Stepping out
Photos by Christopher Young. See more in the online gallery.
GUEST BLOG
June 19, 2009
For many scholars, Friday began with hitting the snooze button three (or four or five) times. However, MSA has taught scholars that their exhaustion will soon fade as they dive into the day’s diverse range of classes, discussions and activities.
In Personal and Social Dynamics, our RAs and teachers lead us through a special exercise that allowed us to tell our classmates how much they mean to us. One by one, we sat in the middle of a circle of our peers and silently listened as our fellow scholars fed us a steady stream of compliments.
After an uplifting PSD, some scholars played low-key games of Frisbee and soccer on the quad before heading over to an afternoon activity called “Archie Bunker’s Neighborhood.” This frustrating and eye-opening simulation taught me about how racism and stereotypes affect community building.
Later, the academy was entertained by the Mid-Missouri High Steppers before filing into the geology auditorium for the MSA Talent Show. The show featured a variety of acts, including a cellist, a yo-yoer, the “Backstreet Boys” and the “Human Kangaroo,” who jumped over a 6-foot, six-inch scholar!
Finally, exhausted scholars gathered in the Mark Twain Lobby for snacks and a quick game of Apples to Apples or ERS before heading off to bed. As the second week of the program winds down, scholars like me are amazed by the numerous experiences that MSA has provided us so far.
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