Hannah Taplin – Final Photo Essay

Humanities Seniors: The Last Weeks

On Saturday, May 5th, the seniors at Cornerstone University will across the stage and receive their degree. However, the last two weeks can be daunting, particularly for those in process of writing a thesis. In Humanities 482, the thesis writing class finished presentations on April 28th, but the process was arguably the most exhausting part of undergrad. A minimum of 15 pages and multiple cited sources, it is a very important paper and evidence of what was learned during the time – and money – spent at university. 

Humanities, the study of language, history, and literature, is a very demanding division to get through and the professors expect a large amount from their students and when taking multiple said classes at a time, the workload can be overwhelming, especially when one also works and has relationships to maintain.  Four Humanities students, Anna Swanson, Elizabeth Norris, and Hannah Van Kampen. invited me to help capture their last few weeks of undergrad and the ups and downs that it contains. 

Cornerstone University, April 11th, 2018:
Senior Elizabeth Norris, a Creative Writing major,
prepares the final draft of her thesis prior to the due date.
She had been on a job interview prior to our shoot and feeling confident.

Cornerstone University, April 11th, 2018:
Liz is positive that she's almost done on her thesis,
which focused on worldbuilding in fantasy and sci-fi novels.

Cornerstone University, April 12th, 2018:
The thesis turns out to be over 20 pages, not including the optional creative piece
that is required for her Humanities strand.

Cornerstone University, April 12th, 2018:
Liz gives a 30-minute presentation on her thesis, which received rave reviews by
those who attended because of the well-researched presentation that she gave on the Celebration of
Scholarship Day.

Cornerstone University, April 11th, 2018:
Liz is relieved that she is finally done with her thesis and can spend the next two
weeks supporting her fellow students as they too give their presentations.

Cornerstone University, April 21st, 2018:
After picking up their caps and gowns, Liz and fellow writing major Hannah Van Kampen kick
snow in frustration and in celebration. The next week will be a whirlwind and they
need an outlet. Hence, the snow. 

Cornerstone University, April 21st, 2018:
Hannah gleams as she imitates an impression of vampire that she is going to do for
her thesis presentation the following Tuesday. 

Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 22nd, 2018:
In a rare time of bliss, Liz watches Vine Compilations that she has never seen before to relax
prior to the whirlwind in the next week, as Hannah watches Liz's enjoyment. 

Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 22nd, 2018:
Liz seems to find pleasure in the internet videos.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 22nd, 2018:
Hannah rests for a moment prior to putting on a movie that she insists I watch before her presentation
on the following Tuesday. 

Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 22nd, 2018:
Senior Anna Swanson, a Literature major and creative wriitng minor, is a page away from
finishing her thesis on the relationships in Jane Eyre, by Jane Austen.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 22nd, 2018:
Anna just finished on a play while also working at least 20 hours a week and maintaining a four month
relationship with her boyfriend Ian. She says: "It's been hell and back and back again."

Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 22nd, 2018:
She does, however, find solace – and distraction – in her tabby cat, Minerva.

Cornerstone University, April 26th 2018:
Anna gets ready to present her thesis to Humanities Seminar. 

Cornerstone University, April 26th, 2018:
Anna listens intently to a peer's question during her presentation.

Cornerstone University, April 26th, 2018:
Hannah feels very confident and relieved after finishing her thesis presentation.

Cornerstone University, May 1st, 2018:
Liz is about to finish her last class and paper ever in her collegiate career. 

Cornerstone University, May 1st, 2018:
Liz has finished her last exam and is ready for graduation on Saturday. It's been a long road since
we first met in our initial writing class back in 2015.

Cornerstone University, May 1st, 2018:
Anna turns in her last paper of undergrad. She is done, or at least until grad school, where she
plans to pursue her PhD in English Literature and be a professor in Europe. 

Cornerstone University, May 1st, 2018:
Anna is also done with undergrad now that Humanities Seminar is wrapped up on
Tuesday afternoon. Another step is done on her road to her dreams.