This week my life is full of music! Yesterday, I had the privilege of hearing two of the Senior Music Major recitals. Christy Hopkins, a voice major, and a Friend of mine, did something really cool. She traced this one piece of music written by Hans Leo Hassler in 1601 all the way up to the present. Bach had a go at the tune and Mendelssohn and even Brahms! But the most interesting one for me was that this tune showed up in Paul Simon's song "American Tune." It was a beautiful recital and an amazing mix of Christy singing... Continue reading

"The goal of any martial art, Karate, Aikido, anything...is not fighting, but discipline." -- Jackie Chan There are many days that I feel that my time here at Guilford is more about discipline than about fighting. It has taken me a couple of years to figure that out. I spent much of my first few semesters at Guilford fighting myself, fighting my classes, fighting to find time to breathe, and it tired me out. I was constantly struggling with guilting myself into doing more, or just grappling with the amount of work I had set for myself. I have tried... Continue reading

Dear Friends and Readers, what follows is a copy of my meeting reflection for my Quakerism class based on my experience last Sunday, the 21st of March, in bringing the prepared message at Spring Friends Meeting. For those of you who dislike the term "God" or have difficulty with spirituality, read no further. For those of you who are curious and want to know how Guilford has deepened my spiritual life to an exponential degree: read on. It has taken me a whole week to try to grapple with what happened to me and through me last Sunday at Spring... Continue reading

I'll bet you're wondering what the Cliffs of Moher have to do with Spring, particularly since I went to Ireland this past Fall. Well I'll tell you the truth, it doesn't have much at all to do with Spring except for the fact that when we went to the Cliffs of Moher (We meaning from left Kate, Bridget, me and Chelsea, Bridget is another Guilford student) it was one of the warmest days of our entire semester. It was clear and beautiful and you could see for forever it seemed. These last few days at Guilford have been just as... Continue reading

"To name is to take a stand...every name is a symbol." -- Deborah Stone in Policy Paradox So what, in that vein, what is the symbolism behind a 21st birthday? I turned 21 this past Monday, March the 1st. What does that mean? And I suppose the definition varies for every person that you ask. For me, here at Guilford, I received a card signed by almost the entirety of the Campus Life Staff, wishing me a happy birthday and including suggestions for "how to party/drink safely" and a guide to what my Blood Alcohol Content should be. It's nice... Continue reading

Yesterday I dressed myself in a 3-piece suit. I put on the new tie and and dress shirt I got for Christmas. I looked spiffy, or so I was told. I had a set of cue cards in one jacket pocket and a flash drive in the other. Yesterday was GUS, the Guilford Undergraduate Symposium, in its third year, and I was presenting. The Undergraduate Symposium, for those of you who don't know, is an opportunity for students at Guilford to present their research to the community at large. With topics ranging from visual programming languages to Russian peasant revolts... Continue reading

"Objective reality does not change because you refuse to accept it. The fact that you refuse to acknowledge a wall does not change the fact that it's a wall. And you shouldn't have to hit it to find that out."-- Leonard Pitts, Jr. For those of my readers who don't know, Leonard Pitts Jr. is a nationally-syndicated columnist who writes powerful and poignant pieces on the state of politics in the country, on race relations, and on culture. I find his insights profound and very touching in my life. This quote, in particular, really spoke to me when I read... Continue reading

Last Friday we had a snowday, the second one I've ever gotten here at Guilford. And even though the weather was better than the Monday before when we only had 8:30 classes canceled, my fellow students and I all enjoyed a day off, a three-day weekend. My Friday was going to be spent sitting in my apartment reading interlibrary loan books, drinking hot chocolate and having a regenerative and restful day after a month of strenuous school. Sadly, it was not to be. Even though the school was closed my Quaker Leadership Scholars Program year level still met, and there... Continue reading

It's been a pretty white world here for the past few days. I haven't touched my car for a week now. I'm scared to move it because of all the ice and snow. And yet, I love this weather! Not the driving in it, or the going to class in it, but the staying inside and drinking hot chocolate while doing my reading for class that's what I like! Having my dad come over and going sledding, like I was a little kid again, that's what I like! Having my friend Bridget get my attention by throwing snowballs at my... Continue reading

I'm not entirely certain what the protocol for starting a blog is, but for my blog I would very much like to introduce myself to you my readers. As a history major I understand that you must know where someone has come from to understand where they might be going. So with that in mind: Hi! My name is Daniel Hood, I'm a third year (Junior) at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC which also happens to be my hometown. I'm a double major in History and Political Science with a minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies, which is a... Continue reading