I wanted to keep trying out new things, so I registered for the Washington Initiative program.  Through the Kogod School of Business, undergraduates like myself can train to become IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers.  Students then volunteer for Community Tax Aid and prepare taxes for low-income individuals and families.

Students volunteer a total of seven sessions to obtain 1-2 credit hours, which can be used as elective credits in Kogod.

So far, I am enjoying every minute of this program.  It’s a challenge – it’s something I never, ever thought I’d be doing (Me, preparing taxes?  No way).  I have a basic understanding of our tax system now, and even my mom has asked me for clarification about different tax credits, and, using all of my tax pamphlets and resource books, I was able to answer them.  Working with clients and muddling through financial information with them has helped me develop my small talk skills.  But most importantly, I am reaching out into my DC community and helping out where I can.

No matter where you end up for college (I’m hoping AU!), I hope you have the chance to try something you never expected you’d be doing.

For more information about the Washington Initiative program:

http://www.american.edu/kogod/klab/washington_initiative.cfm

Here is the mixing bowl with all the lovely ingredients Justine mixed all up to make crêpes. She didn’t use measuring cups or spoons. Justine knew the recipe by heart and knew, by sight, how much of each ingredient to add. 

Together we mixed the ingredients and cooked the crêpes on the stove. 

Here are our finished crêpes! I filled mine with nutella =) We also used jam and fresh fruit in the crêpes.

This is just one of the many great experiences I have had here at AU! 

In preparation for Valentine’s Day, they hosted a “Find a Valentine!” party. A bunch of Ambassadors got together to make Valentines, eat chocolate, and play fun Valentine’s Day games! (Props to the winners of our pickup line contest and our “guess the number of Hershey’s Kisses” contest!) For a few of our new Ambassadors, this was their first opportunity to meet some of our veterans!

Overall, it was a ton of fun, and I had a great time relaxing with my Ambassador friends- old and new.

The Red Polo crew shows off their creative side and makes some Valentines.

AU_SarahB creates an oragami-Valentine!

One of the many Valentine's Day games was a contest where Ambassadors had to unwrap and eat as many Hershey's kisses as they could in a minute. With mittens on!

The best thing about Ambassador parties? All the free food!

Leader Board Love! Just a few of the people who work to keep Ambassadors running smoothly.(From left to right: AU_JoshH, AU_Eileen F, AU_MollyK, AU_RachelR, AU_PeterK, and me!)

Do you think Willy Wonka is a Candy Wonk?

In the first annual Play 4 Kay competition, the AU Women’s basketball team asked clubs, organizations, or general AU students to decorate a bra, in order to help raise awareness about breast cancer. AU Athletics provided students with big, ugly, granny-style bras to transform into works of art. (Check out my residents’ tie-dye creation in the photos below!)

The winning groups had a $50 donation donated to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in their name. Unfortunately, my floor’s bra didn’t win the competition, but I was really happy with our contribution to such a great cause! Besides, we got to watch an awesome basketball game with my residents! The girls beat Holy Cross 67-47, in a game that was exciting to the very end!

The AU Women’s basketball team is currently 10-0, giving them the best record of the Patriot League in seven years!

Some of my residents, including Ambassador AU_GraceF

Did you know that they serve free pizza at all home basketball games?

The Eagles Pep Band

Clawed Z. Eagle and the AU Dance Team

The AU Gospel Choir performed the National Anthem before the game.

Mrs. Anne Kerwin, the President's wife, got to sit on the players bench with her mother for the game.

American University vs. Holy Cross

The referees had pink whistles in support of breast cancer! (The players also sported pink AU Athletics shirts and socks during the warm up.)

The bra created by my floor for the bra-decorating competition.

Some of the creations for the contest. (Over two dozen clubs and organizations participated!)

The AU Cheerleaders

One of my freshmen residents was very excited to meet Clawed for the first time!

I had been offered a tour of the nation’s capital by my RA (Residential Adviser), who was interning for a Senator at the time, two times previous to this, but had always had class. Somehow this semester I created a schedule that allowed me to not have any classes on Fridays, which I didn’t think much until an amazing opportunity presented itself to me.

I am a first year cadet in Air Force ROTC through the consortium at Howard University and for the first time the detachment became involved in a mentorship program with Officers in the DC area. Our kickoff event was on the 25^th and none of us thought much would come out of it. We were certainly wrong, besides free movie tickets and a free dinner we got that night; we also were given the chance of a lifetime to tour the capital with Lt. Colonel Boles, the Air Force Liaison to the Senate! Now this is a pretty big deal!

Only four of us had the availability in our schedules to spend the entire afternoon at the capital, but it was worth it. I was the only freshman in the group, but not the only one who has never received a tour before. When we go inside we had to ask a bunch of different people how to get the offices of the military liaisons. Later on we found out we aren’t the only people who find the building confusing, even after having worked there for years Colonel Boles got turned around.

At first the tour didn’t seem all that amazing or special, we started off going to see the movie all of the normal tourists see and going to the museum. But after that was done, the fun really began. After a series of twists and turns we ended up at a desk somewhere and were handed special badges that said we were there on official business and were “escorted”, much cooler than the tour stickers we had to wear to see the movie. After we pinned them on we boarded one of the special capital trains that take you to different spots within the building! Something I didn’t even know existed, and certainly not something the people on my floor got to do.

Much of the tour was like this. Our first big stop was the Chamber of the House of Representatives… where the State of the Union was held and then to the Senate rooms to compare. We all took pictures standing in the spot where the four quadrants of DC meet. It was after this that it turned 4:30, and Colonel Boles told us to take of our badges and put them in our pocket because we were about to go into areas that guests don’t normally get escorted into. This is how we ended up in the exact spot where Presidents get inaugurated and how we found what was supposed to be the crypt of President George Washington.

Standing on spot that marks where the four quadrants of DC meet!View from the spot where Presidents are inaugurated!

Before we finished our tour, we went in to a few different Senator’s offices and were introduced to the people that worked inside. Many of them saying that if we were ever looking for an internship they would be happy to have us. Colonel Boles finished the tour by handing us each an Air Force Senate Liaison coin and passes to the Senate Gallery, to be used anytime!

Colonel Boles and I after the tour!

Touring the Capitol was an amazing experience and a fantastic lead up to a night of Bill Clinton!

First we took the AU Shuttle to Van Ness where we caught a bus (because the metro was single tracking, we decided this method was faster) then got on the metro for the last leg of our journey to Chinatown.

As soon as we came up the escalator at Gallery Place/Chinatown there were massive crowds of people! There was a lot of energy and anticipation for the main event: the giant firecracker!

After exploring around Chinatown, we found a nice spot on the sidewalk where we could watch the festivities. There was a stage further down the street where there was a performance with the traditional chinese dragon and music. Next we watched a few men lay out a massive firecracker! It snaked down the entire street!

There were a few musical performances by local groups who played traditional Chinese music and then it was time for the main event!

The mayor was at the celebration, and he set off the firecracker. Several dragons (not real, unfortunately) started dancing around and following the firecraker on the ground as it went off. There was also a huge colorful dragon that snaked around the entire area right in front of the crowds of people. The firecraker went off for about 10 minutes!

Going to the celebration was a very cool experience that I would have never had at home. It’s great to get out into the city so often and really experience different cultures.

My main motive for going to the celebration was creating a photo essay for my Visual Literacy class (COMM-105). Our task was to put together 8-10 photographs that had some sort of common theme, then post them in our desired order on our blogs. We turn in our assignments on our personal blogs, which is a great way to create a portfolio as well as see work done by the other students in my class. (If you’re interested in the projects that we do in Visual Literacy… here’s a link to my blog –> http://lifem0vesprettyfast.wordpress.com/ )

I was thrilled that I was able to go into DC and snap these photos while experiencing Chinatown (I was doing homework and having fun at the same time!)

And now for you’re viewing pleasure… my photo essay!

Giant firecracker time!

This little girl was getting a piggy back ride from her dad and really enjoyed the firecracker.

I really liked this photo because 1. It’s super bright and colorful! and 2. You can see the guy peering out of the window!

The finale!

And also a special thanks to fellow AU Ambassadors Dylan, Emily, and Meaghan for coming with me! And my roommate Gabrielle, as well as friends Brian and Dan!

President Clinton

President Clinton address the crowd

After speaking for 30-45 minutes, President Clinton sat down with Professor James Thurber, Director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies in the School of Public Affairs, to answer some questions that had been submitted by students. The week prior to the event students submitted questions via Facebook, Twitter, and email and Prof. Thurber had the chance to ask a couple to the former president. These questions ranged from what President Clinton believes are his greatest accomplishments, to the current economic crisis, and lastly about empathy.

President Clinton answers a question posed by Prof. Thurber

Following the Q&A, President Clinton turned to leave but stopped to shake hands and talk with students. After walking the entire rope line, President Clinton left an American University community that was extremely grateful for his visit. Afterwards, I ran to get dinner and reflect on what had been an absolutely amazing event!

See the following for coverage of the event:

American University Communications

The Eagle – AU student newspaper

Washington Post – Campus Overload

Washington Post – The Buzz

ABC News

PRWeb

Keep up with the Kennedy Political Union:

Facebook

Twitter

My inspiration for my first post is the new eatery in the Market Place in the Mary Graydon Center, called Greens. It’s brand new this semester and adds another healthy option on campus to grab lunch or dinner! Greens allows you to make your own salad by choosing the type of lettuce you want (from a choice of three– spinach leaves, mixed greens, or classic iceberg) and then you can add all of the vegetables, toppings, and dressing you want! Today I had an iceberg salad with chicken, vegetables and ranch dressing! It was a healthy and delicious lunch! 

 The Marketplace also underwent more renovations, besides the addition of Greens. Pronto, a freshly made sandwich counter was moved to better accommodate the crowd and has added a new “text-your-order” system! I have yet to try the system, but I have heard good reviews! 

Einstein Bagels has also moved and expanded. The menu has added more choices and the campus is buzzing about our new accommodations. 

I hope you all get a chance to try our new and improved Marketplace! 

And that’s as much as I knew about vegetarian and vegan options at American University.  I proudly touted that fact on tours I gave, but I never really understood it.  Yes, I had seen the salad bar in the dining hall.  I knew that we had a vegetarian/vegan section, and sometimes they had good (gluten-free) pasta there.  But all this has changed.

I’m now a month-old vegetarian, and suddenly I’m really thankful for our school’s standing on PETA’s list.  I don’t know how many schools regularly serve tofu, tempeh, and seitan, but I’m glad that AU does.

Outside of our dining hall, most of our food locations also provide vegetarian options.  My favorite is currently the vegetarian taco salad from Salsa (our version of Chipotle).  The Tavern, another food place that accepts meal swipes, offers options like tofu salads, garden burgers, portobello mushroom burgers, veggie quesadillas, and black bean quesadillas.  I also made my favorite egg, ham, and cheese (on a plain bagel) sandwich from MegaBytes Cafe vegetarian-friendly, although I guess it wasn’t really that difficult to do…

My lunch - A giant black bean quesadilla from the Tavern

When I don’t feel like exploring the dining hall, and I just want to make my own tofu tacos, I walk from my dorm room to the communal kitchen, where I have a stove, microwave, and an oven at my disposal.

So what does this mean for non-vegetarian/vegans?

It means that you will still have plenty of meaty options (the Terrace Dining Room’s grilled chicken goes great with their mac and cheese, and Taco Tuesdays are a favorite here), but if you ever feel like exploring something different, you will have that option.  AU is full of people with different beliefs, and I’m proud to be a part of a school that supports all of these views.

To see this year’s PETA list, click here.