Communities Joanna Moyer-Battick
Northern Vermonter finds niche in southern part of state
On choosing Marlboro
I was looking for arty schools and small schools. I originally went somewhere else but I wish I had gone to Marlboro the first year. Some of my classes had 80 students so we never asked questions because there wasn't time. You just read the textbook and the teacher would quiz you on it every week. I don't like just memorizing facts for the sake of them being facts.
I had visited Marlboro when I was a junior in high school. They showed us some really nice dorms. I remember going to Happy Valley and there was all these people playing music in the lounge. Everyone was saying "You should go here," and was really nice.
I also remember not being able to find the campus at first. But then it was nice because we got to drive around on all these back roads and it was really pretty. They gave us free maple syrup when we came. I just remember it being a very beautiful campus.
On transferring
I was ready to leave my first school after a month, but I stayed for both semesters because I thought the process of transferring was going to be a hassle. It really wasn't because I had applied to Marlboro the year before. My guidance counselor from high school said I should just call Marlboro and tell them to pull up my file. I did that and then all I had to do was write a new essay.
On Bridges experience
I was psyched about it. It was nothing like I thought it would be. At my last school, for the first couple of days they had us play some get-to-know-each-other kind of games. It was really hellish and boring and they did it while our parents were leaving so we couldn't say good-bye. The Bridges trips have faculty and staff but mostly they are organized by the student leaders. I got really sick of the people I was with, probably about every other day, then really loved them the other days. My best friend from high school was already attending Marlboro but when I came here I also had friends from the Bridges trip I could hang out with. That was really helpful.
On academics
I had already taken a lot of introductory classes so I had a good foundation when I came here. I had done a ton of writing because there were two first-year seminars with really intense writing and reading. I think that helped me pass the Clear Writing Requirement.
I came here wanting to do gender studies. I ended up taking Introduction to Black and White Photography and the Poetry Workshop, which made me realize I really want to have photography and poetry in my Plan of Concentration. At first I thought they were just classes I could take for fun, but seeing the kinds of versatility of people's Plans here, I think I could work it into something with gender studies.went to a bunch of the recent plan exhibitions in Drury Gallery and that was just amazing. It helps inspire me to keep going.
On community life
I came here thinking I wanted to be really involved with the community.The thing I've been involved with most is the GLBT Pride organization on campus. I've helped with their fundraisers and I've also helped with fundraisers for the Japan trip that I and other students are taking in May. I've taken part in Work Day and stuff like that but I haven't been involved in organizing any activities. I'm really going to try next year to do it more now that I have the van schedules worked out and I know what the coursework is like.
On getting around
I was really afraid to live at Marlboro North at first because I don't drive. But the college van schedule and the Moover schedule work totally fine.
I never feel stranded. I get down to Brattleboro about every other weekend. It's one of my favorite towns. I like getting food at the co-op and going to the hospice for cheap clothes. I bought this adorable vintage suitcase at a store called Twice Upon a Time. I went on the New York City trip last weekend and I was thinking about going on the van trip to Boston next month, because I've never been there and it's free.
Advice for prospective transfer students
If you feel like transferring, you should probably transfer. I held off on it for two semesters and I was really unhappy. Then when I came here I was really glad that I had done it.
At the old campus everyone dressed and wore their hair a certain way. You should come here if you want to feel loved or needed for however you are. There's a place for everyone here. That sounds really cliché' but I think there is.
Students of many different types can succeed here, but the term "liberal arts student" comes to mind -- people who like to study everything. Flexibility is important because the process of getting into a class is so different than other schools. Get ready to have good relationships with teachers because it's a totally different kind of relationship than at other schools. You get to know them as people.