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McMahon Hall’s Patio

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Washington chapter.

An unspectacular photo of a spectacular sight. 

Decided to step outside for some fresh air the other night. Was caught off guard by the vastness that loomed over me. The lit windows against a starry sky. People drawing their curtains, christmas lights twinkling in several windows. It was silent, except for the faint sounds of a couple kissing nearby. There was a crisp breeze that sweetly brushed my face, much welcomed after days of sweltering heat. I felt peace.

If you live in McMahon, I highly recommend this highly underrated though highly public area, especially at night. You can peer over the ledge at the distant lights of the Village or else gaze at the ever distant lights in the sky. But perhaps the greatest sight is the building itself. The building and all its windows. Shades of gold and rose pink. The occasional strobe light of a room that does not want to study. There aren’t many times you get to see micro events, intimate moments, at a macro level. That girl reading on the third floor while the boy above her plays his guitar. Though he might never know that she’s reading the book he cherishes most and though she may never know that he can play her favorite song, you can see both humans exist in their very selves at the very same time. You’d imagine this is how a god might feel, looking down at millions of lives coexisting. But for a mere human, the realization of just how many lives exist in one building on one campus just might overwhelm you. It overwhelmed me.

 

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Erin Lee

Washington '17

I guess the format goes something like year, major, clubs...but I don't really think those things are integral to defining who I am. What really defines me is a loaded question, so I'll just throw out some things that come to mind: 1. I'm one of those social introverts. I much prefer small group and one-on-one interactions, but I can deal with large mixers. So long as I have a mixed drink in hand. 2. I am proud to live in the PNW. I mean, make fun of Socality posts all you want (I do), but we have trees. We have mountains. Water (both swimmable and drinkable, California). All four seasons. And diversity. Diverse cultures. This means more history. More food. More languages.  3. I thrive on intelligent conversation. I don't mean that in a pretentious way. I just mean that I lack the patience for small talk or shallow conversations. I value honesty to the point where it's a bit abrasive--I want to know what makes you tick. We can discuss favorite colors later. Intelligent conversation also means creating a space for listening and learning in the face of disagreement.  4. I'm definitely into the arts more than athletics. Not saying I am artistically skilled, more like artistically inclined. I find beauty in art of all media. But especially, especially music. What am I currently listening to? The OST for Whiplash. So, Big Band Jazz! All the thumbs up.   Okay I'll stop here because this was supposed to be short. But yes, I am in college. I go to the University of Washington and I'm pursuing a business marketing degree.