{"id":20139,"date":"2023-05-09T16:43:20","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T16:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-news\/?p=20139"},"modified":"2026-01-18T23:00:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T23:00:49","slug":"unfiltered-spring-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/2023\/05\/unfiltered-spring-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Unfiltered: Spring 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Graduation day draws near for the students in \u201cUnfiltered,\u201d a series that chronicles their college experiences by revisiting five simple questions every semester. While polishing capstone projects and pondering career paths, these individuals are still finding time to explore topics such as human rights, the inner workings of lasers, and the art of Latin dance. For one participant who graduated early in December, post-college life has already begun.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what they have to say this spring: <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ross Relic
<\/b>Crystal Lake, Ill.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What class are you most excited about right now?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m only taking two classes this semester and I\u2019m pretty equally excited about both of them! I\u2019m taking Laboratory Instrumentation (physics) and Conducting (music). Although Laboratory Instrumentation is easier than other physics classes (it\u2019s a 300 level, whereas most physics classes are 400 level), the course content is still full of very useful and interesting stuff, which is really nice. And obviously, it\u2019s been exciting to learn about the process behind conducting and how to bring your interpretation of the music to fruition with other people playing the music, although the workshopping parts are pretty awkward because there\u2019s a lot of conducting in silence while other people watch you!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s one recent triumph (large or small!)?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did it! I completed my capstone paper and presentation for physics (well, I still have to get feedback from my peers on my paper and then make some revisions, but I submitted it for that process)! This was a huge triumph for me. I\u2019ve struggled quite a lot throughout my time here at Macalester, especially with writing, and there were times over the years where I had no idea how I\u2019d be able to complete my capstone paper, or even find a project\/research to do. I was afraid I wouldn\u2019t be able to complete college because of this. But I really did it! Partially because of my own effort and growth over these four years, but in no small part due to the huge amount of support I received from my girlfriend and parents, and I\u2019m forever grateful for that.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What have you learned lately?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to my capstone project, I have now learned a lot more about lasers and optics (especially nonlinear optics) than I ever expected to know, including how a laser actually works, which was amazing to find out.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you wish you would\u2019ve known six months ago?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wish I knew that I should stop trying to work at my apartment! I initially denied this fact, but I cannot do homework at my apartment or else I will always do something else instead. Sometimes, I\u2019m quite resistant to going somewhere else to work. I\u2019d rather just stay in the comfort of my own home, but it\u2019s important to do it anyway. It can be difficult to get myself to do homework in other locations too, but it at least becomes a lot more possible and significantly less distracting\/more stimulating.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s one thing you want to do in the next six months?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get an internship or job over the summer! I really hope that I am able to do that\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hannah Scharrer<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tacoma, Wash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What class are you most excited about right now?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m in my senior capstone in International Studies and my capstone project is slowly coming together! I\u2019m excited to dig into the writing process soon and to hear what all my classmates have been working hard on!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s one recent triumph (large or small!)?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wrote the first page of my capstone!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What have you learned lately?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recently attended a conference on human rights in Chicago. It was eye-opening to get to hear from all of the speakers and learn more about human rights as well as explore a new city!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you wish you would\u2019ve known six months ago?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know it\u2019s clich\u00e9, but how fast senior spring would fly by! I cannot believe I am two months away from being done with college!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s one thing you want to do in the next six months?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to graduate and get a job!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Carter Rutherford
<\/b>Alexandria, Va., and Santiago, Chile<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Rutherford completed his studies and graduated a semester early, in December 2022.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are you up to now?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I currently live in Minneapolis and work at a Montessori elementary school in Saint Paul. I wanted to explore a job in education and figure out my next steps.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s one recent triumph (large or small!)?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was recently awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan. I\u2019ll be moving there in August!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What have you learned lately?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I\u2019ve always enjoyed dancing, I recently joined several social dance groups. I have learned quite a bit of Latin dance (salsa and cumbia) as well as contra dance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you wish you would\u2019ve known six months ago?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life after college is a lot more relaxed. I\u2019ve had to be very intentional about how I spend my money and time, but I really enjoy the pace I\u2019ve set for myself.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s one thing you want to do in the next six months?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m considering traveling from Miami, Florida to Montreal, Quebec by train and stopping along the way to visit family and friends along the East Coast.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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