By Dan Ambrose
Contributing Writer
Writing an essay for “This I Believe” can be far-reaching, and students won’t know how revealing the essay will be until they try to write one. No one else can tell your story better than you, a writer said on Tuesday night.
Gediman stressed the benefits of writing an essay for “This I Believe” in Trout Auditorium on Tuesday, September 6. “I really encourage you. Even if you don’t show it to anyone. Do it for yourself,” Gediman said.
“This I Believe” is a non-profit organization that collects and preserves the essays and personal statements of people from all different walks of life. Its origins began in the 19
Around 50 years later, in the early 2000s, the “This I Believe” project was re-discovered by Gediman, who found that the post-9/11 America was in need of a set of values and beliefs to bring society closer together. “If we put good ideas, free ideas, in front of people, that will cure the ails of America,” he said.
“This I Believe” found itself in the hands of members of the class of 2015, who were instructed to read the book as part of a series of orientation events which included discussions during Orientation and connections in their Transition to College classes. Students were also urged to write their own “This I Believe” essays describing their own ideas and beliefs.
Seventy-five students did so, and a lucky 11 were chosen to receive a $50 gift certificate to the Barnes & Noble at Bucknell University bookstore and dinner with Gediman himself. When asked about what his essay, contest winner Colin Hassell ’15 said, “It made me think about what has been significant in my life, what has made me who I am today.”
The main argument that Gediman made during his speech was a simple one: write a “This I Believe” essay. Scores of scholars, presidents, actors, and entrepreneurs have done so. The list is extensive: Harry Truman, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Jackie Robinson, Eleanor Roosevelt, and many more. But just as many average, everyday citizens have written what they believe as well, and some of these essays are even more touching.“I find it easier to relate to the passages written by people like me than by famous people who I share little in common with,” Michelle Dabkowski ’15 said.
Writing an essay, however, is no easy task. “Every day people are writing billions of words on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc., but it’s still tough to sit down and think up five hundred words. It’s easy to write posts on the Internet or assignments for class. But there’s something difficult about writing down what values make me who I am, even if it is only a few paragraphs worth of words,” Noah Aronson said.
Wednesday, August 31
ALARM / INTRUSION
Procurement Services: Caused by employee.
ALARM / FIRE
Bucknell West: Caused by cooking.
ALARM / FIRE
Elaine Langone Center: Caused by cooking.
PROPERTY / LOST
Ellen Clarke Bertrand Library: Under investigation.
ALARM / INTRUSION
Coleman Hall: Cause unknown.
ALARM / INTRUSION
Coleman Hall: Cause unknown.
WELFARE CHECK
McDonnell Hall: Student located.
ALARM / FIRE
Bucknell West: Caused by cooking.
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION
Bucknell West: Judicial referral.
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION
Bucknell West: Judicial referral.
Thursday, Sept. 1
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION
Bucknell West: Judicial referral.
ALARM / FIRE
Bucknell West: Caused by cooking.
Friday, Sept. 2
THEFT
Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium: Under investigation.
DRUG LAW VIOLATION
Vedder Hall: Unfounded.
ASSIST / POLICE
Public Safety: Assisted by East Buffalo Township Police Department.
Saturday, Sept. 3
ALARM / FIRE
Bucknell West: Caused by cooking.
ALARM / FIRE
Larison Hall: Caused by hairspray.
ALARM / FIRE
Bucknell West: Caused by cooking.
DRUG LAW VIOLATION
400 St. George St.: Unfounded.
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION
Delta Upsilon: Judicial referral.
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION
Bucknell West: Judicial referral.
TAMPERING WITH FIRE EQUIPMENT
Larison Hall: Under investigation.
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION
Sigma Phi Epsilon: Judicial referral.
TAMPERING WITH FIRE EQUIPMENT
Sigma Phi Epsilon: Under investigation.
Sunday, Sept. 4
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION
Delta Upsilon/Fraternity Road: Judicial referral.
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION
Hunt Hall: Judicial referral.
TAMPERING WITH FIRE EQUIPMENT
Sigma Phi Epsilon: Under investigation.
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION
University Avenue: Arrest.
ALARM / FIRE
Bucknell West: Caused by cooking.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
Trax Hall: Under investigation.
ALARM / FIRE
Bucknell West: Cause unknown.
ALARM / INTRUSION
Financial Aid: Cause unknown.
PROPERTY / FOUND
Public Safety: Property returned.
WELFARE CHECK
McDonnell Hall: Student located.
THEFT
Swartz Hall: Under investigation.
THEFT
Gateways Parking Lot: Under investigation.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Rt. 15 Tunnel: Judicial referral.
UNIVERSITY VIOLATION
Kress Hall: Judicial referral.
Monday, Sept. 5
ALARM / INTRUSION
Ellen Clarke Bertrand Library: Employee activated.
ALARM / INTRUSION
Golf Course Clubhouse: Employee activated.
PROPERTY / DAMAGE
Bucknell Hall: Report filed.
EMS TRANSPORT
Seventh Street House: Transported for treatment.
ALARM / INTRUSION
Botany Building: Activated by delivery.
NOISE COMPLAINT
Stadium Parking Lot: Car alarm.
THEFT
Gateway Lot: Under investigation.
ALARM / INTRUSION
Lowry House: Cause unknown.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
Bucknell West: Under investigation.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
Bucknell West: Under investigation.
ALARM / FIRE
Bucknell West: Caused by cooking.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Elaine Langone Center: Warning.
Tuesday, Sept. 6
PROPERTY / DAMAGE
Carey House Parking Lot: Report filed.
PROPERTY / FOUND
St. George Street: Report filed.
THEFT
Gateway Lot: Under investigation.
ALARM / FIRE
Bucknell West: Caused by shower steam.