Meredith's Memories

 

This week's nature walk led me through the enchanting neighborhoods surrounding TCU in Fort Worth, a refreshing departure from the usual confines of Neeley and my home. Seeking a change of scenery to clear my mind, I embraced the opportunity to explore the beauty around me. Inspired by our class discussions about nature's innate ability to forge connections, I decided to share this experience with a dear friend, eager to engage in a meaningful conversation as the semester drew to a close. As we strolled through the vibrant streets, the discussion ranged from her feelings about the concluding semester to plans for the upcoming winter break. This walk provided a meaningful escape from the hustle and bustle of life, and the nature around us became a sanctuary where conversation flows freely, and connections deepen. Having a deep appreciation for the breathtaking St. Louis fall, I was pleasantly surprised to discover echoes of that beauty in Texas. The streets were adorned with lea...

When embarking on this nature walk, it dawned on me that a break from the campus environment was long overdue. Moreover, I needed to go out and explore the outskirts of TCU. Well, what better way to savor a beautiful day than by sharing a stroll with one of your dearest friends? Thus, I called my friend Abby to see if she would accompany me on the walk, and she happily accepted. Our adventure began at the much-anticipated Starbucks for a quick, mood-boosting pick-me-up, setting the perfect tone for our stroll. Walking side-by-side, we discussed all the relevant topics as seniors—job prospects, travel plans, relationship updates, roommate status, and much more. She informed me that after graduation, she is moving across the country to pursue her dream job. While genuinely thrilled for her success, a sense of melancholy lingers, as I come to the startling realization that our paths will no longer intersect in the same place. This sentiment extends beyond Abby, encapsulating all of my fri...

The Trinity River in Fort Worth is undeniably my go-to destination for a walk. I have frequented the Trinity dozens of times, and it never fails to impress me. With every stroll along its path, I uncover something new, and therein lies the magic. Even in the seemingly ordinary, I find profound beauty, a realization that echoes our class discussions about appreciating the simplicity of nature. Thus, shifting our perspective from what nature does for us to what we can do for nature is essential. It's a call for society to focus on fostering respect and sustainability, ensuring that the intrinsic beauty of nature remains a timeless gift for generations to come. This afternoon nature walk on the Trinity consisted of clear skies and a gentle breeze. Wholeheartedly embracing what we’ve discussed in class, I found myself immersing in every detail of my surroundings, from the pebbles at my feet to the rustling leaves on the trees overhead. The radiant reflection of the fall trees on the wa...

Upon delving into Mary Oliver's enchanting poem "August," I found myself swept away by a rush of joy, accompanied by a poignant twinge of nostalgia. Since as far back as memory serves, my family's annual summer tradition for my birthday involved a pilgrimage to Eckert’s Farm in Belleville, Illinois, where we eagerly plucked peaches and blackberries. And this past August was no exception. We awakened predawn so that we could try and beat the blistering summer heat, where we drove from St. Louis to Belleville singing songs and playing car games to pass the time. We then would embark on the harvesting of a lifetime, filling basket after basket of peaches and blackberries galore. While picking, we always stop and have a competition to see who can find the juiciest and biggest piece of fruit upon which we can all indulge. These are some of my most cherished memories that I hold so deeply in my heart. Mary Oliver identifies a certain freedom of the fruit being untouched by ...

The whimsical and captivating poem “Hum” written by Mary Oliver immediately caught my attention, further enriching my knowledge and understanding of bees and their crucial role in the ecosystem. I was enthralled by the opening line of the poem “what is this dark hum among the roses”, describing the simple joy experienced by the bees and the domino effect their joy brings to the nature around them, like when sipping the flower’s nectar. As previously mentioned in the classroom and in blog posts, I absolutely love flowers and have a particular connection to roses, so I was hooked on this poem from the start. The simplicity of the bees’ existence is noted several times throughout the poem and encourages the reader to appreciate the beauty in simplicity. It reminds me to anchor myself in the moments of joy and tangible pleasures, appreciating the small things that lay the groundwork for life’s grandeur. Bees, although small and seemingly meaningless, play a powerful role in society through...

Mary Oliver’s captivating poem “When the Roses Speak, I Pay Attention” showcases the allure of the natural world and the simple yet profound aspects of existence. The poem first describes the idea of extravagance and encourages the reader that if they are “able to be extravagant”, then they will be “hugely and damply extravagant”. Extravagance can take a myriad of forms, through living life to the fullest while embracing abundance and richness. Contrastingly, Mary Oliver details the shedding of inhibitions and the letting go of material concerns in the pursuit of joy in the following phrase: “Then we will drop foil by foil to the ground. This is our unalterable task, and we do it joyfully.” (124) This “unalterable task” of dropping foil symbolizes a lifelong commitment to living life with abandonment. As humans, we are constantly evolving, changing, and growing. We shed our skins in different stages of life and experience a transformative metamorphosis in pivotal moments. As I soon ent...

This unique Halloween class was an absolute delight as we embarked on a campus-wide scavenger hunt adorned with thought-provoking quotes from none other than Henry David Thoreau. I absolutely loved this group’s creativity in allowing us to venture outdoors through the engaging activity of a scavenger hunt. In doing so, we forged connections with various classmates, gaining a deeper understanding of each other. Furthermore, due to the arrangement of the classroom, getting to know the individuals not seated in close proximity can be rather challenging. As mentioned before, I am a social individual who loves connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. In doing so, I hope to uncover common interests while broadening my perspective as an ethical thinker and global citizen. Traversing through campus in an attempt to piece together the Thoreau quote leading to the mystery building proved to be a bit challenging. One clue in particular stumped us: “as the nation grows, s...

I cannot believe how quickly five weeks have flown by at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge! Ever since reading the course description, I jumped at the opportunity to volunteer outdoors and make a positive, tangible impact on the environment. With a passion for volunteerism and community service, I was absolutely hooked. It is such an incredibly rare opportunity to enroll in a course where the learning and exploration is performed beyond the confines of a traditional classroom. Our days at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge weren’t without challenges, but that’s part of life! Our last day, in particular, was marked by a torrential downpour. Rain or shine, we pressed on as we possessed an unwavering commitment to our task. I thoroughly enjoyed using pliers to cut through bamboo and other brush, transforming the landscape. It was astonishing to see how much we cleared—so much so that I could no longer see the road! Time The time absolutely flew by as we joyfully talked, laughed...

Just like that, we were already back at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge for Week 2! This time around, I was feeling much more confident as I knew exactly what I was doing and what was expected of me--I had developed a rhythm the previous week consisting of collecting the brush, disposing it in the wood chipper, and repeating the cycle again and again. Thus, I felt extremely prepared and ready to take on another day. I also was greatly looking forward to returning to the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge to see how the landscape had changed in the past week and if our progress was still intact. Fortunately, the area mirrored how we left it, and the brush remained cleared. So, I was incredibly jazzed up for another day of meaningful work and expanding on our already tremendous progress! However, our second day at the Nature Reserve showed that adaptability is critical as not everything always goes according to the plan! Overcoming challenges and pivoting when adversity arises i...

Mary Oliver’s poem “Three Things to Remember” immediately caught my attention, and I absolutely loved it. Although concise, she urges the reader to explore the concept of breaking rules and transcending limitations. She first mentions the concept of dancing and that it is an art through which you can embrace freedom. When dancing, you have all the freedom in the world to express yourself and break the rules. Dance inspires joy and liberation from constraints while allowing the body to move fluidly without any societal or self-imposed restrictions. Growing up dancing for over ten years, the dance floor was my escape. Creativity is boundless, and self-expression is pivotal. Additionally, Mary Oliver embraces the notion of expanding boundaries, highlighting that when breaking the rules, you are not necessarily defying them, but rather extending them and expanding their structure. I absolutely loved this point and believe that this notion should pervade society today. We live in a constant...

I thoroughly enjoyed Mary Oliver’s reflective poem, “I Happened to be Standing”. Throughout the piece, she ponders the nature of prayers and where they go or what the achieve. She questions whether animals, plants, or even inanimate objects have their own ways of prayer or connecting to something greater in this world. I too have contemplated this sentiment and wondered just what is out there in the universe. Are plants able to communicate with each other and share interpersonal interactions? These unanswerable questions remain present in my mind and lead me to ask countless other existential questions. Mary Oliver acknowledges the fact that oftentimes, humans go through this world preoccupied with trivial thoughts or concerns and miss the unparalleled beauty of living in the present moment, surrounded by all living organisms. She expresses her dissatisfaction with being consumed by frivolous thoughts as follows: “I know I can walk through the world, along the shore or under the trees,...

Mary Oliver’s insightful poem “I Go Down to the Shore” is a brief yet powerful piece contemplating one’s connection to the natural world. In the poem, Mary Oliver describes going down to the shore every morning like clockwork to watch the waves roll in and out. Upon reading this, I immediately connected with the idea of nature being a sense of solace or renewal. For me, whether I am having a bad day or just need a break from everything around me, I will take a long walk outside to clear my head. Back home in St. Louis, I have a specific path through my neighborhood that I would take whenever I needed some air. Now, I could probably do it with my eyes closed. My favorite stop on the walk would be admiring the colossal white oak tree (quercus alba) down the street. To this day, it is the biggest tree I have ever seen, and it has the deepest history (living for over 100 years). It will never fail to amaze me how a tree of that size, towering over everyone and everything, continuous to sur...

This past year has been filled with a myriad of new experiences for which I am incredibly grateful. I entered 2023 with an attitude of openness and inviting diverse experiences into my life. I had the absolute pleasure of studying abroad in Madrid from January to the end of May this past spring. This meant completely immersing myself in the Spanish culture--whether it be sharing tapas with a Spanish native, giving a presentation entirely in Spanish, or memorizing the Spanish metro system, Spain became my home away from home, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to have lived there for five months. I already miss it terribly and am hopeful to return one day. Departing Madrid, I flew straight to Denver, Colorado where I was to spend the next 2.5 months in an internship. After getting over the initial jetlag, my passion for adventure and exploration was reignited, and I became extremely excited for the summer ahead in a brand-new city. Furthermore, a new city meant new peop...

I embarked on a sunset walk in Fort Worth to clear my head and get some much-needed fresh air away from my studies. As a senior graduating in May, this year has been filled with deep reflection. Reflection on how TCU has shaped me these past four years, reflection on the legacy I will leave behind, and reflection and anticipation about what is to come. The craziness of the school year absolutely consumes me—how could I be spending my time better, what am I not doing that I should be? When will I achieve ultimate happiness?  Unfortunately, these thoughts are poisonous toward long-term growth. Allowing these questions to define who I am and what I do with my future is not conducive to my well-being. At the end of the day, there are always moving parts, always unpredictability, and always a clock counting down, only to culminate in a shared ending for everyone. No one is exempt from the circle of life. I am grounded in the fact that same sun sets for everyone all around the world ever...

Today we had the most exciting time at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge! Having the ability to venture off campus for a couple of hours to experience all that the outdoors has to offer was incredibly rewarding and so special. My Tuesdays are filled with class from 9:00AM to 9:10PM, so it was such a treat to deviate from the typical classroom setting and enter a world full of curiosity while also participating in impactful service. I absolutely adore immersing myself in the outdoors, admiring the natural beauty that nature has to offer. Its simplicity is calming and humbling, serving as a constant reminder that life comes in a myriad of forms and that we all inhabit the same planet. However, oftentimes, nature does not get the respect or reverence it rightfully deserves and is taken for granted. Flourishing plants and soil provide a sanctuary for species, shielding them from potential harm while simultaneously sustaining life. For me, exploring nature is comforting and rejuvena...

Admiring the beauty of TCU is something that I hope to never take for granted. Whether it be our perfectly kept facilities, pristine flora and fauna, or our impeccable devotion to detail of having traces of purple throughout campus, TCU is one-of-a-kind. The campus has its unique way of making every student feel like they have a home away from home. However, the immense beauty of TCU is so embedded in my subconsciousness, that I often forget to take the time to smell the flowers. Living off campus in my sterile, concrete home has rendered me dormant in my pursuit of on-campus wonders. My once lively mission to engage in daily walks throughout campus wanting to find every nook and cranny that TCU possessed has transformed into a longing for what once was. Living on campus, like clockwork, I would meet a friend for a nightly walk every other day. Each time, I would have us meet at a different location, furthering my passion to explore all that campus has to offer.  Moreover, for my n...