V A V A Adventures

"i believe ...

... that when you bring someone home, you should always wait and make sure they get inside safely", said ani in her credo presentation today.

one of the requirements that a graduating PSCS student needs to complete is a presentation of their personal credo -- a statement of who they are and what they believe in.

ani, a longstanding (7 years) PSCS student, presented her credo today. contrary to the common expectation that a credo should be a verbose and earth-shaking statement of one's beliefs, ani, in a manner true to herself, captured her credo in a single statement. some of this might have been due her lack of interest in this part of the graduation process but that is not how i am choosing to look at it.

with a short and clear statement, ani conveyed what is important to her. we learnt more about this in the 50 minute discussion that followed her credo presentation. she talked about "completing the circle" in all actions, about respecting and caring all the way, about "finishing what you start", all of which are values behind her single statement of making sure the person you take home reaches inside safely. with tears in her eyes (due to being nervous in presenting in front of an audience and being moved), she said how important she thinks it is to express your care, not only by spending time with your friends, but then also by taking the extra 8-10 seconds it takes to make sure they reach inside safely when you drop them home. the finish to an evening is as important as the evening itself. in her gentle quivering voice she spoke about how seeing a person off to safety is about giving and not just receiving.

ani moved me to tears. students like her remind me why i do what i do. they teach me important life lessons through their simple yet deep actions and words. i feel honored to be in their presence.

ani has taught me that life does not need to be lived based on some grandiose philosophy and values. that clarity in life can come from finding meaning in the simple things. i thank her for this lesson.

student reaction after the elections

The following message was sent by Zac Russell (PSCS student) to the PSCS Community a day after the 2004 US Presidential Election. Thanks to Zac for letting me publish it on my blog site.

In Spite Of the Bad News, here Is some good News!

Hello soon-to-be-supporters,

I, Zachary Aurther Russell, am here by throwing my hat into the ring for President of the United Sates in 2038, assuming I don’t die or screw up badly, and also assuming the United States electoral process currently in use still exists. I will probably be running as a Democrat if the system is still bipartisan.

I am a firm believer in retaining the basic freedoms endowed to us in the Bill of Rights, as well as making these freedoms equally accessible for everyone. I believe in giving everyone an equal voice and will listen to my constituents. I also believe in maintaining a peaceful stance in world politics, living amiably as world citizens. I plan on cracking down on corporate tax fraud, support a small business environment, as well as environmental policy reforms including clean water, clean air, and water as a basic human right, not something to be privatized. I want the power to be with the people.

Before 2038, I vow to understand how to type, spell, and use grammar correctly. I will become less biased towards people with musical taste. I will continue to learn leadership skills as well as non-violent communication and mediation. I will have experienced being an activist, and will concentrate on acquiring a fuller understanding of the political and governmental processes.

I am planning on running for President of the United States of America to give today’s generation a much-needed voice. Although this letter is only half-serious, I am completely sincere in my efforts to be heard.

I'm excited for your support, and any and all help is wanted in making this dream reality. Please contact me with any recommendations, questions, comments, or concerns.

Thank You So Much,

Zachary A. Russell
Campaign Headquarters