Catching Sunrise

My name is Neil. I am a member of the University of Delaware class of 2014. I'm an anthropology major, an actor, and a proud Texan. I will be blogging about my life at UD for friends, family, and prospective students to see. Students, explore and see what UD might be for you! Perhaps you'll learn something about me in the process. var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-23828957-3']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-34745445-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();

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First Steps

This is it. My final post to this blog.

Tonight, I sat with two of my closest friends from home, telling them my last few stories of this final semester at UD: my last HTAC show, my Riot Act Senior Show, and the various (mis)adventures from the past month. One of them pointed out that this was the last set of college stories I would be catching them up on.

Four years ago I began a journey that this blog has documented. This blog holds stories about my adventures, trials, and growth during my time as a undergraduate student. Now it has come to an end, but I know that my time at UD won't be complete until this blog is, as well. So here's one final story:

When I was looking ahead to graduation, I didn't expect the turning of the tassel to mean so much to me. I think that the requirements for a BA are mostly arbitrary and, after all, "graduate" is just a word; we're still the same person before and after. But surprisingly, when the moment came to transition mine, something caught in my throat and my hand was heavy as it moved the tassel. In that moment I thought of all the explorations that have come from fulfilling those BA requirements. Everything from my time in Riot Act, to my freshman floor, all the celebrations, and the friends I found in Anthropology and HTAC. It was those things - my most cherished memories, many of which I have shared here - that had me feel the significance of that moment. And with memories like these... 

It's time for a new adventure. With a summer job, my first paid acting gig, and not-so-distant plans to move to New York, I'm just starting to take the first few steps. To my friends, my family, and everyone else: thank you for making the past four years everything they have been. You've helped me discover and rediscover what it means to be catching sunrise.

So... I declare this blog - and my time as a University of Delaware student - complete.

It's off to the next great adventure. Whether I see you in New York or somewhere else the winds may take us, keep in touch. I'll see you in the sunrise.

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I don't think I ever posted a picture of my graduation cap.

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As of yesterday, I am home.

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From graduation, still less than a week ago. (get ready for my last few posts to this blog)

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Catching Sunrise turned 3 today!

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Graduation Ceremony #1

Honors Graduation 9:00am, about an hour from now

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Today the year began for me.

I’ve been back on campus for five days, but today I finally got the last of my furniture into my room, so I have officially moved in. You can see my roommates were excited about me finally getting a bed! 

I’ve had a nice little break before the semester begins, and now I’m ready to take on a very different experience of college from what I’ve had before: I’ll be taking more focused classes (I’ll share what they are in another post soon) and be seeking more specific training.

To everyone moving in tomorrow: Welcome back to campus!

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...

Today I give up my bed. I'm passing it on to a friend who be using it next year. My bed was the thing that finally made me feel like I had moved in, and though the room is already much emptier (with my desk disassembled), I'm finding myself excited instead of sad.

Two days until graduation.

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Today,

I will finish my last assignment as an undergraduate. 

Meanwhile, everyone else I know at other schools has already graduated.

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Okay but today for real this time.

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Today,

I will finish my last assignment as an undergraduate. 

Meanwhile, everyone else I know at other schools has already graduated.

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Reading under a tree outside the library on my last day of classes as an undergraduate.

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Posters from my first and last Riot Act shows. 

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my last riot act show is tonight.

How is that possible? Has it really been four years of these shows? Playing and performing with this troupe has meant so much to me. Tonight I complete that time with one last very emotional performance. 

Come and see it if you can. 

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Senior Thesis Proposal: Submitted

Now i just have to get this form signed and turned in and I’m all ready to go. Delaware Sea Breeze Circulation - prepare to be my bitch.

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Just as I submitted the final copy of my senior thesis today, so is my friend Bill submitted the proposal to begin his. 

Man. Life is crazy. It just goes in circles all the time. Every end is a new beginning; each sunset is a sunrise somewhere else. 

(Good luck Bill!!! If it was anything like mine, your experience will be at times demoralizing and outright scary, but will be utterly fulfilling in the end. Do you draft early. That is my only advice.)

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Doing one last read through of my thesis (which I defended last Friday!) amidst the Anthropology Club picnic we're having on this beautiful May day.

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Graduating Senior Neil Redfield shares his last semester with HTAC:

I’m a senior HTACer and I’ve been lucky enough to have been involved in this company since I set foot on campus. Four weeks ago I had the honor of performing my final HTAC show, [title of show]. This is the last song from that show, and there could not have been a more perfect way to complete my HTAC experience than onstage with this simple song, self-aware not only that it was the last moment of our show, but my last moment in an HTAC show. In those last few lines of the last performance, I remembered my four years with this company: my friends, the memories made, the shows performed. I saw that my friends had made this company a home for me. A home that I don’t want to say goodbye to. And as I and the rest of the cast were savoring the final line of our show, it was suddenly - all too quickly - over. And that was it. It was time to step off.  I am so grateful that this was my final moment onstage: I got to share my love for the time that I’ve had here. It’s now coming time for me and the other seniors to step off, opening the way for a new group of HTACers to step in and find in this company the same thing we have all found in our time here: a place to work, a place to play, and most of all, a home. May it be just as hard for you to say goodbye as it has been for me.

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This is the stack of thesis-related books which I will shortly be returning to the library!!! (bookended by the ones that I own!) I submitted my final copy to my committee and I’ll defend a week from today, at which point I’ll finally be done with it. Phew. We’ll see what happens when that day comes.

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It's May and coming very close to the end of my time here at University of Delaware and the end of my time maintaining this blog. Over the coming weeks, I'm going to try to post pictures of some of my favorite spots on campus, both so any prospective students can see some what spots may become meaningful to them after four year have gone by, and so that I'll be able to look back fondly on my last few posts and remember the meaning that this campus has held for me. Stay tuned.