In short—I’m traveling the world for a year! Circumnavigating the globe (counter-clockwise) as a Bristol Fellow, researching how educational policy and culture influence the lives of young artists. I’ll be traveling around Australia, India, The Netherlands, & Namibia for sure, with Taiwan, the Philippines, and the Czech Republic as possibilities, all alone. Probably at this point, you’re thinking one of two things, either:
1.: “Wow, sounds great! How do I sign up?”
or
2.: “But Mattie, your mother is such a lovely person, how could you do this to her? Don’t you want her to live through the next year?”
To all of you thinking the second one, including you, mom, I agree. But, rest assured I will be taking many safety precautions and I’m not the first person to do this. In fact, there are many people doing this right now! Which leads me to answer the first question—how the heck did I manage to get someone to give me money so I could travel the world and do research I actually want to do?
Good question. Luckily there’s an amazing family out there, the Bristol Family, who created a fellowship in honor of William M. Bristol, Jr. ‘17 . They wanted to create a fellowship to “encourage discovery of self and the world, a greater appreciation and understanding of people and culture, and to enable individuals to act on great ideas through independent study projects rather than formal academic pursuit.” (1) After reading about this fellowship and a similar national fellowship called the Watson, I knew I needed to apply. But, the question became, what am I passionate enough about to study for a year?” What (as the Watson puts it) “sets my soul on fire?” I started writing a proposal about how glass is used around the world, then switched to how art is used to facilitate social change. But, neither of those were quite right.
Luckily at Hamilton I’ve been gifted with the most amazing mentors. My best advice about my topic was given to me by one of my art professors who had me write down all my passions and try to connect them. My list looked a bit like this, give or take:
Fine Arts
Social Change
Policy
Behavioral Economics
Community Service
Music
Education
Glasswork
Theater
Culture
Ect.
…after reading this list not only did I confirm that I majored in the correct concentrations (public policy and fine arts) but I figured out my topic. It combine all of them in a way.
So, next came my two-part paper—- a personal statement (detailing my personal connection to the project) and my project proposal. Honestly, despite having to come up with a detailed plan and contacts in every country, the personal statement was by far harder. I must have gone through about 12-13 drafts by the time it was finally submitted. I wrote/edited/contacted people/had meetings every single day for a couple months (to give credit where credit is due, Ginny Dosch at the Hamilton Career Center was the most dedicated person I’ve ever met, once meeting me at 9:15 pm after choir because it was the only time I could meet.)
Finally, I had a paper, contacts and an interview with the Hamilton Committee. It was the most intimidated I have ever been in my life. I walked into a gorgeous small reading room to a semi-circle of professors, and administrators. A chair had been put directly opposite in which I was suppose to sit. I was so nervous that I locked my legs together to stop them shaking (which then lead me to fall into a vice president’s lap when I had to stand up.) I left thinking I had blown it, it was less of an interview than a defense of my project… which I needed and wasn’t quite prepared to do. I was shocked when a few days later I was chosen to be one of four finalists for the Watson Fellowship to be submitted for national consideration.
During the next couple months I didn’t really sleep, was very stressed and was honestly kind of miserable. I was doing two theses (both of which were all-consuming), co-head of the largest student organization on campus, part of choir, part of college hill singers (so technically 6 classes), applying & interviewing at jobs at night & reworking my application. (I’m exhausted just writing about it!)
In October, I accepted a position with Teach For America in Chicago teaching Early Childhood Education. I was given a deferral if I got my fellowship, but in the meantime I had to go through the motions (fun fact: I’m certified to teach ECE in the state of Illinois!)
Finally it was interview time: all I have to say is that I had the nicest interviews during both my Watson and my Bristol. They were more like conversations (and conversations about something I love!) I had those in February, and then knew I would find out on March 17th about the Watson.
On the 16th I woke up from a nap to receive an e-mail making me face the fact that I had worked tirelessly for a dream that wasn’t going to happen.
The silver lining was that I agreed with the committee, and the right girl from Hamilton (and Indiana!!!) will represent us for the Watson (along with another surely fantastic Hamiltonian I have yet to meet.) Aly’s project is truly incredible and is a phenomenal reflection of who she is as a person.
It was three whole weeks later and just 2 days before my Chicago interviews that I found out about the Bristol. I did not have my hopes up, because honestly, I just couldn’t take being that upset again (and thus confused the heck out of my family.) But, not only did I get it, but the remaining Hamilton Watson nominee also received it. For the first time two Bristols were awarded. I don’t think I can ever truly express how grateful I am to the Bristol family. But, sometimes simplicity is best so all I have to say (if you ever see this) is this, “thank you for giving me the world.”
1. http://www.hamilton.edu/fellowships/awards/william-j-bristol-fellowship (As a true Hamilton student, I felt the need to cite my sources.
