A is for A Letter for a Freshman

2.34 Directions for a First-year Student, Photograph and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Figure 01. The Virginia Tech bush logo right outside the Virginia Tech Baseball field in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

Dear Future Hokie,

I’m not going to lie, freshman year won’t be all smooth sailing. There will be ups and downs, and those downs can be rough. It’s hard being in a new place with new people, and away from your family and everything that you’ve known. It can be hard to know what to do in times of doubt. However, when you ever feel overwhelmed or like you need an escape, places like the Horticulture Garden and the Duck Pond are great for beautiful sights and clearing your mind. (90)

B is for Bench

2.05 A Good Bench, Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 29

Figure 02. A bench overlooking the Virginia Tech duck pond in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

The most sentimental location in all of Blacksburg is the duck pond. I think it has some of the most beautiful scenery that I’ve ever seen. This bench, in the middle of the duck pond path, creates the perfect spot to stop and enjoy the nature. Ducks quacking and splashing, even approaching you. The reflections in the water, the smell of autumn in the air. During walks often get caught up in the actual walk, but a good bench like this allows us to slow down and enjoy the scenery. (90)

C is for Consecutive Walks

3.23 Daily Walk List, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 03. Countless birds flock in the sky above McBryde Drive in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

The daily walk I chose to do was my walk through the neighborhood on McBryde Drive from my apartment at Alight to campus. Out of all the things that stood out to me on my walks, this photograph has to be it. I was walking to campus when I looked up and saw what looked like hundreds of birds swarming the skies. I had never seen anything like it before; it was as if they were possessed. I doubt I’d see anything else out of the ordinary if I continued. (90)

D is for Duck Pond

2.19 Duck Pond, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 04. Two ducks swimming on Virginia Tech’s duck pond in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

I love the duck pond. I believe it’s the most beautiful and special place on campus. On this specific trip that I took there, I noticed these two ducks swimming alone. Separate from the rest of the group. I watched them glide across the pond together, never leaving each other’s side. It made me think that maybe these two birds really are in love. I never thought that animals could comprehend complex, human-like emotions like that. However, watching these two made me believe that they really did love each other. (90)

E is for Established Path

2.17 Desire Paths, Video and text; Wednesday, Oct. 29

Video 01. Recording of a desire path, forged by the footprints of students, cutting through Virginia Tech’s drillfield in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original video, Davis Woody)

This desire path is one I use every day of the week. I take it on my walk from Johnson Student Center to McComas Hall between 3 and 3:30 to cut through the drillfield. It doesn’t save me much time in the grand scheme of things, but those couple of seconds that it does save me make me feel like it makes a real difference, and clearly, I’m not the only one who thinks so. People will look to save a couple of seconds in any way they can. (90)

F is for Flowers

2.09 Hahn Horticulture Garden, Photograph and text; Sunday, Oct.5

Figure 05. Hahn Horticulture Garden as it is seen from its entrance on Washington Street. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

Hahn Horticulture Garden is a spot on campus I frequently visit. I don’t go as much as I would like to anymore, but it provides me with nostalgia from when I went all the time as a comfort place during my freshman year. As I made my way out of McComas Hall on the night this picture was taken, I couldn’t resist a trip to see my old friend. What I saw were flowers, lush beyond belief. Begging for my attention like nothing else I had seen in my life. (90)

G is for Garbage

2.24 A Meditation on Garbage, Photograph and text; Thursday, Oct. 9

Figure 06. A couch that has been flipped and thrown out of an apartment at Alight Blasburg, and is now lying in the grass on the front lawn. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

I’ve come across countless pieces of trash in my existence, but this one is probably the most shocking. As I was walking home one night, I stumbled across this couch that looked like it had been thrown off the balcony of a third-floor apartment. I couldn’t believe that someone would discard furniture like that without considering its impact on others or what would happen to it. I view Virginia Tech and Blacksburg, to some extent, as an incredibly clean location. This, however, is appalling and unlike anything I’d ever seen. (90)

H is for Huckleberry Trail

2.11 Huckleberry Trail, Photograph and text; Monday, Oct.6

Figure 07. Tunnel along the Huckleberry trail that goes underneath Route 460. It’s the more southern of the two tunnels, and this photograph was taken at night to show off the tunnel lighting. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

The Huckleberry Trail is one of my favorite places to walk and clear my head at Virginia Tech. It takes me away from the college vibe and transports me into a world that seems completely disconnected from Virginia Tech. I feel as though I’m actually alone in nature, which is unlike anything I feel on campus. As I traversed the trail one night, this tunnel caught my attention. The way it lit up amid the dark night, it was as if it were some sort of an escape from reality. (90) 

I is for Indoor Walk

2.12 Indoor Walk, Video and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Video 02. Loop around the first floor of my house in Richmond, Virginia. (Original video, Davis Woody)

My indoor walk is simple. So simple that I didn’t even consider it a walk until now. It simply consists of me walking in a loop around the first floor of my house in Richmond. The house is built with a staircase going upstairs in the front of the house and a staircase to the basement in the back, both positioned in the center of the house, which creates freedom to roam through the first floor. This walk is one I constantly repeat, especially when stressed, specifically during football games. (90)

J is for Junk

2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different, Photograph and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Figure 08. An empty cigarette packet found in the parking lot of Richmond’s First Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

One of my teachers in college gave us three lessons to remember on the last day of class. The first lesson he said was to recycle. More specifically, we need to take care of the one planet that we have so that our future generations have somewhere to live. This cigarette packet was left in the parking lot of a place I hold sacred: my church. To think that someone would just leave it here sickened me. We need to emphasize to the world the importance of the Earth’s future. (90)

K is for Keepings

2.23 The Things You Carry, Video and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Video 03. Emptied contents of my backpack in my Alight apartment in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original video, Davis Woody)

It’s kind of a pathetic haul for a backpack that I carry around everywhere, but the truth is, I don’t have many necessities for classes. The only items in my bag are a computer, a five-star college ruled spiral notebook, an old folder, a smaller notebook, and a calculator. To be fair, I really don’t even need the calculator anymore. I really only use the five-star for scrap paper. The folder keeps any papers I get, and the smaller notebook is essentially empty. My computer holds just about everything important. (90)

L is for Line

2.16 Waiting in Line, Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 29

Figure 09. Waiting in line outside the QDOBA restaurant in Turner Place on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

This infamous line at QDOBA is where I spend around 20 minutes of my day, five days a week. It’s known for being one of the most popular restaurants on campus. Naturally, it comes with one of the longest lines as well. This particular trip features warmth. An escape from the cold outside. The aroma draws me in, reminds me why I’m here. Why I’m waiting in this line. The frustration is shared. No one wants to be here. Everyone is either talking to a friend or on their phone. (90)

M is for Mall

3.16 Non-Commercial Walk, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 10. Right inside the main entrance of Short Pump Mall in Richmond, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

This walk happened at the infamous Short Pump Town Center mall in Richmond, Virginia, on Black Friday. Naturally, there were thousands of shoppers who help revive the mall on this day once every year. The walkways were incredibly crowded, either with people traffic or lines wrapping around the stores. There were absolutely no rules, it seemed. I would argue that the universal rule for walking is that you walk on the right side. On Black Friday, however, people walk wherever they want. I couldn’t walk efficiently at all that day. (90)

N is for Night Sky

3.14 Star Gazing, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 11. View of the stars in the night sky above my neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

I love walking at night. In fact, I love it more than walking during the day. It feels way more peaceful and alone. For this walk, I slowed down heavily. I took every step carefully. Cautious not to step somewhere dangerous or off course. My only pauses came when I was trying to identify constellations, of which I actually did recognize a few. I can easily get lost on a nighttime walk because I can feel the darkness surrounding me. While others feel danger, I feel safe in the night. (90)

O is for Old Shoes

2.02 Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories, Video and text; Thursday, Oct. 30

Video 04. Recording I took of my shoes during a walk in the neighborhood by my apartment in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original video, Davis Woody)

The shoes shown in this video have been with me since freshman year, to be exact. They’ve carried me in the form of walks, car rides, and airplanes. They’ve seen numerous states and all sorts of terrain. From snow to beach, wet to dry, heat to frozen. They’ve carried me through some excellent times, as well as my lowest of lows. These shoes are even responsible for causing me to sprain my ankle during basketball, which is my most serious injury to date. They’re worn down now, but still serviceable. (90)

P is for Premier Walk

2.21 Blacksburg’s Best Walk, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 12. Graffiti artwork I found underneath a bridge on a walk behind my apartment in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

For this entry, I asked my roommate, and good friend, what walk is his favorite in Blacksburg. He told me he liked to take a walk right behind our house, which I now know is called the Shenandoah Bike Trail. It’s a roughly two-mile loop that goes through a neighborhood. I was a huge fan of this walk, and it had so many unique aspects to it that set it apart from other walks I’ve been on. One of those aspects was this wall of graffiti that caught my eye. (90)

Q is for Quick Walk

2.32 Shortest Walk, Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 8

Figure 13. Doorway to my kitchen as seen from my bedroom at my apartment at Alight Blacksburg. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

This walk again. Every morning. My alarm goes off. I turn it off. I roll over. I’m out of bed. I get up. I open the door. Kitchen stares at me. First walk for today. Just like yesterday. Just like tomorrow. I step out slowly. Feet on cold hardwood. I’m barely awake. One foot after another. The windows are open. I see faint sunlight. I’m all alone. Everyone is asleep. I feel my thirst. Fill my water bottle. Drink it in silence. Start to wake up. Beginning of every day. (90)

R is for Recorded Walk

2.13 Step Counting Metrics, Shoe Memories, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 14. Screenshot of my Strava app where I recorded a walk I took on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

I must admit, I got a little carried away with this entry. What was supposed to be a 10-15 minute walk turned into an hour-long one. That should say how I feel about step-tracking. I was focused on cumulating as many steps as possible. I really wanted to take a walk to see some of my favorite spots on campus, with the hopes of mapping it out and seeing how it looked once I finished. I don’t know anyone devoted to step-tracking, but I can see the fun in it. (90)

S is for Sporting Event

2.08 Sporting Event, Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct. 7

Figure 15. Worsham Field at Land Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, as seen from the west sideline. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

This is a photo I took during my internship I have with the Virginia Tech Athletic Department. We went down to the field and walked around to become familiar with the stadium and what our roles would be during the game. The view was incredible. It was surreal to be up close and personal with the football environment while the teams were warming up. I won’t forget how loud it was either. Music blasting, fans cheering, players yelling, and cadets marching. There was so much going on everywhere I turned. (90)

T is for Trek

2.35 Go For A Hike, Photograph and text; Sunday, Oct. 26

Figure 16. A waterfall at the end of the Cascades Hiking Trail, just outside of Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

The Cascades Trail is an adventure I’ve trekked plenty of times during my time as a student at Virginia Tech. The focal point of the hike is obviously, as pictured above, the waterfall at the end of the trail. It’s a fairly long hike up and back, but it’s absolutely made better with the addition of friends. Sharing this experience and conversing the whole time makes the walking not seem so bad, and makes the time fly by. The cascades are a cliché to bring up, but I love it. (90)

U is for Unique

3.22 Change the Ritual, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 17. Two horses out in a field near Smithfield Road in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

My ritualistic walk is down Smithfield Road by the cow and horse pastures. When I get to the end of the road, I either turn back or I turn left and walk down the Huckleberry Trail if I’m feeling adventurous. This walk is ritualistic because it takes me away from the campus buildings and lights. This time, I turned left at the end and walked all the way to Smith’s Landing Apartments. It took away the rural/ritualistic aspect of the walk, but it took me to an unexplored location. (90)

V is for Various Backgrounds

2.14 Signage, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 18. A car with an Idaho license plate parked outside the Data and Decision Sciences building in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

Pictured above is an Idaho license plate that I believe is the most captivating sign that I came across. I know this isn’t a Virginia Tech-issued sign, and it isn’t permanently placed, but I’ll explain why. This Idaho license plate symbolises the diverse community created here at Virginia Tech. We have tens of thousands of students, all collected here from different backgrounds in this big University melting pot. We have students from around the country, and even from outside of it, all living in this small city we call home. (90)

W is for Walking for Beauty

3.02 Flânerie, Photograph and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Figure 19. A rainbow appears above Owen’s Food Court on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

Flânerie, from what I can gather, is finding beauty through the art of walking. The emphasis is more on the art of walking, or rather, strolling without end. With that said, I’d consider myself a huge fan of Flânerie. There’s nothing better than walking for the fun of it, exploring whatever comes across your path. Throughout my many walks, I believe the above photograph encapsulates the most beautiful representation of Flânerie that I can recall. A rainbow perfectly positioned above campus, something I wouldn’t have experienced without walking for myself. (90)

X is for Xatanitos (Magic Word)

3.27 Epic Walking Story, Photograph and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Figure 20. A stray cat approaches on the Shennandoah Bike Trail in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

Centuries ago, kingdoms stood, kings conquered, and magic existed. Magic ruled all. Some even went to dangerous depths to seek it. However, none possessed more magic than Siné the cat. The truth was, no matter how powerful any other magician got, they could never match Siné, for he was the only one who had mastered immortality. With this power, he forged a path between the kingdoms in an attempt to make a lasting connection for years to come. Eventually, the kingdoms fell, and that path became the Shenandoah Bike Trail. (90)

Y is for Yearn to Walk

3.01 Reflective Preparatory Writing, Photograph and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Figure 21. Parking spot in the Chicken Hill parking lot near the Virginia Tech Intramural fields in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

I yearn to walk. It is absolutely a need. If I ever feel distraught in any way, whether it’s sadness, stress, or even if I’m happy and nothing’s wrong. I love the feeling of escaping my everyday life and just being able to take some time for myself, undisturbed. I’m a fast walker, at least, in my opinion. The walks I take are either predetermined paths/trails or journeys without an ending. Sometimes I walk without an end in sight. I just walk until I feel satisfied with my distance. (90)

Z is for Zone to Eavesdrop

2.04 Overheard, Less Context, Audio and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Audio track 01. Recorded a piece of conversation overheard in Short Pump Towne Center in Richmond, Virginia. (Original recording, Davis Woody)

I recorded this audio in an extremely busy mall during Black Friday. I believe you can tell from the audio just how many people there were around me. Some voices stick out more than others, but there is clear chatter going on throughout the audio clip. I can pretty clearly make out someone saying, “The onions from Shrek. Oh my gosh!” It just sounds like two friends having a random conversation, referencing a movie they enjoy. I think it speaks to the type of people shopping there that day: teenagers. (90)