non-fiction life.
Name: Jaclyn Lansbery
Location: Middle of America (or just plain ‘ole Bloomington, Indiana.)
Age: 22
My current situation: Recently graduated. Interning at IU Communications and doing social media stuff for my alma mater’s newspaper. My goal is to secure a writing/reporting internship somewhere in the U.S., then teach abroad in Chile. After that I plan to take over the world in the form of social media and writing. Or something along those lines.
This blog: Is something I do for fun. It expresses my work, topics in today’s media, women’s issues, current events, my interests and my tastes.
Everything here is non-fiction.
Since watching R&B singer Miguel’s performance at the 55th Grammy Awards on Sunday, I haven’t been able to stop listening to his music, particularly this song. Makes me want summer.
Miguel - Do You…
Sometimes nostalgia hits those moving out of old apartments, starting new leases and ending the Summer of Love to embark on a new chapter in life. That chapter, for me, is Part I of Senior Year at Indiana University in Bloomington, featuring Jaclyn Lansbery.
Despite the 100-plus temperatures — causing some Indiana farmers to turn to other economic means — this summer, as most summers, has been instructive. Hardly the Summer of Love, but I feel lucky to have had opportunities that yield growth and self-confidence, professionally and personally.
The first half of this summer, I lugged my way through Microeconomics with a professor with whom I had deep political disagreements but who, ultimately, advised me to stick with the class even though I was on the verge of a D. (Spoiler: I got a C). For two weeks at the same time I took a four-week class called Health Psychology. While the course may be what some considered a “blow-off” class, my two-week exercise log revived my love for running.
But, most importantly, I had the opportunity to do stories in Bloomington. When I talked to Lee Ranaldo on the corner of 6th and Walnut, I walked away feeling like a rock star journalist. Talking to four of these guys about the YouTube hit “Pachanelly Canon” was fun, and truly taught me the art of interviewing four sources at once (I don’t recommend it). Interviewing Chelsea Peretti after her hilarious routine at The Comedy Attic was exciting, and I get to say I met one of comedy’s current budding headliners. Finally, I learned that rap can send the message that people should be nice to each other (which they should) by writing a feature on lo-fi rapper Beverly Bounce House.
Right now, half of my life — dishes, clothes and other belongings — is packed in boxes held together with duck tape. Apparently moving and living in Bloomington is a four-step process:
1) Move out of old apartment before 11:15 a.m. inspection August 4.
2) Move into gracious friend’s house for two days.
3) Move out of said gracious friend’s house.
4) Move into shiny, new apartment with three gal pals — another temp family I can’t wait to know better.
No, I didn’t go on vacation and sale on a boat or eat lobster on the beach or drink margaritas under an umbrella. But, this summer I was 21 in Bloomington…’nough said.
Here’s a picture of local celebrity Lil’ Bub to commence Part I:
Image source: http://lilbub.com/
- JRL
