Live Wire Blog

Missouri Scholars Academy students write guest blog

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Karen Pojmann
Category: 2009 Missouri Scholars Academy

This week 330 of Missouri’s most academically gifted high school juniors settled in at Mizzou for a three-week taste of campus life.

In the Missouri Scholars Academy, top students from throughout the state live in an MU residence hall, take challenging courses in their chosen academic majors and minors, absorb local arts and culture, hear prominent guest speakers, embark on mind-broadening adventures, play camaraderie-building games and, in all likelihood, poke fun at MSA Co-Director Ted Tarkow’s hats.

2009 marks the 25th year of the much-lauded program. To celebrate the silver anniversary, Mizzou Wire has invited the young scholars enrolled in MSA’s “True Story” magazine course to blog about their experiences.

Check back daily for updates.

Photos by Christopher Young. Check out the online gallery.

GUEST BLOG

June 7, 2009
Latisha Hickem, Columbia, Mo.

Passing Jesse Hall, I saw girls in summer dresses and heels, boys in slacks and ties, and parents beaming with pride. As my mom and I followed the crowd into Jesse Hall, we were split and instructed to go upstairs, where it was hot and sticky. I was standing in line by no one I knew and felt really out of place. The line finally began to move, and we entered the auditorium to a welcoming audience. After sitting through a long presentation of speakers and congratulations, the introduction to MSA was over and marked the time that parents were asked to leave.

Driving back to Mark Twain Hall, my mom began to be her emotional self, tears and all, not wanting her little girl to leave for 20 days. I hugged my mom like a kindergartener on the first day of school and went inside to get ready for the group pictures. We all put on our maroon shirts, paraded to the Quad, and waited in the sun for the photographer. After pictures we had icebreakers to get to know our house members and then ate dinner at Mark Twain.

With full stomachs, we strapped on our tennis shoes and amped up for Playfair, the highlight of the day. Playfair was a blur of maroon shirts scurrying around the Quad. We played a number of games to get to know each other and even had a rock-paper-scissors tournament. The goal of the night was to build community, and tonight was a great start, leaving everyone laughing and having met someone new. Tired from Playfair, we got “healthy” snacks, socialized and went up to bed, excited about what the next day would bring.

June 8, 2009
Chris Dzurick, Fulton, Mo.

Our first full day of MSA kicked off with the first unknown: breakfast. It was actually a great opportunity to meet new people, even if a yawn was the most common word.

Our first activity split us up into our majors. I was happy to find that someone in my house was with me in my major, “True Story,” and that he was a wonderful writer and layout editor. The teachers surprised me with their understanding of what we wanted the paper to become and were very accepting of our ideas.

Even through we were not able to actually begin discussion in our minors, we were able to meet our teachers and peers in Personal and Social Dynamics (PSD). We all learned we had a lot in common, including a lack of geographical skills.

Perhaps the best and most inspirational part of our day was our guest speaker, Josh Sundquist. After losing his left leg to cancer, Josh is living his life to the fullest. He shared his experiences with us through many funny anecdotes.

Overall 17 hours flew by, and with a full day gone, we can finally rest for another packed day.

June 9, 2009
Denni Wiles, Liberty, Mo.

Three hundred thirty scholars returned to class for day three of the academy on Tuesday. This was more than just day three for two scholars; happy sweet 16 to Angie Robinson and Michael Castleman!

Amidst the celebratory mood, some majors began fieldtrips and others continued thoughtful debate.

Kindergarten lunch caused most to smile just before big group and minors courses. Rain showers led to umbrellas and jackets bobbing all around campus. Though the weather proved beyond dreary, we all managed some sort of fun in the afternoon, whether playing with tangrams, making wearable art or packing hot dogs at the local food bank.

After dinner scholars previewed entertainment put on by our very own MSA faculty and resident advisers! A smorgasbord followed, and everyone signed up for different recreation sessions put on by the faculty. The lobby environment before house meetings tonight displayed plainly that many tight-knit friendships already have been formed.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” -Andre Gide (French writer, humanist and moralist)

As advised, we are already stepping outside our normal zones to take advantage of the special environment of which we’ve received the privilege of being a part. Hometown dynamics are forgotten temporarily, and we can just enjoy being who we love being among peers with whom we can so closely relate. As the collaboration and exploration continue, anyone here can easily predict that the results will be exquisite.