, whose name is on the main administration building, served for nearly 3 decades as Valparaiso University's president, and persists as a legendary figure to this day.

#35: Christ College is one of the oldest honors college programs in the country, and offers a interdisciplinary, humanities-based program that compliments any academic program well--it certainly provided a new balance to my scientific studies.

#36: The Christ College Freshmen Production is a wonderful annual tradition that takes place in the Mueller Hall Refectory.  It's always great to how the new freshmen display their creativity.

#37: ValpU has many distinguished faculty members, and one I want to highlight is Walt Wangerin, who is a prolific author on Christian themes.  I was delighted to have a class with him on Creation Narratives.

#38: The Lutheran University Association is the organization that was formed which acquired the university in 1925 when it experienced financial hardships.

#39: The Lutheran Deaconess Association has its offices in a place that basically has the feel of a home.

#40: ValpU also has the Confucius Institute.
#41: Outside the Chapel of the Resurrection is the Brandt Campanile, which rings on the quarter-hours, and also rings ceremoniously at the conclusion of the Opening Convocation to signal the start of a new academic year.  It is topped by a cross, signifying that ValpU is a university "under the cross".
#42: The Valparaiso University Men's Basketball team, from what I know, is one of the best around.  Back in 2013, it earned a spot in the NCAA March Madness Bracket.

Yes, many memories come back to my mind on this occasion.  I was thinking about this a few days ago while watching parts of the 2016 graduation ceremony.  One of the graduates gave a speech reflecting on all they had experienced in their four years, and all that's happened in the world.  He mentioned how during their freshmen year, the Mayan calendar prediction of the end of the world in December 2012 and the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013 occurred, which took me back to my senior year, when those things happened.  

As I watched, I realized that the graduating students were freshmen during my senior year at ValpU.  Upon graduating myself, they were the last real link I had to the student body, and now they are off into the next stage of their lives.  It marks a shift of sorts in how I relate to ValpU.  I now share with all my fellow student friends there the status of alumni.  We now together don't have a physical presence on campus, but still we share a bond of community, having spent part of our lives there, and had significant experiences there.

This occasion also makes me think about what's happened in my life since I ceased to be a ValpU student and became an alumnus.  I've reveled in opportunities to be involved in my community in Oak Park, fueled by the passions I fostered on the fields of Valparaiso.  I've certainly gotten very involved in my home parish community of Ascension, channeling my zeal for faith by handing it on to the next generation in Religious Education classes.

I also now have another degree, MLIS.  I didn't really think I would go back to school on this day three years ago, but in the process of discernment, it was clear for many reasons that this path was the right fit for me.

It's been interesting to compare both Dominican and Valparaiso Universities. The former has buildings with a more historic feel, while the latter has buildings with a more modernistic feel.  The feel of graduate school was also different.  Like many of my classmates, I commuted to campus, and had involvements elsewhere, rather than focusing my life on campus.  Certainly this was the case for many of my classmates who have children and full-time jobs.  Library and Information Science as a field has a lot of breadth, even with its idiosyncrasies.  Like at ValpU, I found a close-knit environment, even though I wasn't on campus all that much, and there were many adjunct instructors who had jobs elsewhere.  One of the distinguishing aspects of Dominican's LIS program is that all the regular faculty members have had work experience elsewhere before coming to teach at Dominican.  I certainly appreciated how their work experience enhanced their ability to teach us about librarianship.

Dominican and Valparaiso Universities are also values-based environments.  There were many factors that drew me to study at Dominican, but the values of the school was definitely an important one that helped seal the deal for me, and was influenced by my experience at ValpU.  There, the values were about helping students to engage in those practices which lead to a life of service.  In some ways, I feel that made it such a welcoming environment for me when I was a prospective student, and then came to campus as a freshman.  I sensed everyone there really cared about me, and wanted me to be successful.  That made me want to strive to attain higher purposes.  My education wouldn't just be about studying, and then graduating and getting a job--just following motions.  I was getting an experience there that helped me see what my purpose in life is, to glorify the God in serving others, remembering that He has loved me so much, even through other people.  Indeed, my studies could allow me to accomplish something much greater, and being in a values-based environment provided that important perspective to help me keep the right focus.  Dominican University upholds truth and love, as it seeks for the members of its community to work for "the creation of a more just and humane world" as stated on the webpage about the University Mission.  Entering into a place that upholds such principles further invigorated my sense of purpose in life, to be grounded in truth, and driven to live it out in love for God and for others.  Notably, I graduated from ValpU on Pentecost Sunday--just as the class of 2016 graduated on Pentecost--an occasion that provides rich context as I muse on this anniversary.  The occasion celebrates when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples and empowered them to do the work of God and fulfill their life's vocation.  Furthermore, being at ValpU was the first time I more seriously pondered the conception of "vocation", which encompasses our whole lifestyle, which includes work, family, and community involvements.

So while I've faced many challenges in these past three years, and still do on this day, I also find myself living a very vibrant life, because I have a clear sense of purpose.  I found it while at ValpU, and have continued to foster it, especially in graduate school, and most certainly being involved in church ministries, especially teaching Religious Education.  The latter especially sets the context to drive me to give thanks and praise to God, Who through these experiences, has granted me my ultimate purpose in life.