I started my third year at the University of Virginia in August. I was looking forward to a fun, yet challenging schedule of twenty-one credits while interning for Albemarle Regional Migrant Education as well and working on getting a position as an interpreter for Albermarle County. Miraculously, I managed to complete the semester with relatively few mishaps and begin the spring semester after having undergone a much-needed reality check: I am not and never will be superhuman. Pushing my limits is fine. Seeking out challenges is fine. Trying to fit the entire world on a pinhead is not fine and it's impossible. Duly noted.
The spring brought with it disgustingly beautiful weather (my reaction here) and disgustingly hectic schedules. But I was ready to face anything. After battling my way through the hell that was my fall semester, I could handle anything--I was ready, or so I thought. Unfortunately, although I only took 16 credits (a record low for my UVA career!) the classes I did take were incredibly difficult and I felt even more overwhelmed than I did during the fall. My class on Marx merits special mention. It was a fascinating class. The material was incredibly rich and thought-provoking, even if it was impossibly turgid and difficult to understand. Over the course of the spring semester, though, the class struggle (ha, maybe that little pun with get me good Marx?) brought me close to some wonderful people with whom I am fortunate to have become friends. Of course, all of my classes were extremely worthwhile, but the highlight of the spring semester was my personal development outside the classroom.
I have been increasing my involvement with Latino and Migrant Aid, a Madison House program that aims to improve the condition of the local Latino and migrant population in and around Charlottesville. I was selected to be a Program Director during the second semester of my first year at the University, and I'm excited to have been selected Head Program Director for the program for my fourth year. If you really know me, you'll know that my passion is service. There is no higher purpose in my life than to serve those in need--to give a voice to the voiceless-- and to be an advocate for the equal rights of all. I am privileged. I acknowledge my privilege, but I also understand that my privilege does not make me superior to anyone. Rather than embracing it blindly, I try to take advantage of my privilege in order to be able to serve others; in other words, privilege is a double-edged sword unconsciously and imprudently wielded by many who (inadvertently or otherwise) use it to cut down others. I would prefer to give my time and privilege to a worthy cause rather than to exploit it to bask in my own glory, and I can only hope that I have been at least moderately successful in doing so.
I have also maintained my involvement UVA Student Ambassadors, helped found the Virginia Undergraduate Law Review, continued to serve as a ULink Peer Advisor, and to lead the Club de Cine at the Casa Bolívar, among many other activities. While all of these activities are special to me, in the interest of brevity, I want only to briefly describe my experience as leader of the Club de Cine, or Cinema Club.
I can safely say that my tastes are quite avant-garde (the result of my liberal indoctrina---education) and so I decided to use the Club de Cine as an outlet to showcase issues that have traditionally received less-than-adequate exposure, at least in my mind, in our society, such as drug addiction, LGBTQ issues, conflicts with indigenous peoples, etc. To say the very least, the films I chose to screen were controversial and challenging, both visually and thematically. On several occasions, the people that stopped by to watch the film had to leave before the film ended or were left speechless by the end of the movie. Why would I choose to subject innocent, untainted minds to such raw depictions of real life struggles? Because we so often choose to overlook the struggles of those who are different from us; too often are people sheltered from the harsh reality of the world outside their bubble of privilege. I am, of course, directly alluding to the infamous UVA bubble--a micro-environment in which everything is (almost)always (almost)perfect. After all, if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention. And I'm more than willing to outrage and offend if it means raising awareness of a worthy cause, like any of those I mentioned above.
Two of the most memorable nights this semester, however, have been the nights I spent in Cincinnatti and in Richmond. During finals season in the fall, when I had my emotional breakdown, I had been obsessed with Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto for almost an entire year--I had listened to every interpretation I could find, scrutinizing them with the score in hand, and I decided that my favorite interpretation, due in no small part to the earth-shattering performance of the ossia cadenza, was Valentina Lisitsa with the LSO under the baton of Michael Francis. I have been a fan of Lisitsa since middle school, and in my emotionally compromised state, I made my way to her website on a whim to see if she would be performing the concerto any time soon. January 31, 2015 in Cincinnatti, with no one else but Michael Francis as the conductor. I had no choice, I had to go. I was floored by her performance and her genuine kindness. She was more than willing to talk about her interpretation of the piece and she signed my Rachmaninov Preludes and Études-tableaux. I look forward to seeing her again soon.
It was during midterms in the spring that I had another breakdown and decided to see what classical pianists would be near soon. My views on Brahms had recently been changed by a fantastic French pianist, Hélène Grimaud, whom I discovered while listening to the Rachmaninov Concerti, and so I wandered onto her site. Shockingly, she was giving a recital at the University of Richmond based around the theme of water. I went and loved it, but unfortunately (after waiting creepily outside by the artist's exit for half an hour, woops) was unable to get a picture or speak with her because she was feeling unwell--maybe next time.
Over the course of the spring, some friends with whom I studied abroad in Shanghai were looking for cool ways to reconnect and one of them, Alicia, discovered this fantastic opportunity to participate in an improv comedy troupe through Piedmont Valley Community College. Kelsey and I couldn't say no and so we all became members of the Fourth Fridays Improv Comedy Troupe. I have to say that this experience, though brief, was one of the most fun and rewarding non-service related activities that I have had the pleasure of doing while at UVA. We even staged a show at the end of the semester--it was a great success! As you can tell from my picture, I was enjoying myself quite thoroughly.
The most exciting bit of information, however, may well be that I will be interning in Shanghai with a top Chinese intellectual property rights law firm this summer. I have been longing for Shanghai's summer wind since leaving the city almost two years ago. I have missed the scenery and experiences I had so much, and although I know there is no way to replicate them, I hope that going back now, after having gained more perspective, will allow me to have a different take on things. I will blog extensively on the subject this summer, of course, and this time I will be sure to follow through and not give up halfway, like I did last time.
Most importantly to me, as I have said to countless people countless times, is the time that I have spent with people over the course of this year. Time is the most valuable commodity and once spent it can never be gotten back. I know that's an extremely obvious statement, but I find that I forget just how valuable time is on occasion. I get too caught up in the future and don't worry enough about the present. As I have told a friend on several occasions, I lose the forest for the trees, or else the trees for the forest, as it were. I am fortunate, though. I admit that I have cultivated many rewarding, fulfilling and worthwhile friendships over the past year and I have maintained and rekindled many more. Some were unexpected and organic while others were the result of a conscious effort on my part; some were ephemeral and fleeting, while others (I hope) will be strong and lasting. The difficulty with college is the extreme quickness with which the time slips through your fingers. Before you know it, some friends are graduating and will be off to start their lives. While you worry about losing touch, you forget that in a year you, too, will be graduating to start your own life. One can only hope to have left a footprint on the hearts of those that go, that they can reflect on and smile fondly.
As for me, as the chapter "UVA: Third Year" in my book La vie de Dani comes to a close, I have to sincerely thank everyone who has made an appearance, either as a leading role, a cameo, or even as an extra in this chapter. I have to say ¡Gracias a la vida! --Thanks to life!-- for the unforgettable experiences I have had during this year. I invite everyone to help me write the chapters that are to follow. Separation in age or in distance is irrelevant. I can travel to meet you--both in body and in spirit--so don't look back sadly on times gone by. As much as I hate to resurrect this old, hackneyed adage, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened," I really have no choice. Smile because it happened, and smile for all that is going to happen, for all that you are going to make happen. Most importantly, though, live life in such a way that you will end up with only the right regrets. As I look forward, I can only hope to continue giving a voice to the voiceless, to continue performing well academically and in my extracurricular activities, and to continue making things happen. I leave you with one final video.
Until next we meet,
With love~
Daniel.
