A Blog on McConnell Center Life

By Jaymar Bonet , Class of 2014 Jaymar Bonet I had the privilege to attend a breakfast at the McConnell Center with Mr. Tom Block. The man went from working on a campaign to working on Capitol Hill. He also was the head of Global Government Relations for JP Morgan Chase and he now is a public policy consultant. It was nice and informal and we sat around and listened to stories he had from high school to college to his early years until right now. He is a man full of accomplishment who has traveled around the world. His traveling was something I personally found refreshing and definitely made me want to travel more.  Being able to just speak to him and ask questions was great. We had a nice, relaxed environment that allowed us to talk and ask questions about so many random things. The discussion even dabbled into the military and Syria. Although no specific topic for discussion, I enjoyed this event. There were no boundaries for the conversation and that simply made ...

By Abeer Sikder , Class of 2014 Abeer Sikder So often I wish I could go back in time and do things over. I want to start from the beginning, and walk along a path in life knowing how to avoid the mistakes I made the first time around. Why did I have to be wrong? Why couldn’t I have just known the truth in the first place? I always have to remind myself that mistakes are what make experiences worthwhile. Maybe mistakes make life worth it. Maybe they’re the only way for people to achieve their fate and appreciate truth. I wrote this piece a couple months ago after a movie night with some close friends. The movie we viewed involved going back in time to correct mistakes. (See if you can guess the movie.) The Cellar Door This cellar door just opens and closes, The darkness it enshrines never opposes, Out escapes the light into the tunnel, As these new souls form out of the chaotic muddle. The universe warps space as the stars now shift, While graves arise and time...

By Meghan Waters, Class of 2014 Meghan Waters in Dr. Russell Kirk's library On Labor Day weekend a group of McConnell Scholars traveled to Dr. Russell Kirk’s home in Mecosta, MI, to discuss his famous work, The Conservative Mind .  Per usual, the trip was full of intriguing discussions (plus bowties, flaming raisins, and ghost stories).  The conference focused on the question of whether or not conservatism has a place in contemporary American political thought.  One of my favorite parts of the conference was our discussion with Professor Gleaves Whitney on Edmund Burke and his place in the conservative movement.  Edmund Burke, a member of the British House of Commons during the 18th century, was a notable conservative thinker.  He is most well-known for his work titled Reflections on the Revolution in France , in which he expresses his contempt for the Enlightenment movement and the French Revolution.  Burke’s ideas resonate with contemporary conserv...

By Sarah Stovall, Class of 2014 Sarah Stovall Because the McConnell Scholars Program recruits some of the best and brightest student leaders in KY, it is not surprising that they would be an ambitious lot. This ambition fosters a certain camaraderie amongst the Scholars that encourages each to strive for excellence. It is a common occurrence in the Weber Lounge to hear one Scholar telling another about an opportunity they should apply for, or offering congratulations on a recent achievement. A Scholar that is interested in a particular opportunity, such as a scholarship or study abroad program, is often able to consult another Scholar that has previous experience with it and can offer advice and guidance. This aspect of the program is one of the most valuable for the Scholars, but it is also the aspect that has the most impact on the university, in my opinion. To come to this conclusion, one only has to analyze the other ways McConnell Scholars are involved on campus. Although ...

By Mary Rose Kennedy, Class of 2014 Mary Rose Kennedy My favorite activity while in Xi’an was climbing Mount Hua, which was located about two hundred miles from the city.  Hua Shan is one of five great mountains in China.  As the westernmost mountain, it is famous for its steepness.  The mountain is named “hua” for its shape because it looks as though it is covered in lotus flower from a distance.  Our group climbed the South Peak, which is more than 6,000 feet above sea level.  Climbing Hua Shan was valuable because it provided an opportunity to experience China outside of its major cities.  The views from atop the South Peak were overwhelmingly beautiful.  I contemplated my smallness in comparison to the majesty of the mountains.  My few hours climbing Hua Shan were insignificant compared to the time spent on the mountain by the millions of people who climbed the mountain before me, but I realized that this insignificance is what made my t...

Mary Rose Kennedy  By Mary Rose Kennedy, Class of 2014 Tu Weiming wrote that “Anybody who is interested in China is a Chinese.” I would not have agreed with such a statement before this summer.  I’ve always had an interest in Chinese history and politics, but I never appreciated the richness of Chinese culture until it enveloped me during my four week McConnell Scholars study abroad.  My experiences in Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing not only challenged my perceptions of American society by exposing me to contrasting (and often better) ways of life, but they also cultivated in me a better understanding of the human experience by showing me that more unites Chinese and Americans than divides us. For example, I appreciated the Chinese sense of collectivism.  Ordering dishes collectively, and using a lazy Susan was my favorite aspect of sharing meals with fellow scholars, Chinese students, and our professors.  I also appreciated the strong sense of cultural nat...

By Evan Shepherd , Class of 2014 The Louisville Cardinals defeated the Kentucky Wildcats, 27-13 Today is a good day, but yesterday was great. Louisville beat UK in Lexington, always a great day for a Kentuckian. While doing my due diligence as a Card fan, I started to think of how reflective yesterday's game was of my past four years. Four years ago a young Cardinal team with potential for greatness lost to UK in their backyard.  Fast forward four years of hard work, dedication, and focus... This Cardinal team is primed to not only dominate the Kentucky for the foreseeable future, but dominate every opponent they face. The progression that football program has had over the past years is nothing short of amazing, yet there is still potential for growth. The University of Louisville has provided me with an environment that has allowed me to grow tremendously over the past four years. The guidance that I have received from  professors like Dr. Gregg and Dr. Macke...

Northern Ireland International Service Learning Program When you enroll in a semester-long class specific to your study abroad experience, anticipation for the actual trip builds as each week passes. If you are like me and stuck in what I like to call the “U.S. Bubble,” you probably do not know the full extent of Northern Ireland’s violent history that extends into present day. A centuries old conflict between those wanting a united Ireland and others wanting to be a part of the United Kingdom has left the soils stained with both Irish and Northern Irish blood. Northern Ireland saw a wave of violence, known as “The Troubles,” in the 1960s, and since then, many efforts at peace have been made. Our class visited Northern Ire- land and worked with cross-community organizations to bridge the gap between Protestant and Catholic adolescents, while collecting research about the current state of the conflict. Watching movies, reading articles and discussing the conflict throughout...