As the semester progresses at the speed of light, the senior class is beginning to make peace with that fateful day in May: Commencement. Until the class of 2012 up and leaves us, BlogDH wants to highlight all the interesting things the class has been up to. To this end, we are (re)starting a series, Last Call, featuring seniors reflecting on their experiences at Brown. Each featured senior will tag another senior for the next installment. Find this year’s other “Last Call” chain here.

Then + Now

People might know me as…  Google girl, “Cookie” (I bake a lot…), the girl who marketed an underwear start-up, an ex-field hockey player (“squib”)

Sami’s Question: If you could design a “Caitlin Theme” for the Google homepage logo, what would it look like? A mix of sparkles, sprinkles, cookies, soccer balls, charcoal drawings, pretty shoes, outdoorsy fun, NY pizza, with an interactive playlist of Rihanna and Dev. Actually, can you ask me again in 30 years? I think I might have a more streamlined idea then.

Sami’s (second) Question: Can you please share your cookie recipe with us? I don’t bake and tell… but you can come over for cookies any time!!

Greatest lesson you learned from your college field hockey experience? Wear serious sunscreen during preseason, unless you feel like guaranteeing yourself a frightful tank tan line and wardrobe options of nothing but crew necks all of fall semester. On a more serious note: It is what it is, but it is what you make it. Some situations aren’t going to be ideal. There will be exhilarating highs and discouraging lows. You may not always be able to control the outcome, but you can always control your mindset. [Read more →]

As the semester progresses at the speed of light, the senior class is beginning to make peace with that fateful day in May: Commencement. Until the class of 2012 up and leaves us, BlogDH wants to highlight all the interesting things the class has been up to. To this end, we are (re)starting a series, Last Call, featuring seniors reflecting on their experiences at Brown. Each featured senior will tag another senior for the next installment. Find this year’s other “Last Call” chain here.

Then + Now

People might know me as…The short Chattertock or that musical theatre girl who was in Spring Awakening

Chelsea’s Question: What was the most rewarding part of Spring Awakening this semester? The fact that it actually happened! It started as this crazy idea, and we had no idea if it would materialize or not. There were so many times along the way I wanted to give up and cancel the whole thing, but the cast and crew really persevered. Doing Spring Awakening taught me that with a little dedication and positive energy, you can really accomplish anything.

Chelsea’s (2nd) Question: Literally, what was the best day of your life ever? Chelsea asked this question because I’m one of those people who will consistently claim that something is “the best thing that ever happened to me” or that it is “the best day of my life.” Hyperbolic as it may be, it usually does feel that way at the time! After thinking long and hard, I’ve decided that the literal best day of my life ever was probably one of the days I spent on vacation in Paris while I was studying abroad in London. It started with beautiful April weather, pain au chocolat, and a picnic in the Tuileries Garden and ended with museums and a trip to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Although this was a wonderful day, I’d like to think that the real ‘best day of my life ever’ hasn’t happened yet (unless you count the day I sang the bungins)!

Tell us about your time recording music for Kidz Bop…I spent most of Middle School and the first few years of High School recording in the studio for Kidz Bop. I ended up singing on seven Kidz Bop CDs, including 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Halloween, and Latin (I know…Latin). It was actually a really cool experience. I was working with a lot of the kids who were either currently on Broadway or had been on Broadway in the past. I sadly got fired from the job by the time I was 15 because I sounded too old, but I’ve still retained my “Kidz Bop Shout” and will sometimes insert it into particularly energetic Chattertocks arrangements. [Read more →]

As the semester progresses at the speed of light, the senior class is beginning to make peace with that fateful day in May: Commencement. Until the class of 2012 up and leaves us, BlogDH wants to highlight all the interesting things the class has been up to. To this end, we are (re)starting a series, Last Call, featuring seniors reflecting on their experiences at Brown. Each featured senior will tag another senior for the next installment. Find this year’s other “Last Call” chain here.

Then + Now

People might know me as… captain of the rugby team, original short-haired Chattertock, Econ 11 TA

Lorena’s Question: If you got the chance to do one thing over from your Brown experience, what would it be? If I could do Brown again, I would do it with a trademark. Some people on campus are just huge characters, you know? My preliminary idea is running everywhere in moon boots, but I’d worry that the tread would wear down too quickly, so I’ll have to think on it…

You play women’s rugby. What’s the worst injury you’ve ever gotten? In March of my junior year I shattered my nose on a teammate’s/opponent’s knee/head. (Even after careful film review, it’s unclear exactly what went down). But I had my nose reconstructed and had four-inch splints sewn through my septum. It was looking great after recovery, and I even joked that the “excuse for a nose job” made my nose look better than ever. But then I broke it again in January at All-American camp and have had some minor fractures since then so now it is forever crooked.

What is something about rugby that you’d never know unless you played it? How empowering it is. Most spectators just see rugby as an 80-minute brawl, or as my dad said once, as the barbarian version of soccer. But there is something so beautiful and primal about the physicality, that someone has to physically take me down to stop me from scoring. Also, rugby is the ultimate team sport. We literally sacrifice our bodies for each other on the pitch, and that creates a bond that is truly unmatched.  [Read more →]

As the semester progresses at the speed of light, the senior class is beginning to make peace with that fateful day in May: Commencement. Until the class of 2012 up and leaves us, BlogDH wants to highlight all the interesting things the class has been up to. To this end, we are (re)starting a series, Last Call, featuring seniors reflecting on their experiences at Brown. Each featured senior will tag another senior for the next installment. Find this year’s other “Last Call” chain here.

Then + Now

People might know me as… the girl that works late nights at the Science Center? Sometimes people mistake me for the guy that’s always at the front desk at the Science Center? These gender things…

Amit’s Question: If you could relive one event from your Brown experience, what would it be? It would probably be going to Scotland with the rugby team. I had never really been outside the US except for Mexico and so it was a new experience for me altogether but it was also really nice to be experiencing it with them. They give meaning to the phrases word hard, play hard.

The craziest thing that ever happened while you were working at the Science Center? It was during a time last semester when people were going crazy with exams and I think some of them just needed to get a little artistic about how they let out their frustrations. But these huge guys in one room starting singing a Katy Perry song and then after a while some people in another room joined. Then some other people started singing a competing song and for a while it was just this loud chorus of voices and then it just stopped and people went on studying like nothing had even happened. [Read more →]

As the semester progresses at the speed of light, the senior class is beginning to make peace with that fateful day in May: Commencement. Until the Class of 2012 up and leaves us, BlogDH wants to highlight all the interesting things the class has been up to. To this end, we are (re)starting a series, Last Call, featuring seniors reflecting on their experiences at Brown. Each featured senior will tag another senior for the next installment. Find this year’s other “Last Call” chain here.

Then + Now

People might know me as… the Badmaash guy. I’ve danced on Badmaash, the South Asian fusion dance team, since freshman year, and I think it’s my most public involvement. It’s also one of the most fun. It keeps me sane and drives me insane. In a good way.

Nabeel’s Question: Who has had the greatest influence on you at Brown? Is it a cop-out to say my friends? I feel like I’m always being inspired by the people around me and constantly learning from them. Not that classes aren’t important — of course they are, and of course I’ve learned a lot with coursework — but I would be an entirely different person if I hadn’t been around such amazing people. Special shout out to my Badmaashies, Learning Exchangers, TWC family, and housemates.

Why’d you decide to join Badmaash? Do you have a favorite move? It’s funny, because when I came to Brown I saw Badmaash and sort of laughed… they were good, but I wasn’t especially interested in South Asian dance. Then I decided to try out spring of freshman year because two of my friends were going and we had practiced together beforehand. Now we’re the co-directors, though I’m still not sure how I got in with my awful audition. My favorite move is hard to express verbally, haha. My favorite style we do is probably bhangra.

What’s the culture like in the group? Do you guys rage or is it more of a community? Do we rage? Yeah, I guess we rage (especially at competitions), but it’s a community more than anything. I hosted a team social last weekend and after everyone left, my housemates were talking about what a close-knit community we are. I guess I take it for granted sometimes, but it’s pretty special. Dancing is so much more fun when you love the people you’re sharing the stage with.

On a Friday night, you might find yourself… at a Badmaash social or going out with my housemates. Or at the GCB. (Or sleeping.) [Read more →]

As the semester progresses at the speed of light, the senior class is beginning to make peace with that fateful day in May: Commencement. Until the class of 2012 up and leaves us, BlogDH wants to highlight all the interesting things the class has been up to. To this end, we are (re)starting a series, Last Call, featuring seniors reflecting on their experiences at Brown. Each featured senior will tag another senior for the next installment. Find this year’s other “Last Call” chain back here on Saturday!

Then & Now

People might know me as… someone who spends a lot of time in the CIT… But not just doing CS stuff! I’m mostly talking to people; it’s just like a family. [Edit: He's also a Rhodes Scholar!]

What’s your favorite computer science language? No matter what I say I’ll sound like a nerd! I like Python, because the focus is on creating something, not understanding syntax, and it doesn’t have a lot of overhead, so people can just get started whenever they want to.

In my time at Brown, I am most proud of… co-founding Learning Exchange, an after-school program that helps middle schoolers get excited about math through the use of technology. It’s especially been awesome to see younger students at Brown serve as teachers and really grow in their passions for helping kids see the beauty of learning new, challenging concepts. I am most proud of helping to create organizations and courses that help other people discover and act on their passions.

On a Friday night, you might find yourself… going to Boston for mosque. It’s nice to leave Brown every once in a while, and it’s especially fun driving with a few other friends, listening to the Backstreet Boys. (laughs) [Read more →]