On 14th May, 2000, after staying awake for what felt like a week straight to finish THE paper for my Human Rights seminar, I placed a black cap on my weary head, shrouded myself in a black gown, and strode forth into the Utica Memorial Auditorium to graduate as a member of Utica College of Syracuse University’s Class of 2000, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in English Language (Linguistics). This last (the degree that is) becomes rather interesting when you realize that I started at UC as a Biology major in 1995, extending my studies there by a year because of a semester as an exchange student in Wales and the addition of 2 minors (English Lang and History), and finally changed my major in Spring 1999 to Political Science. These last 5 years have been an exciting if rather odd path to travel.

My last year at UC began with a hectic summer filled with 4 classes, a brief stint as a part-time secretary in the Vice President’s office at the college, and 3 weeks spent with an extraordinary group of (21) French high school students who had come to UC for an intensive ESL program. With the beginning of the Fall semester in August I launched full force into Political Science and found my academic niche. Looking back on the previous 4 years and realizing some of the opportunities I had missed because I wasn’t directly associated with Political Science I have at times been tempted to regret my time as a Biology major. This regret only flickers for a brief moment, however, as I realize God’s wisdom in placing me in particular places at particular times – I would have missed out on some crucial stuff if I hadn’t been a Bio major for those 4 years. And thus the puzzle pieces fall into place without even our realization of their existence.

After taking 4 poli sci classes in the fall (1999) it felt a bit disappointing to only be able to take 3 this spring, but I found myself more than well-occupied with the classes I was taking. I must admit to having been profoundly influenced by Utica College’s one and only Professor Theodore S. Orlin, an individual I had been hearing, and thus hearing about, since my freshman year at UC – if Ted Orlin has a class going on, everyone on the same floor can tell. In Fall 1999 I tremulously took my first Ted Orlin class – International Law – and have since found myself knee-deep in the field of Human Rights. I was led there, perhaps initially by a fascination with the concept of sovereignty, but also by compassion for people who are suffering around the world at the hands of those who have followed the age-old tradition of abusing power in one way or another. This brings to mind my freshman year in college when I was glad to escape my dad’s constant listening to National Public Radio since the news at that time was full of reports of the situation in Bosnia; I didn’t want to listen to these reports because they were so painful and because I felt there was nothing I could do. At present I am searching for a job in the field of human rights with the hope that God will grant me the ability and the opportunity to do something about some of the suffering in the world.

That basically brings us up to the present in which I’m experiencing a few "withdrawal symptoms": I haven’t been able to fence since April. I picked up my first foil (translate: completely blunted nonweapon which imitates rapiers (etc)/swords used in the 1700s and 1800s) in the fall of 1995 and have spent one night of practically each of my weeks at Utica College since, fencing with the UC Fencing Club. The last 3 years I’ve been the president of said club so I’ve also taught (basic) fencing skills to some of the newbies strolling in and done a lot of the organization and beginning of practice butt-kicking for a bit.

The one semester during which I spent absolutely no time with the UC Fencing Club was Spring 1997, but I figured the commute from Aberystwyth, Wales (Cymru) in the UK would be a bit too long for a 2-3 hour practice. I fenced with the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (UWA) Fencing Club that semester, along with undertaking 4 classes at 2 of that university’s campuses in Aberystwyth and Llanbadarn. It was an enlightening and life changing experience to put it briefly.