“Every student must be a gentleman”
—Robert E. Lee
When Robert E. Lee assumed the presidency of Washington College, now known as Washington and Lee University, he bestowed upon the school an atmosphere of trust, removing all formal rules but imposing just one: “Every student must be a gentleman.” Today, this value translates into the Washington and Lee Honor System.
The Honor System of Washington and Lee is one of the most guarded traditions of the university. A completely student-run system, the Honor System insures that the W&L diploma is only earned honorably. Last Saturday, as thousands have done before me, I signed the Honor System book, pledging that I will uphold the values of the university. More importantly, however, each student at W&L takes the same pledge which truly leads to a community of trust.
The 2002-2003 Washington and Lee Executive Committee (President Gerald Titus happens to hail from West Virginia) compiled two videos which are currently used during the orientation of the Honor System for first-year students. They contain a great deal of information and can found below:
Ready for class
Today begins the winding down of Orientation Week at Washington and Lee University. Earlier, we all received our class schedules, visited the activities fair, and sometime in between took a swim test. (Washington and Lee is one of the few schools that continue to require students to be able to swim before receiving a diploma.)
As one who is interested in business and law, I registered for politics and economics classes and picked up calculus and a writing seminar to complement. I also had my first experience of sticker shock after purchasing my textbooks.
This week has been great. I’m sad to see it come to a close, but happy to know that I will be spending the next four years in Lexington with the great people that I have met and will meet very soon.
Pastor fights radicalism… with radicalism
September 11th was host to one of the most deplorable tragedies in our country’s history. What emerged from this day was a country that became more unified, but not without its scars. Although I did not lose any loved ones in the twin towers, it was by chance that one of my relatives decided not to board her train under the twin towers, thereby saving herself from what could have been a very grave outcome.
Understandably, the country as a whole, including myself, have taken the attack on the World Trade Center as an attack on America and on the “domestic tranquility” that our Founding Fathers valued so deeply. Today, headlines took hold of a Florida pastor who founded “International Burn a Koran Day.” My first reaction was simply shock, but when I watched the interview earlier today, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing: a pastor fighting a radical massacre with what the Attorney General sites as an idiotic and dangerous plan.
This story is about more than just a battle of opinions, it has turned into possibly a battle of life and death. It can be said with reasonable certainty that acts like “International Burn a Koran Day” will further incite violence where our troops are now stationed. There’s a point that should just not be crossed when it comes to jeopardizing the lives of the men and women in uniform.
Nevertheless, as the Constitution allows my speech deploring this act, it also protects those who take part and approve of it.
My Blog: Kindle Edition
The Amazon Kindle, an electronic reader sold by Amazon.com, now includes blogs among its many types of media that can be downloaded from the Kindle Store. As a blog writer, I couldn’t resist checking into how I could publish my blog through the Kindle Store. When I found the publishing site, the registration took less than 15 minutes to submit.
After checking the status of the submission this evening, I saw that my blog was accepted into the Kindle Store (for what it is worth). The whole idea behind Amazon offering blogs on the Kindle is great. I would, however, like to remove the premium that Amazon placed on my blog. Nevertheless, it is still neat to be published on Amazon. Maybe one day my writings will be worth something… (And just in case you believe that they are, I am a rising first-year college student who would be most appreciative of your support. But I would never shamelessly advertise my blog or the 14-day risk free trial. That’s just not me.)
View my blog on the Kindle Store.
British “Villain” Caught On Tape
If you just watched this video, you are probably just as angry as when I first watched it. This tugged on my heartstrings in that, although I am not a pet owner, I felt the greatest sympathy for this helpless cat which was baited and trapped in a wheelie garbage can.
In the scheme of world events, this story does not even compare to events such as the recent activity in the Congo or crises in the Middle East. Nevertheless, as MSNBC’s Helen A.S. Popkin writes, “sometimes you just have to make a stand, sit down at your computer, and click a Like button on Facebook to let the whole world know that you are against putting perfectly good tabby cats in wheelie garbage bins.”
An Appalachian Adventure
For many college first-years, the beginning of the year normally begins with sitting through orientation classes and getting to know the friends that you will grow with for the next for years. My year begins just a bit differently.
Washington and Lee offers a couple different types of pre-orientation trips. The first being service ventures and the second being a backpacking trip. I have never been camping or spent a great deal of time in the woods; and because of that very fact, I chose to take part in the backpacking trip. One comforting thought is that I know other students will have the same level of inexperience that I possess.
Madison Bowles, one of my friends who just started her first year at West Virginia University, gave me a little taste of what her backpacking trip was like. As expected, she said that it was rough and dirty, but a trip that she is happy to have experienced. From what she said and what I have gathered from others who have taken these trips: it’s mostly a mental endurance challenge.
Nevertheless, I am excited and looking forward to this experience. I will keep a journal of my trip, and depending on how things go, may even have a before and after pic. The best line from the Web site: This year’s motto is yet to be determined…something like “NO RAIN, NO RAIN, repeat.” Wish me luck and please hold off on your rain dances for a few days!
“A Change of Operation”
In the coming days and weeks, my life will be changing quite dramatically. Like thousands of other students, I will be heading to my first year of college.
Looking back over my years, I can honestly say that I have experienced wonderful opportunities and learned many valuable lessons—both inside and outside of the classroom. These lessons and memories I would not trade for anything for they have become a part of me and made me a better person. As I have expressed on many occasions, I owe so much gratitude to my parents who selflessly raised me to achieve a better quality of life than they were given the opportunity of having.
Nevertheless, it is an interesting transition that both my parents and I are on the brink of undertaking. Yes, I am filled with many emotions, but all of them are surpassed by the drive and excitement that I have to progress to the next chapter of my life. (I hate clichés too, but hang with me.) I am so excited to meet new people and experience new challenges and opportunities that will inevitably serve as a foundation for the rest of my life.
My goal is to blog about as much of my college experience as is (at least moderately) interesting. The next post should be a good start. I am starting college already climbing a mountain…literally.
Elks Award Student Scholarships
Youth honored during mid-year convention
August 15, 2010 – By ANGELINA DICKSON, Staff writer
YOUTH HONORED — Students from throughout West Virginia were honored Saturday during the Order of the Elks mid-year meeting hosted at the Holiday Inn, Weirton. Awards were given, ranging from $1,000 to $12,000 in scholarships. Pictured is Vince Gurrera, West Virginia Elks president; Breanna Nolan, Taylor Nicholas, Katie Palmer, Rachael Nolan, Chelsea Wells, Lisa Liang, Lauren Dittebrand, Victoria Fratini, Christian Cummings, Dylan Reynolds, Landon Herrick, Christian Martine and Michael Smith, national president. - Angelina Dickson
WEIRTON – The West Virginia Order of the Elks presented students with scholarship awards during the mid-year convention hosted at the Holiday Inn in Weirton on Saturday.
Although not all students being honored were able to attend, three groups of winners were honored – Americanism essay contest winners, Teenager of the Year and scholarship winners.
One young man, Landon Herrick from New Martinsville, gained national recognition by placing fifth on the national level. He was awarded a $12,000 to be distributed over the course of four years.
Herrick said he plans to attend West Virginia University where he will major in pre-pharmacy.
“I am very honored to be the first to receive national scholarship from the Elks,” he said, “and I’m proud to represent the Elks association.”
Christian Martine of Daniels, near Beckley, another scholarship winner, said he was humbled and honored to receive the award.
“Each chapter of the organization raises money given straight from the hearts of those who wish to help,” he said. “I’m very grateful.”
Martine plans to attend Washington and Lee University where he hopes to plan for a career in law, business and politics.
Awards were given ranging from $1,000 to $12,000 in scholarships to other students in attendance including Breanna Nolan, Taylor Nicholas, Katie Palmer, Rachael Nolan, Chelsea Wells, Lisa Liang, Lauren Dittebrand, Victoria Fratini, Christian Cummings and Dylan Reynolds.
(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)
“The Mountaineer”
On May 28, 2010, I graduated from Shady Spring High School along with 206 of my peers. I had the honor of giving a speech to my class during graduation—a speech that focused on the many wonderful qualities of mountaineers and the splendor of the Great State of West Virginia. Below is the speech that I gave and a copy of my original script.
The Mountaineer – Salutatorian Speech Script
View Register-Herald article: Shady Spring seniors take next step
