How UT’s architecture fostered my personal development
Curves
I started off 2018 with my knees to my chest. In a dim makeshift chapel, formerly a classroom, now a storage room, I climbed atop of stacked chairs to get a view of New Years fireworks. Huddled by a large window paying no mind to my new pink tulle dress swiped in dust, I stared outside. The wedding after-party ensued with EDM music with its happy, drunk wedding invitees. Inside that dark room, I sobbed for not knowing what 2018 would bring. Am I really going to be a college-dropout? I desperately wanted a comeback.
For those who didn't know, I withdrew from the university on the 26th of September 2017. Word went around that I was "incompetent" of such rigorous academics and couldn't handle school work. I was also shunned by certain elders from my community for wasting my parent's time and money for going to college in the first place. The truth was that I was struggling with anxiety. This is not a topic I should brush off, so I will get back to this sometime in the future. Anyway, after much consideration, I decided to return to school but under one condition: that I be happy. So I returned to the university to pursue Radio-TV-Film, my dream, more determined than ever.
This year, I learned so much in school. And I probably spent too much time learning random facts to make up for my solitude. Like I know the patterns of certain constellations. I’ve looked up at the sky long enough to reasons its worth. I could explain you the cardiovascular system of a crawfish, certain theories of the universe, an optimization equation for any Y-shaped blood vessel, how certain CGI movies were made, teach you about global cinema history, and lecture you on film history and development. Of all my knowledge and the metaphors I could think of to describe 2018—I thought of curves.
I spent a great deal of 2018 wandering around the 40 Acres to occupy my mind. I saw curves present everywhere. I felt grounded somehow when standing underneath intricate eaves and cornices. When gazing up at an arch of a building, I could feel that building’s openness and its invitation for students and faculty to come in, dwell a little while, and feel encouraged to dream as big as the sky allowed. I was able to experience a learning curve this year because I had failed the year before. Allow yourself sometime to wallow in your despair. It’s okay. Once you’ve cried it all out, just remember to go back out into the open.
C’est moi. Just think of me as Forrest Gump—except as a girl and with no beard to grow.
If These Walls Could Talk
Wandering around UT halls has deepened my appreciation for this amazing university. If one stays in one spot for long, one will start to notice details that weren’t paid attention to before. Imagine how they built this university brick-by-brick. And then imagine all the students who have passed by this stone or slab. So much history whisper behind these limestone walls. Voices from past students echo under these red-tiled Spanish roofs. Much of the credit for UT’s architecture goes to architect Cass Gilbert (1859-1934), who is well-known for his eclectic addition of the Woolsworth Building in NY’s skyline among other federal structures in D.C. For UT, he built two buildings, Sutton Hall and Battle Hall, in the 1910’s, which would later influence UT’s overall gothic, revival style. Now today, it is a familiar sight for all of UT students when they embark to class.
College life could be overwhelming at times. But once in a while, you need time for yourself, so make sure to charge your batteries by going up and looking around. Keep your eyes and ears peeled, because these walls do, indeed, talk.
After this scene, Chef Gusteau advises Remy, “Now go up and look around!”
Taken by my iPhone. Trivia: Do you know where each of these photos were taken?
