I wake up every morning with my mind already running through the things I have to get done that day. It’s a huge list, but I wouldn’t have it any other way; I feel lost when I don’t have a full plate.
Most days I have a few classes; my favorite is Dr. Bale’s class on the American Radical Right. We talk about a diverse bunch of extremist groups that sometimes share ideology and resources. All my classes on extremist ideology really interest me because I studied sociology and psychology in my undergrad.
After class I head to work at The WIP, an on-campus news publication. The WIP is one of my favorite parts of MIIS because it’s about really doing something. WIP stands for Women’s International Perspective, and it focuses on trying to give a platform to the voices of people who have expertise on a given subject but would otherwise go unheard. The WIP truly is an instrument for social change. I never know exactly what I’ll be working on when I go into the office; sometimes it will be writing an article on something happening in my field (Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies) or in my community. Sometimes I edit submissions, which come in from all over the world every day. Other days my job is just to work on becoming more knowledgeable about the news and events of the world; we think it’s important to understand the historical and cultural context of events.
When I finish up work, I head home and work on homework and reading until I go to bed, only to start it again the next morning, but the weekends offer a welcome reprieve. Usually on Friday or Saturday nights I meet up with my friends Burton, Tara, or Stephanie and we unload about our weeks, grab a few drinks, and just enjoy each other’s company. Sundays are the only day my boyfriend and I both have off, so we try to do something new every week. So far my favorite is to go hiking at Point Lobos, just south of town on Highway 1.