There are days when I am reminded just how much impact words of encouragement can have on a person’s life. In the frantic rush of daily life, I often tell myself that I don’t have time to encourage others. However, this conclusion could not be further from the truth. A word of encouragement, spoken with … Continue reading A Little Encouragement Goes a Long Way

Most of us know and love the TED Talk lecture format that most of us watch on YouTube, but not many of us have had the opportunity to experience the magic of learning in a live format. Since 1984, the non-profit organization T.E.D. (Technology, Entertainment and Design) has been committed to spreading ideas through powerful … Continue reading TED Talks UW

Whether you are in kindergarten or graduate school, this time of the year is exciting for students of all ages. We think back to where we began in September and remember how little we knew in our studies. As the school year draws to a close, we celebrate how much we have learned and grown, … Continue reading Beginnings, Endings and Transitions

You know those songs that you can listen to a million times, and yet you still love them? For me, there are some songs that simply never get old. No matter how many times I hear them, I can always find something new to appreciate about the song. Typically, the part of a song that … Continue reading Songs on Repeat

On the last Friday of spring break, I had the incredible opportunity to meet Misty Copeland, an African-American principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. With deep roots in European tradition, ballet is an art form that has been historically dominated by white dancers. For much of her time at ABT, Copeland has been the only black … Continue reading Meeting Misty

Over Christmas break, I have been spending a lot of time with people of all ages, including both family and friends. I love how the holidays bring together people from all walks of life. There is mutual value in spending time with people who are younger, older or around the same age as you. I … Continue reading Kids From 1 to 92

In this region of Western WA, a snowfall is rare and special. Last week we got a couple inches of snow at the UW Seattle campus. Students were running outside late at night to check it out. At this point I was cozy in warm pajamas, so I decided to wait until the morning to … Continue reading Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Today was a strange one. I recently was talking to a friend who said once he went to his Tuesday/Thursday class on a Monday by mistake. When he went to class on Tuesday, he realized what had happened. I couldn't say that anything similar had happened to me, but I should have known better. On … Continue reading My Strange Day

I have a complicated relationship with fall. I love the crisp air, smell of damp mulch and beautiful leaves. I am amazed by all of their colors and unique shapes. I am one of those crazy people you see on campus, stooping down with their phone to take a picture of a leaf on the … Continue reading Autumn