October 21, 2024
Mass MoCA​
The Global Studies and Creative Art students spent the day at Mass MoCA where we had the chance to explore around and see the many exhibits they had. We also got the opportunity to see The Plastic Bag Store, an exhibit that addresses the problem of pollution, especially plastic waste. My favorite piece was Die Schechina (The Schechina) by Anslem Kiefer which presented the Temple of Jeruslalem and the female depiction of God, resonating with the Global Studies themes of religion and human rights.
October 2, 2024
Rosh Hashanah in the Park
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Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday reserved to celebrate the New Year. I, along with other students in the Global Studies Program, attended the hour-long Rosh Hashanah service at Elizabeth Park. We were met with people celebrating with music and eating apples and honey for a healthy and sweet new year. Attending this event, I learned more about Judaism and how they celebrated and expressed their religious identity.
October 10, 2024
Arn Chorn-Pond Visit​
Watkinson had the pleasure of hosting Arn Chorn Pond where he shared his experiences of the Khmer Rouge and his work to restore Cambodia's living arts. Even though he was introduced to violence and hate at a young age, Pond continues to spread peace. "Reject hate and go towards love" is something he said. Hearing him speak about a challenging part of his life and then finding music that saved him demonstrates his passion to create communities where people can be themselves.
September 30, 2024
Justice Mullins Public Hearing​
The Global Studies Program took a trip to a Public Judiciary Committee Hearing to see Justice Mullins, a Watkinson alum, and hear his reasoning behind why he should be a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, making him the youngest to serve this position. Appointed by Governor Ned Lamont, Justice Mullins was approved to serve as a permanent judge on the Supreme Court.
Summer Reading 2024
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
Caste: The Origins of our Discontents is a nonfiction book that explores the 8 pillars of the caste system.​ Reading Isabel Wilkerson's book, it allowed me to conceptualize the built-in system through examples of real-world scenarios. We also watched the movie Origins, which brought Wilkerson's words into reality. By reading the book, you only get to understand the surface level of the punishments, brutality, and trauma the lower caste face, but bringing it to life in a movie revealed and captured more truth to the emotions on people's faces.