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.

Jenny Tran- Final Photo Essay

A GIRL WHO NEVER STOPS SMILING  

February 14, 2018. Cornerstone University. Julia Ghosh enjoys the nice weather.

   

You may look at her and think, “Wow, she looks so happy!” but there are so much pain behind that fake smile where she tries to hide her sorrows and cover her sadness.

March 28, 2018. Julia Ghosh has a Bangladesh flag in her bedroom.

March 28, 2018. There are picture of Julia's parents, Bible, and candle on the night table.

March 28, 2018. Julia Ghosh tries to find her medicine. 

Her name is Julia Oishi Ghosh and she is twenty three years old. Julia came from Bangladesh, a country in South Asia where shares borders with Burma and India. She studies international business at Cornerstone University. Personally, she is very talkative and caring. Whenever you see her, you can always see the smile on her face but there is so much suffering behind the smile.

March 28, 2018. Julia Ghosh talks about her love story.

April 1, 2018. Julia Ghosh rereads the love letters from her boyfriend.

March 28, 2018. Julia Ghosh thinks and recalls the memories of her relationship.

People always say that love hurts sometimes so does Julia. She gets hurt from the person she loves the most. In 2014, she met and fell in love with a guy in Bangladesh. Then, she had to move to U.S. for her study but they still kept in touch. It is hard for them to maintain the long distance relationship but she tried her best for him. After studying and working, she called and talked to him for hours and hours. In 2015, she came back to Bangladesh to visit him for a month.

During their relationship, they had to face many obstacles from the families, people, and distance. However, they always supported and encouraged each other through tough time. They also sent letters and gifts to each other. Especially, Julia sacrificed so much for her partner and he meant everything in her life. At that time, everything seemed great and she was happy but one day, he called her and said that he did not want her in his life anymore. Julia was shocked and she could not believe of what she just heard.

April 1, 2018. Julia puts her boyfriend's pictures on a box under her bed.

April 1, 2018. Julia also puts the drawing of her boyfriend and their pictures in the box.

April 1, 2018. Julia Ghosh opens the gift from her boyfriend. 

April 1, 2018. Julia reread all the love letters from her boyfriend. 

April 1, 2018. Julia shows the picture when she and her boyfriend is still in love.

April 1, 2018. Julia dropped and broke her phone after her boyfriend scolded her. 

She did everything to get him back to her life but nothing worked out. She cried and cried everyday until her eyes got hurt. After so many missed phone calls, he finally picked up but then he started to curse her and blame everything on her. He said that she was the biggest mistake of his life. At this point, Julia was so depressed that she tried to end her life to stop the pain in her heart. She looked at all the gifts he sent, all the love letters he wrote, and their pictures when they were still in love. She still could not understand the reason why his heart changed suddenly.

April 19, 2018. Starbucks Café. Julia writes a love letter to herself. 

April 19, 2018. Starbucks Café. Julia starts to write journal to organize her thought and clear her mind. 

April 27, 2018. Julia gets ready for her photoshoot.

April 27, 2018. Pickerel Lake Park. Julia tried to pose for her photoshoot.

April 27, 2018. Pickerel Lake Park. Julia and the photographer check and look at her pictures.

Even though she hurts so much, she still smiles and be happy in front of everyone. She realizes that she cannot avoid the sorrows and she cannot change someone’s heart. At least, she changes herself to be better and stay gorgeous. Her painful love makes her become more mature and be able to find peace in her heart and her mind.

Sarah Asprec: Final Photo Essay

The Pre-Med Student Life

Entering college, you will soon get asked the repetitive question of "what's your major?". Some may say how fun one major can be, or another may tell you how switching to another one is better. None, however, compares to the campus-wide sympathy for those who choose to enter into Pre-medical (Pre-med). Pre-med majors are known for an even more demanding college lifestyle. It doesn't come to surprise when you hear that a pre-med student stayed up till five in the morning studying for a seven AM exam, or when you find one buying their third coffee for the day. Yes, it may seem exaggerated, but I chose to follow around three pre-med students in their day-to-day life, and you can see for yourself whether they are the "harder" working students.

04/09/2018; Cornerstone University. Priyata Khyang takes a breather from studying to laugh with her roommate.

04/09/2018; Cornerstone University. Priyata Khyang reads through content for class.

04/09/2018; Cornerstone University. Priyata Khyang jots down the answers for the assignment due.

04/09/2018; Cornerstone University. Grace Akansha and Priyata Khyang take a break from studying to meet up late at night to practice for their big dance on the weekend.

04/09/2018; Cornerstone University. Grace Akansha and Priyata Khyang rehearse the dance multiple times.

04/12/2018; Cornerstone University. Priyata Khyang and Grace Akansha lead an Indian inspired dance at Mixed Threads.

04/22/18; Cornerstone University. Priyata Khyang and Hannah Ottosen work together to finish an online quiz for their Microbiology class.

04/22/18; Cornerstone University. Hannah Ottosen diligently taking her online quiz.

04/25/18; Corerstone University. Priyata Khyang enjoying her lunch in between class and an upcoming shift for work.

04/25/18; Cornerstone University. Priyata Khyang and Grace Akansha share a laugh as Priyata does work on the computer.

04/25/18; Cornerstone University. Priyata Khyang sitting at work.

04/27/18; Cornerstone University. Hannah Ottosen up late studying in a designated Study Room.

04/27/18; Cornerstone University.Hannah Ottosen at her job waiting to get off her shift at midnight.

04/29/18; Cornerstone University. The few books needed for a pre-med major.

04/27/18; Cornerstone University. A glimpse of all the papers written or filled out for pre-med classes.

04/30/18; Cornerstone University. Hannah Ottosen slips in a nap in between her classes in hopes she can stay up later to study.

04/27/18; Cornerstone University. Hannah Ottosen, Grace Akansha, and Priyata Khyang all head out to the past midnight to work on their homework.

04/29/18; Cornerstone University. Priyata Khyang gulps down her third coffee for the night.

05/01/18; Cornerstone University. As everyone else enjoys their meal, Priyata Khyang and Hannah Ottosen have not time to spare when it comes to getting their assignments done.

05/01/18; Cornerstone University. Priyata Khyang and Hannah Ottosen take a moment to relax and laugh a little.

05/01/18; Cornerstone University. Their break doesn't take long as Hannah Ottosen gets straight back into her assignment.