Monday, June 29, 2020
By:
AS I reflect on the events that have passed so far this summer, I can't imagine how the world is changing. Amidst it all, the fundamental building blocks of the universe are never changing. Our understanding of the changes on a daily basis. With each passing day, it becomes more and more evident the need to find the great thinkers of tomorrow. It is not always the ones that are the most accepted, or those that we think have the most talent that makes the greatest changes in our knowledge. Often, like a thief in the night, we are taken unawares by those that make astounding discoveries. Today there are many scientists and thinkers that are passed over because of their social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. This is a far cry from the idealistic world we imagined would be the 21st century. When the depth of your social network is more important than the talent and knowledge you bring to the table, we lose opportunities for advancement on a daily basis. It is evident that the decisions that we make, whether it be as an individual or as a society, are forever changing the present and the future.
While the task given to me this summer seems small, the weight and importance of ensuring those deserving an opportunity to pursue post=graduate education are afforded the opportunity to become far more pressing with each passing moment. As I begin to reach out to Universities and programs around the nation, the knowledge that it takes so much out of my hands and places it at the whim of a few keystrokes is almost maddening. But in truth, a few keystrokes seem to be what is currently holding so much together. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is impossible to consider life returning to a point where we go about our day by doing more than walking across the hall to our in-home office. Separation of work and home has become almost non-existent. This is our reality—telecommuting to every meeting and interview.
We had our first lousy movie physics night this week. The group chose to watch "The Core." While there are many things that I could say about the movie, none of them would portray an accurate representation. Through the use of NetFlix party, we all were able to stay synced on the viewing of the movie and also have an interesting perfume. Again, as I prepare to close my eyes and wake up in a new week, I must ask myself how will the world be different tomorrow. Will it be different because of the things that I have done, or maybe things that I have not done.
Joseph Dees