Amber Stocking

Contributing Writer

As students of Keene State College, we have reached that point in our spring semester where we are arriving back from a well deserved Spring Break and attempting to refocus our attention on educational demands while filling in both friends and family on stories relating to last week.

With that being said, it seems as if the constant in a majority of these stories is alcohol.

For most students of the twenty-first century, Spring Break involves prepping for a week of poor adventure, typically back home or somewhere tropical that boasts opportunity to drink, tan, swim, dance and meet people that have cleared their minds of responsibilities and are looking to make memories not much different from those of a drunken weekend night back at the dorm or favored house party.

Contributed Photo / Brendan Jones

Nevertheless, there is always that driven group of students notable for seeking chances to steer away from the shallows of an average week off in the spring and create depth within their character.

For some, squaring away time to organize a seven-day excursion is the preferred approach to an opposing direction and for others reaching out to campus-wide clubs that work toward providing students the option to experience something out of the ordinary is first choice.

Keeping that in mind, the KSC EOC is a wonderful outlet for such students and allowed 13 members bonded together by their love for the outdoors to drive down to North Carolina this past week.

Being one of those 13 members, I feel as though I obtained exactly what I sought when requesting that I be apart of the KSC EOC 2016 Spring Break Trip.

I believe that the ability to disconnect from the fast-paced and distracting world we live in is essential, and I think most who have taken the time to do so can attest to that, for there are endless benefits to connecting with nature regardless of the way in which you pursue that connection.

I cannot say that I haven’t spent a night or day drinking to find contentment, but I can say that I have never made a connection while drunk that guided me toward a greater perspective and sense of harmony because my entirety wasn’t present.

Contributed Photo / Brendan Jones

Being present is an adventure itself, it opens you up to incredible experiences that otherwise wouldn’t be accessible and to be able to share this sensual feeling of enlightenment with others who equally appreciate its power is exciting.

Needless to say, this past week spent with the EOC was awesome, from exploring the Appalachian Underground; Carter Saltpeter Cave to horseback riding through the high country, scenic mountain meadows and wooded areas of Madison County at Sandy Bottom Trail Rides in Asheville to mountain biking through various trails of Dupont State Recreational Forest in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and visiting spectacular waterfalls along the Little River to summiting Mount Mitchel: the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains and the highest peak in mainland eastern North America with an elevation of 6,684 feet above sea level.

Throughout this trip I felt that I belonged to this Earth, that I was part of the community of nature.

Although this may sound somewhat trite, I turned my focus away from all comparisons and contrasts between myself and others and I felt whole; I felt the loving presence of everyone around me and was brought closer to my own spirit.

I understand that alcohol and a variety of other drugs may give us instant gratification, that it isn’t always easy to find happiness, that spring break is more appealing on a beach than in a tent, but that sort of happiness can only be borrowed. Take a sip of fresh air.

Bailey St. Laurent

Contributing Writer   

On March 12th, at 2 A.M., ten Keene State students packed their bags and started a road trip to the Windy City to participate in Keene State College’s Alternative Break program.

The group of ten students included first year student Peter Powers, Sophomores Bailey St. Laurent and Kate Marinelli, Juniors Darren DeSena, Adriana DeLuca and Rachel Harmon, also, Seniors Maggie Buckley and Jess Mahoney.

The group was led by Sophomore Kayla Smith and Junior Jess Baker.

The purpose of the Alternative Break trip to Chicago, Illinois was to explore the intersections of poverty, hunger, education, and safety through service and learning at a youth center, school visits, and in efforts aiming to provide children with basic tools for a healthy life.

This Alternative Break team, with an eclectic variety of backgrounds and majors, came together to form an inseparable bond over the course of the 900 mile road trip from Keene, N.H. to Chicago, I.L.

Photo Contributed by Bailey St. Laurent

All participants reached Chicago with open minds and the willingness to learn from the community.

In Illinois, the team stayed at the 4th Presbyterian church of Chicago located on the Magnificent Mile neighborhood of the city, directly across Michigan Avenue from the John Hancock Center.

In a classroom designed for Sunday school lessons, the ten college students assembled cots and rolled out sleeping bags to transform the educational space into a temporary home.

In order to explore the urban education environment, team leaders Jess Baker and Kayla Smith contacted three specific organizations that would offer insights about the students living in the area, and the challenges they face.

The team worked with teachers at Willa Cather Elementary school.

Activities at Cather Elementary included one on one mentoring, class preparations, and assisting with classroom instructions.

Baker and Smith were able to contact a health and agriculture children education organization known as Gardener’s; an amazing organization that strives to bring nutrition, motivation, and empowerment to students in Chicago.

Keene Students painted signs that will label vegetables for future gardens as well as helped produce visuals to accompany class demonstrations Gardener’s show to students at local schools.

“The Gardeneers is an amazing organization that provides inner city children with nutrition and education about gardening and sustainability.

They truly make a difference in children’s lives throughout Chicago and it was an honor to be part of such an important mission.

For the remainder of the week the ten students spent their time with The Hephzibah Children’s Association and Growing Power.

The Hephzibah Children’s association’s mission is to help children thrive and families flourish through innovative, community-based programs.

The Alternative Break team worked in two different schools with over an average of fifty students daily.

Their age groups ranged from Kindergarten to fifth grade.

Time spent with the students at Hephzibah greatly influenced the Keene students who were there.

The kids I had the pleasure to work with impacted me on a level that is hard to put into words.

There was an instant connection, and a sense of community that warms your heart and inspires you to be a better person.

It was a unanimous agreement amongst members of the team that Chicago’s diverse education system, and students who make it possible, inspired them to bring back values that they learned and promote them here at Keene.

Peter Powers summarized the effect Chicago’s warm and compassionate students, whom live in an extremely communal environment, had on Keene State’s Alternative Break team, “We went there to change them, but they changed us.”

Amy Buonpane

Contributing Writer

It is an extremely difficult thing going to a community in need without coming across as an almighty, middle or upper class white person, who feels as though the community needs saving; especially when the ultimate intent is to help others. This was something I had an immense fear of prior to my alternative break trip to New Orleans, Louisiana. However, after spending a week with the people of New Orleans, I could not have been more wrong. We worked with an organization known as United Saints, a recovery project that has been helping revitalize New Orleans since 2008. Through this organization, we worked mainly on home repairs, such as scraping, priming, painting, residing, and roofing. However, United Saints pairs with other organizations in the community as well, so we also worked with the local animal shelter.

Photo Contributed by Dan McAuliffe

We all hear about disasters and poverty in other areas of the country, and while it is upsetting to think about, the thought soon leaves our minds. However, there is something about going into a completely different community and really experiencing it first hand that is more eye opening than I could have ever imagined. Stepping into the New Orleans community was like being in a whole new world. New Orleans gives the word community a whole new meaning. Everyone seems to know everyone, and if someone does not know who you are, they will talk to you anyways. While working at each of our sites, numerous neighbors or people from the area would approach us and thank us for the work we were doing for their community. While painting on site one day, a man rode by on his bike and gave us cookies- something that seems so out of place and questionable if it were to happen here. However, we were assured right away that this was a common occurrence and a way of saying thank you for all we were doing. We only stayed in New Orleans for one week, yet I immediately felt welcomed into the community and feel as though a part of me is still with it.

It is also the experiences that happen away from the work site that are just as eye opening. One day while sitting in downtown New Orleans, we stumbled upon a middle-aged native, Blain, who was clearly not very well off and had just been kicked out of his house. We asked him if he could go anywhere in the world where it would be. Blain answered with a smile, “Right here in New Orleans. Want to know why? Because it’s the best place to be.” Blain’s words have resonated with me since the day he said them. Here I am, someone who has everything I could have ever asked for in life, yet I still manage to find unnecessary things to complain about every day. I still manage to be unappreciative for the little things that others do not have the luxury of having.

Photo Contributed by Dan McAuliffe

Blain’s words have made me want to live my life differently, becoming more grateful for everything I do have. So many people I met and spoke with have so little, yet somehow manage to be the most genuinely happy people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. They are so content with what they do have, but also never fail to express their gratitude for the time and commitment we had to helping their community. The whole experience was truly eye opening, and I learned more in my one week in New Orleans than I could have ever imagined. I cannot thank the people of New Orleans enough for all they have taught me, and helping me realize the person I want to be and how I want to live my life differently. Even more so, I cannot thank my wonderful team enough for going through the experience with me. Mason Prata, Ben Weidman, Dre Cuzzupe, Daniel McAullife, Whitney Roberts, Christine LaHive, Courtney Bethel, Catie Mylott, and Riley Steele- we really became a family as we went through the experience together. I do not have enough good things to say about my experience, and I cannot urge strongly enough the importance of participating in an alternative break. It will most definitely change your life for the better.

Tanner Semmelrock &

Kya Roumimper

Contributing Writers

Imagine yourself in a new country. It’s taken you over three years to get to this point. You started in a home and then a camp, and now you are here. You don’t know the language, the environment or the customs. Maybe you are with your family. Maybe you are not.

You are met with hate and pushback. People tell you that you don’t belong here. You are different. You are lost. You are a refugee.

This was the scenario our Alternative Break group encountered everyday as we navigated the winding pipeline of refugee services in Atlanta, Georgia.

During the weeklong service trip we worked with three different refugee service organizations covering multiple perspectives of refugee resettlement and community integration.

Photo by Tanner Semmelrock

The first organization, New American Pathways, focuses on the first three months of refugee resettlement within the United States, primarily helping refugees integrate into American society.

The refugees are given language classes, workshops on American societal norms and the opportunity to foster an identity here.

New American Pathways, through connections within the community, help refugees find jobs within the first three months of their residency.

All the while these new American citizens will cultivate identities in dignified fashions with high hopes for their futures here.

The overall goal at New American Pathways is to ensure that these refugees are self-sustainable and are contributing in their new communities.

Our group also worked with the International Community School (ICS).

ICS is a public charter school in DeKalb County, Georgia, that serves students from kindergarten to fifth grade.

ICS was strategically designed in 2002 to bring together refugee, immigrant and local children in an academically challenging and nurturing environment.

Today, the school serves more than 400 students annually, representing more than 30 nationalities and speaking 25 languages.

ICS is an International Baccalaureate World School that educates refugees, immigrants and local children, and provides a rigorous and holistic education in an intentionally diverse community of mutual learners.

Photo by Tanner Semmelrock

The school believes that everyone is inherently able to learn and that it is our collective responsibility to nurture the unique genius of every person.

They also value educating the whole child – their physical, intellectual, social, emotional, cultural and creative selves.

Teaching in a culturally responsive lens, they view socio-emotional development as important as promoting academic excellence.

They welcome and engage with people of various identities including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical ableism, faith and political affiliation.

ICS helps children foster a unique identity with the hope that they become global citizens working toward social justice.

Our last partner was Global Growers.

Global Growers grew out of the tremendous demand among international farmers, many who came to Atlanta as refugees of war, to reconnect to their agricultural heritage in their new home.

Recognizing this exceptional talent, Global Growers connects local families to land, education and markets in order to build healthier communities and strengthen their local economies.

They are committed to cultivating diverse farmers who are traditionally underserved by mainstream agricultural service providers.

Global Growers, like other community partners, dignifies the work refugees do to address food scarcity and self sustainability.

Our Alternative Break to Atlanta, Georgia, was both challenging and eye opening. We are deeply indebted to our partners because without them we would not have the same understanding of the trials and tribulations of becoming an American citizen.

So many of the adults and children we engaged with exposed us to perspectives not formally considered in our daily lives.

We will continue to remember the people who changed our lives in Georgia as we move forward in our college careers.

We can only hope that our experiences will help us educate others on the importance of tolerance and diversity.

Matt Pereira

Contributing Writer

If you have been on the Internet over the past few weeks, you have probably seen the social-media frenzy that is the hashtag #FreeKesha.

For those of you who have no idea what that means, let me provide some insight. On Oct. 14, 2014, Kesha filed a complaint against her producer, Dr. Luke, citing physical and emotional abuse. According to Kesha, Dr. Luke referred to her as a “refrigerator,” made her go on crazy crash diets and even suggest that she should begin “purging” her meals.

According to court documents, Kesha also claimed that Luke would give her “sober pills” after nights of drinking, and the musician would wake up the next morning, having no idea where she was or how she got there. She citing feeling swollen and bruised on lower parts of her body, making it apparent non-consensual intercourse had occurred. About two weeks ago, Kesha and Luke were in court for an injunction for Kesha’s plea to get out of her contract with Luke. She wasn’t asking for him to be arrested, she wasn’t asking for criminal charges. The pop-star just wanted out of a six-album contract that she had with a man who abused her. Her request was denied.

Apparently, because Sony has invested $16 million in Kesha & Luke’s collaborative efforts, they didn’t deem it right to have that “investment” be broken. Sony agreed Kesha would not have to work with Dr. Luke one-on-one, but he would still be executive producer of her albums, making him in charge of content, release dates and distribution, as well as how much money will be invested in promotion. In short, Kesha is still being controlled by her abuser.

Cassie Baron / Equinox Staff

What makes this whole thing even more interesting is that another artist, Zayn Malik of One Direction, was release from his contract simply because he “wasn’t happy” with his image as a member of a boy band. He was released – no questions asked, no major media coverage from the label, nothing. He quit One Direction, and was allowed to make music freely as he wished. Zayn is signed to Columbia Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Why is Zayn allowed to break his contract, which, from what I hear, was worth a lot more than Kesha’s.

The outcome of this case is honestly astonishing. Sony is favoring Dr. Luke in this scenario because he produces for big name artists like Katy Perry, Britney Spears, One Direction, Maroon 5 and Miley Cyrus. Both Sony and the court kept referring to Kesha as an “investment,” objectifying her in the worst way possible. This is the problem in cases of rape and abuse; the victim is seen as an object rather than a human. Kesha is not an investment, she is a human being. Answer this Sony, why is Kesha so much more of a precious “investment” then one of the members of the biggest boy band in our time right now? Who, mind you, has out sold all of Kesha’s albums, combined?

Sony, you are sending a message to abuse victims, both men and women, that speaking out against your abuser will get you nowhere. You will be brave enough speak out, share your story and try your hardest for the abuser to get justice, but money, power and outright misogyny will win in the end. Is money is more important than a human being? My heart is with you Kesha. The positive thing that has come out of this is the outpour of love and support, and that this has brought attention to rape and sexual assault in the media.

For those who have experienced any form of sexual assault, know you are not alone.  No one has the right to your body, besides you. This isn’t your fault, you did nothing wrong regardless of what you were wearing, saying, or how you were acting. Share your story, be heard and, one day, justice will come to you. You are worth so much more than one tragic thing that happened to you.

As Kesha said, “Be a warrior, fight until the end.”

Matt Pereira can be contacted at mpereira@ksc.keene.edu.

This February, Americans gathered around televisions to witness the historic Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. While many considered the game itself more or less uneventful, the halftime show did not go without appreciation and consequential controversy.

Performances by band Coldplay and artist Bruno Mars embodied a light-hearted, fun-loving display of music, while performer and icon Beyoncé took a much more contentious approach. Within the 90-second performance of her new single “Formation,” Knowles addressed issues of racism, the history of police brutality, the Civil Rights Movement and female empowerment and sexuality.

The performance began with Beyoncé in one of her signature black leotards with a group of similarly dressed black female dancers situated behind her. Their outfits seemed to reference Michael Jackson’s 1993 Super Bowl performance and symbolize the Black Panther Movement of the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement.

Eighty seconds into the choreography, the camera pans upward, creating a bird’s eye view of the female dancers forming into the letter “X”; a tribute to Civil Rights Activist and Leader Malcolm X. The entire performance, of course, is in celebration of Black History Month. Obviously the performance would not go without criticism, but the backlash against her display to empower black lives appalled me.

George Amaru / Art Director

In response to this tribute, conservative media outlets were horrified. During a Fox News interview, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani argued, “I thought it was really outrageous that she used it as a platform to attack police officers…Let’s have decent wholesome entertainment and not use it as a platform to attack the people who put their lives at risk to save us.”

Well, you know what Fox News? Check your privilege! This demonstration of black empowerment is one of many that should be displayed during an American televised event because the oppression of black citizens in this country is a huge part of American history whether we like it or not. Taking into consideration February is Black History Month, I thought the performance was more than appropriate.

I apologize, White America, if the realization that white people have enslaved, exploited and discriminated against nearly every minority in this country makes you uncomfortable. If you want to target Malcolm X’s use of aggression and violence in the Black Panther movement and claim Beyoncé’s performance is promotion of that violence, then you better justify the promotion of militarism at nearly every National Football League game in the past 30 years. Oh, and let’s not forget about the NFL’s inability to properly deal with instances of domestic violence by their players against women and children.

As for claiming the performance was an attack against police officers, it simply was not. There has been discrimination by whites against blacks in nearly every corner of this country, including many instances within the United States police force that have resulted in unnecessary violence and deaths of black U.S. citizens. Beyoncé is not attacking police officers by pointing this out, and neither is the Black Lives Matter Movement. The black community in the U.S. has lost countless lives to police discrimination and this needs to be recognized and addressed. To dismiss that issue is to speak from a perspective of racial privilege that many clearly do not want to accept.

I don’t in anyway claim to understand firsthand the black community’s struggle with discrimination. I do, however, consider myself fairly knowledgeable about instances such as the Rodney King beating and the recent deaths of Freddie Gray and Michael Brown. Despite my innate privilege as a white woman, I recognize that my black counterparts face, without a doubt, far more discrimination than I ever will. Once all of the white citizens of the United States accept their role in the furthering of racial injustice by not recognizing their privilege, I believe we will finally be able to truly begin the fight against racism.

Kaitlyn Kelly can be contacted at kaitlyn.kelly@ksc.keene.edu.

Connor Smith

Contributing Writer

In the last week of October and first week of November, the Public Affairs Journalism class conducted an informal survey about the safety on Keene State College campus with a total of 367 campus members all identified by gender and status at the college. Out of the 367 KSC Community members who were surveyed 358 answered a series of questions.

George Amaru / Art Director

As a follow up on November 16, 2015, Assistant Director of Campus Safety Leonard Crossman, held a question and answer sessions for the students of the Public Affairs Journalism class. Crossman went over some procedures regarding what to do if there were an active shooter on campus, and also went over some of Campus Safety’s and the Keene Police Department’s procedures in the event of an active shooter.

After the attacks in Paris, the Public Affairs class conducted a shortened version of the first survey to see if opinions had changed. After identifying gender and status, 59 KSC community members answered only two questions. Interestingly, rather than feeling less safe with the presence of campus safety, students felt more safe as the percentage jumped from 85 percent to 94 percent.

Sam Douglass

Contributing Writer

Even in light of the recent terrorist attack in Paris, an informal survey of Keene State students finds that 94 percent of students feel safe on campus. Maintaining safety on campus is a constantly evolving job.

The same informal survey found that 62 percent of students do not want a larger presence of campus safety officers. Despite the fact that not many students know that the campus safety department has been short four officers for quite some time now Crossman said students don’t always see the bigger picture.

“ I believe they don’t see the bigger picture of emergency planning and compliance with federal law which actually is the majority of our work,” Leonard Crossman, Assistant Director of Campus Safety, said.

For every one of these duties is a training program held every summer by Keene State College Campus Safety. The Campus Safety Academy is an extensive six-phase training program where the prospective officers must live on campus and attend classes from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The one-week program trains new Keene State officers as well as officers from nearby New England Colleges. The goal is to teach the basics of campus safety protocol as well as giving hands on experience with Keene State’s safety procedures.

In the world today it seems all too common to hear about another mass shooting incident. The survey found that 70 percent of students do not want campus safety officers to carry firearms.

Students and Campus Safety agree that Keene State Campus can remain safe from such incidents without requiring campus safety officers to carry firearms.       

“Active shooters statistically do not plan on leaving the scene, having armed campus safety officers does not deter shooters, in lots of cases such as Columbine there was some sort of armed security present during the shooting,” Crossman stated.

The reason for not wanting firearms is not the large investment it would take to facilitate officers with sidearms or the lack of experience of campus safety officers, since campus safety consists of several former members of law enforcement. The real reason that campus safety does not find it necessary to carry firearms is because the Keene Police Department is located in such a close proximity.

“Best way to stop someone with a firearm is with a firearm, but I don’t necessarily feel firearms need to be on campus with KPD three minutes down the road,” Crossman said.

In the event of a live shooting, campus safety is responsible for many tasks to help local law enforcement deal with the situation. From the campus safety office the entire school can be put into lockdown, which locks all main doors into buildings on campus. They are also responsible for monitoring cameras to provide local law enforcement with up to date information on the shooter.

Campus safety works closely with faculty members who are trained on emergency procedures through lockdown drills. Each building on campus has manager for lockdown drills and emergency events. A recent online poll done by the Equinox found that only 19 percent of surveyed students have ever participated in a lockdown drill in college, where as 59 percent of students surveyed said their last lockdown drill was in high school.

“There is a difference between high school and college, high school has more responsibility for the students were in college the students are adults and can make decisions on their own,” Crossman said.

Keene State is consistently improving security and is in the process of hiring new officers to gain a full safety staff.

“I think overall the campus community respects the role we have, we are the middle man between law enforcement and the college students, this allows us to work closer to the campus side of issues but in case of an emergency easily work in collaboration with Keene Police Department,” Crossman said.

Mike Miezejeski/Connor Smith

Contributing Writers

An informal survey taken by almost 400 Keene State College students, faculty and staff members showed that eight out of ten people who took the survey indicated that Keene State Campus Safety has a positive influence on campus.

Although the number of officers has been down recently, Assistant Director of Campus Safety Leonard Crossman said that could be a positive. He said, “The fact that Campus safety is doing a good job even though the number of officers are down.”

Leonard Crossman added that Campus Safety has been down a few officers for a long time now but the ones they have recently hired have many years of experience. One spent 20 years in the New York City Police Department, and another officer had ten years of experience in law enforcement in Pennsylvania.

Campus Safety is still looking for more officers. But according to the survey, 62 percent of students do not want more of a presence from Campus Safety. According to the survey, most people around campus say that Campus Safety has a positive influence even though it is not fully staffed.

One of the reasons Campus Safety has been down officers recently is that they are leaving for other job opportunities. College employees are given a free education, which Crossman said is why it makes sense that they would then leave to further their careers.

A second informal survey of 60 students was taken after the terrorist attacks in Paris asking the same question if they feel safe on campus. Surprisingly, 94 percent of people in the new survey said they do feel safe on campus.

Margaret Maloy

Contributing Writer

The term “study abroad” can be defined as a program that allows a student to live in a foreign country where they learn about culture and broaden their horizons.

When you read this definition, maybe a place, type of food or stereotype associated with a specific country comes to mind, but it isn’t until you submerge yourself in a new culture that you truly understand how powerful studying abroad is.

It has almost been three months since departing the states for Seville, Spain, a lively city located in the south of the country, and I can honestly say this experience has benefited me in many ways.

Adjusting to a new place, especially one where they  speak a foreign language, can be a little intimidating; however, this discomfort can miraculously be eliminated with a little bit of time.

As my first few days passed by, I began to realize how beautiful the city was. One of my professors, Sara, took our program around Seville.

Margaret Maloy/ Contributed Photo

We ultimately reached the river, which is near a large tower named El Torro del Oro, and as I looked out at the setting sun and silhouette of the city, a wave of comfort came over me. Being exposed to a new culture can make one feel out of place, but that was my moment where I felt I belonged and knew I was supposed to be there.

From then on, I have had the opportunity to meet incredible people and make new friends from all over the world. Aside from traveling within Spain, I’ve gone to France, Portugal, Morocco and Gibraltar.

These trips have made me realize how diverse the world is, yet, at the same time, how similar we all are.

During my trip to Morocco, we visited a town located in the mountains, Chefchaouen. A large portion of Chefchaouen is composed of blue buildings tightly packed together. This labyrinth of ocean blue contains many homes and shops.

I remember our tour group walking within the intricate passages of the town and noticing three children peeking around a corner, watching us.

Of course we all were taking pictures, our heads turning back and forth to try to  take in as much as possible. In the midst of all this, I couldn’t help but look back to see if they were still watching us.

They followed us on our tour, running to catch up and whispering things to each other. I noticed them looking at us obvious tourists with curiosity and wonder. Who are they?

Where are these people from? Why are they here? But as their widened eyes stared at me with curiosity, I too wondered what these children’s lives were like. Where were their parents?

What does their daily life consist of? What do they aspire to do when they grow up?

The culture in Morocco, quite different from Spain’s culture, amazed me.

Their language, where they live, the types of jobs the people have just to make a living.

Studying abroad isn’t just about riding a camel on the beach or taking a picture next to a famous monument; it’s also about understanding the world better and appreciating what you have.

Looking back on these experiences reinforces the fact that although we all live different lives and in different places, we all share common emotions: love, hope, sadness, fear, happiness. I’ll be forever grateful for these adventures because I feel I have gained so much from them.

If studying abroad is something you’ve thought about, I highly recommend it. Travel, experience, grow, learn and take this opportunity while you can.

The people I’ve had the privilege to get to know, the places I’ve gone and getting to live and study in Seville have all been pieces of my study abroad experience that have made it so special.

Seville feels like home to me now and I would love to someday return. I hope I can influence students at Keene to go abroad because it is truly a remarkable experience.

¡Recrea tu vida!

Margaret Maloy can be contacted at Margaret.Maloy@ksc.keene.edu