ENGL3844 P2.Walkings

Prof. Derek Mueller (dmueller@vt.edu)

10/10/25

Intro: The media below demonstrate many walks that I’ve taken in Blacksburg, Virginia. Whether they were for leisure or purpose, all of my journeys have been collected in this document. I used mostly photos in this documentation, but there is one video link present as well for some variation. Some takeaways I gathered from this project are the fact that I rarely walk alone, I usually walk later in the day or at night, and that I documented mostly fun walks rather than objective ones. Noticeable motifs in this collection include friends, downtown Blacksburg, and activities outside of school. Like I said, most of these walks are for leisure and nothing else. I believe one of the most significant walks in this project was the halloween walk. Everyone was very excited to let loose after a hard week of school. Plus everyone knows how horrendous college gets in October. It definitely wasn’t the longest walk on the list, but it was by far the most enjoyable and memorable. We ran into so many cool characters and costumes on our way to the club. Some of our costumes got recognized too, which was reassuring because of how low effort they were. Another significant walk would be the frost walk. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved snowy weather. I was very excited that I got to experience Tech’s first snow of the year, even though I was less than thrilled to be walking to class. However, the weather improved my entire day, and my roommate and boyfriend went out to buy matching Christmas socks because we all felt very festive. Basically, all of these walks have different stories to tell with shifts in tone and setting. 

P for Parking Garage (South Main St.):

Figure 1. This is the view from a small parking garage in downtown Blacksburg. My roommate and I like to come here on our nightly walks. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

My roommate and I have a habit of going on night walks after a stressful week. On this particular night, we grabbed some DX (I got a burger and she got a chicken sandwich), and set off. We live on-campus in New Residence Hall East, so the journey wasn’t too burdensome. As we people-watched, we discussed our week, what exams we have coming up, personal drama, and more. This parking garage has been our usual spot since our freshman year, so we come here pretty regularly. Not a bad spot. We tend to frequent downtown a lot, which can be observed in more entries. It’s close to where we live and there’s a decent amount of stuff to do, even just walk around. Sometimes we’ll grab some snacks off-campus like at Benny’s or The Boardwalk, but we usually just eat with our dining dollars to save money. It’s been a newfound stress to juggle a job and schoolwork this year. My roommate has a work study position with the chemistry department and I work at a pasta restaurant close by. (180)

G is for Going Out (Draper Rd.):

IMG_8281.mov

Figure 2. The Milk Parlor is a music bar in downtown Blacksburg. This is the best spot to see live bands and grab some chicken tenders after a long night. This video shows a local band playing. (Original Video, Chloe Norton)

The Milk Parlor is one of my favorite spots to go out in Blacksburg. My friends and I frequent it pretty much every weekend since we all love live music. On this night, we had tried getting into The Burg (just to go somewhere new) but the cover charge was $40. That’s preposterous so we decided to come here instead (got in for free). We happened to see a decent band that we never caught the name of. They covered “Song 2” which made me very excited because I’m a really big Blur fan. The lead vocalist and guitarist seemed a bit unsure of himself as he would frequently skip over lyrics or hit the wrong fret, but it was still enjoyable to watch. They played a few songs my roommate enjoyed as well like “My own worst enemy” by Lit. They somehow messed up that song more than Song 2. After they were finished playing, we walked around downtown some more and looked for something else to get into. It didn’t take much effort since it was a weekend. (180)

D for Ducks (Duck Pond):

Figure 3. Ducks seen swimming around in Virginia Tech’s duck pond. My roommate and I think that the two ducks in the center were romantically involved. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton) 

This day was a relatively exhausting one. My roommate and I had just gotten out of our labs (I had chemistry and she had bio). We had decided to grab some Chickfila from Perry Place and eat at the duck pond picnic tables. While we were eating, we noticed some ducks surrounding the tables and decided to snap some photos. The two ducks in the center were very touchy with each other, signifying a clingy relationship. The weather was cool, the sky was cloudy, and it was nice to unwind outside after our labs. In my opinion, labs are way more annoying than lectures. They take so long. Especially the required STEM labs that we have to do. Some of the other ducks we saw were far more aggressive with each other, but there were some more chill ones too. They would do this thing where they put their heads in the water and lift up their feet above. It was pretty cute. We were very surprised that there weren’t more people out, but Duck pond is usually kinda quiet. (180)

S for Skateboard (Skatepark):

Figure 4. This is me trying to remember how to ride a skateboard properly at Blacksburg’s skatepark. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton) 

I don’t skateboard that often, but when I do, it’s always pretty fun. This was definitely the longest walk on the list; the skatepark is very far away from where I live. As you can infer based on the last entries, my roommate was here for this venture as well. She’s a much better skater than I am and will usually tease me for riding a longboard instead of a street board. She dropped in on the half-pipe a couple of times, and I just skated around aimlessly. Gotta practice a little bit more. It’s difficult to go to skate-parks with a longboard because there’s really not that much to do. I’ve contemplated switching to a street board but they’re so rickety and one pebble can send you flying. Longboards have bigger and smoother wheels so they can ride over pretty much anything with no issues. It would be nice to work up the courage to learn some tricks though. This walk was extremely cold for the clothes that we were wearing. It took about 40 minutes to get there. (180)

T for Trees (Academic Side):

Figure 5. This is a photo I took around Pamplin Hall. The slight coloring of the trees and the evening lighting deserved a picture. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

I cross this path on the academic side very frequently; most of my classes are in Hahn Hall North. This was a solo journey when I got out of my chemistry lab. We had just performed an experiment with lots of titrations and random stuff like that. I had just grabbed some pasta from Veloce in Perry Place, and was eager to get home quickly so that it wouldn’t get cold in my bookbag. It was mushroom pasta which is one of my favorite dining hall foods. I feel like they barely have it which makes it way more special. As I was walking along, it was hard not to appreciate the signs that fall is upon us. I’ve always preferred winter, but there’s nothing quite like a good orange-leafed tree. I wasn’t dressed too uncomfortably for this weather. I had my red coat on which was pretty warm for the short walk. This walk is about 10 minutes which isn’t too bad. I’ll alternate between taking this path or just taking the CAS bus near the Hahn Hall stop. (180)

F for Frost (Residence Halls):

Figure 6. This is some mild frost that I saw one morning when walking to the bus stop. This made me increasingly excited for winter. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

I looked at the weather app after waking up so I could dress accordingly for this walk, and noticed that it was slightly over 30 degrees. I was more shocked to see predictions for flurries throughout the morning. It was very chilly, but it made my walk to my chemistry lecture slightly more enjoyable. I ended up wearing some black jeans, a white patterned hoodie, and a big flannel jacket to keep warm. In my airpods, I was listening to the band Magdalena Bay since they usually wake me up a little. Their album “Imaginal Disk” has been one of my favorite albums of the year. My favorite song on the album is “Death and Romance” which is what I listened to on this walk. The nearest bus stop was very close to my dorm so it took about 5-6 minutes to get there. I was definitely almost late though. I’m really bad at waking up in time for early 9am lectures. I’ve never been much of a morning person which has become even more prevalent since coming to college. (180)

C for Croissant (Marcia’s Park):

Figure 7. These are some pastries that my roommate and I got after roaming around downtown. The left is creme brulee cheesecake, the middle is a creme brulee donut, and the right is a turkey and swiss croissant. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

This was a very leisurely walk with my roommate. We went to Coffeeholics to grab some snacks of the sweet variety. Surprisingly, we didn’t get any drinks even though we went to a coffee shop. Our main mission was to find a nice, outdoorsy spot to eat, and after some searching, we found this small park called Marcia’s park. It’s a bit past where Coffeeholics is at. The weather for this walk was a good mix of warm and cold, but I got chilly as the sun went down. As the leaves crunched under our shoes, we settled on this platform above a small body of water. The pastries were beyond our expectations and I’d say my favorite was the creme brulee donut. It had a crisp, crackling top with a custard filling. That was the one my roommate got while I got a turkey swiss croissant for myself and a creme brulee cheesecake for me and my boyfriend to split. It looked a bit burnt but still tasted really good. It was nice watching leaves fall on the water. (180)

M is for Market (Farmers Market):

Figure 8. This figure shows some mushrooms that I found at the Blacksburg Farmers Market. I was tempted to buy some but I don’t have a lot of money right now. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

My roommate and I decided to go to the Farmers Market on Saturday. We both got up around 12pm, walked to squires to get some coffees, and then headed downtown to the market. This little mushroom stand had to be my favorite. They had small grow kits, fresh mushrooms, and other cool products. I absolutely love mushrooms but it’d be pointless to get some cause I couldn’t do them justice in a dorm kitchen. Another stand we walked by had really good smelling candles but they were like 20 dollars so we passed. I could never understand how some wax is worth 20 dollars. The weather was a bit windy but not unbearably cold. As we circled around the place, mounds of fresh produce and artisan goods continued to catch our attention. There was also this very intriguing looking food stand that made dumplings. I was thinking about trying it but I thought I’d save it for next time cause it’d give me a reason to walk back. There was also some live music playing and it sounded somewhat folksy. (180)

H is for Halloween (Centros):

hallo.mov 

Figure 9. This is my roommate, boyfriend, and friend waiting in line for Centros on Halloween night. We ended up staying for about 3 hours and we were all pretty tired the next day. (Original Video, Chloe Norton)

On Halloween night, some friends and I decided to go out and dress up. This wasn’t a long walk since it was just downtown, but we were all kinda cold. The hoodie I was wearing wasn’t warm enough at all. I dressed up as Sukuna from Jujustu Kaisen. I was too lazy to invest in the actual outfit so I just used some temporary pink dye on my hair and got my roommate to do the face markings. We stayed at Centros Bar for about 3 hours and we saw somebody get kicked out too. As soon as we got in the club, it felt like it turned 80 degrees because of all the people. My glasses fogged up instantly and I had to repeatedly wipe them off in between songs. They were playing a mix of really good party songs and songs that shouldn’t have even been considered like Taylor Swift. Who wants to hear Taylor Swift at a club? Not me. We all danced around with some cool strangers in fluffy monkey onesies and they recognized a majority of our costumes. My roommate’s costume was by far the most intricate and she made it from scratch. It was a pretty eventful night to say the least. All of us were so tired when we got back. This was the most fun walk on the list even though it was brisk and somewhat short. Everybody knows how stressful college gets in October so it was nice to have a night of letting loose with friends and just dancing around pretty much. This was definitely a great Halloween to remember. (270)

V is for View (Study Lounge):

Figure 10. This is the view from outside one of my dorm’s study lounges. I got some schoolwork done and was then greeted with this pretty view. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

It was a pretty slow day, so I decided to catch up on some schoolwork (which has been a struggle this year for some reason). I walked down to my floor’s study hall so it was no big journey. I worked on chemistry notes and my chemistry lab worksheets. The lab worksheets are usually pretty lengthy with a lot of calculations to do. This worksheet was about  Plus my director is a very strict grader so it’s mandatory to make sure everything is up to standard. I was able to complete a couple hours worth of homework and then noticed how pretty the sky looked. I’m not sure why, but I feel like there’s a lot of good sunsets here. Especially with the mountains in the background of it all. It was a nice ambience to accompany the studying. I’m not sure why a lot of people venture outside their dorms to get their schoolwork done. There’s no point in adding extra effort to completing something you’re already reluctant to do. It’ll be nice to have a break soon. (180)

Installment #1 (Oct. 10) Artificial Intelligence Disclosure for ENGL3844
You can review the AI policy for this class in our course syllabus at any time; please communicate directly and promptly with your professor if you have any questions or concerns about the policy. 

1. Boldface the appropriate terms in the [square brackets]. To prepare this document, I [HAVE/HAVE NOT] used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the process. 

If you HAVE used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the composing process, please add a note about the scope of use.  

2. Describe in approximately 100 words how you have used AI, including the specific application, number of times, and purposes:

Your Name: Chloe Norton

Date: 10/10/25

Installment #2 (Oct. 31) Artificial Intelligence Disclosure for ENGL3844
You can review the AI policy for this class in our course syllabus at any time; please communicate directly and promptly with your professor if you have any questions or concerns about the policy. 

1. Boldface the appropriate terms in the [square brackets]. To prepare this document, I [HAVE/HAVE NOT] used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the process. 

If you HAVE used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the composing process, please add a note about the scope of use.  

2. Describe in approximately 100 words how you have used AI, including the specific application, number of times, and purposes:

Your Name: Chloe Norton

Date: 10/10/25

Installment #3 (Dec. 1) Artificial Intelligence Disclosure for ENGL3844
You can review the AI policy for this class in our course syllabus at any time; please communicate directly and promptly with your professor if you have any questions or concerns about the policy. 

1. Boldface the appropriate terms in the [square brackets]. To prepare this document, I [HAVE/HAVE NOT] used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the process. 

If you HAVE used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the composing process, please add a note about the scope of use.  

2. Describe in approximately 100 words how you have used AI, including the specific application, number of times, and purposes:

Your Name: Chloe Norton

Date: 10/10/25

By Bradley Johannes

Everywhere we go, whether it be across campus or downtown, the spaces and areas we pass through can feel far from lifeless when filled with people. However, even when no one is around, they carry evidence, whether it be scuffs in the sand, rain on a bench, dirt paths carved by those who walk there, that something or someone has been there before. Ever since I was younger, I found myself to be someone that notices really small details, and combined with an active imagination, almost everything around me had the ability to come to life. Trees didn’t just grow, they would watch. Benches don’t just have people sit there, it holds them people up when they’re tired. Paths remember those who walked there by the footprints. Almost anything, if not everything, can be personified.

Each of these entries are meant to be given a voice to the stationary when possible if you simply stand still long enough to be able to hear it. The volleyball courts humming from the aftershocks of old games, the drillfield echoes the past, present, and the future of students walking to class, the bands rehearsing, and the events that take place there. A lot of these become more than just architecture and scenery, and more about the relationship with the people. They hold memories, remind us that the environment is not static because they respond, absorb, and reflect the actions of those who were there.

The key takeaway is this. Places are never just places. They have the ability to become characters in a story, in a memory, holding emotions, history, and echoes of our time there. By noticing these things, we are able to open our eyes to the world around us a little bit better.

V is for Volleyball

Prompt 2.08 Sporting Event; Photograph and Text

Figure 01. Sand court near the Owen’s lot (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The volleyball court is never truly empty, even when no one is playing. The sand carries the memory of movement in scuffs and shallow potholes. The net flows with every gust, as if still reacting to the last serve. I catch soundless shouts and echoing slaps. I remember the first week of college during move in week. No classes, no worries, no stress. It’s a different kind of gravity here where people jump off the ground for a second, only for the sand to pull them back down to reality.

B for Bench

Prompt 2.05 Texture Archive; Photograph and Text

Figure 02. Rain-soaked bench under streetlamp glow at around 1:00 am in front of Squires (Original photograph, Bradley J)

Making the image black and white is possibly the best way to communicate this entry, truth be told. The bench, all alone in the rain. During the day it’s just another part of the landscape, an outdoor furniture set aside for small stops and simple exchanges. In the night, it’s splashed by the harsh light of the streetlamps, its wet wooden slats and cold iron arms are given a kind of shine. Water pools in the grooves like clutches of suppressed breath, then flows silently away. Clearly, no one is sitting, but the bench appears to be taken by the traces of those who used to sit there. The students waiting for a ride, friends relaxing in the shade, a person tired after a long walk. The bricks appear as shattered glass at night , the walkway next to it capturing the lamplight in long, fractured brushstrokes. All the reflections seem almost deliberate, drawn by the unpredictable rain patterns of a storm. The wind is carrying the scent of damp mulch and wet pavement, an odor that suggests stagnation and aftermath.

D for Drillfield

Prompt 2.06 Talking Along the Drillfield; Photograph and Text

Figure 03. Drillfield mid-day (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The Drillfield always feels like a pause in the middle of a sentence. The empty space in between the residential housing and the academic buildings. No matter which way you enter, the space stretches out before you like an ellipsis, urging you to fill in the blank. Last year, my first walk across it felt endless with my backpack digging into my shoulders while everyone’s voices rose and fell everywhere around me. No matter where you looked, it was always full of people holding something, whether it’s conversations, backpacks, food from the dining halls after a class. I had convinced myself everyone was watching, being the self conscious introvert that I am, measuring the clumsy rhythm of my steps. They weren’t, of course. Rather, they were too busy tracing their own silent diagonals through the grass. Now, when I stand at the edge, I can almost see those earlier versions of myself flickering in and out: one sprinting to make class, another lost in headphones, one enjoying Gobblerfest or other events. The Drillfield collects all of them, holding them in invisible layers that thicken with each passing semester with each and every student that walks across it. Sometimes, when the light is low and less people are around, it’s easier to imagine those layers overlapping, and the people walking now brush shoulders with people from past times. Oddly enough, the more I thought about it, you kinda carried your own ghost across the grass, and for a moment, I had a realization that the field doesn’t just belong to you. It belongs to every step that’s ever crossed it.

L for Light post

2.03 Sounds Archive; Photograph and Text

Figure 04. A couple walking home in the rain downtown around 11pm (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The rain floats as much as it falls, thin strands drawn by the streetlights’ glow. Every drop of it reflects light before getting lost in the street, devoured by reflections that pursue one another in the brick pavement. In front of them, a couple walked, one umbrella bent over them. The noise of their feet is quiet and soft, the drops of water that gather around their shoes covering the sound. The lamplight shines on either side of their shoulders, making them seem like extensions of the night itself, half-there, half-mirror. The light turns green, waves of green and red scatters in puddles before disappearing into the quiet. The baskets droop, dripping with rain, petals dulled but bright in the damp air. I stay still for an instant, seeing how the light makes all this happen, makes everything have this beat, this sense that downtown breathes differently when it’s nighttime. There’s something peaceful about it, something intimate, delicate, and ephemeral. The sort of moment that can’t be fabricated or searched for, only observed before it dissolves into the next thought.

F for Flower

Prompt 3.12 Five Senses; Photograph and Text

Figure 05. A bee hovering near small white flowers at dusk (Original photograph, Bradley J)

In the noisy area in front of Dietrick Hall, a small hum between the petals adds to the students talking. The sweater weather of Fall where it’s cold enough to wear a sweatshirt but still warm enough with enough sun and luckily, warm enough for the bee. The setting sun lets small bits of yellow pierce through the leaves while the bee pollinates. Watching the bee work only brings me joy remembering the sweet taste of honey it produces. From this viewpoint, the world seems so small yet so peaceful.

C for Costume

Prompt 3.07 Observational Portrait; Photograph and Text

Figure 06: A friend wearing her Halloween costume, becoming a portrait of the moment (Original Photograph, Bradley J)

The costume, a dark angel, almost takes on an otherworldly quality from the harsh light from the lamp behind. The dark wings, a soft texture with a sharp contrast to the bright stone behind her on the right and the dark night on the left. The light crowns her with a bright halo, turning the costume of what was a simple outfit into something more dreamlike. She sits quietly, hands folded, paused and posed for the camera. The backdrop says less about being subtle and brings the costume to life.

E for Empty

Prompt 2.18 A Wish for Something to Be Different

Figure 07: A barren tree wishing to be full of color again (Original Photograph, Bradley J)

The branches reach out quietly, like hands, thin and waiting. Scattered leaves cling to the branches, flowing back and forth in the wind. The ground below, covered in what once was a beautiful red and orange scene. Now, it looks like everything was paused. The sky gray, the tree barren, the space between trees seeming to grow making each tree lonely. Just one of those days of the Fall where even the emptiness of leaves on a tree seemed full for a breath, holding what’s gone and what’s still falling.

T for Trail

Figure 08: The walk back from the academic side to Duck Pond overflow lot (Original Photograph, Bradley J)

The walk back to Duckpond Overflow Lot is a long one, but at the same time, it’s only a slight 10 minutes from car to class. However, within those 10 minutes are sometimes the best thought-provoking moments with nothing to do but walk and think. Each bend on the trail is sometimes a new train of thought, whether it be about the sports that I played as I pass the golfers swinging their clubs or reminders of my own dog when I see the ducks swimming in the mini ponds.

A for Archway

Prompt 3.05 Drawn and Repelled; Photograph and Text

Figure 09. The archway creates a push–pull feeling, drawing me into its shade while repelling me into the light that bursts on the other side. (Original photograph, Bradley J)

Passing through the arch is like crossing a portal every single time, even when I am simply on my way to class. The stone chills the air within its boundary, holding shade and resonating the footsteps within. Outside, everything lights up suddenly with bright trees covered with the light of the afternoon, and the sidewalk curves toward open grass. A person wanders along beside the doorway, unaffected by the juxtaposition. The world appears to be set up from this vantage point, an unwitting lens carved out of stone and time.

I for Intrigue

3.05 Drawn and Repelled; Photograph and Text

Figure 10. A couple sharing a moment together atop War Memorial (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The sky is filled with some sort of in-between light, soft and amber with thought of leaving as the sun goes down.  On the ledge of the war memorial chapel, a couple sits in the warm evening watching as the world goes by around them. Their feet suspended, nothing below their feet alluding to the fact that there’s nothing that disturbs their moment together. One points at something unknown, trying to direct the other’s attention. The motion, suspended between curiosity and storytelling. What was it? Who knows but those two.

U for Upwards

2.22 Stairs Vs Elevator; Photograph and Text

Figure 11. The stairs at Pamplin Hall (Original photograph, Bradley J)

Painted in red and orange, there’s a couple motivational words on the stairs inside Pamplin Hall. It’s where I go almost every Monday, Wednesday, or Friday for public speaking class. Sometimes I look at it wondering if anyone actually takes any time appreciating the effort put in but then again, I barely do as I normally recognize it as nothing more than a set of stairs. My class is up the stairs and to the right, but ironically, coming from the main entrance below, I don’t even pass the elevator.

W for Wonder

2.07 What even goes on in there?; Photograph and Text

Figure 12. One of the entrances to Williams Hall (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The tall stone walls and brick lines frame the entrance where the trees almost seem to stand guard. The direction of this entrance causes it to always be encased in shadow creating a serious, dark atmosphere. Currently, I’m simply a passerby, looking at the covered windows. Just about everything and anything inside becomes an enigma, hidden from the outside world. It’s the type of academic building where, looking in, one figures what type of department could be left out based on sheer size. Shrouded in mystery, one can only wonder.

G for Gratitude

2.10 Favorite Tree, A Note of Appreciation; Photograph and Text

Figure 13. The tree closest to the road next to Duck Pond Overflow Lot (Original photograph, Bradley J)

This tree stands tall and strong amidst the weather and golf balls. Squished in between the Duck Pond Overflow lot and the golf course, it offers students some protection from the wind on the windy days, and the scorching sun on the hot days. The chain fence in between the path and the tree makes it seem like it’s on display at times. Always unnoticed by students, it somehow has the playful personality of dropping a fruit on an oblivious person who walks under its branches when it feels ignored.

S for Stagnant

2.16 Waiting in Line; Photograph and Text

Figure 14. Waiting in line at Chipotle (Original photograph, Bradley J)

Every time a new person walks in, the line forms and reshapes itself, again and again. Each person stands in their own personal bubble, some people isolated in their own world when looking at their phone. Others choose to look at the menu when in reality, it’s simply Chipotle. Most people who go to Chipotle already know their orders by heart and really just look up to see if there’s anything new or a price increase. The air, warm and smelling like seasoned chicken only makes the waiting feel longer.

N for Nighttime

2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and Text

Figure 15. Walking out at 11 pm, snow is falling (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The snow drifts down gently, illuminated by the streetlights, specks of gold and yellow littering the space. A thin coat of snow covers the cars, freezing to the touch. The air, sharp and stinging like needles on my face and skin. The night shapeshifts the world into a small, dim corridor as everything beyond the light fades into shadow. The falling snow gives the scene more suspended and dreamlike quality, setting a slow pace to the brief walk. A moment is created where the night is close enough to touch.

H for Hazard

2.14 Signage; Photograph and Text

Figure 16. Hazard sign next to Duck Pond (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The bright yellow sign sticks out against the blue and brown background as drivers approach it around the bend. “When Flooded, Turn Around, Don’t Drown” is oddly satisfying because of its nature. The phrase turn around, don’t drown, almost rhymes drawing a whimsical tone while contrasting its completely dark meaning. Most days, the road is dry making the warning almost seem out of place. However, it carries the memories of days of rainstorms and rushing water, the cold water overflowing, where the pavement and roads become one with the pond. 

P for Path

2.17 Desire Path; Photograph and Text

Figure 17. One of the dirt trails on the way to the Duck Pond Overflow Lot (Original photograph, Bradley J)

A thin strip of grassless dirt stretches across the ground next to the sidewalk splitting the path. Nothing fancy as students prefer practicality over comfort, walking on the dirt vs the paved path. The shadows cast by the sun and tree reach over as if they’re thinking the same way. The desired path speaks out about something simple and honest. Design shows intention but movement shows truth and it goes to show because this short trail, albeit only a couple feet, exists from students without ever speaking to each other.

N for Neglect

2.24 A Meditation on Garbage; Photograph and Text

Figure 18. A receipt found on the ground outside my apartment (Original photograph, Bradley J)

A receipt, found on the ground, resting after being blown by the wind, possibly out of someone’s hand or their grocery bag. Seeing as to how there’s a Food Lion nearby, that’s probably where it’s home was before it found it’s way into the grass, neglected by those who walk nearby and not picking it up. It could have been here for hours. The receipt, a reminder as proof of purchase, also becomes the reminder of our own environmental impact, proof of the neglect of those who care about our surroundings.

Q for Quiet

2.19 Duck Pond; Photograph and Text

Figure 19. Someone sitting at the picnic tables observing the ducks nearby (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The scene almost seems surreal in person. The slightly cool weather, brisk enough to wear a light jacket, but enough to wear it doesn’t make it uncomfortable. The sun, shining bright during the mid afternoon casting a reflection on the pond, illuminating the ducks swimming happily. Several ducks swim closer to him, hoping he’d feed them some bread. A person sits at the picnic table nearby, taking in the calm, quiet view. The peaceful splashes of the duck’s feet, the light quacks give the mind ease and a quietness unmatched.

M for Materials

2.23 The Things You Carry; Photograph and Text

Figure 20. The things I carry in my backpack not including the keyboard and monitor (Original photograph, Bradley J)

As one who likes to be efficient and doesn’t carry unnecessary things, I keep my bag to a light minimum. As such, my laptop and tablet come first, allowing my to do my studies and assignments wherever. The keys, to drive me wherever my heart contents or needs to be. The charger, giving my devices life so I don’t remain disconnected from an online world. The humble pencil and eraser, for writing new ideas and solving problems, and to erase the mistakes so that I have the ability to improve.

J for Journey

2.32 Shortest Walk; Video and Text

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fEhhtK_hVneXtwJpmWp6IcI2VKe3lOwy/view?usp=sharing

Video 1. A short 10 second video from the door of my apartment to my room. WordPress would not accept the video for unknown reasons. (Original video, Bradley J)

It’s been a day. Late into the night. I want to rest. From door to room. My feet move quickly. The warm temperature embraces. I close the door. Replacing the cold air. The lights guide me. My room so close. I hear the music. The deep bass pumping. The guitars strumming loudly. Country music and RnB. Fighting over filling space. Smell of pumpkin spice. What a refreshing scent. Makes me feel hungry. Instead I skip eating. Too tired to eat. I open my door. My ambient room opening. Finally back.

O for Opaque

2.12 Indoor Walk; Hand drawn map and Text

Figure 21. A hand drawn map of a portion of my apartment (Original drawing, Bradley J)

Opaque: In Latin opacus, it translates to dark or shadowy. As odd as it sounds, when it comes to early and later hours in the day, without lights, the house can seem opaque. Several steps from my bedroom to the kitchen, the hall becomes a narrow tunnel of darkness from lack of natural light. With the direction the apartment faces, there is never direct sunlight going through the windows, giving the house a dark, desolate atmosphere at certain times. With such a closed floor plan, light seems bounded by walls.

Z for Zoom

2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different; Hand drawn map and Text

Figure 22. A drawing of the area surrounding Duck Pond Overflow Lot and Duck Pond Lot with an added road connecting to I-81 (Original photograph, Bradley J)

Duck Pond Overflow Lot was made to accommodate the amount of students that parked on campus when Duck Pond Lot was full. As it stands, I find that both lots are often filled very quickly in the morning hours when I arrive for classes. Apart from parked cars, there’s often cars that would seem parked on Duck Pond Dr. from the volume of people trying to leave at the same time. Something I wish to be different is an alternate route that takes you straight to I-81 from the lot.

X for Xeric

2.02 Shoe Portraits; Photograph and Text

Figure 23. A photograph of my custom Nike Air Force 1s that are a few years old (Original photograph, Bradley J)

These shoes had crossed lands far from home, from the beaches in the US, the hot cities in Europe, the mountains during the summer in Japan, and the burning streets in Indonesia. Dust and dirt cling to the shoes making all those trips unforgettable memories. What once used to be a bright red swoosh now is a faded mark with each scuff shown worn proudly of all the conditions it’s been in. Xeric: a word that can be used to describe something as adaptable to harsh, heated conditions and environments.

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Introduction

This project takes you through my thoughts, feelings, and actions as I navigate(d) the Virginia Tech Blacksburg campus. Some of the entries are prompt-inspired, some are free-form. My overall goal for the entries was to capture the things I noticed on my walks. “Noticed” can apply to many things, however. It could be an object, but it could also be an idea or a feeling. Something abstract, something that I experienced that someone else might not. Or, maybe, something that someone else might! They are meant to be a look inside my mind as I walked (and sometimes ran) around the campus.

Some of the entries have no real rhyme or reason. Some of the entries are carefully structured to adhere to some mysterious guideline, or to inhibit some emotion in the reader. Some are meant to be silly. Some are meant to be serious. But whether or not I meant an entry to mean something matters not. The real beauty of this project is that each entry is open to any interpretation you would like. If you think that the reason I noticed something on my walk is because of aliens from outer space, that is okay. If you think that the reason I wrote about something is because I saw it, that is also okay. This project is not objective.

While reading, you may try to picture yourself taking the walk with me, seeing the sights, smelling the smells, and hearing the sounds. This is a great way to immerse yourself in the project that is Walkings. What would you think, say, or do, in that scenario? I invite you to explore my project with an open mind and hopefully, a picture will form for each entry about my walk.

-Ryan Nesspor

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A is for Autumn

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Monday, Nov. 10

As the warm days of summer fade into memory, and icy gusts replace cool breezes, the trees slowly shed their leaves in anticipation of the cold months ahead. A sad sight, for sure, as bare trees are undoubtedly more unsightly than those with leaves. Alas, all but the evergreens must disrobe until the warmth and prosperity of the spring arrives for another year. Although they too, are trees, they have surely adapted some biological reason for this. Awaiting the springtime will bring our green friends back to their former glory. (90)

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B is for Bench

Prompt 2.05, Photograph and text, Sunday, Sep. 28

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Clifford,Thank you for providing me with a place to sit. I was working on a project for class – Walkings, in which I must develop 26 short entries, one for each letter of the alphabet. I probably sat for about 30 minutes. Davidson Hall is a really nice place to put your bench, by the way. I tried to draw a map of campus while I was sitting there. It didn’t turn out that well, though. Maybe it’ll end up in my project, if I can ever figure out which letter entry to put it under. What kind of entries would you two write about if you had to do my English projects? I’m assuming, Mr. Clifford, that you’d write about chemistry! You were the department head, after all. Ms. Clifford, I read that you served in the Marine Corps when you were a young woman. Maybe you’d write about your time there? Anyway, campus is way different now. They paved over the drillfield and built a Wal-mart. It is seriously a real eyesore. Just kidding. (180)

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C is for Chestnuts

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 22

I started my day today by searching for breakfast, and luckily I found a big, delicious chestnut. I usually prefer acorns or walnuts, but I won’t say no to a chestnut. After I ate, I decided to get a quick workout in. My fitness trainer told me I should do sprints back and forth across the power lines, but sometimes I get distracted and find myself on a branch of a tall tree. In between sets, I dropped acorns on students’ heads from above, usually from atop a building. Suckers! (90)

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D is for Drifting

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 22

What’s in a cloud? Each wispy mass of water vapor tells a story, one of mother nature’s most sacred. The water cycle; first lifting water from oceans, lakes, and streams from places around the world, each droplet collecting to form a mass so large it can cast shadows on the earth.

When clouds form, we use our imagination to find animals, letters, numbers, and symbols drifting overhead, all day long. With them, come rain, gloom, snow, thunder, anger, and lightning. Perhaps we are not so different from clouds after all. (90)

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E is for Elevator

Prompt 2.22, Photograph and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

Whenever I’m in Torgersen Hall, I always take the stairs. Always. The elevator, being old and slow, never seems like a good enough deal for me to consider taking it. It takes forever to come to whatever floor you called it to, and moves sluggishly when you’re inside it. Today, I decided to try it out again, and it was no different. In the same time it took to move to the third floor, I could have climbed the stairs and been there! I think I’ll stick to the stairs. (90)

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F is for Flurries

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Monday, Nov. 10

The first snowfall of the year is cause for celebration, with bags of salt piled up awaiting application. Even if it’s just a few flurries, the amount of snow is the least of our worries. Winter jackets and snow boots and warm gloves galore, we’ll watch the flakes fall just beside the book store! All over campus the grass turns to white, and the temperature drops to quite cold at night. Just be careful not to slip on the ice; lest you fall and break something which wouldn’t be nice. (90)

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G is for Gloom

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Wednesday, Oct. 29

Rainy days can be some of the best days, if you think about it. Sure, you might get wet, and the sun’s not out. But the rain brings a feeling of calm to an otherwise bustling college campus. People skip class and stay home, preferring not to leave the cozy sanctuary that is their bed. The shallow pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the pavement, or perhaps the window of the classroom you’re in, can relax all but the most stressed out students. Just make sure you remember to bring your umbrella. (90)

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H is for Hackberry

Prompt 2.10, Photograph and text, Sunday, Sep. 28

Hackberry? I didn’t know what a hackberry tree was until after I checked the VT tree database. As far as I knew, hackberry was the name of a node in the rlogin CS cluster. Thinking about it, the rest of the nodes are named after trees…oak, pawpaw, persimmon. Anyway, the hackberry tree, or Celtis occidentalis, is native to North America, and it bears small orangeish/purple fruits in the fall. Pretty fitting for a school with orange as one of its spirit colors! I wonder if they’d make good pie? (90)

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I is for Isaac Newton

Prompt 2.07, Photograph and text, Sunday, Sep. 28

What even goes on in here? By the looks of it, the owner reads a lot of comic strips. Looking closer, we observe the comics to be mostly those of scientific origins. We can also see larger posters, featuring famous scientists and scientific phenomena, like Albert Einstein, and fractals. If I had to guess, without looking up an employee directory, that this person is probably a physicist. We are in Robeson Hall, after all. If I didn’t know where I took this picture? I think I could figure it out. (90)

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J is for Journey

Prompt 3.09, Audio and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

During this walk, I heard lots of sounds. I started on the outer edge of the drillfield and walked towards the library. I heard the low rumble of cars driving by, and even the heavenly whirr of engine-less electric vehicles. I heard lots of wind, as slow breezes and heavy gusts of icy-cold air made their way through the valley of Blacksburg. I heard footsteps, not just my own but others, wearing tennis shoes, boots, heels, flip flops, and slides. I heard voices, too, talking about whatever people talk about. (90)

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K is for Kingdom

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Monday, Nov. 10

Have you ever noticed that the buildings of Virginia Tech look kind of like castles? That’s because they are. The neo-gothic style architecture that is used in so many buildings around campus is why many of our favorite buildings have ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and turrets. The arches integrated into the windows, doors, and support structures are also key attributes of this architecture. Hokie Stone, a type of limestone found in the Appalachian region, mined from a university-owned quarry, is the famous stone seen in the construction of these buildings. (90)

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L is for Lookout

Prompt 3.15, Photograph and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

We can observe many security cameras as we take a walk around campus. They’re purposefully hidden, sometimes placed at great heights (as is the case with the pictured cameras atop Newman Library), or otherwise out of easy view. Because of this, it’s not easy to find a place on campus where you can be sure you are out of view. How does this make you feel? Are we more secure and safe? Next time you walk through campus, take a moment to think about all the eyes on you. (90)

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M is for Midnight

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 8

While the campus sleeps, the grounds lay empty. Lamps and lights illuminate grass that stands void of people, sidewalks previously tread by thousands of shoes now go untouched. If these objects could talk, what would they say? If we could interview one of the sidewalks on the drillfield, how would it reply? Would it be distraught that so many people step on it each day? Or would it be satisfied that it is being put to good use, being a sidewalk and all. Or, perhaps, would they be fast asleep? (90)

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N is for No Parking

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Sunday, Sep. 28

Signs help us navigate a bustling campus, through sidewalks and streets, across buildings and bridges, in classrooms and courtyards. Signs can tell us where the nearest Chick-Fil-A is. Signs can guide our way when our feeble intuitions fail us. Signs can help us, but they can also hurt us. Signs can be the bearers of bad news, forbidding us puny humans from parking, walking, driving, entering. Humans, who sent a man to the moon, built and dropped nuclear bombs, invented KFC. Stopped, entirely in their tracks, by a metal rectangle. (90)

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O is for Owens

Prompt 2.01 Modified, Drawing and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

I used to go to Owens ALL the time back when I lived on campus. The food court, a mere 30 steps from the exit of my residence hall, included everything a hungry freshman could want. My palate has since expanded, however at the time it was really great. I recall all the late night study sessions, early mornings, and lunches-after-class that all happened at Owens. Funnily enough, I don’t think I’ve been back since I was a freshman. I’d go back if they brought back the Wan orange chicken. (90)

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P is for Pair

Prompt 2.02, Video and text, Wednesday, Oct. 29

During the walk, we traveled about 0.5 miles. A bit about us: We’re comfortable, size 11.5 Nikes that Ryan’s had since he was a senior in high school. Honestly, we thought his feet would have grown since then. Over the years, we’ve walked, ran, stepped in puddles, had a milkshake spilled on us, and been washed a total of twice. We haven’t stopped to think about how far we’ve gone in the years he’s had us, though. There’s never any time – he only owns one pair of shoes. (90)

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Q is for Quail

Prompt 3.08, Photograph and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

Have you ever stopped to think about the family of birds living in a nest? I didn’t – until taking a walk around campus in the wintertime. With the trees bare of leaves, nests are easy to spot, and once you see one, you see them all. What kind of bird-family lives up there? What’s their day look like? Maybe a pair of northern cardinals, or perhaps a talented mourning dove? Have they migrated to somewhere much warmer, or are they hunkered down, adapting to the harsh winter weather of Blacksburg? (90)

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R is for Routine

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Wednesday, Oct. 29

A usual path, lunch-pizza in hand, taken to room 1070 of Torgersen Hall, the TA office. Always, I take the same route down the stairs, past the pipes, through the first floor. All things considered, I do enjoy the consistency of my routine, on Mondays and Wednesdays. “Alien” was how my students explained the recent lecture topics, demanding I help them with the day’s homework. Always begging me to give them the answers, or do their work for them. Alas, they refuse to attend class or read the lecture slides. (90)

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S is for Someone

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Thursday, Oct. 2

This bench, in my opinion, is a classic example of hostile architecture. Why did Blacksburg Transit design it this way in the first place? The dividers limit the number of people who can sit on it. Could you imagine trying to squeeze more than one person on each of the 3 sections? Hopefully we only have three bus riders today! It seems to me that the only reason these dividers exist is to prevent people from sleeping or resting on the bench. Which begs the question – why do this instead of tackling the problem head-first? Why inconvenience bus riders, and more importantly, why purposefully remove a safe, lit place for someone to rest? Why not instead focus on other ways to prevent people needing to resort to sleeping on a bus stop bench? It appears that these designers of public accommodations have adopted the mentality that “someone else will do it”. Someone else will design affordable housing options. Someone else will solve the problem that I am contributing to. The only question left to answer, then, is: who is “someone”? (180)

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T is for Touchdown!

Prompt 2.08, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 22

I worked as a volunteer at the football game versus Miami. All game long, I sold drinks and snacks to game attendees up until the third quarter. Walking around the concourse, whether it was to grab a new box of drinks or a bag of ice, I saw lots of people. Some of them were happy, others not so much. I also saw rain, seeping in through the cracks in the concrete. I heard cheers, boos, talking, yelling, and chanting. I heard people talking about how “bad we were at football”. The overwhelming scent of Benny’s pizza captivated me for the majority of the game. Thankfully, they let us (the volunteers) get free food from some of the less costly stands during the game. I’m not sure what I would have done if I couldn’t, since we were required to arrive at 8:00 AM. Anyway, I tasted pretzels, hot dogs, cookies, and even one of those fresh slices from Benny’s I had been smelling all game long. Sadly enough, I never did find the Dairy Club’s fresh milkshake stand. (180)

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U is for Ugly

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 15

What truly makes something ugly? It’s a word that I’ve heard countless people use to describe Slusher Tower. I don’t really like it as an adjective. To me, as cliche as it sounds, beauty is something that cannot be put into words. Given that, how could we ever call something “ugly”? I think this photo, of Slusher standing high among the residence halls, in front of a soft, orange, Saturday sunset is indeed beautiful. Could I tell you why I think so? I could try. For one, the colors; the dark green grass of the Drillfield contrasts with the soft whites, pinks, and oranges of the sunset. In the middle sits the neutral dark gray of the buildings themselves, dotted with deep orange, yellow, and green trees. Maybe the composition of the foreground and background making Slusher the obvious subject of the photo? It could also simply be the feeling, the “This Is Home” that the university perpetuates. The list could go on. Beauty is everywhere around us, and it exists not necessarily as an adjective, but as a feeling. (180)

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V is for Vawter

Prompt 2.01, Drawing and text, Sunday, Sep. 28

After drawing this from-memory sketch of the VT campus, I decided to travel to the Residential side to see what I missed. It’s been a while since I’ve walked over there, so it proved to be a walk down memory lane, so to speak. I walked down Drillfield Dr. and first came across a few less commonly known buildings, including Hutcheson & Saunders Hall. I didn’t even know Fralin Hall existed (sorry to anyone who frequents it)! My walk then took me towards Dietrick Hall and the Ag Quad, which was actually a spot I loved to spend time in when I was a freshman living on campus. Walking past Payne and Peddrew-Yates I finally returned to the most familiar area – Vawter Hall and Owens Food Court. Living here 2 ½ years ago, the familiarity of walking from Vawter and into Owens or Hokie Grill hit me like a truck. Funnily enough, they were the only two buildings from this side that I remembered to include on my map. I ended my (now more than 5 minute) walk by Newman Library. (180)

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W is(‘nt) for Walking

Original Prompt, Audio and text, Wednesday, Oct. 29

Who says walking has to be outdoors? Those steps you take through the bus and to your seat all count, don’t they? Can anything really replace a good old-fashioned walk? What about a good old-fashioned bus ride? Unlike taking a walk, there’s a window to look out on the bus. Run? Bicycle? Can a jog on a treadmill really be the same as a jog through downtown Blacksburg? Is it truly the walking that makes them so inspiring? Or is it the outdoors? Or, perhaps even simpler, it’s the journey? (90)

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x is for 3×3

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 22

I noticed, if you look closely, that the facade of Cassell is distinctly grid-based. The upper tan portion is divided into tiles, and within those tiles there is an inner grid of tiles. Additionally, the front four window panels are a 3 by 3 grid of window panes, separated by dividers. What’s more, the bricks outside the colosseum are laid in a grid, as one might expect. Lying in the background on the sign that says “Cassell Colosseum”, there are gray grid tiles. What other grids do you see here? (90)

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Y is for Yesterday

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 15

As the sun sets and the sky fades into darkness, we consider our day complete. And when we rise from our beds, to the sun rising again, high into the sky, we are brought into yet another day. Yet, so many of us choose to be stuck in the past, to linger on things we can’t change – to be lost in yesterday. To dwell on our past mistakes is pointless. What’s done is done. Each day is an opportunity – a chance to do something, anything, meaningful. So why waste it? (90)

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Z is for Zoom

Original Prompt, Video and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

Many people learn how to fly a plane at Virginia Tech. The Virginia Tech Montgomery airport is in a prime spot to offer pilot’s lessons to interested students. Taking a stroll through campus, you’ll soon notice the many airplanes that zoom overhead all day long. Small, learner planes, like the Cessna 172, are a dime a dozen. Private jets also stop by, like that of newly hired head football coach James Franklin. However, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a big jet, like a Boeing 737, in the Blacksburg skies. (90)

The way students go about handling their academic career can be characterized by a few different attributes. Composing these attributes is the actual work put into studying and projects, the connection building with peers, and navigating through a physical campus to get to everywhere necessary to fulfill the first two attributes. For the last aspect of traversing through an academic career, actual traversal to points of interest for education, social interaction, and/or leisure can decide the times to be allotted to each other. More time spent in one area means less time in another. 

The entries in this Walkings project focus on efficient traversal of the physical Virginia Tech campus and grounds, observing how other students also traverse the area, showing the fleeting moments of leisure in between important tasks, and doing so with multimodal examples of all. The entries develop with the changing of the seasons and colder temperatures from early October to late November of 2025. The weather accounts for most trouble points along any journey, and small walks in Blacksburg are no exception to this aspect of moving throughout the world. Depending on the workload of my other four courses in the Fall 2025 semester, the convenience of some prompts made them more likely to be picked, which is why a lot of simpler prompts are dated toward the end of the semester. To me, “convenient” for the entries meant straightforward, less investigative tasks that allowed me to stay on schedule traversing to classes and on-campus events while remaining on a consistent pace with the entry additions. 

Documenting some experiences and observations of campus life, creating a journal of sorts for the first time, was a reflective and informative way to expand my self analysis relating to my consistent patterns and my understanding of structuring digital media. I was able to learn more about my habits and adapt the way I traversed the campus through more leisurely pace and passive time management. Building off of the short-term journal entry structure of this project in the future will allow me to achieve improved work-leisure balance.

A is for Assignment

Prompt 2.07 What Even Goes On In There?; Photograph and text; Friday, Sept. 19.

Getting to my only class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays means a 30 minute drive from Salem, where I live, and a 15 minute walk from Duck Pond lot to Whittemore Hall. I come to class ready to complete my participation requirement and all my work for the course during that time segment, so as to have more time for my other four classes. This photo depicts the peculiar cycle of class groups having to be reassigned in my Public Speaking class, due to one student dropping the class biweekly. (90)

Figure 1: A photo of a whiteboard in Whittemore Hall during a Public Speaking Class. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

B is for Bench

Prompt 2.05 A Good Bench; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct. 21.

The busy college life can make it seem like there is no room for taking breaks. Unfortunately, there are times when breaks are taken away unexpectedly, and a could-be user is left more fatigued as a result, newly realizing the importance of these rest periods. On this particular Thursday, I wanted to sit on a bench near Seitz Hall, but with one roaring sound of thunder, clouds broke and the aguacero began. With the fall season getting under way, I hope somebody will remove the leaves for next time. (90)

Figure 2: A photograph of two benches near Seitz Hall during a thunderstorm. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

C is for Consistency

Prompt 3.22 Change the Ritual; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 15.

On Mondays and Fridays when I’m walking to my class, I pass by workers mowing the Drillfield. The field’s always end up looking very nice and the workers always make sure to watch out for passing students when they’re mowing near the walkways. For the first weeks of classes this semester, I would walk at a fast pace to class. Now that I walk slower, I’m able to better appreciate the continuous effort faculty make to keep the campus clean and welcoming. Passing by the grass gets my day started. (90)

Figure 3: A photograph of freshly cut grass near the Virginia Tech Drillfield. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

D is for Drawing

Prompt 2.12 Indoor Walk; Drawing and text; Friday, Oct. 24.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I come to the tutoring center of the Computer Science department. Whether I’m just in there to review the contents of my three classes that day, or to ask about a specific project question, the space is comforting to be in during the late hours of the day. My walk to a seat consists of me entering through the accessible left door, relative to the outside area, checking availability, and choosing a seat that has enough space around it to not bump chairs with other students. (90)

Figure 4: A drawing of the Computer Science Advising Office in Torgersen Hall. (Original Drawing, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

E is for Extra

Prompt 2.33 Campus Reimagined; Drawing and text; Wednesday, Nov. 5.

“What is the easiest fix for VT?” was my question. My focus for this campus reimagining was considering the extreme wind gusts that can be unbearable at times in the Fall and Winter seasons. These winds are more noticeable in the northern part of campus, near the bus area, where there is a lack of buildings and vegetation. To minimize some of the gusts, adding more trees would be the cheapest way to break the wind while keeping the openness of the surroundings, which is a nice stretch of land. (90)

Figure 5: A sketch of a slightly changed northern portion of the Virginia Tech campus. (Original Drawing, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

F is for Faux Campus

Prompt 2.01 Campus of the Imagination; Drawing and text; Monday, Nov. 3.

In my original sketch of the Drillfield and the area surrounding it, I didn’t initially include some dirt paths near paved paths. This makes me wonder if the angular paths were placed in the Drillfield as a result of other paths like this one, marked with a star on the map after the initial sketch. This unimportant path seems to have never been registered in my memory as it a very close to a paved path and blends in with the vegetation. Where else have these dirt paths gone unnoticed? (90)

Figure 6: A sketch of the center of Virginia Tech campus. (Original Drawing, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

G is for Garbage

Prompt 2.24 A Mediation on Garbage; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct. 28.

I was going to my car and I noticed a plastic bag nearby. These bags that roll around on the street, tumbleweeds as I call them, are the majority of trash I see on campus. This bag appeared to come from a car idling nearby waiting for its driver to return. Most bags I see like this end up on the building corners after the wind blows them and are picked up before the following day. While this is an example of littering, the trash isn’t too egregious on campus. (90)

Figure 7: A photograph of litter on the ground near Latham Hall. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

H is for Hill

Prompt 3.13 Seven-Day Walk; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Returning to the parking lot where my car is requires I traverse a large hill, after walking for 10 or more minutes prior to. This area has a fork, one path leading to Hillcrest Hall, the other leading to the parking lots. It’s best to think of this area as a machine to strengthen the hamstring muscles, the faster the walk, the better the muscular growth. During the Fall season, a person on a large mower can be seen blowing the leaves back onto the grass from the paved regions. (90)

Figure 8: A photo of a hill path leading to Hillcrest Hall. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

I is for Inclusive

Prompt 3.20 Observing Accessibility; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Nov. 12.

My walks on the way home included passing by a trail of mulch and dirt laid out next to set of stairs. This accessibility is seen in a lot of places throughout campus, but some areas have confusing or obscurely placed wheelchair-accessible paths. These obscure paths will be on the other side of a medium, so to say, and blocked by vegetation, making it hard to see at first. While not blank, having more straight forward, obviously placed accessibility is something for future projects to consider with more thought. (90)

Figure 9: A photograph of an inclined trail next to a staircase near Davidson Hall. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

J is For Jog

Prompt 2.13 Step Counting Metrics; Audio and text; Wednesday, Oct. 29.

My iPhone tracks steps whenever not in lower power mode. I didn’t pay mind to the numbers in the past, but since I began tracking my calories, I check to see what my step count is for the day, to then see if I can have another small meal. A typical ten minute walk on campus is a little over 1000 steps, while my jogs later in the day can be between 1200 to 2000 steps, depending on if I’m going small or large strides for my mile or more. (90)

Audio track 1. A 4-second audio recording of feet moving on the ground. (Original Recording, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

K is for Killing Cold

Prompt 3.23 Daily Walk List; Text; Friday, Nov. 14.

Day 1, Friday:Two opposing-direction pedestrians bump into each other on the sidewalk, one is unapologetic while the other is confused. Leaves were blown onto the sidewalk in abundance. I start to feel a sickness in the back of my throat.

Day 2, Monday: Extreme winds combined with frigid temperatures, unbearable with my cold. Nose consistently sniffling, needed a tissue in my hand the whole walk. Few students outside, some aren’t wearing enough clothing for the temperatures.

Day 3, Tuesday: Extreme winds with warmer weather, almost bearable. Sniffling nose, not as bad with sudafed taken. Every student is layered properly.

Day 4, Wednesday: Sun is out, not many clouds. Everyone is wearing less layers today. My nose isn’t sniffling at all.

Day 5, Thursday: I no longer feel sick. Nose rarely sniffles during walk. More people outside today.

This week tested me. I tried my best this semester to stay fully free of germs, but some things are inevitable and my cold wasn’t nearly the worst thing about these five days. A trial run of Winter came to Blacksburg, I need some better insulating clothing. I will be ready next time. (180)

L is for Leafy

Prompt 3.11 Smellscape Mapping; Drawing and text; Wednesday, Nov. 12.

As Fall wraps up and the cold days become more frequent, I think back to some of the smells of the season that stick with me. The smell of freshly cut grass at the DrillField. The peppery scent coming from the leaves that fall near my face. The rarer smell, one of leaves sitting directly under the sun on a cloudless day. There are obviously other smells to go along with the season and its festivities, but leaves and grass are the only motifs I use to think about it. (90)

Figure 10: A drawing of a walking map inspired by Virginia Tech and its surroundings. (Original Drawing, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

M is for Movings

Prompt 2.18 A wish for Something to be Different; Audio and text; Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Being a college campus, there are many people trying to go to many places, with many deadlines to be met. There are radar speed signs throughout the campus, and when I pass by one, the numbers of the cars passing are 35+ miles per hour a lot of the time. This speed is in areas with many crosswalks and many students, so I wish the speedsters would take a hint and slow down. This may require them to start their day a few minutes earlier, but safety is most important. (90)

Audio track 2. A 9-second audio recording of cars on the road. (Original Recording, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

N is for Noise

Prompt 2.04 Overhead, Less Context; Audio and text; Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Today’s biweekly 3:15 PM walk consisted of fast-walking pedestrians and a group of students in front of me talking about Calculus 2 and one of the topics reviewed, long division. One of the group members states his fear of this topic loudly in the audio recording. Every day, when I walk from the Graduate Life Center Building to McBryde Hall for DiffEq, there’s a new conversation I unintentionally eavesdrop. Most conversations give insight into the relatable struggles of other students learning STEM topics, or general struggles of a young adult. (90)

Audio track 3. A 9-second audio recording in between peak class time near the Campus Drillfield. (Original Recording, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

O is for Odd

Prompt 3.01 Reflective Preparatory Writing; Text; Thursday, Nov. 6.

During my eight grade year in 2017, I would walk on the balls of my feet. As a result, I had balance problems and was clumsy. My stepbrothers took notice, correcting my walk and telling me about walking with my heels first, then toes, in an efficient, fluid motion. Since then, I’ve had more control over my walking and am able to easily adjust speed, depending on the pedestrian traffic. This is especially useful when walking in groups, as the speeds of the group vary widely throughout a single walk. (90)

P is for Parking

Prompt 2.19 Duck Pond; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Sept. 30.

My day starts when I park in one of the commuter lots on the southern side of Virginia Tech. A fifteen to twenty-minute walk follows finding a space for my car to bake. There’s unfortunately no vegetation to fill the interiors of the lot, so it ends up being very warm in the surrounding area. Some cars are parked when I arrive at the campus and when I leave in the late evening hours. I wonder how many of the people that park in Duck Pond Lot live on campus. (90)

Figure 11: A night photo of the Duckpond Road Lot parking area near the Human and Agricultural Biosciences Building. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

Q is for Quality

Prompt 2.02 Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Nov. 12.

These shoes have landed on and left the ground at least a million times, judging by some extremely rough estimates after checking my step count on my phone. They have gotten very muddy, been hand cleaned, been washer cleaned, and been outside-rain cleaned – on accident – plenty of times. The day of retirement is impending for these sneakers, but as long as I’m too lazy to find the next perfect walk shoe, and as long as the soles don’t fail, these shoes will carry me a million more times. (90)

Figure 12: A photograph of shoes taken on Virginia Tech Campus. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

R is for Rain

Prompt 2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and text; Thursday, Oct. 30.

After twenty minutes of rain and a walk near the southern side of campus, the Sun began to peak through the clouds. I started to look over in the direction of the Sun and noticed some farm area I usually glance at when I pass through the parking lot. This time there were no animals outside and the voluminous clouds won most of my attention. The cloud seemed closer than normal, maybe only a mile away. I heard some planes above but could not see them or their lights either. (90)

Figure 13: A photograph of the surrounding land and sky of the Duck Pond Road Lot. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

S is for Storage

Prompt 2.23 The Things You Carry; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 29.

To have a successful day of classes, I bring in my backpack, from most to least important: laptop, binder, 3-subject notebook, 1-subject notebook, calculator, pencils, pens, a water bottle, lipbalm, and hand sanitizer. The former seven items are to be able to do coursework and homework; the latter three items are for my maintenance throughout a long six to seven hour day on campus, where I need to stay hydrated and clean. About once a month, I’ll forget to bring along one of these items, it cannot be the laptop. (90)

Figure 14: A photograph of the contents of a backpack taken in Torgersen Hall. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

T is for Tree

Prompt 2.10 Favorite Tree, A Note of Appreciation; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Dear Tree, during midday, when the sun is beaming and the UV rays are hitting at their maximum power level, you provide a nice break from the blistering heat that accumulates on my nape. The first tree along the flat and straight portion of  West Campus Drive, you are the beginning of a short, but appreciated, moment of shade along my journey to class. I wonder if you find the 12 PM sun to be as irritating as I do. I hope you receive some rain and clouds soon, buddy. (90) 

Figure 15: A photograph of a cathedral elm tree near to the Department of Entomology building. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

U is for Uninterrupted

Prompt 3.02 Flânerie; Audio and text; Friday, Nov. 28.

I don’t wander aimlessly much when outside, in an effort to be efficient with my time. I do occasionally find myself walking around during an interval of time where I have no responsibilities and feel a true independence that I rarely get as a student who still depends on my parents financially. Being outside without responsibility is different from inside my own house, which is paid for by my parents, and that feeling of independence is a space I hope to be surrounded by once I find more career success. (90)

Audio track 4. A 6-second audio recording of a public area. (Original Recording, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

V is for Very Appalachian Mountains

Prompt 2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and text; Thursday, Nov. 27.

Every year in November, all of my family come together to celebrate Thanksgiving. The holiday includes around thirty to forty family members and is hosted at my great grandfather’s farm in West Virginia. He built a very large three-story house on it. He is still with us to this day and gives a speech before the big meal. Most of the family brings their own special recipes which are laid out in the kitchen. Just outside of the kitchen is the big hill everyone must descend to reach the house. (90)

Figure 16: A photograph of a farm hill near Princeton, West Virginia. (Original Drawing, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

W is for Walking

Prompt 2.17 Desire Paths; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Infrastructure is a necessity for travel in the modern world, but sometimes the mind of a person decides saving a few seconds with additional measures is worth it. Paths created by increasingly popular movement through grass can be seen throughout the Virginia Tech campus, like on the Drillfield or other areas with rounded pavement. The Drillfield is an interesting case in particular as the more pavement paved, the more paths formed. These paths are traveled in the morning, the afternoon, and rarely at night, when students have already returned home. (90)

Figure 17: A photo of desire path near Litton Reaves Lot during the evening hours. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

X is for Xeno

Prompt 2.22 Stairs versus Elevator; Audio and text; Friday, Nov. 21.

Near Hancock Hall, there is an elevator I see every time I walk to my Data Structures and Algorithms class. The elevator is in a tiny, elevated shelter that leads to the lower level, which consists of Buchard Hall. This elevator is one of many that I’ve had the chance to take throughout college, but I choose stairs instead because of wanting to have daily ROM stimulation for my knees, which I had surgeries for in high school. I might change my ways if I see eight flights one day. (90)

Audio track 5. A 1-second audio recording of an elevator ding. (Original Recording, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

Y is for Yips in the Distance

Prompt 3.09 Sound Archive; Audio and text; Thursday, Nov. 27.

Going for a nightly walk around my neighborhood brings the typical sounds one might hear around them. The most common noise is the chirping of crickets and grasshoppers in the grass near houses. More rarely, there is a faint, monotone or high-pitched cry from a bird. The bird may be an owl or another nocturnal, flying predator. I feel less alone and more engaged during my walk when I hear that, it makes the night feel alive but not to the point of feeling unsafe in my suburban sprawl. (90)

Audio track 6. A 5-second audio recording of ambient neighborhood noise.. (Original Recording, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

Z is for Zoom

Prompt 2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Sep. 30.

Everyday, I walk along Campus Drive, the main, high-traffic road on Campus at Virginia Tech. When I walk south and head up the slope portion, I see a lot of fast moving cars, electric scooters, and bikes. Looking towards the bike lane, all the concerned faces of the students going down the hill on mode of transportation is interesting to watch. During the Spring 2025 semester, I watched a student going down the slope on an electric scooter get hit by a car as it was turning, not noticing pedestrians. (90)

Figure 18: A photograph of the bike lane on West Campus Drive, near Smyth Hall. (Original Photograph, Otoniel Bobé Cummings)

ENGL3844 P2.Walkings

Prof. Derek Mueller (dmueller@vt.edu)

10/10/25

P for Parking Garage (South Main St.):

Figure 1. This is the view from a small parking garage in downtown Blacksburg. My roommate and I like to come here on our nightly walks. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

My roommate and I have a habit of going on night walks after a stressful week. On this particular night, we grabbed some DX (I got a burger and she got a chicken sandwich), and set off. We live on-campus in New Residence Hall East, so the journey wasn’t too burdensome. As we people-watched, we discussed our week, what exams we have coming up, personal drama, and more. This parking garage has been our usual spot since our freshman year, so we come here pretty regularly. Not a bad spot. (90)

G is for Going Out (Draper Rd.):

Figure 2. The Milk Parlor is a music bar in downtown Blacksburg. This is the best spot to see live bands and grab some chicken tenders after a long night. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

The Milk Parlor is one of my favorite spots to go out in Blacksburg. My friends and I frequent it pretty much every weekend since we all love live music. On this night, we had tried getting into The Burg (just to go somewhere new) but the cover charge was $40. That’s preposterous so we decided to come here instead. We happened to see a fantastic band that we never caught the name of. They covered “Song 2” which made me very excited because I’m a really big Blur fan. (90)

D for Ducks (Duck Pond):

Figure 3. Ducks seen swimming around in Virginia Tech’s duck pond. My roommate and I think that the two ducks in the center were romantically involved. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton) 

This day was a relatively exhausting one. My roommate and I had just gotten out of our labs (I had chemistry and she had bio). We had decided to grab some Chickfila from Perry Place and eat at the duck pond picnic tables. While we were eating, we noticed some ducks surrounding the tables and decided to snap some photos. The two ducks in the center were very touchy with each other, signifying a clingy relationship. The weather was cool and it was nice to unwind outside after our labs. (90)

S for Skateboard (Skatepark):

Figure 4. This is me trying to remember how to ride a skateboard properly at Blacksburg’s skatepark. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton) 

I don’t skateboard that often, but when I do, it’s always pretty fun. This was definitely the longest walk on the list; the skatepark is very far away from where I live. As you can infer based on the last entries, my roommate was here for this venture as well. She’s a much better skater than I am and will usually tease me for riding a longboard instead of a street board. She dropped in on the half-pipe a couple of times, and I just skated around aimlessly. Gotta practice. (90)

T for Trees (Academic Side):

Figure 5. This is a photo I took around Pamplin Hall. The slight coloring of the trees and the evening lighting deserved a picture. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

I cross this path on the academic side very frequently; most of my classes are in Hahn Hall North. This was a solo journey when I got out of my chemistry lab. I had just grabbed some pasta from Veloce in Perry Place, and was eager to get home quickly so that it wouldn’t get cold in my bookbag. As I was walking along, it was hard not to appreciate the signs that fall is upon us. I’ve always preferred winter, but there’s nothing quite like a good orange-leafed tree. (90)

F for Frost (Residence Halls):

Figure 6. This is some mild frost that I saw one morning when walking to the bus stop. This made me increasingly excited for winter. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

I looked at the weather app after waking up so I could dress accordingly for this walk, and noticed that it was slightly over 30 degrees. I was more shocked to see predictions for flurries throughout the morning. It was very chilly, but it made my walk to my chemistry lecture slightly more enjoyable. I ended up wearing some black jeans, a white hoodie, and a flannel jacket to keep warm. In my airpods, I was listening to the band Magdalena Bay since they usually wake me up a little. (90)

C for Croissant (Marcia’s Park):

Figure 7. These are some pastries that my roommate and I got after roaming around downtown. The left is creme brulee cheesecake, the middle is a creme brulee donut, and the right is a turkey and swiss croissant. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

This was a very leisurely walk with my roommate. We went to Coffeeholics to grab some snacks. Surprisingly, we didn’t get any drinks. Our main mission was to find a nice spot to eat, and after some searching, we found this small park called Marcia’s park. As the leaves crunched under our shoes, we settled on this platform above a small body of water. The pastries were beyond our expectations and I’d say my favorite was the creme brulee donut. It had a crisp, crackling top with a custard filling. (90)

M is for Market (Farmers Market):

Figure 8. This figure shows some mushrooms that I found at the Blacksburg Farmers Market. I was tempted to buy some but I don’t have a lot of money right now. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

My roommate and I decided to go to the Farmers Market on Saturday. We both got up around 12pm, walked to squires to get some coffees, and then headed downtown to the market. This little mushroom stand had to be my favorite. They had small grow kits, fresh mushrooms, and other cool products. Another stand we walked by had really good smelling candles but they were like 20 dollars so we passed. As we circled around the place, mounds of fresh produce and artisan goods continued to catch our attention. (90)

H is for Halloween (Centros):

Figure 9. This is my roommate, boyfriend, and friend waiting in line for Centros on Halloween night. We ended up staying for about 3 hours and we were all pretty tired the next day. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

On Halloween night, some friends and I decided to go out and dress up. This wasn’t a long walk since it was just downtown, but we were all kinda cold. I dressed up as Sukuna from Jujustu Kaisen. I was too lazy to invest in the actual outfit so I just used some temporary dye on my hair and got my roommate to do the face markings. We stayed at Centros Bar for about 3 hours and we saw somebody get kicked out too. It was a pretty eventful night. (90)

V is for View (Study Lounge):

Figure 10. This is the view from outside one of my dorm’s study lounges. I got some schoolwork done and was then greeted with this pretty view.

It was a pretty slow day, so I decided to catch up on some schoolwork (which has been a struggle this year for some reason). I walked down to my floor’s study hall so it was no big journey. I worked on chemistry notes and my chemistry lab worksheets. I was able to complete a couple hours worth of homework and then noticed how pretty the sky looked. I’m not sure why, but I feel like there’s a lot of good sunsets here. Gotta appreciate the simple things in life. (90)

By: Marcelo Pozo

Walking is something I have always done without thinking. It just became second nature to me ever since I first learned how to walk. Throughout this project I have opened my eyes and have been exposed to many ideas, concerns, and thoughts. I have realized how much I overlook even the smallest things. My entries became more about what I notice and feel rather than a destination. Throughout the project I described and analyzed what raised my attention.

There were a couple themes that surface throughout my project. The first being how walking raised awareness and discovery. Walking throughout Blacksburg completing this project resulted in my discovering and thinking about places and objects in a way I never have before. Another theme that surfaced was the contrast in colors and objects in photograph. Although I did not realize it at the time of taking the photograph. Afterwards I was able to make observations about contrasts in the photograph and truly depict what makes the photograph unique. These depictions later shaped my observations and understanding of photography.

As I look back on my entries, I realize that walking became more than just the movement of getting from one place to another. Walking to me now is paying attention to small details surrounding me, how I feel in certain places, how I compare places, the purpose of places, and much more. This project helped me understand how walking connects me with a place with my senses, thoughts, and observations. This project taught me to approach my walks with curiosity and attention.

A – Awkward Sidewalk

2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different

Figure 21. A photograph of a sidewalk made of bricks alongside Drillfield Drive. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Walking on this part of the sidewalk I notice the discomfort and unevenness of the floor under my feet with each step feeling more uncomfortable than the previous. The raised edges and loose stones make me wish it never existed. A simple repair or completely new redesign would improve the sidewalk’s quality. As I take each step along this sidewalk, concern for my safety increases in each step. Walking on this sidewalk raises my concern for my safety in each step making me realize this is a flaw on campus. (90)

B – Backpack essentials

2.23 The Things You Carry

Figure 04. My backpack and the items inside I carry to school everyday. These items are my essentials for school. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

I unpacked my backpack and arranged them by most used from top to bottom. In order, these contents are a laptop, tablet, earbuds, water bottle, journal, sticky notes, and a pencil. After unpacking my contents I came to a realization that I am a very simplistic person when it comes to school essentials. The colors of my least used items make me wonder if I have stray away from bright colored items as that’s what my least used items are. The items in my backpack reflect my simplicity and organization. (90)

C – Club Softball

2.08 Sporting Event

Figure 08. A photograph of club softball on game night on October 10th. The game started at 7:30 and had minimal crowd presence. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Usually I attend only football games at Virginia Tech. However I wanted a different atmosphere, so I went to a softball game. The environment was quiet. The quietness made each play feel more intense and significant compared to a football game. The minimal sound presence allowed me to be much more invested in each play. The stands being so close to the field allowed for a feeling of almost being a player in the game. However, when noise levels were raised from cheering and yelling, everything was heard crystal clear. (90)

D – Daily Wear

2.02 Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories

Figure 01. A close up on my shoes on a mulchy and rocky path near the duck pond lot at Virginia Tech. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Although Birkenstock clogs may not be best suited for a mulchy and rocky trail, I still choose to wear them because of comfort. As I walked on the path near the duck pond I recognized the color blend between my shoes and mulch. At the same time I noticed the color contraction between the light grey colored rocks and my shoes. No matter the weather, temperature, or season, I will be wearing these shoes nine times out of ten. The minimal scuffing reminds me of my care for the shoes. (90)

E – Emergency Post 

3.15 Camera Awareness

Figure 02. One of multiple Virginia Tech emergency posts on campus. This specific emergency post sits in front of the war memorial hall in front of the Drillfield and contains a calling system to an emergency hotline, light, and a camera. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

I was never concerned about Virginia Tech’s safety and security on campus regarding cameras. However, I wasn’t aware of how many cameras there were on campus until I started to look for them. I spotted one and then another, emphasizing Virginia Tech’s efforts in security and safety. This specific camera in the photograph stood out to me as it is different from others. It is directly above an emergency light post with a blue light. The bright blue light reassures students of safety and comfort on campus, even at night. (90) 

F – Food Line

2.16 Waiting in Line

Figure 12. A photograph of students in line at the Dietrick Hall grocery store on Virginia Tech campus. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

When in line for food, my pace of walking slows down. As I stand behind others, I notice small details surrounding me such as snack labels, refrigerator noises, item scanning beeps, and conversations in the background. Some people choose to be on their phones in the line, while others choose to stare around. When someone dequeues from the front of the line, those in line shuffle forward moving almost in rhythm. Although waiting in line can be inconvenient, it allows me to pay closer attention to small details around me. (90)

G – Garden

2.09 Hahn Horticulture Garden

Figure 13. A photograph of a waterfall leading into a river surrounded by rocks and plants in front of a wooden bridge in the Hahn Horticulture Garden. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo).

Walking in the garden at this time of the year I was not expecting anything to blow away my eyes. However, that changed when I came across a miniature waterfall. The sound of the water splashing and watching it flow gave me a sense of relaxation and peace. The waterfall sitting directly in the middle view of the bridge and centered with the rocks highlights its presence. I can only imagine how well the blossomed flowers and sunlight contrast with the miniature waterfall in the peak seasons, spring and summer.  (90)

H – Hidden Path

2.17 Desire Paths

Figure 22. A photograph of a faint line over a body of grass on the Drillfield. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Walking across the Drillfield at night can be difficult as light only hits paved paths. Walking off the paths I notice a faint white line in the grass. I follow the straight line and reach another paved path. I wonder if this line is a hint at a new path on the Drillfield? The dead flat grass emphasizes the desire for this path as it hints at repeated footsteps carved by students on campus. With no lights hitting the white lined path, I walk in darkness trusting the lined path.

I – Illuminated Ritual

3.22 Change the Ritual

Figure 26. A photograph of The Lyric theater downtown Blacksburg. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Walking past The Lyric theater at night has always felt like a ritual for me. Although I never have entered, I admire it. .I usually just walk by it, so for this walk I slowed my pace as I walked by. Walking slower allowed me to notice more details. I notice the bright and glowing lights giving off a feeling of warmth and welcoming. I feel illuminated by the theater. In the background I hear footsteps walking in rhythm alongside quiet conversations. I continue my walk feeling safer and confident. (90)

J – John S. Moody Bench

2.05 A Good Bench

Figure 07. A photograph of John S. Moody Plaza memorial. John was a former football player for Virginia Tech, veteran, and fundraiser for Virginia Tech Athletics. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

As I go searching for a bench, I unexpectedly come across a unique bench which holds meaning for a former Virginia Tech friend who passed away. Attached to the bench is a statue of John S. Moody which gives me a sense of him always being with the school and community. This bench is all made up of 1 specific metal material I assume to preserve the memorial. I was going to sit on the bench, but then came to a realization that for respect to the memorial should not. (90)

K – Knocked Over Trash

2.24 A Meditation on Garbage

Figure 11. A photograph of a knocked over trash can along a sidewalk downtown Blacksburg on College Ave. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Walking downtown, I notice a trash can knocked over onto its side, spilling trash across the brick floor. The longer I stared at the trashcan, the more it emphasized a moment of neglect for the trashcan in a popular area, usually a well kept area. I wonder who or what caused this. Could it have been a street brawl? A drunk college student? A car? The wind? I guess I will never know. Cigarettes can be seen surrounding the rim of the trash can, ashes sprinkled across on the floor. (90)

L – Leafless Park

2.30 What’s Growing in Marcia’s Park?

Figure 20. A photograph of leafless trees in Marcia Park. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Walking into Marcia Park I immediately notice the cluster of leafless trees. The tree branches form patterns upward into the dark sky and background. The environment gives off a feeling of emptiness as if something was missing. This feeling I can assume is a result of the season changing to winter causing leaves to fall, plants to die, and weather to be gloomy. Walking through the park only sounds of gusting wind and steps can be heard. The lights surrounding the park cast off subtle stretched shadows of the trees. (90)

M – Memorial

2.27 4/26 Memorial

Figure 16. A photograph of the April 26th 2007 memorial in front of Burrus hall. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Walking through the Drillfield I often glance at the 4/26  memorial. The emphasis on its presence with details surrounding it remind me of how deeply the memorial matters to the Virginia Tech community. The flowers, lights, flags, signs, and other details emphasize the memorials’ significance and remembrance for those who passed. The centered alignment with Burrus hall and glowing lights in the background give off a sense of importance. Even at night with gusting winds and a dark sky the memorial still stands tall and stands out on campus.

N – Night Sky

3.14 Star Gazing

Figure 05. A view of the Drillfield and night sky from the April 16th memorial on the Drillfield. The picture is illuminated by a light post from the right creating a darkening gradient towards the left of the image. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

I don’t usually walk at night on campus. However, doing so creates a different aesthetic for me compared to walking during the day. I gain an urgency to stop and take in the view, cool air, and emptiness. Darkness usually makes me feel scared or alone, but the darkness looking over the Drillfield and the sky makes me feel relaxed and independent. The presence of clouds is minimal adding to a relaxed feeling along with a minimal presence of stars adding to a sense of self reflection and clear mind. (90)

O – Overview

2.03 Overhead at Time of Day

Figure 06. A view of the Drillfield, trees, and sky from the Virginia Tech War Memorial Chapel. The picture illuminates a gradient of lighter colors as you look towards the right of the image. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

As I take a break from walking to class to breathe in fresh air looking over the Drillfield, I see a familiar building directly in the center of my view. That familiar building was my freshmen dorm, Slusher Tower, where all of my freshmen year memories are held. The changing colors of leaves on the trees around me remind me of the season change. The soft falling and blowing of leaves provides a sense of relaxation and soothing for the eyes. The bright clouds above emphasize the tree’s color changes. (90)

P – Pine Tree

2.10 Favorite Tree, A Note of Appreciation

Figure 09. A photograph of a pine tree near a duck pond. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Walking by campus I unintentionally found my favorite tree by duckpond lot. To others they might not think much of this pine tree. However it stood out to me. This pine tree is the only tree in the area with a large amount of leaves on it. It gives off a sense of fullness compared to others. Looking at the pine tree reminds me of the upcoming holidays such as Christmas. Curiosity runs through my mind on the science behind the trees’ health and fullness this late in the year. (90)

Q – Quiet Plaza

3.16 Non- Commercial Walk

Figure 25. A photograph of the entrance of the Food Lion grocery store located on Patrick Henry Drive. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Walking through the Patrick Henry Plaza without any intentions to shop felt weird at first. All I could think to do was observe my surroundings. I frequently saw shoppers entering and leaving the Food Lion grocery store. Some took longer than others. Soft lighting hit the parking lot from the store. I listened to carts stroll on the pavement, conversations in the background, grocery bags ruffling, and cars coming in and out of the parking lot. The night setting emphasized the calmness of shoppers and goal to shop for groceries. (90)

R – Refrigerator

2.12 Indoor Walk

Figure 14. A photograph of a sketch drawn by Marcelo Pozo of his path from his room, to his home fridge. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

One of the most popular trips I make in my home is from my room to my refrigerator. As I traced the steps for this path I realized how I overlooked the simple walk, each step being more noticeable than usual. I counted 50 total steps for this walk, moving in a calm paced rhythmic pattern while I listen to my socks slide against the carpet in each step. Looking at the drawn map, I notice how many extra steps and turns I have to take because of the stairs. (90)

S – Stadium Sound

3.09 Sound Archive

Figure 03. A top stadium view of the Virginia Tech vs Vanderbilt game in the first quarter at Lane Stadium. The sunset contains vivid and bright colors contrasting to the field. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Virginia Tech’s football games never fail to live up to its expectations, no matter the end game result. To start the game Enter Sandman is played and sung in unison by the fans, but it doesn’t stop there. Chants are roared left and right, fireworks burst loudly, horns are played in rhythm, and much more. Being in the stadium you feel the pulse of the sound and energy in the crowd from the vibrations of the bleachers to the crowd noise made. The noise forms unity amongst the hokie nation. (90)

T – Time Saving

2.12 Indoor Walk

Figure 15. A photograph of four sets of stairs taken from a moving elevator at squires student building. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Each time I take the elevator in the squires building it reminds me of the time and hassle I save as the elevator window points directly to four sets of stairs. My habit formed during longer school days where taking the stairs felt like it took more effort than usual with my heavy backpack, so I began to take the elevator and never looked back. Taking the elevator brings a sense of privacy and peace through its encapsulation and slow humming noises as it goes up and down the building. (90)

U – Unexpected Findings

3.01 Reflective Preparatory Practice

Figure 17. A photograph of a jumbo version of chess board and chess pieces found in the squires student building. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

When I walk I often discover something new or come across something unexpected, even in familiar buildings. This is part of my “why” for walking. Finding a jumbo chessboard inside of the Squires building reminded me of why I enjoy wandering without a set plan. I walk to notice surprises like this one! My attention searches for an object, scene, nature, or person to give it too when I walk. Walking gives me a sense of peace, especially when I have nowhere to be. A steady slow pace brings peace. (90)

V – Vaulted Engine

2.07 What Even Goes On In There?

Figure 18. A photo of an engine hanging from the ceiling found in Goodwin Hall. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Walking into the engineering building I immediately felt small as I found myself standing under a huge engine hanging from the ceiling. Surrounding me are other engineered technologies for display. I instantly felt an aura of innovation and growing technology. The exposed metal framings, wires, and other small details emphasize the futuristic like sculpting of the engine. I heard echoes, soft footsteps, and distance conversations bouncing off the walls. Being in the building even for a short amount of time made me realize how much engineering blends creativity and precision. (90)

W – Water Presence

2.19 Duck Pond

Figure 10. A photograph of the Duck Pond at Virginia Tech from a waterside gazebo. The photo was taken in the evening around 5:00PM. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

Oftentimes I come to Virginia Tech’s Duck Pond as it is a close-by body of water. The water rippling and movement gives a sense of relaxation and calmness. It is similar to a pond near my home giving me a sense of a piece of home here at Virginia Tech. To emphasize the soothing feeling ponds give me, the sunset gives a sleek contrast to the water, clouds, sky, and trees. At this view I hear a small number of runners nearby adding to that relaxed feeling through synchronized steps. (90)

X – eXpedition Shelter

3.27 Epic Walking Story

Figure 23. A photograph of a wooden hut with benches in Hahn Garden. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

As I walk deeper into the Hahn Garden at night I walk through muddy and stiff terrain. A difficult path to follow I think to myself surely there has to be a purpose for this. Lighting is minimal with quiet sounds of conversations in the background. Lost in the garden I follow the sound of conversations. At last, I found a wooden shelter hut with resting pilgrims. At first the pilgrims were scared, but then welcomed me. Interacting with the pilgrims I get a reminder of my family back home. (90)

Y – Yield To Pedestrians!

2.14 Signage

Figure 19. A picture of a yield to pedestrian walking sign surrounded with led lights surrounding the sign. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

While passing through campus at night, one specific sign stood out more than the rest. This sign is the yield to pedestrian walking sign as it was reflective and had LED lights flashing around it. This gave me a strong sense of safety for myself and other students in the community. Seeing the LED lights made me realize how much student safety is important to Virginia Tech. With dark skies and wind gusts, it may be hard to identify walking students. However, Virginia Tech makes the campus feel more secure. (90)

Z – Zero Distance Walk

2.32 Shortest Walk

Figure 24. A photograph of the corner of a bed and bathroom entrance. (Original photograph taken with Canon G7X, Marcelo Pozo)

My shortest walk begins. I wake up. I stretch. I begin walking. I take two steps. I open the door. The door creaks quietly. The bathroom sits ahead. I take two steps. The walk feels short. It lasted seconds. This walk is daily. It is my routine. I have more routines. I brush my teeth. I wash my face. I shave my mustache. I take my time. I turn around. I walk two steps. I close the door. I hear creaking. I take two more steps. I get in bed.

A is for Alone

Prompt 2.01 – Campus Map of the Imagination; Photograph and text; Monday, Oct 13

As I embark on my walking journey for this project, I walk alone. Usually, when I walk around I walk with my friends, whether that be to and from the bus stop, or on campus. In the brief time that I was walking alone outside, I felt calm. My mind is normally full of thoughts on what I have to do, or what assignments I have going on, and it’s rarely ever in the present. As I walk alone I let go of every background thought in my head, and all the stress slowly fades, and I feel an emotion of calmness I haven’t felt in a while. Walking by myself helped me look at my surroundings in a way I never would have if I was with friends. I also noticed how walking alone made my walking pace naturally slow down, also causing my thoughts to slow down. This peaceful and deeply reflective walk helped me find the beauty in being alone and reminded me how important it is to pause, breathe, and truly be present in the moment.

Figure 1. Sidewalk aligned with trees outside my apartment during a quiet solo walk. (Original photograph, Jacob Yeo)

B is for Bench

Prompt 2.05 – A Good Bench; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct 14

Today I walked from class to Mccomas. I could feel the drop of temperature and was planning to make my title for the entry “Breeze”, but I encountered a bench across the building and it made me think. How long has this bench been here? How many people have had conversations on this bench? This bench standing in front of me has probably been through years of different people encountering it. I think it’s pretty cool how this simple bench holds years of memories and conversation I will never know.

Figure 2. Wooden bench near McComas Hall where I paused during my walk. (Original photograph, Jacob Yeo)

C is for Clouds

Prompt 2.03 – Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct 15

As I walked across campus today, the sky caught my attention. The clouds moved so slowly like they weren’t in a rush to get anywhere. I watched these clouds slowly drift across the sky, stretching and changing shape over time. All the clouds in the sky were a perfect white color, looking like the perfect, textbook, cloud that you would see in the movies. I know it’s kind of dumb to get fascinated by these ordinary clouds, but its simplicity and ordinariness captivated me. The sky didn’t have any darkness.

Figure 3. Bright white clouds drifting across the afternoon sky above the Drillfield. (Original photograph, Jacob Yeo)

G is for Golf

Prompt 2.20 – Blacksburg Municipal Golf Course; Photograph and text; Thursday, Oct 30

Today I went golfing with my friend and decided to walk instead of taking the cart. This alternative was a lot cheaper and calm. The ground was very soft from the rain, and each step on the grass made a mushing noise. I started playing golf because of my dad. My dad uses golf as an escape from all his stresses, and he regularly goes to the golfing range after work. He taught me to have a good balance between fun hobbies and responsibilities. I recently picked up golf last summer because my dad would always go after work, and I wanted to see what all the hype behind it was about. He taught me how to swing and stay patient throughout each mistake and poor swing. I am trying to get good at golf in my own time, not because I find it fun, but because I can then bond with my dad over the sport and maybe in the future as we golf he can talk to me about his stresses and I can be there for him.

Figure 10: Walking across the course on a cool, fall day with a friend. (Original photograph, Jacob Yeo, Thursday, October 30)

I is for IM Rec Fields

Prompt 2.08 – Sporting Event; Photograph and text; Thursday, Oct 16

Today I walked to the rec fields for my intramural flag football game. During the walk, I was worried with different thoughts bombarding my head about what could go wrong and what mistakes I could make. I felt pressure from my peers to do well and not let them down. On the walk uphill beside the bubble, I felt a chilly breeze and shivers ran down my spine. I know it’s just an intramural game, but I was scared of letting my team down. It felt like all twenty members of the team were depending on my performance. As I got closer to the field, I finally walked past the bubble and it stopped blocking my view. I still hadn’t noticed the sky yet, but as I turned right and entered the gates, I was instantly stunned by its beauty. The sky had hues of orange, red, pink, gray, and blue. Seeing this great sunrise made me realize this game isn’t worth stressing over. Many people under this same sky are struggling with far greater things.

Figure 4. Entrance of the rec fields during my walk to the intramural game. (Original photograph, Jacob Yeo)

M is for Moon (90 words)

Prompt 2.03 – Overhead at Time of Night; Photograph and text; Friday, Oct 17

Tonight, I went on a calm stroll outside my apartment and noticed how bright the moon was. The streetlights seemed dull and warm compared to the white shine radiating from the moon. The air was brisk and I could hear crickets between each step I took. I usually only acknowledge the moon when it is an orange color, but it felt that today the moon demanded attention. I wonder if anyone else noticed how bright the moon was today, maybe I wasn’t alone in this walk after all.

Figure 5. The bright moon shines over the quiet street near my apartment at night. (Original photograph, Jacob Yeo)

N is for Night (90 words)

Prompt 2.03 – Overhead at Night; Photograph and text; Friday, Oct 28

Tonight as I take a brisk walk outside, I notice how the clear sky is filled with countless stars, more than I have noticed in a very long time. Is this because I never give the sky recognition, or is it because the stars aren’t usually this prominent? I will never know. Each light seemed to shine on its own schedule; steady and unpredictable. This made me think how the stars are always up there, not everything demands attention, sometimes you just have to take it slow and look up.

Figure 9: A clear night sky filled with countless stars. (Original photograph, Jacob Yeo, Tuesday, October 28)

P is for Path (90 words)

Prompt 2.17 – Desire Paths; Photograph and text; Thursday, Oct 22

Today I decided to take a different path to my apartment from the bus stop. It wasn’t much longer, but it definitely felt a lot quieter, and more open. The path stretched straight ahead, surrounded by fallen leaves and patches of sunlight breaking through the trees. Each step sounded delicate and soft; the quiet got me thinking about every little detail regarding the path. This path has always been here, but I never fully thought about the flaws of the path; the cracks on the pavement and the uneven edges. 

Figure 6: An alternative path with fall leaves beside it. (Original photograph, Jacob Yeo, Thursday, October 22)

S is for Sunrise  (90 words)

Prompt 2.03 – Overhead at Time of Day; Video and text; Sunday, Oct 19

This morning I woke up earlier than usual and decided to take a walk before my first class. The air was cold and still, accompanied by cold breezes every now and then.I walked through the trees and saw a light slowly breaking through the clouds with a little bit of gold following. This image was very beautiful and I felt a sense of hope and warmth from the sunrise. Lately I catch myself stressing out a lot whether that be from relationships or studies, that light gave me clarity.

The morning light slowly unfolds through the clouds, a quiet moment that reminded me to slow down and breathe. (Original video, Jacob Yeo, October 19.)

W is for Winter (90 words)

Prompt 2.18 – A Wish for Something to be Different; Photograph and text; Monday, Oct 30

As I walked alongside the road, I saw a thin tree standing apart from others. The tree looked naked; stripped of all leaves and bare. The tree looked fragile, but very firm at the same time. The tree made me realize how soon winter is coming. I always saw leaves changing colors and scattered on the floor, but I think this is the first time I have seen a bare tree like this. This image got me to realize how fast time moves, and how we are approaching the winter.

Figure 9: A lone, naked tree (Original photograph, Jacob Yeo, Thursday, October 30)

This is my Walkings project, which features many paths that I walk, along with writing about my observations, feelings, and sometimes even trying to reason why some things are the way they are. As you read these entries, you may notice a tonal shift or a thematic shift after each one. This is because in writing these entries, I tried my best to write as soon as possible after taking these shots, as a means to properly capture my feelings in the moment. I included many places on campus, as well as places off-campus. The commonality between most of the places featured here is their accessibility, as they all were within a convenient walking distance from my house or from campus. Since walking is intertwined with thinking, it made sense to me to feature some of my most convenient paths so that I could do the most thinking possible. There will be walks outside of my normal neighborhood or campus, which I included in order to switch things up, and see how my thinking and tone may change along with the new discoveries and things I learn while on these unorthodox walks. In some ways, this project also became a record of how my location and movement shaped my perception. Each walk featured its own observations, feelings, and theories. By paying close attention and scrutinizing the environment around me, as well as my own feelings, I was given the ability to really reflect on my observations. This is something that I thought made for an invaluable experience, because I believe if you don’t put any time and effort into reflecting on your environment, you can miss out on really important things as the memory passes by. In my reflections, I could feel as if I was enhancing my understanding of the world around me. I wish to share my understanding, observations, and feelings through these entries.

C is for Convenience

Prompt – 2.17 Desire Paths, Photo and text: Wednesday, 10/8

I noticed a desire path that leads from inside my neighborhood, right to the bus stop. This path exists from the people’s desire to reach the bus stop in the shortest amount of time and walking possible. The path curves. It is possible that the pioneers of this path had an obstacle in the curved spot which is no longer there, like maybe a fallen branch or another obstacle stemming from nature. This path shows that sometimes the best way to circumvent an obstacle is by going down the middle. (90)

M is for Makeshift

Prompt – 2.17 Desire Paths, Photos and text: Friday 10/24

This is a desire path which takes you in and out of the Alight apartment complexes. This path exists because people want a fast and efficient way to the sidewalk and bus stop. The path starts so late because before it, there is a short wall with a drop on a hill, which can be dangerous if you are wearing a heavy backpack or carrying sensitive items. It is covered by pine needles thanks to the fall season, but the contrast in color indicates the path you should walk down. (90)

I is for Irony

Prompt – 2.24 A Meditation on Garbage, Photos and text: Sunday 10/26

At the bus stop outside of my neighborhood, I noticed some trash from 7-Eleven at my feet. The irony was the 7-Eleven being right across the street. They discarded a cookie wrapper, which I know can be finished quickly, and the person who bought it must have done so. They must have littered out of laziness, but they could have placed the wrapper in their pocket and properly discarded it. If they were catching the bus and going on campus, a trash can would not have been hard to find. (90)

P is for Placement

Prompt – 2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different, Photo and Text: Wednesday, 10/22

Does this violate ADA standards? On the way out of Durham Hall, there is a very badly placed plant right in front of the automatic door opener. I was trying to imagine myself in a wheelchair hitting that button, and I imagined I would find myself very frustrated in trying to circumnavigate this plant. If I could change this, I would not discard the plant, but instead move the button to the door frame at its right side. If malls can do that with their Auto-push buttons, VT can too. (90)

W is for Waste

Prompt – 2.24 A Meditation on Garbage, Photo and text: Tuesday, 10/28

On my walk home, right outside of my neighborhood, I found a full water bottle. This surprised me, because of all of the things you can litter or discard, why a full bottle of water? This bottle is closer to the road than it is the house I found it near. Maybe the bottle was discarded by someone while walking on the sidewalk who lives further away, or elsewhere in the neighborhood. Could it have been the taste or smell of the water inside that made them discard it? I find it ironic. Accessible water is one of the most important things to have, and having it on your person is a great convenience. To waste drinking water like this is to betray yourself of your most basic need for survival. Bottled water, when stored correctly, can last indefinitely. Perhaps the person who tried drinking this let it sit in less-than-ideal conditions. It could have been exposed to heat, or over time has undergone some microorganism growth inside the bottle. Anyhow, it’s confusing and even a bit disheartening to see. (180)

B is for Belonging 

Prompt – 2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different, Photo and text: Sunday, 10/5

As I was taking a walk behind a friend’s apartment complex, I saw a stray piece of paper from McDonald’s. This paper was once holding a burger, but now it has found itself at rest above a sewage system. The person who bought and consumed the former burger decided on a whim how to dispose of that piece of paper. The wind guides it now, and it will likely be somewhere else tomorrow. I believe it belongs in the garbage, like all trash. The person who bought this burger disagrees. (90)

S is for Stillness

Prompt 2.12 – Indoor Walk, Photo and text: Friday, 10/10

I work in Torgerson. It’s always quiet here, but on the Friday that I took this, it was much quieter than usual. I had walked my usual path when I leave work, and noticed it felt like Torgerson Hall had been abandoned. Despite it being a schoolday, you’d at least see students or faculty heading somewhere, but not this time. The silence was quite therapeutic, but simultaneously confusing. I personally do not have Friday classes, but neither do a good number of my friends. Does anybody have Friday classes anymore? (90)

D is for Delusion

Unprompted, Photo and text: Friday, 10/10

This walk took place at 3:00 PM, Friday the 10th. It was my first time this semester being on campus during a Friday, due to my classes taking place on only Tuesdays and Thursdays. The reason I arrived was to complete a test for work. I was walking around campus, and as I was approaching Owens Food Court, there was a strong smell of butter chicken. I had no idea why, as Owens wasn’t having any special events around Indian food today. Additionally, how could the scent have lingered this far? The most likely explanation is that the scent came from a room in Eggleston Hall, but they must have made enough to feed a group of people, given the smell made its way far outside. The most uncanny thing of this entire moment was that the scent was identical to the butter chicken they sold at Trader Joe’s in North Virginia. As I write this, I wish I asked somebody else if they were able to smell that, just so I know that I was not going crazy. (180)

O is for Oddity

Prompt 2.17 – Desire Paths, Photo and text, Sunday, 10/5

This stair is the odd one out, the only one damaged. It has partly cracked, likely due to foot traffic. I noticed the brick underneath the staircase first, then saw the point of damage on the structure. Perhaps the tenant has lots of friends, friends who are so eager to see them that they hurriedly stomp their way up the stairs so aggressively that they have chipped under the weight. If this were the case, it would arguably be pretty symbolic. Maybe standing out is not always a bad thing. (90)

L is for Lights

Prompt – 2.03 Overhead at Time of Day, Photo and Text: Sunday, 10/12

I was walking to the bus stop at 10:20 PM. In between McBryde and Lavery Hall, there is the construction site to the East. When I looked up, I saw the operator’s cab lighting up red, green, and blue for the first time. If a single story is somewhere around 10 feet high, this crane must have been just over 50 feet in the air. I tried to search online if there was a meaning or reason behind the flashing colors, but I could not find any good information. (90)

R is for Reprieve

This bench is not like many that I am used to. It’s a singular bench, not located near a sidewalk, but instead a grassy hill. It’s curved, suggesting I should sit on the side that slants inwards. Sitting on this bench, it’s hard like many and lacks back support. I believe for a bench to be good, it should be long enough to share with one or two people, as well as with a part to support your back. It also needs to be in a convenient location. This bench’s location is quite inconvenient since there are no paths that lead to it. That, in addition to it being on a hill only serves to lower its points on the “benchability” scale.

Despite this bench not necessarily being up to par, it can provide its own contribution to the walk. I found it as I was walking my dog, so I suppose if I were really exhausted, I could sit here to catch my breath. Generally speaking, sitting on a bench contributes to your walk by giving you a moment of reprieve. This reprieve and stillness allows you to reflect on where you were, and it serves as a place to take a short break. If you wish to enhance your pre-existing train of thought, you can take a seat to spend more focus on your inner thoughts, rather than your surroundings. Awareness is required for a safe walk, but I’d argue the stillness that comes with sitting on a bench can enhance your awareness of your surroundings. If you’re feeling the fatigue creep in, benches will serve you. (270)

T is for Tracking

Prompt 2.13 – Step counting metrics ; Photo and text ; Saturday, Nov 1

On October 31, around 9 to 10 PM, I was with my friends in downtown Blacksburg, celebrating Halloween with them. In dividing the total steps by 4, I likely walked just under 530 steps every 15 minutes. I enjoy how the process of step-tracking is a passive one. Thanks to the way the app works, it is constantly running without me needing to activate it before every walk. It is incredibly convenient, which makes tracking your progress very easy. Luckily, I ran into no issues or complications when it came to getting this app to track my steps. 

I don’t personally know anyone who is devoted to fitness metrics like these, but it’s understandable how people may become invested. Seeing numbers increase thanks to your contributions and hard work can trigger the reward system in your head, making you want to strive for an even higher number as time goes on. I don’t worry about getting addicted to fitness, but I’m sure there are people out there who are, with apps like these being a big contributor to their obsession. (180)

A is for Abode

This is a drawn map of the first floor of my townhouse, as well as the path I take as soon as I enter. I visit the rug first, in order to avoid getting any dirt or anything from outside onto the carpet we set up in the living room. On some days, I do not have any energy to put my shoes in the rack, and opt to just slide them off and leave them on the rug instead. Once my shoes are off, I move to the hanger, where I’ll either put my backpack, jacket, or both, depending on if it was a school or work day. The hanger is more than likely always a destination for me, unless it’s a hot day off. Once everything is hung up, I can head straight to the couch to enjoy my meal while watching a show. Thankfully, I live next to a 7-Eleven, meaning I can skip visiting the kitchen, take less steps, and eat as soon as I get home. On average, this walk is about 15 steps long. (180)

H is for Heaviness

Prompt 2.23 – The Things You Carry ; Photo and Text ; Tuesday, Oct 21

Inside my backpack is a work computer to the right, my personal computer in front of my backpack, earbuds to go with either, a pen, and a mechanical pencil. I brought both laptops today because I had both work and a Cyber-law midterm to take right after. Days like these, where I have both work and an exam, make it so that my bag’s load is more than doubled in its normal weight. The weight is over double its usual because I bring the work laptop to school on most days, thanks to it being the lighter device. When I need to bring my personal laptop, which can also be used for gaming, its weight due to the high-performance hardware inside only serves to hurt my back. 

On exam days, I need to bring my personal laptop because most of my exams require Lockdown Browser, which can not be downloaded onto my work laptop without administrator priveleges. Despite that, I am happy to have both, but I am even happier to be able to take off my heavy backpack once it is all over. I used to bring notebooks, pens, and pencils to class, but it’s like ever since sophomore year, we have lost the need for them. Even though notebooks alone are lighter, and handwriting notes can offer better memory of the subject being learned, it seems like the times have called for computers, laptops, and proficiency in their use when working and learning. Despite that, I have a pen and pencil just in case. You never know when you might need to write something down or sign something. (270)

Welcome to Walkings by Andre Barrett. As you read, you will be taken along many of the walks I have taken in the past two months. Walking is something that I do every day without even thinking about it, and sometimes I take it for granted. When people think of walking, the first thing that comes to mind might be a workout or going on a long walk outside, but walking is everywhere in our lives. I use walking as a way to transition between parts of my life around my house or elsewhere in the world. In my writing, I shared my walking adventures that range from just casual outdoor walks to using walking as a means to arrive at my location, whether it is a sporting event or my car. Before the project, I was never actively engaged in many of these types of walks and was definitely not as attentive to details. Sure, I would notice things here and there, but only if those objects were loud and expressive in either color, shape, or placement. Through these walks, I began to understand how movement shaped and impacted the way I looked at certain experiences. Walking connected my routines, travels, chores, and sense of place. My walks took place in a variety of places, from Blacksburg mornings, soccer trips, hikes, and big cities. The walks revealed something different about each location, and as I paid more attention to detail, I began to notice just how much I had been missing. This project allowed me to use walking as a way to observe and appreciate moments I would otherwise do without thinking twice. I invite you to take these walks with me and see how ordinary walks can become unforgettable memories. 

A for A chilly morning

Prompt 2.03 Overhead Time of Day; Photograph & Text, Oct. 10

Figure 01. “Sunrise”. The sun is rising beyond the trees as I get an early start to my morning. (Original Photograph, Andre Barrett)

A chilly morning in Blacksburg. Waking up at 7 a.m. and walking out to my balcony and feeling the brisk forty-degree weather in the mountains of Blacksburg, Virginia. I am wearing my sweatpants and hoodie as I start my morning walk out of my neighborhood. The sun is still rising, and the neighborhood is quiet. Was it not warm just a week ago? I continue my walk with one hand in my pocket and the other holding my Yeti full of warm tea. It’s a great morning in Blacksburg. (90)

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B is for Bald Knob

2.35 Go for a hike; Video & Text; Nov. 8

Figure 02. “Drone Strike”. As I set my drone into the sky to take my video, my friend there was a drone strike. (Original Video, Andre Barrett)

Bald Knob. It had been a long time coming, but we finally agreed on a time and place to go on a hike as a group. We embarked on our thirty-minute journey to our destination, only to find out our group would get even bigger as we caught up to some teammates on the highway. My GPS said we had arrived at our destination, but none of us knew where to go until we asked for some guidance and embarked on our hike as a group. As a group, we had only done cascades, so this hike was definitely more than we were expecting in terms of elevation, and our calves felt that. Halfway up, we separated from the trail and decided to do some rock climbing to continue our way to the top. We made it to the top of the hike and were rewarded with a wonderful sunset in Southwest Virginia. We collectively sat near the edge for some time and appreciated Mother Nature before we took some pictures and made our way down. We all had fun. (180)

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C is for Cascade Trail

2.35 Go for a hike; Picture & Text; Sep. 1

Figure 03. “Waterfall”. The rewarding view at the end of the trail. (Original Photo, Andre Barrett)

Cascade Trail, a four-mile loop with a breathtaking view at the end, is worth every minute of my time on a Monday morning. A relaxing hike with friends, listening to the sounds of birds and water going downstream, but also sharing good conversations with friends and creating memories. As we took the longer route, we encountered many elevation changes and naturally made paths. Eventually, we arrived at the waterfall and were surprised by the cold water.  We took a dip in the water, then headed back on the opposite trail. (90)

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D is for Downtime

3.01 Reflective preparatory writing; Video & Text; Oct. 19

Figure 04. “Impromptu Walk”. I took a break from work and decided to get some fresh air (Original Video, Andre Barrett)

Downtime on a soccer trip is guaranteed just like life, death, and taxes. Just today alone we have had about 6 hours of free time and I have used it to nap, write this, and go on a walk. Today’s walk was impromptu and an excuse to take a break from school work as you can probably assume from me wearing sandals. We are staying in Cary, North carolina and there is not much within walking distance, but the walk was much needed to relax my mind from school work. (90)

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E is for Everyday

2.23 Shortest Walk; Video & Text; Nov. 7

Figure 05. “Everyday Routine”. I always walk up and down these steps everytime I leave my house. (Original Video, Andre Barrett)

Everyday I commute somewhere. I go to school. I go to soccer. I go eat. Everyday I leave my apartment. I have a routine. First my room door. Open the front door. I walk down steps. Turn the corner. Head toward my car. Finally, I get in. I do this everyday. I do it reversed. Everyday I get home. I park my car. I get out. Lock the car. Go up the steps. Walk in my house. The front door. It opens and closes. This happens everyday. More than once. (90)

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F is for Friday Night

2.17 Desire Paths; Photo & Text; Andre Barrett; Oct. 10

Figure 06. “The Path Most Followed”. Many people typically walk up and down Main Street to get to the bars Downtown. (Original Photo, Andre Barrett)

Friday nights in Blacksburg, classes are out for the weekend and I’m walking to downtown from the edge. It’s starting to get cooler, people are still outside, there are cars with headlights on, and I am making my way downtown. My friends and I are walking together on Main Street past El Rodeo and Taco Bell. We keep walking down Main Street toward our go to spot, 504 Arcade. My roommates and I love going there just to play games. The memories and friendships made there will last a lifetime. (90)

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G is for Golf

2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different; Photo & Text, Andre Barrett, Nov. 27

Figure 07. “Grass is Greener” Grass is always thought to be green, that is until it gets cold. (Original Photo, Andre Barrett)

Golf at East Potomac Golf Links on Thanksgiving morning. The grass was brown, it was cold, and worst of all, there were high winds. You might be thinking that these are not ideal golf conditions, and while you’re right, we just went out there to spend some quality time. I wish we could’ve changed the conditions. Because of the cold and the season, the grass was no longer green, and a majority of the tee boxes were closed for repair, and the course was covered in leaves. There were so many leaves that I even lost a couple of balls on the course, and not because they were bad shots. I had an alright round with my father, also considering that I was not using my own clubs because I left them here at school. I understand that the temperature and winds are uncontrollable factors, but that just means that I need to take advantage of better weather days as we are heading into December and the colder months ahead of us. I cannot wait to golf in better conditions. (180)

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H is for Hokies football parking

2.14 Signage, Photo & Text, Andre Barrett, Oct. 30

Figure 08. “No Parking”. These signs are seen all over campus for home football games. (Original Photo, Andre Barrett)

Hokies football has a home game this weekend, and parking services have put up no-parking signs all over campus. Chances are, you have seen these before and have been impacted by them just like me. It so happens that the Hokies men’s soccer team has an away game on Friday, and we do not get back until 4 pm on Saturday. Naturally, to avoid being towed, we have been directed to park in Duck Pond to allow paying supporters to tailgate in the McComas parking lot. The problem is not the parking itself but the proximity of the parking lot to the main campus. After finding a spot, I had to walk back to the merryman facilities, which required a steep uphill walk on Duck Pond Drive, then a pretty level walk on Washington St. The walk was very stressful for me because I was rushing to get back to the facility so that the bus would not leave. I was on the path along Duck Pond Drive, speedwalking, then crossed the street to the sidewalk and kept going. It’s not too cold outside, but like any day in Blacksburg, the wind is really kicking in, and I am only wearing a long-sleeve shirt in an environment where a jacket would be appropriate. I eventually make my way past Stinger Hall, Life Sciences, and the university greenhouse. Leaves are orange and blowing in the wind as I cross the street at the roundabout and cut through the parking lot. I arrive at the bus loop with 5 minutes to spare before its departure time of 2:30 in the afternoon. (270)

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I is for Indoor Walk

2.12 Indoor Walk; Photo & Text; Andre Barrett, Nov 24

Figure 09. “What goes Un-noticed”. I walk past this corner multiple times per day at work and rarely notice it. (Original Photo, Andre Barrett)

Indoor walk that is ordinary, for me, that is the walk from my desk to the break room at the office. Over break, when I visited the office, I made the common walk of about 50 steps and paused for a second. I thought to myself, “Has anyone ever used this space?” and “How long has that been there?” The space seems more decorative than functional seen as there are other seating arrangements closer to the kitchen. I decided to sit and relax before I got up to go home. (90)

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J is for Junk

2.23 The Things You Carry; Photo & Text; Andre Barrett; Nov. 1

Figure 10. “My Everyday Carry”. These are the items that are always in backpack. (Original Photo, Andre Barrett)

Junk to some, essentials to me, and many other students around the world. My essentials ranked by importance are my MacBook, AirPods, Charger, pens, water bottle, and keys. These are things that are always in my backpack, whether I am traveling or just going to class. My computer allows me to do so much from work to entertainment, and my headphones allow me to listen while my charger keeps all the devices powered. There might be more in the bag, but there will never be less than what is photographed. (90)

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L is for Lost

2.34 Directions for a First-year Student; Photo & Text; Andre Barrett; Nov 1

Figure 11. “Drillfield”. A photo that helps the reader visualize what theyre looking for as I refer to it in my writing. (Original Photo, Andre Barrett)

Dear future Hokie, Lost is probably what many first-year students like yourself might be, or how you might feel right now as you just got to campus. This is a big campus with lots to offer, but my most important advice to offer in terms of guidance is to always know where the drillfield is. Treat it like the North Star and your wayfinding will be simpler. The drillfield is currently the center of campus and divides the dorms from the academic buildings. If you’re trying to go somewhere, think about what the use of the building is, and you’ll know which direction to go in. I will give you a heads up that there are a couple of academic buildings along the drillfiield on the resident side. I recommend that you also take advantage of the drillfield to do activities with your friends, such as throwing a ball or being outside together on the grass on a nice sunny day in Blacksburg. The drillfield is also a great way to meet new people and create everlasting memories with friends. (180)

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M is for M Street NW

3.01 Reflective Prepatory Writing; Photo & Text; Andre Barrett; Nov. 23

Figure 12. “Calm Before the Storm”. A photo that shares the calmness before a busy monday morning. (Original Photo, Andre Barrett)

M Street Northwest, Georgetown, is famous for all of its stores and the luxurious shopping. Busy during the day and even at night, but this time I came on Sunday night. The calm before the storm of traffic, rush hour, and chaos of Monday morning. I haven’t taken a nighttime walk here in a long time, but it was refreshing and something I did not know I needed again. My friends and I had just finished watching a soccer game at Georgetown University, and I was walking down M Street to meet up with another friend to grab a bite to eat. In my time alone walking to the meet-up up I felt a calming sensation. I got to walk at my own pace, with no one near me in either direction. Just walking, admiring the sights around me. I have always enjoyed being in D.C and felt that every part of the city is nice for its own reason, whether it’s culture or architecture. Being back in Georgetown allowed me to appreciate how wonderful this place truly is. (180)

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N is for New York City

3.27 Epic Walk Story; Photo & Text; Andre Barrett; Nov. 24

Figure 13. “Times Square”. A photo that shares a view of our journey. (Original Photo, Andre Barrett)

New York City over Thanksgiving break. This time I made the trip with some friends to do some sightseeing. Two of my teammates from Portugal wanted to see what the hype was about, so we took a day trip to the city. We walked throughout the city and used their public transportation. They wanted to try all that New York had to offer, from the food to the elegant tourism. Chilly temperatures, lots of people, and a busy city, I had a great time visiting the city that never sleeps. (90)

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S is for Sometimes

2.11 Huckleberry Trail; Drawing & Text; Andre Barrett; Oct. 9

Figure 14. “Huck Trail” A photo that tries to show the view from the top of the Huck trail (Original Photo, Andre Barrett)

Sometimes I find myself with lots of free time and nothing else to do but go for a walk outside, because why not? One of my go-to routes in Blacksburg is the Huckleberry Trail. My favorite part of this trail is the view from the top overlooking the athletic complexes on campus. This trail, for the most part, is quiet on an early morning or late evening. Even when the sun is out, the trees provide some nice shade. There are some hills, but nothing too steep, especially when walking. The trail is paved with smooth concrete and wide enough for two-way traffic. At the top, there is also a water cooler and a bench for people who need a break or those who just want to soak in the view from above. I can say that I have only discovered part of the trail: from the start near the library to the top near the airport. I have not had the opportunity to continue on and explore more, but I hope to continue my journey in the near future. (180)

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U is for UNC

2.08 Sporting Event; Video & Text; Andre Barrett; Oct. 19

Figure 15. “Dorrance Field”. Taking in the sights and environment of the soccer stadium. (Original Video, Andre Barrett)

University of North Carolina, otherwise known as UNC, is a school in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and this season our soccer team was matched up against theirs. This was a beautiful complex that was worth the long walk from the bus to the field and locker room. Similar to Virginia Tech, UNC has its own building style, which is very old-fashioned brick, which complements the university very nicely. The field, stands, and environment were all great, and it was a truly shame we could not come home with a win. (90)

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V is for Vroom

3.09 Sound Archive; Audio & Text; Andre Barrett; Oct 31

Figure 16. “Vroom” An audio recording of the noises I capture on my walk.

Vroom, all I heard as I walked on the sidewalk. I’m in Greenville, South Carolina on Halloweekend. Yet another soccer trip as we prepare to face Clemson away. Our hotel is about a forty minute drive from Clemson’s field, and I have never been to Greenville, so I decided to start exploring on foot, the only available option. So naturally I leave the hotel and make a right just following the flow of traffic. The first building I locate is a local dealership, and then it hits me, I kept hearing the sound vroom. These sounds were not coming from under the hood of the car of the exhaust, rather they were coming from the wind as they were passing by me, one car after another. Immediately, I knew this was different from some of my other walks where I felt more connected with nature. This view just consisted of concrete and cars, the complete opposite of the Huckleberry Trail back at Virginia Tech. The walk did not last long as there was not much to explore in the area. (180)

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W is for Washington Capitals

2.08 Sporting Event; Video & Text; Andre Barrett; Nov. 26

Figure 17 “Capital One Arena”. Taking in the sights and sounds of intermission at the game.

Washington Capitals, one of my favorite teams to watch in person. Caps fans pack the arena and bring the energy. I particularly enjoy events at Capital One Arena because of its accessibility via the Metro. My family and I got off the train and made our way into the arena, and were welcomed with a smell of concession food, particularly popcorn. We kept walking through a packed concourse and made our way to our seats in section 119. These are seats that my dad gets through his job, and we get the opportunity to go to some games throughout the season. This game was particularly great because it was high scoring for both teams and ended with a victory for the Capitals. Apart from the game itself, it was also a great experience because it was spent with family, and we got to see a pre-game ceremony for Alex Ovechkin’s 900 goals. He stayed hot after the ceremony and scored a goal in the second period, and the place erupted. Safe to say, we all had a great Thanksgiving Eve. (180)

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Space is often seen as the filler – the area that goes between Point A and Point B. In a world where we are often focused on the destination, or even on digital worlds far from the realm of physicality, having to connect with the terrestriality of the world around you may not just seem unnecessary – it may, actually, seem like an obstacle. Hills and long pathways act as time gobblers, eating up the time you could have spent at the destination.

However, diving deeper into the importance of place reveals a deeper purpose of what terrestriality can provide – a journey. These journeys may not inspire productivity, but they implore the participant to slow down and to take in the world around them, using terrestriality to hook themselves into the present.

This process, not what happens at the destination, is most often, the process that forms memories. The outside is unpredictable – walks will always lead to friction. The same task, over and over again – for example, working on a computer screen or scrolling through your phone will not create new memories most of the time. This creation of new pathways in the brain depends on this friction – the cold of a nighttime walk, a puddle you didn’t anticipate, the bright colors of a bird, the harsh glare of the sun.

So, in these next few entries, I explore how place connects to memory – specifically, the memories I have that are lodged deep with nostalgia – memories with friends of walks home, laughing on nights where I didn’t even think I’d be awake, cafes I love. I explore how the campus of Blacksburg and surrounding areas, and even areas near my home have led to past memories, how I keep those memories alive, and how I can explore new places and what it feels like to shape what I remember in the future.

Note: The total number of entries has been reduced to 19 due to quite a few entries being 180 words or 270 words and a wish not to go too far beyond the bounds of the scope. This project is not unfinished and lies solidly within the scope, likely towards the higher end of the spectrum in terms of word count.

A is for Ambling

3.05 Drawn and Repelled; Photograph and text; Wednesday, October 22

Midnight is an odd time to go exploring, but I still do. I walk over to Hitt Hall, an odd place to feel comfortable in, but the glass walls remind me of freshman year nostalgia. I stay away from nature, oddly enough – alone in the quiet dark, I don’t feel comfortable today making the walk to the Duck Pond. Though part of it is just from my own paranoia, some might agree that part of this stems from being a shorter woman – I always have to make sure I’m safe. (90)

Figure 1. The night as I leave my home, blanketing the sky but also creating an awareness-increasing darkness (Original Image, Riva Jain)

B is for Boba

Prompt 3.12 Five Senses; Photograph and text; Saturday, Oct. 25

I walk to the boba place near where I live off-campus. First, touch – the cool surface of my door, and the metal of my keys as I step outside, locking the door at 3 PM. Then, smell – the fresh air breezing by. Then, hearing – the cars whizzing across the road. As I get to the boba place, I see the bright, cool white light, and taste brown sugar boba – my favorite flavor. Today, these five senses make up a memory as I sit here, sipping boba with my friend Keene. (90)

Figure 2. Me drinking my boba with my friend, face hidden for privacy (Original Image, Riva Jain)

Entry 12: C is for Cold

Prompt 3.06 Draw a Map by Hand; Hand-Drawn Map and text; Saturday, Oct. 25

My friend Jenna recognizes this map when I show it to her, and hands it back with no requested improvements. It’s the walk from Newman Library to the Maroon Loop, a trek we’ve made too many times at night. It’s not an extraordinarily pretty walk, but it’s full of memories of us chattering after a particularly long study session, shivering in the cold as we walk back. I remember our talks as I trace out the lines – freshman year relationships, confusion over classes, trading what we understood from the notes. (90)

Figure 3. A hand-drawn map of the walk from the library to the Maroon Loop (Hand-Drawn Map, Riva Jain)

D is for Drillfield

Prompt 2.06 Talking Along the Drillfield; Photograph and text; Saturday, Sept. 27

It’s a late, quiet night – it must have been around 2:30 AM on this Saturday, September 27th. I’m with my friends Tim and Raina, who are coming from Burchard Hall. We’ve come out to the Drillfield to stargaze, and there are still groups of students out. We see groups of two or three people, seeming like they’re usually freshmen, hurrying back to their dorms. The night is cool and none of us have a jacket thick enough, so we’re all sniffling. We take some time walking back and forth along the Drillfield as we decide where to sit. 

Every once in a while, we wander off the sidewalk when we see a lush patch of grass. Our feet wobble on the dirt as we make our way to each patch to inspect it and see if it’s a good place to finally rest. In this way, we choose our path, spending about twenty minutes just meandering. It sends me back to when we did this in our freshman year – it’s a familiar pattern. 

We talk and catch up on our lives as we walk. It fills the cold and the silence. This sort of content conversation parallels the emotions the Drillfield brings up. It is a grounded place, not very active in its energy when we tend to be traversing it. Instead, it acts as a place to come back to, that makes this university feel like ours. This walk, though it involved activity, felt more like a rest emotionally. Since the talking was so aligned with how the Drillfield felt, it didn’t distract, instead complementing my observations. (270)

Figure 4. A blurry digital camera photo of my friend on the Drillfield, identity protected. It was a small moment that illustrated the contentment of the whole walk (Original Image, Riva Jain)

F is for Football

Prompt 2.08 Sporting Event; Photograph and text; Saturday, Oct. 4

It is October 4 and boiling hot. The sun is absolutely beating down on our backs as we trudge up the stairs to the second row of the stands. With my friends Aria and Tim, walking into the football game in the later parts of the morning, I can feel the sweat of everyone around me. The light pours into my eyes as we step out into the sun, and I can smell the greasy snacks and the salt of the pretzels. It’s more walking than we expected – we thought we wouldn’t have to climb the stairs up to the second part of the stands, but we came too late to get into the lower level.

We stop in the middle of our trek, pulling ourselves aside to a quiet spot in order to pull out a cookie and a candle (no fire, of course) to wish Aria a happy birthday. I can smell the cookie, and the soft wax of the candle feels oily against my hands as I press it in. We sing her happy birthday quietly, but the sound brings with it a deep sense of community.

I don’t go to football games often, especially not this year. However, the stands are familiar – I’ve been here enough times before that I know where to go. This lets me watch the people around me more, focusing on sight. I see people laughing with their friends, bumping into each other, and apologizing. At the same time, I see people tired out from the hot conditions and crowds, dragging their feet listlessly once we get to the stands. (270)

Figure 5. A photograph of Aria’s birthday cookie as we all “light it up” with our phone flashlights (Original Image, Riva Jain)

G is for Green

Prompt 2.31 Blacksburg Books; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 29

It’s quiet when I walk in. I’ve been meaning to come here for a bit, but never got around it it, so I’m glad to be here. I walked to this part of Main Street from my home, so it’s been around 45 minutes of smooth sidewalk. I left at 4:00 PM, so it’s about to be 4:45. I pick up a copy of Weyward by Emilia Hart. The green cover is so gorgeous I have to take it home. I’m excited to make memories with the book. (90)

Figure 6. The book I bought(Original Image, Riva Jain)

T is for Trail

Prompt 2.11 Huckleberry Trail; Photograph and text; Sunday, Oct. 5

On Sunday, October 5th, at around 12:30 PM, my friend Raina, my friend Tim, my friend Aria, and I get off of the Two-Town Trolley bus to start at the Christiansburg entrance to the Huckleberry trail. We cross creeks, dogs, and train tracks, but the trail stays stable under our feet – an easy walk, which is nice because we’re all a bit tired from the end of midterm season. We stop for a while as we walk past some ivy-covered walls, trying to look through the ivy vines and the fences the vines are covering in order to see what’s behind.

One of the most memorable views, however, is a while – about thirty minutes – into our walk, where we reach a covered bridge with train tracks under. The bridge itself is a welcome  little area to rest, but the view encapsulates a duality between openness and closedness – the train tracks remind me of the open flat land of a parking lot, while the trees around close it off.

We head back, the clean air hitting our lungs, freshly energized. (180)

Figure 7. The railroad view that we stopped at for a good ten to fifteen minutes (Original Image, Riva Jain)

Entry 4: L is for Line

Prompt 2.16 Waiting in Line; Illustration and text; Tuesday, Oct. 7th

It’s 6:30 P.M on Tuesday, October 7th., and my friend Julia and I are in the Graduate Life Center, waiting in line to enter the Delta Epsilon Mu pre-med society’s philanthropy event. It’s a short line, but a slow moving one as they work to get the payment system set up properly. The atmosphere, however, is calm, relaxed, and playful. There’s not much rush, and everyone is just glad to be indoors as the rain pours down outside. We finally start walking – starting, then stopping, starting, then stopping. (90)

Figure 8. An image depicting the relaxed setup of the line – people were in groups rather than single-file, chatting as they set things up at the payment table (Original Figure, Riva Jain)

P is for Pond

Prompt 2.19 Duck Pond; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct. 7th

It’s night, like it was when my friends Raina, Tim, and I walked last time across the Drillfield. It’s around 9PM when we set out on Thursday, October 9, but by the time we get to duck pond, it’s 10PM. The Duck Pond is as serene as everyone says, especially at night, when there’s nobody but a few straggler groups here, whispering to each other like we are. We patter on down the sidewalk, eventually moving to the bank of the pond, where we can feel ferns touching our legs. Even this close to campus, taking a break from academics by being in nature feels like a release of anxieties and fears.

There is a small area where a streetlamp’s light pours through the trees, right on the edge of the pond and just barely in view of the road. We linger there for a little bit. Though we can’t see the Duck Pond as well from here, it’s the most magical part of our walk. We take a few pictures there, but the light doesn’t quite make it into the pictures taken from our phone cameras. To fix this, we recreate the light using our phone cameras, just for a short while as we don’t want to disturb the geese and ducks. We do this in other places, as well. 

The pictures turn out wonderful, and we share them with each other as we walk back from the Duck Pond, reaching a place with better service. At the end of it all, I walk Tim and Raina to their dorms, and then walk back to my place, feeling calm. (270)

Figure 9. A picture with the streetlamp and the phone lights adding a glow (Original Image, Riva Jain)

S is for Sunset

Prompt 2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and text; Saturday, Oct. 11

It’s a warm-ish night with chill starting to come in. I’m at home in Northern Virginia as I set out on my walk down the side of the highway near our house around 7:00 PM. I am alone. Twenty minutes in, I look up. The sun is starting to set, with the colors refracting off, perhaps in the troposphere, but possibly higher. 

A mix of altocumulus and cirrus clouds forms a wispy blanket that curves across the sky. I wonder where the wind lightly hitting my back and shoulders begins – though all wind is formed by the heat changes between the land and the air from what I know, how has this wind traveled? The clouds are likely in the troposphere. It’s a fair weather evening – we’ve had a lot of those recently, but my face is still comfortably cool as I finish my walk.

The sky fades to a crayon cerulean blue as I turn towards home, and hits a deep, velvety shade of navy by the time I finally loop back to where I started – the house. (180)

Figure 10. A picture with clouds and a sunset adding a glow (Original Image, Riva Jain)

R is for Refrigerator

Prompt 2.12 Indoor Walk; Photograph and text; Monday, Oct. 12

It’s 10:07 PM as I walk to my fridge alone to begin dinner. I’m starving, so the walk feels longer than maybe it should – it’s one of the shortest walks I make in the day. I count the steps as the ground under my feet changes from lush carpet to hard wood. It’s thirteen steps, medium size, from the head of my bed to the door, and past that, another twenty steps, same size, to the fridge as I weave around the island and pull out the pasta sauce. (90)

Figure 11. A map of the walk to the fridge, with striking details and obstacles labeled. (Original Illustration, Riva Jain)

M is for Memorial

Prompt 2.27 4/16 Memorial; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct. 13

I stop by the April 16 memorial as I walk across the Drillfield alone to class at 11:00 AM. It’s interesting how life goes on around it. The choice to have this memorial exist in the heart of campus has given it a place of importance, but has also made it a place that, by design, isn’t sacred and quiet, but is integrated into our daily lives. Memorials in DC, near where I live, have their own space, so when it comes to war memorials, people are sometimes quiet and contemplative while visiting. However, here, people pass the memorial not just to remember the deceased, but also as they take shortcuts to class. Couples sit on the stone bench nearby, one of them with a sandwich. The memorial, to me, is associated with respect and remembrance for those we’ve lost, but also, simply, the feeling of campus as a whole with its bustle.

This is interesting, and in my opinion, a better way to remember these students than by shoving the memorial off into a corner of campus that would rarely be visited, but remain quiet. It’s better to remember these students in our everyday lives as what they were, people, not martyrs, and I think that often gets lost when remembering people. It also, however, makes it hard to take action, as you remember the deceased as “other”, not as someone like you. The students who passed in the tragedy were just students like us, which makes it all the more tragic. By letting them be remembered in the heart of campus, we can celebrate them as well. (270)

Figure 12. A visual illustration of the memorial and the people walking around it. Any inaccuracy or messiness is due to the creator’s own artistic ability and is not intended as a dismissal of the memorial. (Original Illustration, Riva Jain)

H is for Halwa

Prompt 2.34 Directions for a First-year Student; Photograph and text; Thursday, Oct. 15

Dear Future Hokie, you may have heard from your friends going to other colleges that Blacksburg is “in the middle of nowhere” and there’s “nothing to do”. Don’t listen to them. Blacksburg has some of the most wonderful people, things, and most of all, places. 

When you get here, just walk around campus. Walk under all of the archways and tunnels you can find, whether it’s the long one under Burruss, the gorgeous Eggleston Hall corner, on the arch near Smyth with the lecture hall directly attached.

You’ll be going to Squires a lot, and if you aren’t, you should. They have events there every other week or more. Don’t skip out on them or think they’re uncool. That’s how I met so many of my friends as a freshman. 

Also, if you check out one thing, make sure to check out the cafes. Go to Halwa Bakery on Main Street. Though it’s not on campus, you’ll get to feel the fall vibes at Tech like no other.

You’re going to love it here. It’s the most beautiful place. (180)

Figure 13. A lemon bar from Halwa Bakery and Cafe, one of my favorite treats from one of my favorite places (Original Image, Riva Jain)

N is for Nighttime

Prompt 3.14 Star Gazing; Photograph and text; Saturday, Oct. 17

It’s dark as my friends Jenna, Austin, and I set out in my car at 11:30 PM to drive to a small park nearby. It’s beautiful, but I’m glad I’m with them as we step out – there’s not much light. We walk slow, necks craned back. You can’t see the outlines of everything against each other, so the world looks like a big expanse of black, only the stars and moon visible. Even in the dark, I’m calm, not able to see the business of the world around me. (90)

Figure 14. My friend in the car before we got out to look at the stars and it got too dark to take pictures, identity censored for privacy (Original Image, Riva Jain)

V is for Virginia

3.08 Bird Watching Walk; Photograph and text; Sunday, Oct. 18

The cardinal is the Virginia state bird. I’ve loved them since I was little, but didn’t think I’d see one as beautiful as this when I stepped outside with my copy of The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, one that I actually bought last year, and had sitting, handy. Going outside to look for birds, I stood still and looked up for the first time in a while. Today, I noticed the patterns of shadow the sunlight made as I scanned the outlines of leaves for birds. (90)

Figure 15. The beautiful Northern Cardinal I saw – according to my field guide, it’s also known as the Virginia redbird (Original Image, Riva Jain)

O is for Orange

Prompt 3.11 Smellscape Mapping; Annotated Map and text; Tuesday, Oct. 20

This time, I wander the Orange Loop. Today, it feels like there might be rain on the horizon. I can smell it throughout my walk. As I near Hitt Hall, I can smell a variety of different foods, the Rambutan noodles, and Solarex dishes all changing in intensity as I walk along the building. As I move towards the cars in the parking lot in the back, I can detect the faint smell of gasoline, and a little bit of a waste smell hidden away as I pass some trash. (90)

Figure 16. The circle that I made, by the sides of New Classroom Building and Hitt Hall (Annotated Map, Google Maps and Riva Jain)

W is for Wheel

Prompt 3.21 Design Your Own Walking Ritual; Annotated Map and text; Sunday, Oct 26

For this prompt, I don’t go outside, instead sitting at my desk to plan out how to create a walk that I can ritualize. In rituals, I love the idea of a wheel, and I think it will be both practical and memorable. I decide to make it a weekend walk, hitting the Drillfield and looping back around to my house. The Drillfield is a place I have good previous memories of, but don’t see as much of as I’d like to, and I think this ritual will change that. (90)

Figure 17. The approximate loop I plan to make after I get onto campus (Annotated Map, Google Maps and Riva Jain)

J is for Jamba

Prompt 3.27 Epic Walking Story; Photograph and text; Monday, October 27

Off we trek, my friend Jules and I, to get Jamba Juice from Turners, in the last throes of the morning at 11 AM. It’s a harrowing journey – first, we must wait at the crossing of death as cars speed by, taking their chance before the flood of pedestrians begins. We join this crowd’s pilgrimage, crossing several streets before we reach turners, paying with what may be the last of our gold coins for an overpriced ambrosia-like juice. I tell this story to Jules as I write it. She laughs. (90)

Figure 18. The Jamba Juice reward my friend and I had trekked so far to get (Original Image, Riva Jain)

Q is for Quick

Prompt 2.32 Shortest Walk; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct. 28

Mirror full of fog. Turn on the vent. Turn off the light. Step out of restroom. Door closes behind me. Fumble with room light. It is dark now. Just hit 7 PM. Hair is still damp. Walk to blow dryer. Take towel off my hair. Back to the restroom. Hang up the towel. Back to the blow dryer. Dry hair a little. Short bursts, not loud. Throw clothes in hamper. Pull out six bottles. Do overblown skincare routine. I’m still breaking out. Pad over to bed. Now I can relax. (90)

Figure 19. My final destination – the bed. Unfortunately, a little messy at the time of picture. (Original Image, Riva Jain)