Name: Felixe Samantha Pothakos Denson
Program: Honours in Political Science with a Minor in Philosophy.
Year of Graduation: I am in my fourth year of university and I am expected to graduate April 2017.
Relationship Status: I’m currently seeing this really amazing guy and I’m so so smitten.
Favourite Band: Argh… this is such a difficult question! Can I name more than one?! It’s a toss-up between The Strokes, Sublime, Fleet Foxes and Kings of Leon.
Pet Peeve: When someone takes the first bite of something that is mine. Primarily popsicles and pizza.
Secret Talent: I can read REALLY fast. If I’m really into a book, I can probably finish it in an hour. I’ve done a few speed reading tests and I read at about 930 words a minute.
HCuO: How was your summer? What are your best memories of summer?
FD: This past summer was probably one of the most memorable summers I’ve ever had. Bridge jumping, late night talks on my porch with friends, going for patio drinks with friends, and laughing at ridiculous things no matter where we were. I work for an online media outlet called Wingd and as we’re in the midst of publishing a book, we held a Pre-Book Launch event that changed my whole life. I was also fortunate enough to have a crazy awesome subletter for the last month of summer. He and I got on super well and we sang a lot of songs and ate a lot of popsicles.
HCuO: How was being a guide for 101 week?
FD: Being a guide for 101 week was simultaneously one of the most exhausting yet gratifying experiences. Being in my fourth year of university, I know how terrifying the first few weeks of your first year in university are. Moving away from home is a major change and not knowing anyone makes the experience even more intimidating. I am so happy to be part of the reason that 101ers were having a good time. It was awesome to check up on the 101ers that you had met earlier in the week and see them getting to know others and becoming more comfortable with themselves.
HCuO: How are you involved on campus?
FD: To be honest, I’m not as involved on campus as I would like to be. I take the time to involve myself professionally with my past professors, so I spend a lot of time on campus at their office hours. Although I’m not part of my faculty’s executive team, I have started to become a lot more involved in IPPSSA (International, Political and Policies Studies Student Association) events, and hope to become a volunteer for their events this year. I am also hoping to become involved with The Fulcrum and Her Campus uOttawa this upcoming year as a writer.
HC: What is your favourite hang-out spot on campus or in the city?
FD: This city is filled with so many amazing little nooks that are perfect to spend the afternoon reading or writing at. One of my favourite hang-out spots on campus would have to be 1848. 1848 is an awesome place to grab cheap beer with friends and you usually end up staying a lot later than planned. You’ll frequently catch IPPSSA students there after 5pm on weekdays… again… cheap beer. In terms of studying, my favourite place to be is the law library… I’m pretty sure I’m not technically allowed there, but what they don’t know won’t hurt them. My favourite places off-campus would have to be Black Squirrel Books and Playa Del Popsical. Black Squirrel Books is a quaint little coffee shop I found down Bank street. This cute little bookshop always has awesome music playing, and you can sip on one of their awesome specialty coffees and snuggle up in one of their big arm chairs to read. Playa Del Popsical is also another awesome spot. Playa Del is a little food truck I also found off Bank street in a back alley… sounds sketchy right? Well you are entirely wrong! They’ve got a makeshift beach set up, complete with beachy music, shells scattered in the sand, and a string of lights that illuminate the trees when the sun goes down. I definitely recommend going here before the summer weather completely disappears.
HCuO: What are your long term goals?
FD: Ha ha. This one is always an intimidating question. In the past year, my long term goal has been to get into my masters and, as I’ll be applying for masters programs this fall, this goal will soon be worn out (unless I don’t get in anywhere… ha. ha. ha… please cross your fingers for me). I guess my new long term goal is to piece together a bunch of my own works: pieces of writing, photographs, short stories and put them all onto a website and hopefully in my own book.
HCuO: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
FD: I see myself in so many places. As a professor focusing on International Relations and Political Thought, as a fashion designer, as a journalist… there are too many options. I see myself doing something meaningful. Technology is affecting our world at such an incredible speed and I want to be a major part of the transformation that will come along with these technological advances.
HCuO: What advice do you have for our first year readers?
FD: Advice that I would give to first year readers would be to get involved with your student faculty. Run for a position on the Executive Board, go out to faculty events, and chat with individuals that you meet in class. Unfortunately, I joined the race kind of late and I haven’t made as many friends in my faculty as I would’ve liked to, but I have become a lot closer with people in my program (being a guide for 101 helped especially) and it’s made a major difference! Other advice that I would give to first year readers would be to go beyond the borders of your residence and explore the city you find yourself in! Find cool little coffee shops and bookstores that you enjoy frequenting! Join a figure-drawing class at your local community centre. Hop on the bus on one of your off days and let it take you to its last stop. Find solace both in moments alone and moments with others. Embrace every moment.
Photos were provided by Felixe Denson.