January Alumni Perspectives: Shay Totten '91
What was your favorite Field Work Term experience?
Happy New Year!
There’s a light dusting of snow across campus, and with fewer students on campus, the natural beauty takes center stage for a few months.
Plenty is happening with the Bennington Writing Seminars MFA in Writing students on campus and the Winter Writers Reading Series. If you’re near campus, come listen in person. Or, each event has a streaming option, too.
During these cold winter months, most students will be off campus exploring the world through Field Work Term (FWT).
Do you remember yours? Was there one in particular that brought into focus what you wanted to do, or not do, after graduation? We’re collecting your FWT stories to share with students and each other. Share your experience by filling out this form. Five lucky entrants will receive some Bennington swag in the mail as a thank you.
My first Field Work Term I created for myself: I worked as a staff writer at my local newspaper in Northern Vermont, which allowed me to live at home and save on expenses. My second FWT was with the national news wire service United Press International, based in Albany, NY, where I wrote radio news briefs for stations throughout New York State. These two FWTs were instrumental in my decision to become a journalist.
My last two FWTs were more introspective: An independent study of Homer’s Odyssey and an intensive working on my creative thesis. Those FWTs anchored my decision to be a lifelong student of literature and create habits to pursue my own creative writing after graduation and into adulthood.
FWT remains an important aspect of the Bennington experience, which I had the privilege to speak to first-year students about last term and hear Michael Pollan ’76 vividly describe his first FWT experience and how it shaped his writing career. I also had an opportunity to sit in on a Pecha Kucha-style presentation by students of their 2024 FWT experiences. From theater camps to nanotechnology, the depth and breadth of FWT experiences continues to inspire students to not just find a job, but also to explore the world and shape it.
OK, enough reminiscing…at least in this space. How about in person? Our next all-alumni regional gathering will be held Saturday, February 8, in Los Angeles at the iconic Mack Sennett Studios. RSVP today if you’ll be in Los Angeles and would like to join us. There’ll be tacos, swag, updates from College leaders, and much more!
Side note: An email sent to Los Angeles-area alumni in December listed the event date as Sunday, February 9. We’re moving the event a day earlier to avoid a conflict with something called the Super Bowl. You’re welcome, NFL and Kendrick Lamar!
If you would like help hosting a small get-together for alumni near you, just let me know.
Reunion
I hope that one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to attend this year’s All-Class Reunion from October 3–5.
While Reunion is months away, you may want to make plans now, starting with booking your rooms, as fall is a busy time in Vermont. We do have a couple of places that have reserved rooms for us: You can book a room at Hotel Vervana (formerly the Paradise Inn). Just let them know you’re part of the Bennington College Reunion group to get a discounted rate. You can also call the Knotty Pine and mention “Alumni Reunion" when booking the room. We are working to reserve blocks of rooms at additional area hotels and will add them to this list as we secure spots. Here is a handy list of additional places to stay.
Onward,
Shay Totten '91
Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement