Just Keep Climbing

Of all the buildings I've been in in my short time at OSU, I've found the Architecture Building and Library, designed by Mack Scogin Merril Elam Architects, to be most interesting. The first thing I noticed my first time in the building was the lack of stairs - for as large a building as it is, there is no prominent staircase anywhere to be found. Instead, a large concrete ramp winding its way up and down the length of the building that wound its way all the way to the top floor. I highly underestimated this ramp, beginning the long ascent thinking it couldn't be that far to the top. As I walked, I noticed that there was something strange; there are not clearly defined stories or floors. Every area that connected off the ramp was freestanding by itself, wherever there happened to be room to put the room. Nearly every room was at a different level from the next, and each was more of a balcony than a room. No walls, just some glass railings and the open air. The lack of walls and defined stories gives the library an extremely open and airy feeling, which not only makes it more interesting to walk through but more relaxing I think.

As I said, I underestimated the ramp and I was exhausted by the time I reached the top floor. The top floor was a bit different, being an actual room separated from the rest of the open-air library. Collections of periodicals, architecture book originals, etc. are kept in this room. But the big attraction is the collection of original chairs from famous architects and designers; these chairs surround the room, each at a window facing outward, and range from enormous, plush armchairs to simple, wooden desk chairs. I felt like I could spend hours in that room just moving from chair to chair, enjoying how each was unique from the last. It was obvious other people felt the same way, moving slowly from one intriguing chair to the next.

I think the Architecture building, and more specifically the library, gives off an inviting vibe. It's a fun place to be and unlike any other building I've personally been in. 

Please, just don't make me talk...

What's up, English. In my First Day Writing Assignment, I talked about my experiences with public writing. First off, I think public writing is a piece of cake. Public speaking, on the other hand, terrifies me. Not only do I think I'm awful at it, but the thought of giving a speech is enough to make my stomach churn. Maybe it's because you can't see the reactions of your readers, but you're forced to look your audience in the face when you speak. Or because you can write and rewrite what you want to say until you get it right, but when speaking, you're on the spot; just one chance. Or maybe it's because I actually enjoy writing and sharing my writing. Whatever the reason, given the option, I'd take writing over speaking any day.

This summer before starting college, I wrote an article for SportsCar Magazine, which is the official publication of the Sports Car Club of America. My article covered part of the 2010 Solo Nationals, which took place in Lincoln, Nebraska. Solo Nationals is like the Superbowl for a motorsport known as Solo, or autocross. The events are held at airports or large parking lots across the country on courses made of traffic cones. At the national level, each person gets 3 attempts to drive through the course as fast as they can without hitting cones, so think of it kind of as an agility test. In addition to a writing part of the coverage article, I was also a competitor. In case none of that made sense, here's a video of me in competition.

Every competitor is required to do a work assignment during the event, so the event is run by the people competing in it. Most assignments involve working the course and picking up cones that have been knocked down, but I volunteered to help write the coverage article because I began enjoying writing assignments in high school and thought it would be fun to write about something I'm so passionate about. I was responsible for covering a few different classes in the competition, reporting on things like competitor's times, cone penalties, position in class, and time differentials. To me, this was a dream job - I got to watch the competition, something I'd be doing anyway, and then write about what went on for those who couldn't or didn't see. I got a lot of compliments on the article, both from people reading as informed competitors and people who my parents showed the article off to who had no idea what autocross even was. The best part about writing this article, though, was that I was exposed to something I enjoyed that I didn't have experience with, something that I could see myself doing on a more regular basis. After writing the article and seeing it published, I decided that looking into Journalism might be something I'd be interested in.