First Weekend Frenzy
In which Greta strikes for the climate, auditions for sketch comedy, and meets her Congresswoman
In which Greta strikes for the climate, auditions for sketch comedy, and meets her Congresswoman
If there’s anything I’ve learned in my first week at Carleton,
it’s that there’s always something going on. And always people going to all the things that are going on. Often, the same person, going to three, or five, or twelve of the things going on, all in the same day.
This past weekend, my first at Carleton, I became one of those people. Are you surprised?
I celebrated finishing my last class of the week on Friday
by immediately sprinting to join my fellow environmentalist Carls in the Youth Strike for Climate. Together, we marched into downtown Northfield and met up with community members, Northfield High School students, and a whole horde of Oles. The energy was invigorating and the speeches inspiring — a perfect first foray into the activist scene at Carleton and a show of solidarity for youth across the world. Read more about it here! (Shameless self promotion for my other job as a Carleton Now writer!)
Friday night, I shifted gears from activist to audience by attending Carleton’s Comedy Showcase.
I laughed my head off at the three student groups — Cujokra, Queens of Comedy, and Lenny Dee — as they cracked jokes about everything from storming Area 51 to a kid telling his two dads that they’re gay. At the end of it all, I decided on a whim to do something I’ve never done before: try comedy myself!! To be clear, this is someone who has never thought she was funny and has never thought she had acting talent.
I don’t even watch enough SNL or John Oliver or keep up to date on memes (I know, it’s unforgivable). But on Saturday afternoon, I showed up in Sayles for Lenny Dee auditions and read a sketch about political science and a monologue in imitation of Bob Ross. And I got a callback!! In the end, I didn’t make it into the group, but I tried something new, gained some self confidence, and had a ton of fun being laughed at with a bunch of new friends. In fact, I liked it so much that next weekend I plan to audition for the stand-up group, Queens, next weekend. Stay tuned…
Later on Saturday, after a fresh farmers market apple and some sociology readings, I changed speed once again to attend a house party.
No, not a wild college party, but a fancy gathering at a house in Northfield in support of Congresswoman Angie Craig. That’s right: two weeks into living in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, thanks to the CarlDems, I literally got to meet my new House Representative. Craig was elected in 2018 in an extremely contentious race against a conservative Republican incumbent, Jason Lewis, becoming the first openly gay person elected to Congress from Minnesota.
Her speech at the party was eloquent and informed, ranging in topics from policy to impeachment to working across the aisle for bipartisan legislation; in short, fixing what is wrong with this country and our Congress. I’m so excited to campaign for the 2020 reelection with the CarlDems for Craig and other candidates like her!
I wrapped up my eventful weekend
by attending a concert at the Cave on Saturday night, featuring a boppin’ performance by Minneapolis-based, electronic-pop-rap, “braless” musician Ness Nite, and by spending long hours reading Anton Chekhov in the Libe on Sunday. I honestly don’t know which one was more fun. And if you think I’m joking, remember that this is Carleton and I’m a nerd. In fact, check back next week and I’ll tell you just how much I love my classes! But for now, I gotta go read some Angela Carter.
Greta is a proud Vermonter who must have fallen hard for Carleton if she’s choosing to spend the next four years without mountains to hike. Instead, you’ll probably find her wandering the Arb with a book and a journal and a pen behind her ear, playing piano in Weitz, or telling another unsuspecting soul about her gap year. And eating dark chocolate. She wants to learn everything, but is particularly interested in Sociology/Anthropology, Environmental Studies, and, of course, Creative Writing. Meet the other bloggers!