Introduction

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Welcome to the Wonders of Virginia Tech! Here, I talk about the things that I experienced and noticed during my time in the university. My first intention to be on campus was to learn and graduate with the diploma of my profession without the care and importance of my surroundings and just move on to the next step of my life, but I realized that Virginia Tech has so much to offer which made me feel how much I should’ve appreciated it more. In these 26 entries from A-Z, I write down things that I saw in clear detail that I didn’t pay attention to at first. I also talk about things that I feel like it connects to my personal life. I try to be humorous sometimes so you might hear me exaggerating a bit or making funny comparisons during my discoveries. During my journey, I noticed how connected the community is and how much everyone appreciates the scenery of campus. It makes me feel like I made the right decision to come here and to become a contributing member to that community. Everyone has shown so much energy, support, and loyalty to the university that it made me want to know the main source that encourages this motivation. I’ve missed a lot of things and I’m now coming back brighter as I find new places, experience things that reflect my personality, and makes me question its purpose. I’m glad to be part of the Virginia Tech community and it is something that won’t be forgotten throughout my life. Hope you enjoy coming with me to explore the wonders that make this campus a really great place to be.

A is for Arts!

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3.05 Drawn and Repelled; Photograph and Text; Thursday, Oct 16;

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Figure 1. Image of Moss Art Center. The entrance is on the left side. All of the windows contain a hexagonal shape design. The tree on the right is slightly obscuring a small portion of the building.  (Original Photograph, Evan Sanchez) 

Passing by the Moss Arts Center, I’m being reminded that there are talented students in the field of arts on this campus. Seeing those hexagonal-shaped windows shows how art can not only be expressed from the inside but as well as the outside. Just by looking at the building gives out a sense of inspiration as it opens its doors to many forms of creativity. I always think about how these students carry this motivation to be expressive and how art can be open to a wide range of possibilities. (90)

B is for Bridge

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Prompt 2.17 Desire Paths; Photograph and Text; Tuesday, Sep. 30;

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Figure 2. Image of the Torgersen bridge, arch gateway where people can drive or walk to campus. The building is constructed using Hokie stone. The bridge is connected to Torgersen Hall and Newman Library. (Original Photograph, Evan Sanchez) 

Walking beneath the Torgersen bridge gives out the feeling of the university welcoming you to its campus. The stone arch that stretches across Newman Library to Torgersen Hall reminds me of an entrance to all the knowledge and opportunities that the university has to offer. The stone walls and the arching windows give out a deep representation of its history. Each time that I pass through here, it gives me the motivation to not only come to class and learn but to explore around the main campus and know more. (90)

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C is for Community

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Prompt 2.06 Talking Along the Drillfield; Video and Text; Tuesday, Nov. 11

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Figure 3. Video of Drillfield where students are shown walking around to their next class. The leaves on the trees around the area appears to be orange, indicating the change of season. (Original Video, Evan Sanchez)

Drillfield has always felt like the center of everything on campus. However, the area represents a place where all of us can join together and socialize. Normally, I’d see other students heading to their next class or some chilling under the trees. But once in a while when I’m with my friends heading to the gym, this calm space would flip. On some days, there will be community events related to politics, music, clubs, and more. It feels like a great way for everyone to gather and unite as one. (90)

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D is for Ducks!

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Prompt 2.19 Duck Pond; Video and Text; Thursday, Oct. 16

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Figure 4. From the distance on the right, a pavilion can be seen where people can sit and watch the pond. The pond is surrounded by trees. Stone and branches can be seen poking out of the lake. The pond is also near a small road. Ducks or birds can be seen on the left side of the pond. (Original Video, Evan Sanchez)

There’s always something about Duck Pond that makes me think of all of the things I’ve done to get here. The water acts like a mirror where I can see the trees and the deep blue sky, but I can also see a reflection of myself. It really made me feel like “Wow… who am I to make it this far in life?” As I look further into the distance I see ducks gliding from one end of the pond to the other, reminding me that life is a journey. (90)

E is for Engineering

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3.02 Flânerie; Photograph and Text; Tuesday, Oct. 7

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Figure 5. Image of the Transit Center where buses enter and exit. The right side of the image shows fences placed to surround the area under construction. Far in the distance shows Goodwin Hall, the building where many of the rising engineers go during their first year of college. (Original photograph, Evan Sanchez)

The buildings around here, especially Goodwin, give out a sense of purpose. With its tall rectangular design and the endless rows of windows, the buildings are calling for all rising engineers to “innovate for the future”. I normally walk around this area as I wait for my bus to arrive, but taking a quick glimpse at Goodwin I can imagine the innovative things that these students are inventing. Most of the area may be under construction as it’s blocked by excavators, construction workers, and fences, but so is the future. (90)

F is for Fountain

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3.05 Drawn and Repelled; Photograph and Text; Thursday, Oct. 16

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Figure 6. Image of the Holtzman Alumni Center where a fountain can be seen in front of the building. The building contains a clock tower and the sun appears to be bleeding out from the left side of the image. (Original Photograph, Evan Sanchez)

Right at the other side of Classroom Building I stumbled upon a building that I never knew existed called the Holtzman Alumni Center. This building was surrounded by open fields of plain grass, providing a sense of freedom. However, my attention was drawn to this fountain, watching the water sprout from the top as it fell down to the bottom made it feel refreshing and calm. The area around was quiet, letting me focus solely on the water falling as the soothing sound wipes out that negative energy within me. (90)

G is for Garden

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Prompt 2.09 Hahn Horticulture Garden; Video and Text; Thursday, Oct. 9

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Figure 7. Image of the wooden bridge where a small waterfall can be seen flowing beneath the bridge. (Original photograph, Evan Sanchez)

Walking through Hahn Horticulture garden as I hear the buses and the students fade away, a sense of tranquility flows through my body as I hear the sounds of leaves rustling and a small waterfall flowing around the area. The garden pulls me out from the weight of my assignments and classes, giving me a moment to breathe during a time of intensity. Stepping into this sanctuary feels like entering a new world where time stops for a moment to appreciate the natural beauty that this garden has to offer.

H is for Home

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Prompt 3.25 Memory Walk in Pairs; Photograph and Text; Tuesday, Oct. 28

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Figure 8. Red brick walkway near Squires Student Center with trees and black lamps lined up on the right side. A bit further to the right, a one way road for vehicles to enter campus. (Original Photograph, Evan Sanchez)

Walking down Squires with a friend, we realized that the red bricks and black lamps remind us of the city we grew up in, Herndon. Each step we take on this walkway brings us a sense of nostalgia, carrying us across time like a trip down memory lane. If we ever want to experience what home feels like, this is the place we want to come back as it has the resemblance. This may be the present, but the past of the city that we had memories of still lingers. (90)

I is for Inventory

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2.23 The Things You Carry; Photograph and Text; Sunday, Nov. 30

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Figure 9. This image shows the things I carry. I carry a black backpack, an iPad Air with an apple pencil and a blue case, A Type-C charger and brick, a water bottle, and my MacBook Pro. (Original Photograph, Evan Sanchez)

Ever wonder what I carry in my backpack? Not much, really.

1. My Computer – the important thing I carry in my bag is this as everything that I do is assigned online: My projects, presentations, documents, pdfs, and homework.
2. My iPad – It’s such a great way to take notes during class digitally. It saves a lot of resources and money by not using paper. Since both my computer and iPad are from Apple, they can sync together.
3. A Charger – Keep things always charged.
4. A water bottle – Always need to stay hydrated

(90)

J is to get Jacked!

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Prompt 2.08 Sporting Event; Photograph and Text; Tuesday, Nov. 18th

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Figure 10. Image of Mccomas Hall, People are seen walking into the building. The building is divided into two section: Health Center and Mccomas Gym. (Original Photograph, Evan Sanchez)

Between my class times, I usually prefer to head to the Mccomas to do my workouts since it’s at the edge of campus where it’s not densely crowded unlike the War Memorial. I’d put on my airpods, blast loud angry electronic music, and hop into the grind hoping one day I would be jacked up with muscles and a clean physique. The aggressiveness of the track helps me get the kick I need, pushing me to lift heavier weights, as the music screams into my ear like a drill sergeant. (90)

K is for Knowledge

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2.29 Public Library; Illustration and Text;

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Figure 11. An illustration that demonstrates a vision of what I saw. Shelves of books are seen surrounding the stick figure that set the environment to appear that the books are coming closer to the figure. The figure is showing an expression of confusion as the area is a maze. (Original illustration, Evan Sanchez)

A friend and I were scouting for a spot to work on our math homework. We headed to Newman’s to see if there were any, however, we took a detour to the third floor thinking it was the study lounge floor. I was not expecting shelves after shelves of books covering us at all angles. I questioned myself, “Did I step into a school library? Or, did I teleport into a world full of knowledge?” It felt like a maze as it took us a while to find the exit. (90)

L is for Lunch

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Prompt 2.12 Indoor Walk; Photograph and Text; Friday, Nov 7th

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Figure 12. An Image of Perry Place that shows students walking to get their foods. People sitting at their counters. Neon lights shown around the food court such as the logos, neon design on the left pillar wall, and neon circles on top (Original Photograph, Evan Sanchez)

I stopped by Perry’s place to grab my Chick-Fil-A salad for lunch. It was busy since it was lunchtime for all of us. I decided to explore around the food court for details that I didn’t notice when I arrived for the first time. I noticed the design of the food court resembled the diners back in the 80s, with aluminum tables and neon lights. It reminded me of those times when my dad and I watched old movies like “The Terminator”, “Rocky”, “Back To The Future”, and “Star Wars”. (90)

M is for Melody

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Prompt 3.09 Sound Archive; Illustration and Text; Monday, Nov 17th

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Figure 13. An Illustration of Burruss Hall, music notes are shown to demonstrate a jingle playing across campus. The waves also demonstrates the sound echoing. (Original Illustration, Evan Sanchez)

I walk down the Drillfield for my communications class and every hour I hear the clock tower at Burruss hall play a cheerful melody, letting us know that the next hour has begun. The song comes to life as the bells hit each note in a sequence to create a soothing symphony. Everyone can hear it echo across campus as if the sound itself is trying to spread its message that even during chaotic days filled with upcoming exams and assignments, there is always time. So no need to stress! (90)

N is for Noise

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Prompt 3.02 Flânerie; Video and Text; Monday, Nov 17th

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Figure 14. Video shows the construction happening at Smith Career center. Scaffolds, Fences, and machines are shown working on a portion on the building. You can hear hammers banging on the construction. (Original Video, Evan Sanchez)

Walking to the bus stop after my doctor’s appointment and I see parts of Virginia Tech are still under construction. The construction at the Smith Career Center building was extremely noisy as I heard the workers bang their hammers which made the metallic sound echo. It kind of reminds me that here, at this university, noise is part of campus life. We experience noise in many ways whether it is people chatting, buses passing by, community events, or people screaming at the top of their lungs during a football game. (90)

O is for Outskirts

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Prompt 2.21 Blacksburg’s Best Walk; Video and Text; Tuesday, Nov 4th

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Figure 15. A video showing cows at the livestock eating hay. The cows are also tagged. Music can also be heard in the background. (Original Video, Evan Sanchez)

A friend of mine invited me to explore the outskirts of campus. We came across a livestock called Alphin-Stuart livestock that not a lot of people would notice due to it being a stretch as it was located at the other side of the highway. Luckily for me, it was walking distance from my apartment. We chilled for a bit to look at the animals around. My parents would have enjoyed looking at them since they prefer the peaceful open fields rather than the noisy city they’re currently in. (90)

P is for Power Plant

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Prompt 2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different; Video and Text; Friday, Nov 7th

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Figure 16. A video that shows the power plant. Walking on side where it is not prohibited. The area can be seen surrounded by fences and the sign shows no trespassing. The bushes covers the bottom portion of the building where the power plant is maintain. (Original Video, Evan Sanchez)

The big and tall power plant located next to Gilbert Place that provides power through renewable energy to the entire university stands right in front of me as I walk around the restricted area. I’m interested in knowing how reliable this thing is considering that it shut down on us last winter. Everyone got out of their dorms to finally experience a moment where technology wasn’t a distraction, a time to look at our environment and the stars. Or, unless you were unfortunate enough to get stuck inside an elevator. (90)

Q is for Quiet

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3.09 Sound Archive; Video and Text; Tuesday, Oct 21st

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Figure 17. A video that shows a small walk through Torgersen Hall. Students are seen sitting at the tables whispering or focusing on their assignment. The audio is quiet to the point clicks from the computer keyboards can be heard. (Original Video, Evan Sanchez)

It was noon when I was heading to my only class at Torgersen Hall and I noticed how there were a lot of students sitting at the tables, locked in on their computers and grinding their assignments. Usually I’d hear them socializing about their day, their assignments, or their plans for the week. Now as I walked past them, it was dead silent to the point that I could only hear the clicks of their keyboard. Was this the calm before the storm of due dates and upcoming midterm exams? (90)

R is for Rocks

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2.21 Blacksburg’s Best Walk; Video and Text; Tuesday, Sep. 30th

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Figure 18. A video of the inside of the Geoscience Museum as Derring Hall. Artifacts and Geos are being displayed. Many sophisticated elements are displayed in glass cases. Further in the walk displays a fossil of a dinosaur head. (Original Video, Evan Sanchez)

A couple of my friends suggested exploring the wonders of the Geoscience Museum, and I was astounded by what I saw. The moment I stepped inside, I felt that I was rediscovering the history of Earth as I saw the minerals and artifacts being displayed on the glass shelves. What really gave me the feeling of history was when I came across the remains of a dinosaur head. I got close to the fossil and felt goosebumps crawl through my body as if it was alive, breathing in my face. (90)

S is for Stadium

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Prompt 2.08 Sporting Event; Photograph and Text; Wednesday, Oct. 1st

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Figure 19. Image of Lane stadium empty, trees and bushes that surround the area. (Original Photograph, Evan Sanchez)

On my way to Mccomas to do my workout, I decided to take a detour around the athletic area and I found myself in front of Lane Stadium. Standing there made me imagine the heat and energy that radiated during game days. Despite being empty, I could still hear the echoes of “Enter Sandman” and the chant from the crowd. Every time that we have a home game I can already expect people wearing  VT striped orange overalls, hats, and shirts. It shows how supportive the Virginia Tech community is. (90)

T is for Tunnel

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Prompt 2.17 Desire Paths; Video and Text; Tuesday, Oct. 28th

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Figure 20. A video of the path below Burruss Hall. The entrance contains gates and the whole tunnel is brightened by wall lights. People are seen taking this shortcut to their next class. (Original Video, Evan Sanchez)

As I walked to my next class, I decided to take a shortcut through Burruss Hall. It looks like a tunnel from the outside, but as I walk inside, something feels different. The tunnel is still dark despite being lit up by the surrounding lights and my phone adjusting its camera brightness as I record my journey. It was a windy day as I felt the wind sweep from one end to the other, pushing me back to the light like it was telling me, “keep going, you’re almost there.” (90)

U is for Unexpected

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3.03 Absurdist Tour; Illustration and Text; Thursday, Oct. 30th

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Figure 21. This an illustration that shows a reaction of surprised as we never thought a room like this was offered in VT. Located in the 4th floor in Newman Library. Rows of computers stretches across the room and people are currently using them to play games. At the other side there is a locked cabinet where all the consoles are stored. (Original Illustration, Evan Sanchez)

I never knew that Virginia Tech had a gaming studio. I always thought this university was made for students to connect, socialize, educate, and prepare us for the real world. But to come across a hidden space at Newman’s where it’s full of tech goodies? I was not expecting them to set us up with rows of gaming computers, up-to-date consoles, and so many board games. Is VT helping us grind for our exams or grind for XP in our games? It’s so unexpected, it made my eyes roll out. (90)

V is for Vending Machine

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3.27 Epic Walking Story; Image and Text; Wednesday, Oct. 29th

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Image 22. The image shows one of the few vending machines in McBryde. The left vending machine provides the snacks while the one at the right provides the drinks. (Original Photgraph, Evan Sanchez)

Let me tell you my story in a similar way to an epic video game. I woke up at 8 in the morning to get ready for my first class. I went to the bathroom to do my daily routine; showering, shaving, and brushing my teeth. By the time it was 8:40 AM, I was out of the door to catch the bus. I usually take a snack with me since I don’t have time to batch up a quick breakfast meal, however, one day I realized that I forgot to bring my protein bar and the bus was right in front of me. That’s when I realized that an imaginary HP bar appeared in front of me. I questioned myself, “should I walk back, catch up with the next bus, and be late for class? Or, should I just face it and starve until I come back home in the afternoon for lunch?” I decided to do the latter by going through the day without any food since I was not risking my grade since attendance could also reflect. I was not having fun at all. My stomach was in pain as it was screaming at me to get something to eat. I had to push through the entire morning feeling sick as my stomach tried to feed itself with air. It was similar to how Minecraft does it when you’re low on hunger. Once your bar drops to zero, your HP slowly deteriorates. My main quest was to get through the day alive and complete my assignments as they were missions on the main story up to the final exam. However due to my hunger depleting my HP, I had no choice but to go on a side quest for a snack. I headed out of my first class to find the vending machine closest to my next class. It took me a while to get there as I was dodging students left and right as if they were obstacles, swept through campus using shortcuts and parkour. There was no time to waste as I was at one HP and any moment that I slowed down would lead me closer to passing out. It felt like it was sudden death as all it takes was one hit and you are gone. I finally made it to the vending machine at McBryde and now it was time for me to spend my virtual coins to receive my item. I swiped my credit card instead of my Hokie Passport card since I had no balance and purchased a blue powerade and a couple of chips which I munched on in less than two minutes. The side quest was complete. (450)

W is for War Memorial

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2.28 War Memorial Chapel; Video and Text; Tuesday, Sep. 30th

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Figure 23. This is a video that I believe that is above the War Memorial Chapel. Statues and Pillars can be seen. At the edge, you can take a view of Drillfield (Original Video, Evan Sanchez)

As I stood here, I sensed the feeling of resilience and strength as I took a look at the statues in front of me. I walked closer to the edge of the war memorial to come across the grand view of the drillfield where once in a while I would see cadets on their training and practicing their formation. I also felt the wind blowing behind my head as if it was telling me to “remember those who have fallen, but also look ahead to the bright future that awaits.” (90)

X is for XS Walk

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2.28 Map Drawn by Hand; Illustration and Text; Thursday, Nov 6th

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Figure 24. A quick sketch of the map from McBryde to Torgersen and the red line mark is the path I took to get there (Original Illustration, Evan Sanchez)

I was at Mcbryde at noon for office hours with my math professor. He was on his way out since the session was done and I decided it was time to head to my class at Torgersen. My path was short, but it was flooded with students, buses, and cars. Was this Virginia Tech or downtown NYC? As I tried to “swim” my way to the other side of the road, I was bumping into students, my backpack hitting their backpack, and hearing voices and engines. It was absolutely chaotic. (90)

Y is for Y-Toss it?

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2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different; Image and Text; Monday, Dec. 1st

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Figure 25. An image that shows the living room coffee table that was bought from YMCA’s. The coffee table is made out of wood with two ceramic tiles at each end. The right tile has a visible crack. The table is used to place snacks, controllers and other stuff. (Original Photograph, Evan Sanchez)

Some would say it would be better to throw away things that are broken or some would be kind enough to donate it. Me and my roommates went out to buy furniture at a YMCA shop since we moved in a few days back. We all decided it would be great to buy a coffee table for our living room so we can have it to place our popcorn bowls and snacks during Friday Movie Nights. We found one made out of wood with two ceramic tiles at each end of the table for $45 and it works exactly as intended. I was in the living room one day watching a commander’s football game. I looked at the giant crack that was on the right tile and it made me start wondering about the Hokies who used it before us. This table has been a part of many journeys and soon will be part of mine once it’s time for us to move out. And who knows? It might be picked up by another Hokie. The cycle will never end. (180)

Z is for Zoom

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Prompt 2.22 Stairs versus Elevator; Illustration and Text; Monday Nov. 3rd

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Figure 26. The illustration depicts two possible situation whether you use an elevator or the stairs. The stairs are shown on the left where it demonstrates no waiting and going down. The elevator on the right shows the person trying to open the elevator before the elevator reaches the third floor as they have no time. (Original Illustration, Evan Sanchez)

Ah yes. I enjoy the feeling of ragebait as I see the bus right in front of me packing students in, only for it to zoom away the second I arrive just because I felt lazy and took the elevator. Might just put on my airpods and listen to music, hoping that time can also zoom quickly as well. I was waiting for my class to end early since it usually ends at 9:55 AM and I was located at Pamplin Hall. The only problem is that the bus that takes me back home leaves every 15 minutes which means the next departure will be at 10:00 AM, leaving me with five minutes to spare. The moment the teacher dismissed us, I zoomed out as fast as I could, sprinting three floors down the stairs since I always knew that the elevator would never arrive on time. I bet there’s students being picked from the first floor, then the second, then up to the third. There was no time. If I took the elevator, it would never come. (180)

Introduction

As this project began, I was unsure of what I wanted it to be. Should I have an overarching story or a clear theme? I knew it would be less exploratory as I had already been here for four years now, so that approach would not make much sense. I wrote a couple of entries before it hit me. What if I used the experience here as a basis on which I write the remaining entries? With that out of the way, it was time to decide just how I would frame my walks. It ended up being a sort of “where I am and where I have been” as some of my entries are about looking back, some in the present, and some looking forward. Many of my entries for this project did not use the prompts that were provided to us in the Walkings Stepbook. While some of the prompts were helpful in giving me ideas, trying to fit my walks and experiences into them left me struggling to write or provide multimodal elements. As I progressed, I found that just taking a picture of what I was seeing that day helped me tremendously in shaping up my entries. The ones I am most proud of are those that were unprompted. A couple times I took a picture on a walk and immediately sat down to write about it. For me, that is very strange as I have historically struggled with writing papers and have never delved into creative writing. I actually enjoyed this though and did not experience the same issues that I do when writing lab reports. Even as I am writing this introduction, it just comes out. I think the Walkings Project has opened me up to writing some and I am glad it was assigned and pushed as something to enjoy. So as you read this, it is an ABCDEary format where each entry is titled a letter of the alphabet. They aren’t in chronological order as I think it conveys how my thoughts jump around as I walk, which can probably be gleaned from the entries. Each entry also adheres to strict 90 word multiples to enforce the thought of doing this on the go.

A is for Animals

Unprompted, Video and text, Wednesday, Nov. 19th

Video 1. A video of a squirrel scurrying up a tree in the rain to meet its friend on a branch. (Original video, Alex Jenkins)

The Virginia Tech campus is home to all kinds of wildlife. The most notable are probably the ducks around Duck Pond, but one can see squirrels anywhere they go. I see these little guys on a daily basis running from tree to tree or just sitting next to the paths with no cares in the world. They must be so used to all of the students passing them by that they are totally unfazed by them now. I sometimes wonder how they perceive us. Probably just creatures that offer food. (90)

B is for Bench

Prompt 2.05 A Good Bench, Photograph and text, Thursday, Oct. 9th

Figure 1. One of the benches in the area behind Johnson Student Center surrounded by fallen leaves. (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

A bench in a park is my preferred break during a walk. I got out of class early today and took a walk specifically to visit the benches behind Johnson Student Center. It’s like a miniature wooded area that is beautiful in the fall. As I sit on one of the wooden benches, I look up at the sun shining through the still green maple leaves and look down to see the brown and yellow fallen leaves littering the mulch below my feet. It is a beautiful and peaceful place. (90)

C is for Cars

Unprompted, Photograph and text, Friday, Oct. 10th

Figure 2. A picture of a well cared for white 2-door E30 BMW with Alpina wheels. It is one of my favorite cars I have spotted while walking on campus. (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

Though this is a series about walking, I find it hard not to discuss cars when a large portion of the paths we take when walking are along roads. As a car guy I spend my time walking by roads as an opportunity to watch out for interesting vehicles. Virginia Tech has a lot of students, with some awesome cars driving alongside us as we walk. For people interested in cars, their car is a way to express themselves, which is one of the reasons I like them so much. (90)

D is for Desire

Prompt 2.17 Desire Paths, Photograph and text, Friday, Nov. 21st

Figure 3. A desire path leading from Orange Loop to the back entrance of New Classroom Building that gets used very frequently by the patrons of the HWA and HWB busses. (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

Something I always wonder when I pass by these desire paths is if they were accounted for when the layout of the building and surrounding sidewalks was thought of. Surely some desire paths have been expected by planners, right? This one in particular puzzles me though. One reason it may not have been expected as a desire path at conception is that it goes right through a divot clearly meant for water drainage as you can see from the large grate to the path’s left. The grass is thinning where people have walked through here, but there isn’t evidence of there being a muddy mess. However, the railing for the ramp in the left side of the image could have easily been extended to meet the corner of the building and block off this path and in my opinion, would probably look nicer. Some desire paths don’t look visually unappealing, like the one that leads to and away from Davidson Hall. The one here is becoming a bigger eyesore, so I wonder if anything will be done about it soon. (180)

E is for Experiences

Prompt 2.02 Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories, Photograph and text, Thursday, Oct. 30th

Figure 4. My favorite pair of shoes that have lasted me a very lone time, complete with stretched laces! (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

These shoes have carried me a very long way. Having purchased them in high school, they have made it through five long years of walks through the halls of John S. Battle high school in Bristol, VA and many buildings and paths here at Virginia Tech. Our journey extends to other states as well! An industrial paint facility for an internship in Texas, several concerts in Atlanta, Georgia and vacations in Florida. Surprisingly, through all this, they have held up extremely well, better than any other shoes I have owned. (90)

F is for Fall

Unprompted, Audio and text, Thursday, Oct. 16

Audio Track 1. A 9-second recording of the sound of walking through grass covered in leaves. (Original recording, Alex Jenkins)

Walking in the fall is one of the best times to do so in my opinion. The colors on the trees are visually pleasing and the crunch of leaves are satisfying to hear. Everyone likes getting a perfect crunch out of a lone leaf lying on the sidewalk! The temperature finally gets into the high 50’s and low 60’s so you can wear a warm, cozy sweater and feel a cool, crisp breeze on your face as you stroll. It simply feels more peaceful than walking in the summer heat. (90)

G is for Golden

Unprompted, Photograph and text, Friday, Oct. 17

Figure 5. A picture of looking down the road at a beautiful sunset from the outside of McBryde. (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

October has had some truly amazing sunsets this year. While walking to the bus stop with some friends from work, I couldn’t help but stop and look at the sunset for a moment. The way the sunlight lights up the clouds in rolling orange and reflects off of the wet concrete is breathtaking. The sight does remind me of my limited time remaining in Blacksburg though. Soon I will graduate and move on to somewhere else. Maybe the sunsets there will be just as vibrant as the ones found here. (90)

H is for How?

Prompt 3.20 Observing Accessibility, Photograph and text, Tuesday, Nov. 18th

Figure 6. An accessible Orange Loop complete with bumps along edges of the sidewalk, ramps to get to buildings, railings and no stairs. (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

Lots of accessibility features are present within orange loop, but if you walk down the left side of this image, past the parking garage, then Bishop-Favrao Hall, you end up at two sets of stairs that do not have immediately wheelchair accessible solutions. Someone new to campus would likely ask: “How do you navigate this?” For the first set there is an elevator attached to Derring Hall that can take you up. From there, you would continue to the right side of Johnson Student Center up to Burruss Hall where there are ramps. That means you would have to go all the way there to double back to visit say, the Pyramids. I imagine this area is frustrating to navigate for those who cannot take the stairs. The elevation difference between the Pyramids atop Burchard Hall and the area around Hitt Hall is just too large for an elegant solution. They could redo the area and to to add a system of gradual inclines that lead up so to avoid the random elevator stuck on the outside of Derring Hall. (180)

I is for Insect

Unprompted, Photograph and text, Wednesday, Oct. 15th

Figure 7. A picture of a praying mantis on the side of a bus stop at FoxRidge. (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

Finding an interesting bug when outside is always a treat. I had just walked to my bus stop, something I do every day, when I saw this bug. For such a routine, uninteresting walk from my apartment to the bus stop taking no more than 5 minutes, this was an amazing find. I have never seen a praying mantis that wasn’t green and it almost blended in with the darker paint below it. I wonder what it was doing there? Maybe searching for a juicy meal in the roof above? (90)

L is for Lab

Prompt 2.22 Stairs versus Elevator; Audio and text; Friday, Oct. 3rd

Figure 8. An image of one of USLB’s stairwells from the exterior. (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

In the Undergraduate Science Lab Building (USLB) I always take the stairs. If I remember correctly, the first time I had class in the building, the elevator door on the first floor was blocked by a cleaning cart. I decided to just take the stairs. For the past year and a half since the blockage, I have done just that. It is actually a good workout, as I visit at least four days a week and climb up four stories. That is 32 stories counting going up and back down! (90)

M is for Memory

Prompt 3.06 Draw a Map by Hand, Illustration and text, Friday, Oct. 31st

Figure 9. A drawing of a map of the path beside the Duck Pond. (Original drawing, Alex Jenkins)

I drew this map of my favorite walk on campus. It was always nice to end my day walking back to my car to go home and getting a nice view. I showed this map to my sister with the disclaimer that I was pretty bad at drawing and was experimenting with using the highlighter tool to draw and it was rated as not that bad. In spending the time to draw this though, it made me reminisce on the kinds of days I’ve had throughout college on my walks. (90)

O is for Overhead

Unprompted, Video and text, Saturday, Nov. 22nd

Video 2. A video of a military aircraft (C17 Cargo?) roaring by as it flies low under a cloudy sky. (Original video, Alex Jenkins)

I had made a commitment earlier on my walks to not miss a single home football game, but unfortunately I could not convince anyone else to attend the one game during Thanksgiving break given our depressing record recently. However, the spectacle of Virginia Tech football games reaches far outside of the stadium. The legendary hype of Enter Sandman penetrates through home TVs and gets living room viewers excited. The flyovers from cool aircraft are not to be missed either. I was headed to my car to go home for the long holiday break and I got to see two of these hulking planes fly just overhead, one after the other. They shook the flimsy walls of my Foxridge apartment as they roared by, no doubt having just made their pass over Lane Stadium. It was almost as if I was being forgiven for skipping a game, with the two planes sending me off. Though a short walk to my car, it was a long drive home as I kept track of the score of the game we were losing badly. (180)

P is for Pyramids

Prompt 3.23 Daily Walk List, Photograph and text, Thursday, Oct. 2nd

Figure 10. An image of one of the four Burchard Hall skylights, known as the pyramids, with a crane in the background. (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

My routine consists of a walk from the orange loop bus stop to Owens Hall every afternoon. I typically walk by the other side of Johnson Student Center to get there, but I walked this way to observe the crane for five days. On my daily lists, some of the things I notice that change on this route are the crane’s position and what happens down in the pyramids. Sometimes the crane is moving, but every time I pass by it is facing a different direction and if you peer down into the pyramids, sometimes the blinds are closed and sometimes they are open, allowing you to see into the rooms below. If I continued this route for five more days, my list would incorporate the change in people eating outside of the Student Center, as there is a different crowd every day. I may also notice people skateboarding around the pyramids as I have heard that people do that at night. Now that fall has arrived, the changing leaves will begin standing out with their colors and crunches underfoot. (180)

R is for Reflect

Unprompted, Photograph and text, Thursday, Nov. 6th

Figure 11. Burruss Hall illuminated in Virginia Tech’s colors at night. (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

I stopped to take this picture as I was walking back from work close to midnight on a completely bland day. We closed later than usual and I was tired, but I looked up to see this as I was crossing the Drill Field. I have come so far on my journey through college, and on a cold November night I see the “capitol” of the university lit up before me. It seemed kind of poetic and the word reflection popped up in my head, like I was being invited to look back at all of the times I have seen this building before, and how few times I will see it again. My time here at Virginia Tech has had its ups and downs as I imagine is a common experience for many students here and in other places. Looking back though it is crazy to me just how many things I have done here and the people I have met in the same span of time as going though high school. Now, it is about time to find a job and start the next chapter of my life. (180)

S is for Stadium

Prompt 2.08 Sporting Event, Photograph and text, Saturday, Sept. 20th

Figure 12. An image of a Virginia Tech football game at night time from the student section. (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

A goal for my final semester is attending every home football game. I used to only go to a select few, but I want to make sure that I don’t miss anything this last season. For my friends and I, a huge amount of walking takes place on game day. We walk from Tech Terrace to the tailgates by the stadium woods, to German Club, maybe some other places, and finally to Lane Stadium. Along the way we smell burgers on the grill, hear laughter and see people having fun. (90)

T is for Trash

Prompt 2.24 A Meditation on Garbage, Photograph and text, Monday Dec. 1st

Figure 13. An empty can of beer lying not too far away from a dumpster that has been abandoned by someone who remained in Blacksburg for Thanksgiving break. (Original photograph, Alex Jenkins)

Ah, the ever present can of beer in the life of a partying college student. This poor can was probably left here when it was dropped by a group going to watch a football game at their friend’s apartment. It is a shame that trash ends up scattered mere feet away from trash receptacles. If any small insects are left roaming around as it gets colder out they may have briefly enjoyed the shelter of the can and its tasty contents before I disposed of it in the correct place. (90)

W is for Wind

Unprompted, Video and text, Wednesday, Oct. 29th

Video 3. A video of a small tree swaying in the wind beside the busy bus loop. (Original video, Alex Jenkins)

The campus is notorious for its windy days. The wind has become a part of my daily routine since the first few weeks of my Freshman year. Needing an extra layer of clothes crossing the wind tunnel that is the Drill Field, or accounting for what it will do to my hair, has always been a consideration while living here. Now, while on walks, I have grown accustomed to watching the trees and bushes sway in the wind as I walk by like they are waving to people that pass. (90)

A is for Advice

Prompt 2.34 Directions for a First-year Student; Photograph and text; Thursday, Oct. 24

Dear Future Hokie,

Welcome to Virginia Tech! The campus might seem big at first, but don’t be afraid to explore. Take the buses; they’re free, reliable, and can take you almost anywhere on campus. Every corner here is worth sightseeing at least once. My favorite spot is the Torgesen Bridge, quiet and calm, perfect for studying or just sitting. Walk across the Drillfield on a sunny day and feel the wind. Visit Hahn Horticulture Garden when you need peace. Enjoy it all; these small walks make Tech feel like home. (90)

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B is for Bend

Prompt 2.17 Desire Paths; Photograph and Text; Monday, Nov. 3

The path up the hill beside Durham Hall is where I walk every day. Instead of following the paved walkway, I take the dirt line across the grass because the designated route is always crowded when classes end. Too many students choose the same shortcut, and over time, it has carved a visible strip through the lawn. I think desire paths exist because people prefer what feels direct and simple, even when the grass is wet, even if it means stepping off the official route for just a few seconds. (90)

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C for Campus

Prompt 2.01 Campus Map of the Imagination; Sketch and text; Wednesday, Oct. 29

This imagined campus map represents how I see Virginia Tech. The routes drawn in red mark the familiar paths between classrooms, bus stops, and buildings I visit weekly. The crosshatched areas are places I have never been. These halls are places that remain unfamiliar,  with no personal connection or story yet attached to them. In my mind, campus forms a rectangle centered on the Drillfield, surrounded by buildings, parking lots, and bus loops. Beyond the edge lies uncertainty and curiosity, the parts of campus that still wait to be explored. (90)

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D is for Duck Pond

Prompt 2.19 Duck Pond; Photograph and text; Friday, Sept. 26

One Friday afternoon, after a heavy rain, I wandered to the Duck Pond, where a wooden bridge spanned a narrow stream flowing into the lake. The water was choppy, constantly rippling, interrupted by fishing lines and the padding of ducks softly. Damp air hung over wet grass, and reeds along the bank swayed softly in the breeze. I noticed how the water seemed alive, reflecting both sky and motion. There were fewer people than usual, perhaps deterred by the gray light. The pond lived up to its quiet, reflective reputation. (90)

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E is for Evolution

Prompt 2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different; Photograph and text; Friday, Nov. 14

Taking a walk from Duck Pond toward the Mining and Minerals Engineering Research Facility, I passed people biking, running, and walking just like me. The view was incredible, quiet and peaceful, especially the sunset settling behind the farm. But the road itself was far from perfect. The pavement was uneven, scattered with holes that made each step feel uncertain. Halfway through the walk, the path disappeared entirely, forcing everyone onto rough ground. I wished the route matched its beautiful surroundings, smooth and safe for anyone who wanted to enjoy it. (90)

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F is for Flânerie

Prompt 3.02 Flânerie; Photograph and Text; Sunday, Nov. 9

I walked alone around my neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon, following the idea of the flâneur — the quiet observer who wanders without rushing and notices whatever appears. I did not know how long I had been walking until I saw the sun beginning to set. I realized that almost every time I walk, every time I stop to take a photo, it always seems to be during sunset, that soft moment where everything turns warm and beautiful. Leaves fell in spirals, brushing the sidewalk. A bus passed me again and again, looping through its usual route. I put on my headphones, letting the music fade into the background of my steps. The slower I walked, the more details surfaced: the color of the sky shifting, the houses, the rhythm of distant traffic. It reminded me of tản bộ in Vietnamese culture, an aimless stroll. I used to walk like that with my friends, wandering around the park at night after extra classes, then sitting on a hill to talk until late. Wandering without purpose made the familiar feel strangely new. (180)

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G for Gym

Prompt 2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different; Photograph and text; Friday, Oct. 31

The gym is always one of the most popular places on campus, right beside clubs or parties, especially in college, where staying active feels more like a lifestyle choice than a class requirement. Unfortunately, Virginia Tech’s gyms are among my least favorite places because of how crowded they are. Sometimes, I just want to work out and end up waiting fifteen minutes for each machine. The growing student population makes it harder to find space. Spring 2025 was my first semester here, and I could still manage to find a spot at McComas or War Memorial. By fall, it became impossible with too many students and little room. I started noticing how much busier the campus has become with crowded roads, slower buses, and my favorite study spot at Torgersen Bridge filled with people. I wish the university would slow its expansion and focus on improving existing facilities before adding more students. Expanding the gyms or opening new ones could make a big difference. There are days when I just want to exercise without waiting in line or feeling rushed. (180)

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H is for Hahn Horticulture Garden

Prompt 2.21 Blacksburg’s Best Walk; Photograph, video, and text; Wednesday, Oct. 1

Among all the corners of campus, Hahn Horticulture Garden was the most recommended place by my friends and teaching assistants. Perhaps because I visited during the rainy season, the garden was more muted than expected; gray clouds rolled overhead, and cool winds blew across, carrying the smell of wet soil. Like at the Duck Pond, I was drawn to a small wooden bridge crossing a narrow stream. I cannot say exactly why, but the bridges there were poetic, subtle colors against the wider garden landscape. Water flowing over stones added to the tranquility, a gentle rhythm that washed away the exhaustion of a long Wednesday of classes. I sat in a lounge chair and watched rabbits stare at me, then hop into the grass. Their brief appearance added a sense of liveliness, as if the garden itself welcomed visitors in fleeting, quiet ways. Yet the garden was colored with sadness. In October, its palette was subdued, and the tulips—my favorite flower—were absent. The scene, hushed and reflective, felt restorative and wistful, a reminder that beauty often carries silence with it. (180)

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I is for Illuminance

Prompt 3.14 Star Gazing; Photograph and text; Monday, Nov. 17

Walking at night feels different from any daytime walk. I moved slowly under the open sky, looking upward more than ahead, letting the stars guide my pace. The darkness made everything quieter, softer, almost suspended, while the faint glow above brightened the cold air. Streetlights faded behind me, and I paused near an open patch of grass where the sky felt widest. With my eyes lifted toward the stars, familiar paths looked new, changed by the simple illuminance of night. (90)

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J is for Journey

Prompt 3.21 Design Your Own Walking Ritual; Photograph and text; Monday, Sept. 15

For this ritual, I decided to walk through buildings I already knew, not rushing to class but moving slowly, looking carefully for things I had missed all semester. I treated each hallway as a familiar path made new by attention. I passed classrooms, labs, and open spaces without finding anything unusual until I reached Goodwin Hall. When I stepped into the atrium and looked up, I finally saw it, the massive machine overhead, housing a Rolls-Royce jet engine. This small ritual just reminded me to notice what has always been there. (90)

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K is for Kinetic

Prompt 3.09 Sound Archive; Photograph and text; Monday, Dec. 01

During a ten-minute walk around the NCB building, I focused only on sound. The space feels open and airy, with its central staircase and glass-walled classrooms. I couldn’t hear what was happening inside the rooms, but voices from the hall echoed clearly from the upper floors. Footsteps overlapped, blending with quiet conversations and the soft hum of ventilation. Even without stopping, I could hear how sound traveled lightly through the building, drifting in layered patterns, steady like distant breaths surrounding me, creating a shifting, kinetic rhythm that shaped the walk. (90)

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L is for Layers

Prompt 3.12 Five Senses; Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 22

During Thanksgiving break, I walked through downtown Charlotte. Night had settled, yet the sky was still a deep blue instead of black. Around me, the city felt ready for Christmas: lights glowing, music drifting from shops, the smell of food in the cool air. I noticed a banner for the Thanksgiving Eve Parade, still hanging above the street. If I do this walk again, I would go before sunset for a brighter view or later when the sky is fully dark, to feel the city more clearly in another layer. (90)

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M is for Morning

Prompt 2.32 Shortest Walk; Photograph and text; Friday, Oct. 4

Alarm rings.

Wake up, reach phone.

Scroll messages, check time.

Pull blanket aside slowly.

Finally rise from bed.

Feet touch cold floor.

Walk to bathroom quietly.

Wash face, brush teeth.

Grab towel, dry quickly.

Turn toward bedroom door.

Door creaks as opened.

Shuffle forward, slow steps.

Walk to kitchen softly.

Open cupboard, take tumbler.

Pour water, make coffee.

Kitchen smells warm, inviting.

Sip coffee, morning calm.

Return back to room.

Change clothes for day.

Apply makeup, adjust hair.

Decide school or home.

No class? Stay inside.

Start studying, focus now. (90)

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N for Nightfall

Prompt 2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Photographs and text; Friday, Oct. 4

Walking from the Data and Decision Sciences Building towards McComas during my favorite time of day—sunset—I paused to watch the sky. The sun slipped behind trees, buildings, and the far end of the road and sank steadily out of sight. The sky changed gradually, its color vivid and warm, shifting from bright daytime blue into glowing ribbons of yellow and orange stretched long across the horizon. The rooftops and branches caught the light, softening into shadow. The scene marked both the day’s quiet farewell and the calm arrival of evening. (90)

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O is for Organize

Prompt 2.23 The things you carry; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct. 7

Unpacking my backpack reveals a map of student life: iPad and MacBook for class notes and assignments, their charging cords beside them; a water bottle, calculator, and wallet; pens, pencils, and a highlighter for quick annotations; AirPods and headphones for focus; and small comforts like hand wipes and lipstick, or sometimes an umbrella for rainy days. Together, they outline the routines that build each day, from classes to study sessions. These items travel with me constantly, collecting the weight of hours and habits, carrying small pieces of each day’s story. (90)

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P is for Pause

Prompt 2.05 A Good Bench; Photograph and text; Thursday, Nov. 6

Stressful weeks, tons of homework, multiple tests, too many events. I took a walk around Duck Pond on a Thursday when everything was finally done. I felt tired, empty, and drained; I kept walking and found a bench to sit on. What a relief to just sit there and let my mind wander without worrying about anything. The weather was nice, the air cool, the wind blowing gently as if carrying my stress away. The sky was so blue, soft clouds drifting slowly, peaceful, quiet, and full of calm energy. (90)

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Q is for Quickness

Prompt 2.22 Stairs versus Elevator; Photograph and Text; Monday, Nov. 17

Every Monday and Wednesday morning, I have an 8 a.m. class in Whittemore Hall, and I usually arrive on campus at 7:55. I am always rushing, so waiting for the elevator feels impossible. Instead, I take the stairs every time. I run up them while checking the time, breathing heavily by the second floor but still pushing through. This habit came from pure urgency, not fitness. One day, I tried the elevator instead, and it made me so frustrated. The stairs, at least, let me control the pace. (90)

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R for Raising

Prompt 2.04 Overheard, Less Context; Audio and text; Monday, Nov. 10

I cannot tell how long this construction has been here. This is my second semester, and it has never stopped. The noise is constant: excavators grinding, cranes shifting, engines vibrating. Sometimes it becomes inconvenient when trucks enter and workers block the road while I am trying to hurry to class. Even without seeing it, I can hear and guess what is happening. The sounds of clanking metal and the sound of the engine moving create a strange chorus, meaning nothing until context makes it clear they are simply slowly building. (90)

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S for Shoes

Prompt 2.02 Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories; Video and text; Thu, Oct. 16

One of my favorite shoes ever—Nike Air Force 1s. I have owned three pairs so far, and I had to throw away two because the soles were completely worn out. I can’t even count how many miles they’ve carried me, but each pair lasted about four years. I wore them every single day to class, to hangouts, to walks around campus. They were part of almost everything I did. I love how they look: basic, comfortable, and timeless. My first pair was a mid-top; I liked how sporty it felt, even if it took longer to put on. The second pair was a low-top, easier to slip into and match with anything. I have been wearing Nike AF1s since high school, almost seven years now. My third pair was a birthday gift from a friend back in my home country. We don’t keep in touch anymore. I kept the shoes in my closet for three years and only decided to wear them recently after my old pair was ruined. They still look clean and feel just as comfortable as ever. (180)

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T is for Trail

Prompt 2.35 Go For A Hike; Video and text; Saturday, Oct. 25

Tallulah Gorge State Park was a long, beautiful hike surrounded by trees glowing yellow, orange, and red. The trail led to a tall waterfall, its sound soft against the cool mountain air. From the top, the view was incredible, wide and peaceful. Later that day, I visited Anna Ruby Falls Trail for a shorter, peaceful walk. It was shaded and calm, and the air felt cooler and fresher than before. Fall is my favorite season, when the weather feels perfect, peaceful, and everything seems calm, colorful, and beautifully alive everywhere. (90)

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U is for Unbend

Prompt 2.05 A Good Bench; Photograph and text; Thursday, Nov. 6

I used to spend hours at Torgersen Bridge, but this semester, it is always crowded, and finding a seat feels impossible. After moving to a new apartment and taking a different bus route, I realized the Data and Decision Sciences Building fit me best. It has multiple study rooms that are almost always full, but there will always be a bench for me to rest. It is quiet here, and the sunset view through the windows is incredible. Sitting there helps me slow down, unbend my thoughts, and simply breathe. (90)

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V is for Vision

Prompt 2.33 Campus Reimagined; Sketch and text; Saturday, Nov 29.

In imagining a future Virginia Tech, I pictured wider walking paths across the Drillfield, so students no longer crowd into narrow lanes during class transitions. I added shaded seating areas under solar-paneled canopies and rooftop gardens where people could study or rest. The bus stops have larger shelters, and the bike lanes are separated from pedestrian paths to keep everyone safer. In my sketch, campus feels calmer and more connected, designed for people who walk every day. A futurescape like this makes walking easier and encourages everyone to slow down and enjoy the place we share. (90)

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W for Walk

Prompt 3.01 Reflective Preparatory Writing; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 23

I usually take the bus to school and walk around campus between classes, mostly because I have to. When the weather is nice and I have extra time, I walk just to relax and clear my thoughts. Hiking feels different; it makes me feel productive and gives me a reason to move, especially in beautiful places. I often walk alone to think, but sometimes with friends to chat and express feelings. I walk fast on campus or when heading home, but slow down elsewhere to enjoy the surroundings and quiet. (90)

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X is for Xmas

Prompt 3.16 Non-Commercial Walk; Photograph and text; Friday, Nov. 28

Online shopping has replaced most of my in-person trips, but Black Friday still carries its own energy. Everyone seemed to be preparing for Christmas, and the mall was packed, maybe because it was the weekend after Thanksgiving. I did not expect so many people, especially since everything is on sale online. As I walked, just to look and suddenly feel the holiday mood, I noticed something funny: it was 6 p.m., someone had parked their car in the tree-planting area. The chaos and excitement made the season feel real. (90)

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Y is for Yonder

Prompt 2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Nov. 19

A long day at school. On the walk home from the bus stop, I stopped to look at the sky and take in the scene in quiet, thoughtful silence that evening. At that moment, I realized how fast time has passed. Blacksburg always feels calm yet slightly sad at the end of the day, maybe because of its weather. I first arrived here in February when everything was dark and cold. I left for the summer and returned in September to a brief warmth that faded quickly into fall again. (90)

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Z is for Zero Waste

Prompt 2.24 A Meditation on Garbage; Photograph and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Reading the prompt, I wondered whether I had ever really noticed trash on campus, so I started walking and paying closer attention. I began at McBryde, passed Newman Library, continued toward Owens, crossed the Drillfield, and ended at Hitt Hall. I expected to find litter near the food courts, but surprisingly, I did not see any trash along the way.  The campus seemed clean, neat, and the seating areas all looked clean. Next time, I will try another route through the dorm areas to see if there is any difference. (90)

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Wednesday, Sept. 24

As an experienced college student with a full five week tenure I feel compelled to brag about my newfound sense of direction at and around Virginia Tech. A typical Wednesday consists of a minimal amount of walking if you’re me. Admittedly, I spend the majority of Wednesday mornings inside of Turners studying and doing work for virtual classes. Additionally, my Wednesday evenings are full considering I have work directly after my Python class. Although both those things occurred today as well I had to make a mad dash through the campus to stop by Owens in between Linear Algebra and Python. And while I was scurrying around campus I looked down at my phone and realized I didn’t have google maps up. Actually I hadn’t needed to use google maps in weeks. After weeks of cringing when I saw how obviously you could spot me as a freshman based solely on the phone in my hand and held up to my face I’d evolved into a frantic blond girl sprinting across campus with an Amazon package and somewhat steadfast confidence. (180) 

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“Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo” -The buffaloing buffalos of Buffalo, New York

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Monday, Sept. 29

Being a creature of habit creates strife when thrust into new environments with new expectations. Before, my car was always just a few steps away, ready at a moment’s notice. But here, I had to walk ten minutes just to reach it, which felt strangely inconvenient. Barely driving for weeks made commuting seem distant and unfamiliar. Because walking replaced wheels, I noticed how much I had relied on quick access accustomed to an attached garage. By the end, I realized how disorienting it can be when daily conveniences suddenly disappear. (90)

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“Cool cats can’t create constitutions cause communication can cause covid, consequently creating chaotic circumstances. ” -Cantaloupes

2.28 War Memorial Chapel; Image and Text; Tuesday; Sept. 30

Considering my mother’s employment at our local church and her audible disappointment when I didn’t go to church the first Sunday I made the journey there for church the following week. Concededly, I went more out of obligation than genuine desire. Cruising along the same path I took today, I walked to the chapel that day and continued the same walk again today. Cautiously, I sat above the chapel because I knew my parents were tracking me. Cold weather convinced me to actually go inside for the service since sitting above the building provided a pretty view but no shelter. Considering myself someone with no architecture or arts experience, I can’t really speak on the decorations within the chapel. Churches I’m familiar with are a lot less metaphorical with their art and often just depict their deities as a crucifix or show Mary with her Immaculate Heart without bothering with a giant hand that kinda resembles the shell in The Birth of Venus but it’s a hand(???). Consequently, I don’t really take that building seriously solely because of the statue. (180)

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“Dover Delaware doesn’t do dancing donuts during December days, deliberately delaying delicious desserts” -Dancing Dan

3.19 Considering Gender; Audio File and Text; Wednesday, Oct. 01

During a group walk back to everyone’s respective dorms today at like 2 am, anti rape techniques became our main topic of conversation. Dancing up and down the stairs one friend announced that she drank two liters of lemonade earlier so that if attacked she could gross out the assailant. During that exchange she decided that rape alarms were for suckers who could remember to take them out of one bag and into another so she began shouting as loud as possible. Deeply eerie as it sounded, the recording couldn’t capture how crazy robotic her voice appeared to us. Deliberately, we practiced walking with heightened awareness and 2 am levity while trying to get my friend back to her dorm. Despite no gender being fully safe from rape, it’s sad that a group of teenage girls felt the need to discuss what would happen if it occurred, and it’s sad we had to walk together as a group until the last people reached their dorm and went inside considering this campus is our home and should be a safe space. (180)

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“Everly effervescent Emma effortlessly explains exponential equations ensuring each eager ear eagerly enjoys every enlightening example.” – Emma!

2.09 Hahn Horticulture Garden; Image and Text; Monday, Oct. 07

Elaborate assignments from a one credit class should be expected considering how rigid expectations are yet there was no warning for me when I suddenly realized I needed a portfolio of nature photographs before the end of a fortnight. Every aspect of the garden was beautiful so it wasn’t difficult to acquire aesthetic photos, but it was nice to manufacture a moment where I could appreciate my surroundings within this beautiful campus. Essentially, I had never been there before and didn’t actually realize how giant and pretty it was there. (90)

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“Fervid friends form friendly forums fostering fellowship, forging fruitful futures finally feel fulfilled.” -Fancy fellas

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Tuesday, Oct. 07

Frequently I find myself out and about with others when all of a sudden I remember that tomorrow morning will require waking up eventually. Finding myself on route from the newman library my astigmatism started progressing more than is typical. Futilely I tried to explain to a friend what it looked like and how the lines were longer now than normal. Finally I took that photo because I didn’t remember that google was a thing. Finding differences in something as universal as sight was impactful for me and our bonding. (90)

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“Gentile Giants gracefully gathered grooming green gardens” -Gerald

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Thursday, Oct. 09

Going from the dining hall, we sprinted across campus togeter, my friend worried about being late. Gasping, we dodged people and bikes, legs burning, hearts racing. Gliding around corners, we finally reached our destination. Grinning, she said we weren’t late after all despite her fears. Giggling, she suggested I pose for a photo. Gradually putting things together I realized I only assumed we’d be late because of her nerves. Gaining insight from asking, I soon found out that the bible study started in forty minutes and her panic was unfounded.

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“Heroic hikers hurriedly headed high hills, hauling heavy hampers, humming hopeful harmonies.” -Harry (Potter)

Original Prompt; Video and Text; Friday, October. 10

Having concluded a birthday party, with seventy balloons between us. Hovering carefully, we tapped most of them to Callum then taped balloons onto the balloons on Callum, until the rest of us could comfortably hold what remained. Heading past dorms, the balloons made us the strangest sight most people saw that day. Happily, we strolled slowly, asking people we passed if they wanted one. Having a stroke of genius, I started telling people it was an anti hazing campaign and that taking a balloon would free Callum from hazing’s chains. (90)

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“Inquisitive idealists immersed in isolated islands, investigating invisible insects” – Intuitive Individuals

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Tuesday, October. 14

I grabbed my phone and headed to the garden, to take photos for my agriculture class portfolio. I wasn’t used to focusing on plants (I’m a CMDA and Math major) but I was in a class which asked me to be. I framed shots carefully, thinking about composition, light, and angles, trying to make the images look intentional rather than random. I noticed patterns and symmetry in the inherent beauty of nature and focused on that. I ended the session with a few strong photos that captured both color and structure. (90)

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“Jubilant jaguars jauntily journeyed, jumping jungles, juggling jade jewels, joining joyful jackals” -Jackie

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Thursday, October. 16

Joyfully journeying back to my hometown, I happily rode in the passenger seat while someone else drove. Jamming out to musical theater, we sang along to every song, laughing at missed notes and exaggerated performances. Jokes popped up between songs, keeping the mood light as we drove through familiar streets and highways. Just seeing familiar buildings and landmarks made the trip feel comfortable and easy. Joy built with each mile as we shared music and lively conversation. Just before arriving, we all realized how much fun the ride had been. (90)

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“Keen kangaroos kicked, keeping kiwis, kindly knowing kindness.” -Kendra

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Thursday, October. 18

King George, Virginia is the county where I grew up. Keeping with the traditions of smaller towns it is impossible to not know everyone, everywhere you go. Kinship formed after years in the one high school we have predated by more years in the one middle school we had made this homecoming a bit of a public event. Knowing what time the theater kids would begin to assemble for the days performance and knowing that it was the exact same time I agreed to pick my sister up from band practice, I walked into the high school with zero difficulty. Kitted out with gifts and candies I had the chance to walk around the halls of the place where I spent the last four years of my life. Kind underclassmen explaining all of the new things the theater program got and all the problems which arose during rehearsals. Kinda cried a little bit during the show because the whole ordeal was such a blast from the past but I love all of them so much and couldn’t be more proud. (180)

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“Lively lions love living, laughing, loving, leading legendary lives” -Leo

Original Prompt; Video and Text; Thursday, October. 20

Lowkey keep forgetting about this assignment. Like, every time I’m walking I’m in my own head instead of focusing on being introspective. Literally makes no sense since that’s where introspection happens but I digress. Lounging about campus with my friends is different though. Looking out for them/keeping up with antics makes me see more than just where I plan to put my feet next. Loving vibing with them despite only knowing them for a few months. Loving every single one of them and am so glad I met them. (90)

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“Making mankind must’ve made many mad” -Macho men

Prompt 2.16 Waiting in Line; Image and Text; Tuesday, October. 21

Making plans is final and absolute for me once they’re in my calendar. Many would not have gone to the “Edikted” pop-up after finding out the person who asked them to keep them company slept in, but I was already committed in my mind. Maybe one of my dumber moves, I waited in that stupid line for well over an hour all alone. Months must’ve passed as I stood there watching other girls let friends of their cut in the line ahead of me. Maybe I’m too spiteful for boredom. (90)

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“Nervous newts nibbled neon noodles near noisy narwhals” -Nice

Prompt 2.17 Desire Paths; Image and Text; Thursday, October. 23

Never have I been so frantically rushed that I felt that maybe saving less than 10 seconds was worth cutting the path. Noteworthily, once my entire Kindergarten gym class was punished because two kids got in a fight and a bunch of us cut the corner (a big no-no) instead of going all the way around her. Neither of the fighters were given a bigger punishment because Ms. Libby was more mad that we cut corners. Naturally, she expected 4 year olds to be able to run for 5 minutes straight, no stopping, no slowing down, and no cutting the corner of the track (if anyone broke any rules the timer would be reset). Now I think about that every time others take shortcuts. Not because I cared for the gym, or the teacher, and not because I’m judging others but because my impressionable mind associates shortcuts with not being allowed to stop running for the rest of the block. Now, I have cardiovascular issues and understand why I was always more miserable than those around me and she’s retired. (180)

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“Old otters organized outrageous outdoor obstacle outings” -Octopuses

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Saturday, October. 25

Outside of scouting I’ve never really done any community events. Occasionally my county would have a festival/vendor day but I’d always be working a booth to recruit. On a similar note my troop would give away pancakes at the summer farmers market most weeks. On days I wasn’t volunteering I’d be out of town. Often I don’t actually get to experience the arts within my community. Occupying the Blacksburg farmers market gave me the chance to meander and engage for the first time despite it being for a project. (90)

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“Proper people peel pears partially pre-palpation” -Princesses perhaps

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Monday, October. 27

Prompted by a friend at Dartmouth I was showing her all of the Autumn-y sights on campus while on face time. Particularly careful, I complained about how random the weather was while shivering into the phone because despite being comfortable when the walk started I was swiftly chilled. Probably with a lot more class than I could ever possess she told me about her time in New Hampshire. Patriots might not realize this but it is actually exponentially colder there than in Virginia due to its proximity to the arctic. (90)

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“Queenly quails queued quickly, queries quenched” -Questionnaires

Prompt 2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Image and Text; Thursday, October. 30 

Quiet mornings before rain often bring a dull pressure to my head. Quick shifts in the air let me know what’s coming long before the clouds do, almost like a quiet signal that only I can feel. Quiet patterns like this stopped surprising me years ago, though they still shape how I plan my days. Questions about why it happens don’t bother me much anymore, since no one ever seems to have a clear answer anyway. Quaint advice to “just rest” makes me smile, because after more than a decade, it’s second nature to pace myself and keep going. Quite often, I go about my day anyway, moving a little slower but still managing fine. Quiet breaks help when the ache lingers, and softer light makes everything a bit easier. Quicker storms pass without much fuss, leaving me tired but calm. Quite simply, rain and migraines have become constant in my live. Quick hurricanes, which many ignore, can leave me bedridden for days. Quite literally, it’s frustrating but oddly helpful, a personal weather forecast I can rely on and utilize. (180)

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“Rowdy raccoons raced rapidly round rusty railings” Randy

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Friday, October. 31

Rocky Horror Picture Show, when performed by Blacksburg shadow cast has a star trek reference and I nearly died of joy. Recounting the star trek lore to explain my costume all day wasn’t the goal but when one stranger told me they liked “Whichever version of Dax” I was I nearly died of joy (considering I was an AU Dax I invented) and telling people why that was an option was a bit tiring. Regretfully, I only encountered that one person who understood the lore but it was worth it. (90)

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“Silly snakes sang softly, sipping strawberry smoothies” -Sisters

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Saturday, November. 1

Stupid West End doesn’t let their employees leave through the main entrance/exit even if its several hours past close. Since I live in the building attached to West End this is especially inconvenient considering it turns a 0 second walk into a 2 minute one in the cold. Sincerely, I truly think this is stupid and I hate it and also nobody cares what I think and also I haven’t actually asked if I could have an exception because of my living in the building because I am afraid. (90)

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“Tiny turtles tiptoe through tall tulips” -Tolley

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Sunday, November. 2

Though I spent the majority of Halloween weekend sleeping/working a bunch of people came in from out of town to visit. Travel is actually quite scary at our age (maybe just for me cause I’m a cautious driver) and its obviously sad to walk away while everyone you spent the weekend with stays behind. To be as kind as possible a caravan of people walked to the parking garage as chipper as possible on a Sunday morning. Trying to make a sad moment positive we laughed through the end. (90)

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“Unicorns usually use umbrellas under unusual ultraviolet universes” -Ursula

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Monday, November. 3

Usually I respect teachers and their assignments cause everything that they assign they also have to grade and I’m wordy so sucks to suck. Unfortuanately, my LLC 1 credit class teacher thinks that none of us have other classes or commitments and I spent a startling amount of time watching visiting lecturers for a grade, outside of class, with 24 hours warning notice, and no way to opt out for a different assignment. Ultimately the donuts provided at this event quenched my anger, but like only by a little bit. (90)

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“Vivacious velvet vultures valiantly vanish via volcanic valleys” -Violet

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Tuesday, November. 4

Vivid colors from the hallway lights greeted me as I packed up my things. Vanishing sunlight wasn’t something I expected when I looked out the window. Venturing outside at 6:15 p.m., I blinked in surprise at the dark sky. Vehicles passed with headlights on, and it felt much later than it was. Voices from other students echoed down the path as we all noticed the same thing. Various streetlights were already on, casting long shadows across the parking lot. Vanishing daylight really snuck up on me this semester. (90)

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“Wiggly walruses waltzed while whispering whimsical words” -Watchers

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Wednesday, November. 5

While I may be a die-hard boy scout/eagle scout/grand slam recipient there will always be one aspect of scouting which triumphs over all others, NYLT. Wearing my NYLT merch is inevitable because it is half my wardrobe but I must admit the hat is too much. When at camp that hat and jacket and shirt (not pictured) are my uniform but in that moment I felt excessive and overdressed. Which is ridiculous considering I’m literally wearing a baseball cap and thats as dressed down as one can get. (90)

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“Xenophobic xylophones xeroxed x-rays” -Xenon

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Thursday, November. 6

Xander’s name popped into my head as I left Bible study, because I knew today was going to be ‘x’ in my walking journals. Xander could probably have once said the walk back from BCM was long and creepy. Xander probably wouldn’t bother calling anyone (he is imaginary and presumably, a dude after all), but that’s not relevant, and I don’t believe I could fight off an attacker in my ice cube state. Xander is not a person I know, unfortunately, so I called my best friend, Breslin. Xander and Breslin are probably similar (if he were a real person whom I met on a cruise and lived in Florida) and would both pick up my call to virtually keep me company and call for help if I started screaming. Xander would probably be upset that I called Breslin first, but I did it anyway since she is a real person whose number I have. Xander has also not been met by Breslin, but I hear he is friends with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so his social life is fine. (180)

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“Yodeling yetis yanked yellow yo-yos yesterday” -You

Original Prompt; Image and Text; Saturday, November. 8

Yawning as the sun rose, I decided to head to the farmers market early. Yesterday’s chill had vanished, leaving the air surprisingly warm for November. Yielding to the sunshine, I ditched my jacket for a tank top and carried my bag with a grin. Yarns and apples filled the tables, their colors glowing brightly. Young kids and dogs filled the area creating a community atmosphere, laughing in the heat. Yellow leaves clung stubbornly to trees, probably confused by the warmth. Yet somehow, the day felt perfectly right despite the heat. (90)

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“Zany zebras zigzagged zestfully, zooming zealously” -Zane

Zephyrs whispered through the trees as I opened my eyes after sleeping for mayhaps longer than normal. Zigzagging flakes coated the ground in sparkling white with a few staying unmelted. Zombies of yesterday’s routines seemed to pause in awe. Zooming thoughts ran through my mind about accidentally sleeping for two months because there is no way it’s snowing already. Zany shapes formed on the windowpane where frost clung. Zippers and scarves suddenly felt essential as I stepped outside. Zipping through the morning, I realized the day had become unexpectedly magical. (90)

Intro:

This Walkings project is written in an ABCDary format to explore how walking shapes my day to day life around campus, or other surrounding areas. I took an extra challenge to make sure that for each walking entry, the the first letter used for the first word of the entry matched the letter of the entry, while keeping each entry in the word count of nineties. These entries were written through spontaneous occasions, or more planned out walks, each entry revealing something I’ve seen or something about me, showing how physical walks overlap with emotions and senses. Across the 26 entries, walking becomes more than just a way to get to places, turning into journeys of remembrance, imagination, and making connections.

Through thinking about my walking habits I realized my body leads before my mind. Drawing the mental map of campus I realized how much smaller it was than the actual campus and how I only focused on where I walked through, built more from habits than memory. It made me look at familiar spots on campus like the Drillfield and looking at the simple things I don’t usually think about like the American Beech tree. Other entries show how each walk has its own purpose, finding a bench to sit at leads to finding missing headphones, looking at the stars at night becoming a moment of peace, or going to a soccer field in anticipation of the upcoming game.

These entries look at walking in different angles, giving birth to different themes or motifs in them. The entries mention senses, imagination, reflections, or just silly moments. A theme or motif seen is of humans with worn grass paths and how people choose their own paths. Nature is a major focus, mentioning plants or the outside through mountain trails. I used my imagination in many of these to think of different futures for campus and how walking changes them, or how jogging through the Drillfield can be a quest with a calming end. Enjoying peace and clearing my mind from classes, focusing on mental states is covered multiple times in the entries. The entries don’t just mention where I walked, but shows what walking itself really is.

This project shows how walking has emotions, memories, and endless possibilities, if you pay attention to see it.

T is for Turkey Leg

Prompt 2.08 Sporting Event; Photograph and text; Sep 13th   

Tenaciously, I walked slowly through the crowded area of Lane Stadium to watch VT Vs ODU, my first time watching a home game in person. The rumors from my roommate about a turkey leg so big it could feed three people, along with the rich smoky aroma in the air, drew me to the concession stands. Each bite of the leg filled me with hope even after every bad play and opposition touchdown. Down to the bone, the crowd was silent, the stadium left bare, emptied of energy and hope. (90) 

S is for Shoes

Prompt 2.02 Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories; Photograph and text; Sep 28th

Strolling near Owens court, looking down from my ten minute walk, I see my gym shoes. Hand me downs from my dad, they were worn through years, each scuff mark telling a story. Bending the sole when doing calf extensions at the gym, rolling my ankle from slipping during basketball games with friends, or even just taking walks such as this one. Giving a measurement for how many miles were walked is hard, but the feel of the shoes and the visible wear gives proof of the effort they gave. (90)

D is for Desk To Fridge

Prompt 2.12 Indoor Walk; Sketch and text; Oct 3rd

_{Sketch 01. Poor sketch of the 25 step walk from my desk to the fridge, showing interesting features of the walk (Original Drawing, Tasnim Sheikh)}

Duration of 25 steps, a perfect square that takes me from desk to fridge. The carpeted floor of my room to the hallway, heading down the stairs, the 3rd step always having the same loud creak I have grown used to. I reach the bottom, now switching to cool wood floors, making a sharp right. I go into the kitchen, ready to battle any cave crickets that could get in my way. I see my reflection passing the microwave, the hum of the fridge enchanting me, I open the door. (90)

R is for Real Football

Prompt 2.08 Sporting Event (2); Photograph and text; Sep 14th

Ready to forget the horrific loss to ODU the hokie football team experienced the day before, I decided to attend the hokie soccer game against Boston College. Most of the world considers this sport as the “real football”, and after the game I attended yesterday, I was ready to do the same. Going from the gym to Thompson field, I remember looking at the housing buildings, remembering moments from when I used to live in the dorms, reminiscing about my first year.  I was expecting an empty crowd with soccer not being as popular, but was surprised to see the benches were packed with hokies ready to cheer on their team. Although this was probably due to the free entrance, walking through the wave of students, hopeful to see a win after such a bad loss, filled me with anticipation. The buttery smell of popcorn filled the air as I found a seat, the chanting and stomping surrounding me with each close opportunity to a goal.  The match ended 0-1, another loss, but a much closer fight gave me hope. (180)  

G is for Grubhub

Prompt 2.16 Waiting in Line; Sketch and text; Oct 7th

Grumbling stomachs surrounded me as I waited for my GrubHub order to be ready, a sub from Franks at Owens Hall. I noticed one student frantically pacing back and forth, looking for his food, whispering “dang it!” to himself as he could not find it. His frustration created a funny contrast with the others patiently waiting, scrolling their phones or speaking to people near them. Although the walk of the line was short, the slow rhythm of it, each second standing still, felt like ages went by, hunger consuming me. (90)

P is for Preferred Path

Prompt 2.17 Desired Path; Video and text; Oct 16th

People can choose their own path in life, both figuratively and literally. On the way from my house to the bus stop, there are pathways of concrete paved from one side to another, but the worn slices of grass cutting across the field reveal people taking their own preferred path, choosing what to do themselves. I walk it often, choosing a straight line of speed instead of keeping my shoes clean. This desired path shows my want of practicality, choosing what’s best for me rather than what was picked out. (90)

L is for Little Lake

Prompt 2.18 A Wish For Something Different; Sketch and text; Oct 20th

Last year, going to and from my dorm to classes, I always took the same path, going down a stairway. Every time after it rained, the bottom would be left with a puddle of murky water, blocking off the whole path. I went to check it this year after some heavy rainfall the day before, and was saddened to see the same situation as last year, a little lake over the path. This path is used by many students and could be easily fixed, with a little well deserved effort. (90)

N is for Nice View

_{^{Prompt 2.22 Stairs vs Elevator; Video and text; Oct 22th}}

Nowadays, I have long breaks between classes and often visit Pamplin Hall, finding a place to sit and do work. I usually walk the spiral staircase in the center, its open design letting me overlook the place as I climb. This time I took the elevator, a pure glass window giving me a nice view as  I rose up. It was different than the stairs, the gliding motion letting me see people slowly shrink below, a much slower and calmer rhythm. Stairs give speed, while the elevator gives nice views. (90)

I is for Important Items

_{^{Prompt 2.23 The Things You Carry; Photo and text; Oct 30th}}

I carry things based on where I am in life, and I am currently a student. I ranked these items based on what I would hate to lose the most. My laptop is a core part of me as a student, especially one in CS, losing it would make it hard for me to get anything done. My Ipad is where I take notes, not needing to drag around heavy books makes it very helpful. The small green notebook is where I write thoughts and ideas, giving my brain release. (90)

H is for Horrible Walk

_{^{Prompt 2.21 Blacksburg’s Best Walk (Alternative version); Sketch and text; Oct 31st}}

Halloween night, and the scariest thing I saw was the physics test I took. The walk from the testing area to the bus stop was horrible, not from physical conditions like the cold air or the dark surroundings, but more because of the mental strain of the test and thinking back to how bad I performed on it. Seeing everyone dressed up having fun, was a stark contrast to myself and many others who walked out of the test, not being able to join in the celebration of Halloween spirits. (90) 

C is for Campus Map

_{^{Prompt 2.01 Campus Map of the Imagination; Sketch and text; Nov 24th}}

Considering how to draw this map, I had a lot of trouble figuring out where to begin. I focused on the Drillfield, it being the center, but while sketching I realized most of the places I remember were no where near. I could only give a general sense of buildings I visited the most, realizing my walks were my body moving on its own, not me remembering where to go. Going on my walk, I realized how small my mental version of campus is, forgetting to sketch the bus loop. (90)

O is for Overhead Skies

_{^{Prompt 2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Photo and text; Oct 11th}}

Overhead I stopped to stare during my walk, seeing an endless sky. The thin clouds create a gradient from blue to the gray, almost looking like a fog covering what was above me. The distance was impossible to measure, although feeling close, looking at it deeply revealed how out of reach it was. The sky looked calm and clear, but there was a sense of slight movements, the fog slowly clearing away revealing more of the blue. It was slowly changing, the eye not being able to catch its transformation. (90)

W is for Waterfall

_{^{Prompt 2.09 Hahn Horticulture Garden; Sketch and text; Nov 13th}}

Water from the small waterfall splashes into the pond, a calming noise I enjoy most while deep in the Hahn Garden. The fragrant smell of the hydrangea that fill my nose while I stare at my reflection on the ponds surface let me feel in my own world, allowing nature to overtake me. The less appealing entrance that seemed like a basic building was forgotten when it transitioned into the garden. This garden is important to Tech because it allows students to have a place to connect to nature, resetting. (90)

U is for Unknown Building

_{^{2.07 What Even Goes On In There?; Photo and text; Nov 6th}}

Under the arch, passed the stairs, the sign on the door reads “LIBERAL ARTS and HUMAN SCIENCES BUILDING.” It had a more homey than professional design, and walking in I was greeted by a comforting aura, not common in the other academic buildings. The warm lighting was enough to put me at ease and the staircase tucked into the side spiraling up reminded me of my own home. I heard a lady behind a wall, seemingly taking on a phone answering questions. This building lets liberal arts students socialize together. (90)

A is for American Beech

_{^{2.10 Favorite Tree, A Note of Appreciation; Photo and text; Sep 30th}}

After a long day of classes, or a tiring session at the gym, rainfall or strong harsh sunlight is the last thing I want to experience. Dragging myself across the Drillfield, I saw you, an isolated place to hide myself from the sky and take a break. Your strong stature gave me comfort, feeling your presence while walking across the Drillfield. I knew if I ever needed shade from the sun or blockade from what else may fall out of the sky, I could rely on you.

With appreciation,

Tasnim. (90)

B is for Basketball

_{^{Prompt 2.18 A Wish For Something Different (2); Sketch and text; Sep 7th}}

Basketball has been an obsession of mine. While walking around my new neighborhood in Blacksburg, I was surprised to see a clearing of asphalt on the ground, happy to have a near by court to play and practice. Then I looked up and noticed, there were no actual hoops. It felt strange seeing this, like giving people a part of something but leaving out the most important part, almost giving a false sense of hope. Adding hoops is all it takes to turn into an actual court people could use. (90)

M is for Missing

_{^{Prompt 2.05 A Good Bench; Photo and text; Nov 14th}}

Maybe I only noticed the bench from tiredness of walking around my neighborhood searching from my roommates missing headphones. I sat down for a second, more out of frustration than a break, then I saw them. Sitting on the bench next to me as if they were waiting for my arrival were the headphones. Sitting changed the whole walk, changing stress to relief. A good bench is not just something of comfort, the timing and purpose is important to. It leaves behind a story, one that comes when most unexpected. (90)

E is for Exit

_{^{2.32 Shortest Walk; Sketch and text; Nov 10th}}

Eight in the morning. Alarm jolts me up. Struggle to leave covers. Finally out of bed. Feet touch the ground. Up now I stand. Room feels slightly cold. I stretch my arms. Blink away sleep lingering. Morning light hits me. Hair sits half awake. I check the time. Class soon to come. I must get ready. I hate Mondays. Morning classes to attend. Drag myself across room. A short walk needed. To the bedroom door. I stand, doorknob ready. The hallway close. I turn the knob. The room I exit. (90)

F is for Future Hokie

_{^{2.34 Directions for a First-year Student; Video and text; Nov 26th}}

Future Hokie,

Being a second year student, I can say the transition from high school to college can be rough. The first semester will feel overwhelming at times, but you’ll find your place quickly. One place you will have to visit is the Duck Pond. It’s peaceful and easy to find, letting you escape from campus. Let yourself get lost in its nature. Explore the campus and meet other people, you can make lifelong relationships from any random encounter. Make sure you enjoy your time, you’ll do great at tech. (90)

X is for Xenacious

_{^{2.35 Go For A Hike; Photo and text; Nov 22nd}}

Xenacious means to have an eagerness to experience new things, according to Google. That is how I felt when standing at the trailhead of the Chestnut Ridge trail. I’ve explored woods before, but have never gone on a full fledge hike on a mountain range, and I was excited that the Blue Ridge was my first. I followed the trail going deeper into the mountains, enjoying the journey and formations of nature. The soreness of my feet and burning of my legs were silenced from the quietness of the mountains. (90)

K is for Kinetic

_{^{2.33 Campus Reimagined; Sketch and text; Nov 28th}}

Kinetic energy is a concept I studied deeply in Physics this year. I believe a sustainable future campus would be one where walking is what actually powers everything. Like how a hamster wheel can generate electricity when moved, some sort of kinetic tiles could be placed on the campus paths so whenever students walk on them, the kinetic energy can be turned into electricity, powering the entire campus. The Drillfield would become essentially become a powerplant with people many people walking back and forth on it multiple times a day. (90)

V is for Vertical Walkways

_{^{2.33 Campus Reimagined (2); Sketch and text; Nov 28th}}

Virginia Tech has many buildings close together. I feel having a elevated path directly connecting some buildings is a future campus that is not too unrealistic to think of. The main walking routes would still be available, but having a quick path inside the buildings could be helpful, creating less crowded areas outdoors, opening up campus. The library and Torgerson already has something like this, and I am thinking of a similar concept. A more open walkway with windows that allow for people to look outdoors while walking through buildings. (90)

Y is for Yearning

_{^{3.14 Star Gazing; Photo and text; Nov 28th}}

Yearning for a new experience, I went for a walk when dusk hit. Walking at night feels different, calm and quiet, having its own type of beauty to it. Looking up made everything else disappear, the stars illuminating the sky as I slowed my pace, counting each individual light. The darkness on the path was more soft and comforting, pausing mid path to keep looking at the sky. The more I concentrated on the stars, the less I thought of my surroundings. They seemed to stretch endlessly through the sky. (90)

Q is for Quiet Entry

_{^{2.07 What Even Goes On In There? (2); Photo and text; Oct 28th}}

Quietly exploring Torgerson after having a class there, I looked through the window of a door and saw an empty room that caught my interest. Quickly but silently walking in, glowing RGB lights was all that lit up the room before I flipped the switched to turn the light on. Rows of high end PC’s were sitting at the desks, lined up waiting to be used. I wondered who would need this much power for classwork. It felt more like a room for Esports players than people looking to work. (90)

J is for Journey

_{^{3.27 Epic Walking Story; Sketch and text; Nov 8th}}

Jogging around campus, I imagined myself on a journey. The cement path of the Drillfield became a road guiding me, the small street laps lighting the path to complete my quest. My backpack was heavy, but necessary, like armor protecting me from the unknown. I passed by others, each with their own journey to find knowledge or other treasures. The wind pushed my back, urging me to go on. The firepits near Dietrick hall was my final destination, allowing me catch my breath from the days troubles, my journey ending. (90)

Z is for Zealous

_{^{Prompt 2.21 Blacksburg’s Best Walk (Second iteration (2)) ; Photo and text; Nov 18th}}

Zealous is how I feel when my friends ask to play soccer. I think the walk to the field is Blacksburg’s best walk. Stepping outside ready to go, knowing a match is waiting after we reach the field energizes me. Joking with my friends as we get closer makes the walk even more enjoyable, filling me with anticipation. The path is different depending on the weather, warm sunlight tiring me out or cold wind pushing me faster, but every time we reach the field its the same, I feel alive. (90)