Odyssey Bound Newsletter from St. John's College

Page 1

in this issue >>> Ariel Internship Excerpts (p. 2-3)

PHOTO

Global Pathways Excerpts (p. 4-5) Continuation of Interview on p.1 (p. 6) General Pathways Students (p.7) More Information (p. 8)

Ms. Sally Ko in Bhutan during her Global Pathways.

Career Services at St. John’s College, Santa Fe

ALERT Upcoming Deadlines Boren Fellowship for International Study

Deadline: Monday, 11/30 at Career Services Office

Projects for Peace

Deadline: Friday, 12/4, noon at Career Services Office

Global Pathways Fellowship

Deadline: Monday, 12/14, 5:00 pm at Career Services Office

PHOTO Marchutz School of Visusal Arts

November/December 2015

Interview with Jill Savage (SF96), Geologist Jill Savage, a graduate of St. John’s College Santa Fe, talks about her experience at the college and how it related to her career as a geologist in the petrolium engineering field. What are some important job/life What sparked your interest in skills that you gained from your Geology? SJC education? How did they help I knew I would be a geologist despite you in your career? my many attempts at being otherwise. St. John’s teaches you how to listen and I spent most of my pre-college years ask questions. In the beginning, as a with my Dad in the Rockies surveying young geologist, you are surrounded by and mapping landslides, rock falls, and many more experienced scientists. If debris flows. It was a wonderful and inyou want to learn and grow in your field evitable way to get hooked on earth proyou have to listen and ask questions, cesses. When it came time for college, that is, put into practice the notion you instead of enrolling at a school that had really know nothing. Also, St. John’s a bachelor’s degree in Geology, I choose teaches you to think. I was surprised St. John’s. Some would think that St. at how easily I integrated intellectually John’s was a complete aberration from into graduate school and into a field an earth science path but I would argue that was never specifically addressed that it fell neatly in line (Aristotle, Luwhile at St. John’s. Graduate school felt cretius, Darwin, etc. too many to name very natural and was a lot of fun. Howhere). In fact, I was convinced I made ever, once I entered the corporate world the right decision during freshman lab, great conversation became less readily when we set off behind the dorms and available for various competing reasons. found a comfortable spot on the ground You were hired to make the company amongst the trees and dirt and just sat, money, but, you can do both. The ability listened and observed. Then we all tried to listen, to observe, and to thoughtfully to talk about what we experienced. That approach people and problems sets you was hard! I felt like I was in boot camp apart and drives success in your careers for the mind. and in life. Continued on pg. 6 1


Ariel Internships Summer 2015

Students explore a variety of career paths through Ariel Internships CLOTHING DESIGN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK “Scandinavian summers are bright. Though many of Copenhagen’s beautiful residents use summer as a time to lounge, drink Touborg in bathing suits, and dance until seven in the morning, my summer, though exciting and wonderful, allowed little time for these kinds of activities. ... My new roommates and I would drink coffee, eat bread and cheese, and talk before each of us went our separate ways: Signe to the library, Astrid to her art studio, and I to the workshop of Henrik Vibskov. The theme of the season was “survival”. The show was an exploration of what that word means. As a St. John’s

final goal--the Paris and Copenhagen Fashion Weeks. My peers came from Finland, Hong Kong, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, and Holland. Though we were technically divided into teams, the design process, whether it came to clothing or installation work, was very collaborative. In many ways, it was a new rendition of the St. John’s conversational style-- instead of working through philosophical ideas, we were creating objects. Over the course of my internship, I worked on two fashion shows, sold clothing at the biggest music festival in Denmark, made very close bonds with wonderful people, learned more than I could have ever imagined about the way in which a fashion label runs, thought

-Sarah Wiener BEEKEEPING TRUCHAS, NEW MEXICO “Mark and Melanie were very open to answering my incessant questions and thoughts, as well as listening to my suggestions and insights if they could improve how things were being done. They were patient as I learned the ropes of beekeeping, and were both unique mentors that each gave me different perspectives to consider as I worked with them. I think that having such an intimate experience with the bees and their operation was

lot more work to go around and very

words. The installation needed to be a

little specialization for each person. It

striking nod to a contemporary under-

would have been a completely differ-

standing of survival.

ent experience working for a commer-

We were tasked with making tents

cial beekeeper, and the overall range

that would eventually be assembled

of experience I would have gained in

into a sort of landscape in the middle

that situation would probably be much

of the catwalk, a nod to the sadly all

more limited. This past summer was a

too common refugee camps. After

fine blend of discovery and refinement

spending a year with thinkers like

of purpose for me. I discovered many Sarah Wiener in the design studio

new interests and outlets to explore through the various farmers and or-

push through, trying to come at the

ganizations I met in New Mexico, and

problem from many angles in order to

was also able to create and enhance

find a solution. Ultimately, I designed

my future goals and aspirations with

a system of straps that would act as

more detail and direction than I could

the base to the tents, holding tension

have before. Being an intern at such a

in the poles and thus allowing the

small business, I was able to see and

structures to stand on their own.

be involved in almost every aspect of

The most poignant and inspiring

their operation, and gain a lot more

aspect of working for Henrik Vibskov

than just beekeeping skills.

was being part of a team of creative

I would highly recommend considering

individuals all working towards a Sarah Wiener with models

2

next step after St. John’s will be.”

they are a smaller operation, with a

through the expansive meanings of

tion was familiar to me. I was able to

craft, and ultimately realized what my

mostly possible due to the fact that

student, I was practiced in thinking

Kant and Maxwell, profound frustra-

about the processes of creativity and

an internship as a way to spend the


summer as a Johnnie, especially at smaller businesses through the wonderful Ariel program we have here at St. John’s. It gives you more experience and exposure to discover, or make up your mind about what you do and don’t prefer and plan on doing. Mine was particularly rewarding because I felt like I was really a part of the whole process, instead of being stuck doing just one specialized part of the

of knowledge of horticulture and

program shares three canvases on

nonprofit management was vast and

which they each paint their own vision

worthwhile, and that no matter how

of the Garden. The result is intended

much I learned, it would always be a

to be a reflection of the multiplicity

worthwhile endeavor to learn more.

of forces working on a Garden at any

Looming over the whole experience

given moment, and the recognition of

was my education at St. John’s, and I

the gardener that he or she must work

always felt excited upon realizing that

around these forces. Of course, my

my highly theoretical schooling gave

formation of the program was highly

me an eminently practical advantage.

influenced by my time at St. John’s,

The Botanical Garden is a relatively

and relies on the idea that people can

small organization, and I got to know

be individually motivated and work

everyone who worked there fairly

together as a group. If all goes well

quickly. I never felt talked down to

the mindfulness program should begin

or patronized; my role as an intern, I

in the spring. Whether or not it is

felt, was to learn as much as I could

successful, I will always cherish the

from people who were more than

memory of building it from nothing.”

willing to teach. Some of the projects

-Alexander Bindrim

I had designed for myself came to a sort of fruition; some did not. I had early on wanted to make a catalogue Alexandria Ingalls working with bees

whole picture, such as just equipment, or just honey extraction. I also gained connections for future internships, employment opportunities, and resources in farming and agriculture that I wouldn’t have otherwise, and which I can take with me even after the internship itself. At this point, I am planning on incorporating beekeeping in my life at least part-time, perhaps even professionally.” -Alexandria Ingalls HORTICULTURE/NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO “Some experiences in life have the power both to assure one of their abil-

of the myths and folklore involving the native plants, but for a variety of reasons, I never got off the ground. I was a bit discouraged by this, but I learned how difficult it is to make a project happen. The crown jewel of the internship, however, was the mindfulness program I developed. With some help, I designed an entirely new mindfulness program centered on individual creativity, the “mind” aspect of mindfulness. Most of the program focuses on the reading and deeper thought of Garden poetry, but the major creative aspect I lent to it was the “collective easels” idea. Every participant in the

Alexander Bindrim taking care of the garden

Ariel Internship Application Checklist

ity and to remind one that they still

For more information stop by Career Services or check out Agora

have a long way to go. My internship

• Ariel Internship Application • Description of Internship • Letter of Interest • Resume • Budget • Letters of Recommendation • Verification that Internship is secured, if applicable All materials are due in the Career Services Office Feb. 19, 2016 by 5pm

at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden was one of those. Many of the things I did there made me feel confident that I had the potential to acquire the skills I wanted, but working with real professionals convinced me that the wealth

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Summer at SEA Excerpts from Global Pathways

“A typical day in the Aloha Aina course was

“Whereas the St. John’s education is

never typical. At one moment you had to be

mainly textual—knowledge garnered

prepared to spend a full day at the beach

PHOTO

through reading of books—education at and the next moment you had to be ready SEA is mostly contextual, meaning, the to hike to the top of a watershed or watch surrounding physical environment and

the sunrise at the summit of Haleakalā or

circumstances do more to shape a stu-

steer the helm of a 140 ft. research vessel.”

dent’s education than reading from any -Parker Webber“ text. The context of the ocean and real-

environment and Sea Education AssoThe experience was truly amazing and I

live in is ocean broadens the students’ thinking about the human condition. I

variety of the topics studied around the ciation´s focus on experiential learning.

izing the fact that most of the world we minds, and inspires new, truer ways of

“The strengths of the program were the

cannot think of any weakness.” -Julian David Rios Acuna

learned that because the ocean covers

“The journey will be incredible, and it

the entire world, the world is truly

will test your vigor and sense of self.

interconnected, and so humans cannot

Being physically confident and fit before

afford to ignore one another—we must

the beginning of the voyage is an enor-

all coexist in harmony, we are all on

mous help. Be prepared for an intense

the same boat.”

month of labor and study.”

-Bum Cheul Park

-Raquel Goldman

And others... Excerpts from Global Pathways

PHOTO

SUPER INTENSIVE FRENCH “Overall, I found my 8-week stay in Langue Onze to be really rewarding. It solidified the foundation of my French grammar, which improved, in great extent, my French writing. From this course, I have started to be aware of the subtleties in the French expressions and styles, and this is crucial for my transition between conversational French and academic French afterwards.”

Ms. Sally Ko at Bhutan School for Field Studies

Global Pathways Application Checklist • Letter of Interest

-Wei Bai BHUTAN- SCHOOL FOR FIELD STUDIES BHUTAN SUMMER SESSION “I felt prepared to undertake the program after studying the Great Books – in both the classroom and in the field. Even though my knowledge of forest management was non-existent, I had the curiosity and desire to learn more broadly and deeply about ecology and how the natural “eikos” or house affected elements

• Program Description

of the human “eikos” such as economic livelihoods, traditions, and languages.

• Application Form

Odum for Senior Lab, Lamarck , Goethe, and Aristotle for Freshman Lab. Not

This I felt more keenly after reading Wordsworth’s Prelude for Junior Seminar,

• Letters of Recommendation

only did this desire allow me to participate regularly in class, it also allowed

Materials are due in the Career Services office December 14, 2015 by 5pm

form of inquiry. This was very helpful during our research team’s brainstorming

me to synthesize, not merely analyze the information given in lectures in the sessions for composing a research question, conducting interviews with locals, analyzing data and forming “conclusions” from them.” -Sally Ko

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Pathway Fellows at Marchutz School of Fine Arts Excerpts from Global Pathways

“Little by little, the students’ painting and drawing discipline becomes the center of their lives. When this happens they discover that painting is not dead. They discover new ways to speak about the old truths which have touched them most in the already existing art that they admire.” -From the website

“Marchutz is something St. John’s students need. Painting puts one back

“Students at Marchutz often looked to

in touch with the world. Spending two

SJC students for examples as to how

hours a day struggling to perceive the

to participate in a seminar discussion.

way forms in nature relate to one anoth-

We took on leadership roles in terms of

er put me back in touch with the life of

moving the conversation forward, as well

the body.”

as setting a standard for articulation.”

-Jamie Spencer-Zavos

-Cynthia Ma

“At Marchutz I learned how there were

“The professors leave the question open

specific features and qualities to works

throughout the whole program. They

of art that could be discussed and used

want the students to figure out for

to help me understand the effect the

themselves what makes a good painting

pieces were having on me and others.

– both as an individual painter while

In pondering my own relation to art I

they paint in solitude and as a collective

have realized that pieces of art that have

group during Seminar.”

strongly moved me in the past are often,

-Nancy Ko

if not always, tied to something else that I have strong feelings about.”

“The only advice I would give to a Path-

-David Stanilaus

ways fellow would be to keep an open mind and eat the chocolate!”

“Marchutz cultivates the mindset of an

-Miranda Blas

artist by teaching its students how to see, how to openly perceive, and how to discuss art.” -Unhye Myong

Rome Institue of Liberal Arts Students spent their summer in Rome, where “the history and art of Italy becomes an integral part of a deep engagement with classic texts”. At RILA, students approach “the relationship between the beautiful and the sacred from a variety of angles.” -from the website “Overall, I would say that RILA provides an excellent balance of academic work, relevant sight-seeing, and freedom to take advantage of the fact that its students live in one of the most amazing cities in the world.” -Natasha Farmer “As for my experience, it was more than I could have imagined or hoped for. I came with the desire to learn about Rome, political science and myself. I left with a new, yet budding, understanding of my ignorance on all of these subjects, having had a glimpse of many levels within them, all to be explored further. This is certainly an indication of success.” -Anna Bell

5


Interview with Jill Savage, Geologist

(cont. from p.1)

What are some things that you wish

Martin I highly recommend it.

you had experienced during your

What kind of work do petroleum

puzzle together. But, there are tech-

undergraduate years?

geologists do? What does it take to

nologies, like 3D seismic, that are a

I wish I had taken more advantage of

become one?

necessity as a petroleum geologist and

the opportunities the career center pro-

The petroleum geology field is pretty

require a work station (computer, ergo

vided like summer internships, summer

diverse being that you can work in

electricity) and proprietary software.

study, etc. I could have stepped out of

academia, government or the corpo-

Therefore, in this industry you will be

my comfort zone and experienced other

rate world. But mainly, you are either

in the office quite a bit.

career possibilities. You have the rest

involved in looking (exploration) for oil

What were some of your favorite

of your life to have a career so go NOW

and gas or you are helping to extract it

moments in your career? What are

and experience as many different “lives”

(production and development).

some downsides?

as you can - your career will always be

An MSc in Geology is the basic require-

My favorite moments have been the “a-

seeing earth’s processes and putting a

there waiting. Who knows, you may just

ha” moments. There’s a point, in every

stumble upon a passion you never knew

field I suppose, when the concepts that

you had.

you have been toiling over become part

Any advice to students pursuing

of you. The best thing about the earth

further studies in the science field?

sciences is that it is a fantastic field for

Graduate school is a must for careers

those who love the search more than

in the sciences. Don’t be discouraged by

the destination.

the extra coursework required to catch

Regarding the corporate world, I would

up to your peers who already have a

say the downside is the instability of

bachelors in that field. Graduate school

the market. Downturns directly affect

has a way of leveling out the playing

you, your family and friends. It is hard

field and you will find that your behav-

to watch your friends lose their jobs.

iors learned from St. John’s will be a

Another downside to the corporate

great advantage. Expose yourself to as

world is the excessive amount of time

many different aspects of your chosen

you are in the office.

field. This is important because when it comes time to find a job you not only have connections throughout your industry but you also have a clearer sense of what you like and don’t like. What was your favorite book/class? Who was your favorite tutor? What an impossible question to answer. I love just about everything we read while at St. John’s. Of course, some were more laborious than others (notice I did not mention Kant), but I loved them all. St. John’s tutors are a special breed. I have yet to meet another set of folks that not only embody “wonder” but also so effortlessly give you the gift of wonder. For that I will be eternally grateful. It’s been almost twenty years since I graduated so I’m not sure who is still around BUT if you get the chance to be in a seminar or class with Sherry 6

Grand Canyon field site, Colorado River

ment when applying for a Petroleum Geology position. You become a more attractive prospect if you have done an internship or two at an oil and gas company. My path to this industry was unique in the sense that I did not do an internship. In fact, I had no interest in the corporate world until my advisor talked me into going on a field course run by ExxonMobil. They ended up offering me a job and I took it. So, choosing the right advisor is important too. What is it like working in an office or field environment? I prefer the field. Office work is the bane of a geologist’s existence. In the field you are physically moving through time, your body is working, your imagi-

nation is running, you are there touching the rocks, following the outcrops,

Why are you pursuing a different career? And what are you looking for in a new job? Yes, I am excited to say I will be leaving the corporate world soon. It’s not the first time. Last time I left I went back to graduate school to get a degree in Political Economy. But now, quite simply, I am ready for a change. I have had wonderful opportunities and a good career in the oil and gas industry but I want to experience something else now. What that something else is… I am not quite sure yet. I do know that I want to be of use. I want to grow as a human being. I’m excited to see what happens next! What is something you would like to achieve in life (a goal)? I want to always have a sense of wonder.


General Pathways Students General Pathways Students take summer courses at other universities or institutions in order to better prepare or meet prerequisites for career or graduate school. Vanessa Albert-Moret ‘16 Elementary Statistics Santa Rosa Junior College

Audry Morf ‘17 General Chemistry I and Lab University of Colorado

Evan Coulter ‘16 German Univeristy of California, Berkeley

Sang Eun Park ‘15 General and Developmental Psychology University of California, Berkeley

Margaret Covington ‘16 Japanese Middlebury College

Margaret Steadman ‘16 Introduction to Anthropology, Evolution and Human Emergence, and Spanish University of New Mexico

Reza Djalal ‘15 Commentary on Contemporary Art Pennsylvania State University Stephen Hendrix ‘15 Introduction to Biology and Lab University of Houston Cealin Kelley ‘18 Documentary Film Making A-Z Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Jiujun Tang ‘16 Organic Chemistry, Lab, and Statistics and Probability University of New Mexico Colin Willis ‘15 Introduction to Chemistry and Lab, Santa Fe Community College

The Career Services Office Phone (505) 984-6066 Fax (505) 984-6167 email: santafe.careerservices@sjc.edu The office is located in the basement of Weigle Hall, Room 13 Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Or by appointment Margaret Odell Director Barbara Lucero Sand Assistant Director, Internship Coordinator

Burke Koontz ‘17 Arete Seminar Arete Project, North Carolina

Elizabeth Reeves Administrative Assistant

Nathan Lindley ‘15 SIT TESOL Certificate Course TESOL Trainers, Inc.

Yeonsoo Koo Publications Editor

Frank McBride ‘16 Discrete Mathematics, Differential Equations University of North Carolina Rebekah McLellan ‘16 Principles of Chemistry II and Probability and Statistics Washington State University

Lauren Max Office Assistant

Emma Goos at SITE Santa Fe

Disclaimer > > > The St. John’s College Career Services office produces Odyssey Bound and Odyssey Bound Spotlight as a service to St. John’s Col-lege students and community members for their career development and educational and life planning. Any jobs or other opportu-nities listed herein do not indicate an endorsement or recommendation from St. John’s College or the Career Services office. Stu-dents and individuals from the St. John’s College community are responsible for all necessary precautions when interviewing for or accepting these positions or awards. They are also responsible for checking the credentials and integrity of all employers or organizations. St. John’s College and the Career Services office assume no liability for acts or omissions by third parties or for material supplied by them. The St. John’s College Career Services office is not responsible for anything that happens at a given job site. The pres-ence of an employment listing in Odyssey Bound does not guarantee any given employer’s compliance with legal behavior. If a student or individual experiences discrimination or sexual harassment on the job or in a job interview, he or she is encouraged to call the Department of Fair Employment in the state in which the violation occurred. Career Services makes every effort to pub-lish the most current information, but unforeseen publishing problems may render some events obsolete. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause the reader. 7


Places You Can Go

Internships Study Abroad Fellowships Volunteer Opportunities Graduate Studies Scholarships Summer Classes St. Paul’s School Advanced Studies Program St. Paul’s School offers a summer internship program in New Hampshire for juniors, seniors, and recent graduates interested in the teaching profession. The Advanced Studies Program Internship is a five and a half week intensive academic summer program for high school juniors from public and parochial schools. This summer’s program runs from June 24th to July 31st. Orientation for all interns begins on June 20. Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 More Information: visit http://asp.sps. edu, email asp@sps.edu, or call (603) 229-4777

Career Services Calendar of Events Roundtable Discussion on Neurobiology ESL 109, 3:15-4:30pm, 11/07/2015 RILA Information Session Junior Common Room, 4:45-5:45pm, 11/13/2015 Job Hunting Skills Workships Career Services Library, 3:15-4:30 pm, 11/18/2015, 12/04/2015, 12/16/2015 Projects for Peace Deadline Career Services Office, 12:00 pm, 12/04/2015

Hayriye Solak in Turkey

Stay in Touch >>> We’re on Facebook www.facebook.com/sjcsfcareerservices

Agora Online Career Center Global Pathways Fellowship Application Due Career Services Office, 5:00 pm, 12/14/2015 For more opportunities, Visit the Career Services Office and our Resource Library Lower Level, Weigle Hall

Xuanqi Zhao at Santa Fe Institute

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St. John’s College Website www.sjc.edu


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