Author: Katharine Rose

Four Years Wiser, A Message For This Year’s Graduates

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college graduation speechesA little over four years ago, in one of my last articles for Holy Cross’ student newspaper, The Crusader, I offered a reflection, or a “graduation message”, for my fellow Crusaders, the class of 2011.*

Inspired by graduation season, I recently reread it and was reminded of how much my life has changed since then. Now four years into the “real” and working world, long gone are the “all-nighters”, the month long vacations and the clearly defined sense of purpose that studying provides.

What remains, however, is a lesson I had learned and shared at the near end of my college experience: Read more

Ex Machina: A Sci-Fi Thriller With Much to Ponder

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There are many reasons to be impressed with Ex Machina, the recently released, exceptionally well-done sci-fi thriller directed by Alex Garland, starring Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson and Alicia Vikander. Most notably, however, is its ability to be both ordinary and unique at the same time.

As any good futuristic, mystery thriller does, Ex Machina forces viewers to question who knows what, who’s outsmarting who and what – or who – is real, perceived or imagined, holding its audience in a controlled suspense throughout.

A deeper dive into the core of the movie, however, reveals a strikingly smart, unique and profoundly powerful exploration into the very essence of existence, weaving together thought-provoking questions on everything from philosophy to psychology, language to sexuality, religion to death and art to technology. Read more

How Then Shall We Live?

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St. Ignatius spiritual exercises“How Then Shall We Live?”

Posed to me nearly eight years ago as a freshman at the College of the Holy Cross – a Jesuit liberal arts school in Worcester, MA – this question has left an indelible mark, frequently echoing in my mind when undergoing times of trial and tribulation.

As the signature mantra of the “First Year Program” (an optional program for freshman that has since evolved into “Montserrat” – an intensive, yearlong seminar for all first-year students), it came to encompass what I found to be the trademark of a “Holy Cross education”: a steadfast dedication not only to the academic and intellectual development of students, but to the personal and spiritual formation of one’s self. Read more

Make Way For Mothers*

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Make Way for Ducklings StoryIf you had to choose one word to describe your mother, what would it be? How about one piece of advice she has given you that has always stuck with you or influenced you in some way?

These are the questions I recently posed to a large group of family and friends, in anticipation of writing a piece commemorating the Mother’s Day holiday – a day dedicated to honoring and respecting all mothers, celebrating motherhood and expressing gratitude and appreciation for all the things, both big and small, our mothers did, have done or continue to do for us throughout our life. Read more

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Mother's Words of WisdomIn honor of all mothers and in celebration of Mother’s Day, ATG shares below a sampling of words used to describe mothers and motherly advice or wisdom recalled by daughters and sons in their very own words.
Laura O. says:

The one word I would use to describe my mother is:

Patient

The one phrase that has left an impression:

“Make it a great day!”

My mother said this to us before we went to school every day growing up, and now she sends me a text in the mornings, “MIAGD!” for short.

Read more

There’s No Place Like a Full(er) House

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Fuller House premieres Friday, February 26th, 2016 on Netflix! 
In celebration of the Full House “family” reunion, we’re featuring a delicious family meal to enjoy together “Around the Table”, along with some fun recipes “Just for Kids.” See also our reflection on children’s poetry. 

Full House Fuller House ReunionWhen word came out last week that some of the characters from Full House may not be participating in its 13-episode spinoff scheduled for next year, I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought: “How rude!”

Having not watched the show in nearly 10 years, the ability to so readily recall one of the many catchphrases made popular by the show’s dynamic set of characters is a testimony to the impact and influence it had on me and countless others, of both older and younger generations. Read more

The Simple, Soothing Sounds of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s Hawaiian Music

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Israel Kamakawiwo’ole Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World

We’re wrapping up “All Things Hawaiian”! Check out our reflection on our travels in O’ahu, some interesting facts about Hawai’i, what “The Aloha Spirit” really means, why Kona coffee is so popular, what makes the Plumeria flower so special and a glimpse into Mark Twain’s “Letters From Hawaii.”

They say that keeping things simple is sometimes best. That simplicity not only yields greater productivity, but can elicit a greater, more powerful impact.

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, the legendary Hawaiian singer whose last name (which contains 8 of the 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet) translates to “the fearless eye, the bold face”, is a perfect example. Read more

Exploring, Dreaming & Discovering in O’ahu, Hawai’i

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Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” –Miriam Beard

It’s an age-old adage: traveling broadens our perspective, transforming our sense of self in relation to the world at large, challenging us to see with new eyes and deepening our sense of gratitude and appreciation as we gain insight into the culture, customs and traditions of an unfamiliar place.

I was recently reminded of this after a visit to O’ahu, Hawai’i where I was bewildered each time I remembered that I wasn’t in a foreign land, but was, instead, still in the United States – albeit in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, nearly 2,500 miles away from the mainland.

Surrounded by a kaleidoscope of blue and turquoise waters, swaying palm trees, volcanic craters, green mountainous terrain and tourists from all over the world, it was hard to grasp that Hawai’i isn’t a nation of its own. Indeed, never before have I visited another U.S. state feeling utterly transported into a different “realm”, as if I was a foreigner navigating an unknown territory. Read more

Living & Breathing “The Aloha Spirit”

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The Aloha Spirit“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.” –Rita Mae Brown

Never before have I given so much thought and consideration to the symbolic nature of language as I did during a weeklong stay in O’ahu, one of the four main islands of a state that became the 50th in the nation in 1959.

Having faced various, and at times comical, communication barriers during travels in foreign countries, it seems rather odd thatHawai’i – an English speaking state – would end up having such a powerful impact. But, as was quickly made evident by the hospitality and generosity of a very friendly people, the Hawaiian language is more than just a fun sounding addition for vacationers in a paradisiacal setting: it’s a true representation of the spirit, philosophy and culture of the Hawaiian people. Read more