Page 2
December 2010
PERSPECTIVES
The Lance
is for ‘Active St. Android’
Parrish Ravelli importantly sustaining the
Class of2003
Do you accept the world
around you? This is a ques
tion that I learned to ask
myself at St. Andrews. This is
a question that has led me to
believe that there are things in
this world that I can do to
change the circumstances for
myself. More importantly,
this is a question that led me
to believe that I can change
the circumstances for people
who need it to change.
One day, I reflected on
my first six months after grad
uation, spent primarily in the
kitchen of a local restaurant. I
remember feeling discomfort
in what I was contributing to
the world around me. I was
not helping to organize stu
dents to come together, I was
not helping to desegregate
social lines between us and
the visiting alums, I was not
helping to make the commu
nity around me a better place,
and I was not learning. That
is the day I talked with a fel
low alum about his experi
ence as an AmeriCorps
VISTA. Within two weeks I
had applied and interviewed.
Within a month, I had relo
cated from North Carolina to
Montana and was involved a
year of service.
During my preparation
for service, we talked about
engaging the community to
take ownership of our work,
organizing people around a
specific cause, and most
impact of my work. I was
going to be going into a new
community to gather
resources and make some
thing, where currently, there
was nothing. I was the only
VISTA in my area and I
remember my new friends
asking me how I would deal
with that. It reminded me of
when other people would talk
about SAPC, confused of
how anything worth doing
came about.
When we came to St.
Andrews, we asked ourselves
that question; do we accept
the world around us? We did
n’t and we learned how to do
something about it. We
learned about the politics of
relationships while we acted
as the key social components
of a successfU community.
We were getting people excit
ed about the fact that they
were a part of our small, cre
ative and productive society.
We volunteered, we taught,
we coached, we always were
learning.
So, today, right now, do I
accept the world around me?
Some of it yes, some of it no,
and I have chosen to do
something about it.
Personally and professionally
I work to change the circum
stances for the people around
me that need it to change in
order to live and have the
opportunities they deserve. It
is absolutely because I learned
how to ask myself that ques
tion and be an active part of
the community that I am in.
Letter jrom the Editor
’Tis the season to be jolly.
And this season, we have a lot
to be jolly about! Like the re
launching of The Lance and
it couldn’t have happened at a
more fitting time. For, after
all, the holiday season is a
season to be thankfiil. And
there are many to whom I
want to give thanks. First off,
I would like to thank Melissa
Hopkins for taking on the
task of being a advisor for The Lance. I wouldn’t be doing
this without her support. Secondly, I would like to thank
Renee Jones for her unwavering enthusiasm for this project,
and for always seeing what it could be. Next, I would like
to thank each and every person who took the time to show
their support in whatever way — whether it be through
spreading the word, sending a submission or cheering me
on. You all know who you are. Thank you.
Finally, I would like to thank whoever may be reading
this right now. Because it’s loyalty like yours that makes it
worth it! And I hope this paper does you proud. I wanted
it to be not only a student newspaper, but an outlet for cre
ativity. My aim for The Lance was to have it be both visu
ally and verbally entertaining. I wanted the Lance to show
that all aspects of campus life can be fun and enjoyed. So I
hope that this paper serves as a heaping dose of hospitality,
inviting all the readers into that cozy litde reality that his
life at St. Andrews. A hearty welcome to you all! Enjoy!
Alice V-Z Harrison
Editor, The Lance
It’s a Dog Eat Dog Out There
Let Career Services Prep You for It!
Steve Lambert
Class of 2010
“Which animal best
describes your personality in
the workplace?” An obscure
question, but could you
respond under pressure
knowing the answer would
effect the rest of your life?
This is a question I faced
while being interviewed for
a job I needed for after grad
uation. Although I was
caught slightly off guard,
the rest of the interview
seemed like a breeze, and
that is because I had great
interview preparation
through career services.
(See Career, Page 3)