As the school year begins and closes the book on the summer of 2024, many students and faculty are welcomed back to school and reminiscing about how they spent their months away from campus.
Junior communication major Jessica Shore, Professor Joni Siani and Professor Kurt Wirth enjoyed their time off by traveling, experiencing new things and relaxing.
Shore took many trips across the vast and beautiful landscapes of Canada, particularly in the area of southern Ontario and the Toronto metropolitan area. A good portion of this time was spent in the city of Blue Mountains, a resort and coastal town in the south central portion of the province. Shore said she really enjoyed the trip and would be thrilled to go back someday.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Canada, especially Toronto, and I’m so happy I finally got to go there and also to the Blue Mountains over the summer.”
As for Siani, her summer was spent in a wide variety of different ways. Despite growing up in New York City, she had never stepped foot on Liberty Island before.
She said that “[Standing] at the feet of this towering figure, just underneath the green verde finish of her draped gown was surprisingly overwhelming.”
Siani also noted the enjoyment of being able to relax and have a good time with her family and friends after the hard work put in during the academic year. She also spent time working on her documentary series focusing on artificial intelligence and social media’s impact on the population.
For Wirth, the majority of his summer was spent inside watching the television screen. When asked about his summer activities, he said: “Honestly, just playing a bunch of video games…I played way, way too much Minecraft.”
Professor Wirth went on to explain that he had been burnt out by the conclusion of the school year, and just having the time to relax, decompress, and enjoy the sunshine was incredible.
“I was a bit lazy and maybe played too many games, but I needed the time off,” Wirth said.
Other notable activities of his summer season included being a co-commissioner for a queer volleyball league along with visiting friends in St. Petersburg, Florida and rural areas of North Carolina, where he spent time near the beaches and lakes.
After a fun-filled summer for students and professors alike, Lasers like Shore are excited to be back on campus and surrounded by familiar faces.
“I knew it would be tough to go from having a relaxing summer to getting back into a routine, but it’s going better than anticipated. I’m happy to be back on campus,” Shore said.
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