Scholars
My Experiences
Intro Video
Media Scholar Intro
First Week Of Classes
Starting my first year of college in quarantine or from the confines of my bedroom has exactly been amazing, but with scholars its has been just a bit more easier. From the many extra meet ups to the media eats content I've been able to adjust to college life without actually being their. As I start learning to be self dependent and find time for my interests I really can't wait to make so many new memories under UMD and as a scholars student!
Introduction Video for Media Scholars
Media Eats
First Friday Meeting
October 16 2020
Media Eats is a bi-weekly (well hopefully) Friday night dinner or desert making where a few of us come together and spend a few hours talking and making food. Honestly this was so much fun to start and take part in. Especially since we had this around the end of midterms which gave me something fun to look forward too. I really hope we can continue this as a way to keep in touch!
Homemade Pasta Night w/ Kelly and Scholars
2020 Elections
Current Reactions
November 2020 Election Week
With the mail-in ballots situation from this time around, the election seemed a lot more nerve-racking than last time. If I'm being honest with myself I probably spent at least half the week checking election results, even if I knew there were probably not going to be any updates. As for the result, the constant not knowing and waiting left me a tad bit underwhelmed. I remember looking up and seeing, the channel was CNN I believe, announcing the Joe Biden had won and all I remember is going cool. It took me at least a few minutes to realize what actually happened. But nevertheless I'm still anxious about how things will go down in the next two months with the lawsuits and such.
Some Moments Throughout The Week
Media Eats 2
Thanksgiving Meeting
November 20 2020
This was the second meeting I was able to attend this semester. We decided to make mini apple pies in honor of thanksgiving being only a few days away. As compared to last time most of us we a lot more comfortable this time since we'd all met each other before. But my favorite part had to be us playing the game Among Us while waiting for our pies to finish baking. This served as stress reliever with final coming up soon so I'm really glad I was able to make it. I hope to continue these meeting next semester and maybe we could stream a movie while cooking next time!
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Mini Apple Pies
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My Photo Essay
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Taken on September 25th of 2020 at the Patuxent River Park in Odenton, Maryland and includes my father, Nilesh Rawool, as he tries to use his fingers as a makeshift binocular in order to view the eagle he is watching from a distance. This picture was taken during one of our many weekly visits to various parks and trails near our house during quarantine as a means of exercise and family bonding time. Although Covid-19 has affected my daily life significantly, this picture portrays one of the many joyful memories I’ve made throughout quarantine with my loved ones. With so much time on my hands during quarantine I was able to spend more time with my family and get to know them so much better.
Taken on November 27th of 2020 at a lake near my cousin’s in Virginia and includes one of my cousins, Arya Vaidya, as he attempts to skip rocks across the surface while in a competition with my other cousins. This picture was taken during one of the few times I was able to meet my cousins during quarantine due to restrictions and unsafe conditions. Through this quarantine period I’ve understood just how important family can be and how much I missed being able to see my loved ones aside from family. But one thing is for sure that no matter how much time has passed family is still family.
Taken on October 28th of 2020 outside my cousin’s house in Virginia and includes my youngest cousin, Sanvi Gurav, saying goodbye to my other cousin’s dog, Maximus or Max for short. This image was taken during the end of an extended family meet up. Since quarantine had started, this picture would be the first time me and my cousins were able to get together after around 5 months. This sweet little girl spent almost all of the weekend with Max and grew a connection with him from the looks of things. Last I remember she was actually frightened of that same dog but with Max being the one to accompany her everywhere she went, Sanvi has taken a liking towards him. Something I really took from this was how much our pets are willing to care for us and how they can become your closest friends especially when you can’t even meet people.
Taken on November 3rd of 2020 in my living room and includes my fingers blurred in the forefront with a focus on the television in the background displaying election day news. Here you can find me stressfully watching the news on election day trying to figure out what the results will be, while also trying to focus on my school work. This being the first time I was old enough to vote made it much more nerve-wracking than previous elections. Also with the protests that were firing up the nation making this election seem 10 times more important. This was probably the first time that I actually felt like I was an 18 year old with responsibilities because without being allowed to go outside and meet people, the elections were one of the few ways I could exercise my rights. Covid-19 really has turned my world upside down.
Taken on September 25th of 2020 at Black Hill Regional Park and includes a wild flower I took interest in during a walk with a few friends from high school. This picture showcases a small detail of nature that I decided to capture because of its visual qualities and because it was a memory that I was able to make with some of my close friends. What you do see in the picture is two of my friends, Medha Kotti and Esha Manoj, as we were finally able to match a time to meet up. Both of these friends are from either different colleges or different majors so trying to find a time that works for all of us was especially a struggle. This college semester has been a whirlwind of emotions but I have continued making worthwhile memories from the tiniest of experiences.
Taken on November 26th of 2020 or Thanksgiving at a family friend’s house and includes our close group of friends that we have stayed in contact with during quarantine. This picture was taken just minutes before we were given a chance to dig into all the amazing food displayed in front of us. This photo may just be one of my most fondest memories taken during this past semester. As a thanksgiving tradition our four families meet up each year and one of the most heartwarming parts is when we go arounds saying what we are thankful for, with how strange this past year has been this small bit of normalcy was quite welcomed. One of the things I remember stating during our sharing was how thankful I was that my parents allowed and accepted my decision to change majors. This picture has become a moment in my life I will continue to cherish!
Taken on November 4th of 2020 or Diwali in my living room and includes my mother, Nutan Rawool, my father, Nilesh Rawool, and finally me. In this photo we are holding a lit candle in honor of the Indian festival we were celebrating which is the festival of lights. Aside from the candle each of us is also dressing in traditional clothing brought from India during one of our previous visits. Seeing as this year was an extremely different experience as compared to most years from Corona restrictions to staying home for classes, celebrating even the littlest of things with my family gives me lots of joy. I hope to continue being able to celebrate traditions with my loved ones in the coming years!
My 3 Semester Review
How have you changed during the Scholars experience? What parts of the program influenced you most significantly and why?
Through this program I have been given a chance to better understand the media I use and how I can use it to give me an advantage in terms of world knowledge as well as future career paths. In terms of how it has changed me, the scholars program has allowed me to open up to more possibilities in career choices as well as future options. It has also changed me in terms of how comfortable I am with public speaking. Due to this program, my confidence in my public speaking skills has gone up. The part of the program that influenced me the most are the guest speakers since I was able to ask them about their experiences and how they got to where they are. I can now use this knowledge when thinking about what I want to be.
What do you see as media’s role in your life and in our society? How has your understanding of this role changed over your past 3 semesters in Media Scholars?
Media’s role in my life is constantly changing but the more significant role it has in my life is to make connections with others. By this I am referring to not only people I know in real life but also people I have met online. Media has given me a platform to meet new people all around with the click of a button which has not only helped me talk with individuals already in my field but also peers studying the same courses as me. When I first started college as a freshman, to me media was a way of creating my identity by what I posted and such, but now it has become so much more. I can understand what to post in order to create a certain impression of myself to others.
What connections can you draw between media and your major/intended career field? How can you apply lessons learned in media to your life beyond the program?
In terms of connections of media with my major, studio art, media helps me create my art as well as plan what I want to make. I am able to use multiple apps to create new designs as well as get my ideas written down. Media also gives me a place to see other artist’s work easily in order to get inspiration as well as understand the ways in which I can create the art I want to. The lessons I've learned not only apply to my major, but also to my life in terms of how I live it. This program has given me a closer look into how media influences us and taught me to take everything I see with a grain of salt. I can make my own decisions of what I choose to believe as well as what media I choose to consume. Instead of media controlling me, I can now control the media involved in my life.
Photos Through The Semesters
This is a photo taken with my friend June, also my roommate. This was from my first trip to DC after being on campus. It was an adventure to say the least but I got to spend the day with her and we had lots of fun exploring Georgetown. This was also the start of our metro trips!
This photo was taken at my first football game since joining UMD as a sophomore. Since I stayed home for the first semester in freshman year, this was my first chance to go. The energy was amazing and this was the first time it actually felt like college for me.
This photo was taken with some of my dance team, Dhoom, members when we had our first in person group meeting since the start of covid. It was so much fun and the start to my meaningful friendships with these amazing people.
Overall I would say my college experience has been a compilation of many firsts. These are moments I could never have gotten anywhere else and moments I will cherish for the rest of my life !