A Blog on McConnell Center Life

 By Kara Beth Poe There comes a certain age or time frame when people are expected to give up objects that hold significant value. It could be after a breakup and getting rid of the jewelry he bought you. Or someone has died, and you sell their miscellaneous things around the house. For me, I have been expected to let go of my childhood treasure, my "blankie and pilly." My parents were given my blankie in October of 2004 at my baby shower as a gift, and my mother bought a child-size pillow at Toys R Us while expecting me to put it in my nursery. They did not anticipate the emotional connection I would have for a Precious Moments pattern blanket cut at the end and tied in knots to make fridges or a Little Tikes pillow with a small bear wearing a pink bow. If you were to ask anyone in my family about my obsession, my siblings would tell you of the nights we would have to turn around in the car and go back to my grandparents' house to get my blankie and pilly because I had l...

 By Alli Geiger Twenty-first century women have a long line of history behind them of women who helped pave the way towards equality. A particular triumph in female equality lies in one of the most peculiar of places: a sport. The history of basketball, particularly women’s basketball, has shown how much change women have gone through to try and reach “equality.” One of these little triumphs happens all because of a viral video on TikTok. The post went on social media, and therefore, the world. Sedona Prince permanently changed women’s basketball by shining a light on the differences between being on the men’s team and the women’s team. This few second long clip created a snowball effect that led to a 118-page report and greater change. A man named James Naismith created the basketball in 1891 as an outlet for students during the winter when students could not play outside. Just one year later, a woman read about what Naismith had done and wanted to try it with women. This was Send...

 By Jillian Sarver I have always considered myself to be an avid reader, picking up books of all genres that pique my interest. Growing up, my mom was constantly reading, and I suppose that her insatiable desire for literature was infectious. Reading has always kept me company, transporting me to beautiful worlds where my problems have no weight or value. However, I have noticed over the last five years that I have become more of a consumer rather than a reader. I search and search social media in vain, hoping to find the perfect book recommendation with all the plot points that I think I want to read. I have read books simply because I was told they were different and niche, a stupid notion that I am slightly embarrassed to admit. As I have had time to reflect upon my reading habits, I notice the negative impact social media has had on the reading community. Reading has become nothing more than crossing a title off a list, turning an art into a task. It is now all about consumptio...

 By Kathleen Price An internship in the justice system is an opportunity like no other- a unique chance to witness professionals in their day-to-day lives, learn the intricacies of legal processes, and even be a part of the justice being served. For those interested in public advocacy and service, criminal justice, or any form of law enforcement, being an intern for the justice system can change your life and is only available to a select few. Over the summer, I had the privilege to intern under Justice Michelle Keller of the Kentucky Supreme Court in a civil legal aid program called the Access to Justice Commission. This nonprofit organization is built solely on pro-bono attorneys who dedicate their time to offering legal information and resources to low-income and other vulnerable people. Here’s a glimpse into what a typical day in my life looked like: 9:30 AM – Arriving at the Courthouse Walking into the Kenton County courthouse, you must first get through security. All of the o...

 By Riley Maddox In 2016, my grandmother stopped paying her electric bill. She began hoarding food in her refrigerator, and she would often call me the wrong name. As just a 6th grader at the time, I had no idea what was going on. My parents would tell me that she was “just a little confused,” but this scared me even more. They started taking her to long, drawn-out doctor appointments and always seemed a little more disheartened after each one. Finally, in September 2016, my grandma, Janis Bowers, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. My dad was told that his mother had only 3-5 years left to live. Shortly after the diagnosis, she was moved into a nursing home. Visiting her after church each Sunday became our family’s weekly ritual. We slowly watched as her brain began to regress until she eventually forgot all of our names and had trouble speaking. Each and every time we visited her brought a smile to her face. Even though she didn’t know our names or how we were rel...

 By Seth Pinson           The Majestic Cumberland flows from the heart of Appalachia to the heart of the Jackson Purchase. Every year, the McConnell Center has a scholar retreat that takes us to a different state park to learn more about our state and be connected with our natural history. I am writing this on the back porch of the Cumberland Falls resort, sitting in a chair that overlooks the river. I cannot see the falls, but I can hear them in the distance. As I sit here at Cumberland Falls Resort and write this, I think of what the Cumberland River is to me. The Cumberland River is the barrier I cross on Briley Parkway to get to the airport or to the mall. It’s the barrier I cross to get into Downtown Nashville, whether it be passing through or on my way to watch an event. It forms Lake Barkley, an integral part of my childhood. The Cumberland meets the Ohio River in Smithland, Kentucky, steps from where my great-grandparents once lived. This river wind...

  By Tom Kurtz When I signed up for my summer internship with a government affairs and campaign strategy firm in Washington DC, I had no idea that I was signing up for a front-row seat to the most contentious three-month period in modern American Presidential politics. What was usually relegated to the subject of my daily newsfeed, was now my nine to five. Only this time, it was a guilty verdict for a former President, a hotly controverted SCOTUS docket, an assassination attempt, and a debate so disastrous that it unleashed bedlam on a doomed presidential campaign. With the DC summer heat constraining most of my evenings to my Foggy Bottom dorm, I had limited modes of escape from this noise. One I found, and quickly cherished however, was the story of the regulars at a cozy pub in Boston; the 80s sitcom, Cheers. The hit series, iconic and memorable as it may have been in a household 40 years ago, was a welcome discovery for me. The consistent setting was pleasant and the cheap 80s ...

  By Jacob Crowley Since first reading it, there has only been one book series that I have consistently gone back to read again and again. It has provided me with comfort when I needed it most and has always kept me entertained. The original joy I felt when reading it has never diminished and it leaves me feeling fulfilled every time. Whether it's listening to an audiobook while mowing the grass or sitting down to read the book before going to bed, the Harry Potter series has always delivered. After first reading the series in fourth grade, I have read each of the seven books at least five times a piece. Occasionally I have gone back through and read the entire series in order, but usually I like to pick one to re-read individually. Every time I reread a book, the original magic that JK Rowling crafted into the pages is reawakened in me. It transports me back to the time when I first read them. While any of seven books is a great read by itself, comparing all the books in the serie...

 By Luke Taylor “The greatest gift you can give someone is your time because when you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back.” - Morrie Schwartz “Tuesdays with Morrie” is a novel written by sports journalist Mitch Albom detailing his weekly interactions with his old philosophy professor, Morrie Schwartz, in which they discussed the meaning of life. This was a practice they maintained while Mr. Albom was an undergraduate student but fell off immediately after graduating. However, Albom hears of his professor’s fatal diagnosis and reaches out to his former mentor, agreeing to meet every Tuesday for fourteen weeks for a few final lessons. I discovered this gem looking for a vacation read, tucked away on the bottom shelf of a Goodwill. Little did I know that it would not only become my favorite book, but the only one I have ever reread. This book has brought me to tears, provoked belly-laughs, and changed my worldview all in the span of a pag...

  By Kelsey Raymer  The University of Louisville was NEVER my first choice for undergrad. It was a feeling of restlessness in my small town, but it was more my insecurities about not measuring up academically to my peers. Ever since I was a little girl, I would always say I was leaving Kentucky for undergrad. Regardless of the circumstances or whether I received financial aid, I would attend a high-ranking school where opportunities were abundant and the curriculum was challenging in a way that forced me to become more innovative. I dreamed of attending Howard, UChicago, Northwestern, or WashU so much that I physically could not think of any other future for myself. Then, my senior year came.    I had applied to UofL primarily to appease my mom and to give her the comfort that if push came to shove, there was a chance that her daughter would not be leaving the state for four years. Well, low and behold, that shove came hard when UofL awarded me the life-changing Port...

 By Macy Waddle    This summer, I studied Dictatorships and Democracy in Buenos Aires, Argentina for four weeks. I chose to research the role the Catholic Church played in military rule and democratization in the country. As a Catholic myself, Pope Francis being from Buenos Aires sparked an interest in the topic and it was safe to say I was not disappointed. Below is an excerpt from my work this summer. Studying abroad was the most gratifying experience, and I encourage those who are able to pursue immersive learning opportunities. This is  “Military Rule and Democratization: The Catholic Church in Argentina.” Noberto Padilla, a renowned Argentine lawyer, outlines in his paper “Religion in the Secular State in Argentina” two opposing views of the role the Roman Catholic Church plays in Argentine society today. He writes, “The intensity of the bond between the Catholic Church and the State has been discussed: a ‘moral union’ for some; for others, just an economic arra...