Field Work Term reading list:

This FWT, I am working on a few projects here and there. One of those is my job for the Admissions Office; giving tours, conducting interviews, and interacting with you fine people. Another project will begin once my advisor, Betsy Sherman, makes it back from the Cayman Islands with her Coral Reef Biodiversity class; my work with her will be something of a one-on-one winter tutorial. My final project is to begin chipping away at my two advanced work projects - a thesis on elephant conservation, and an experiment on slave-making tendencies in ants. It’s early yet, since I’m still a junior, but it’s never too early to start reading. Pictured above are some of the books I’ve begun to peruse. 

At Bennington, senior students of all concentrations produce some sort of original work of their own that demonstrates evidence of advanced skill in the disciplines that they study. These projects can come in many forms. A theater student might write a play, cast their friends, and stage a production in VAPA. A science student (like myself) will often design, conduct, and write up an experiment that involves their specific field of study. You might see a literature student write an anthology of short stories that include forays into other disciplines they’ve explored, like Spanish culture or the history of jazz music.

Advanced work is something that’s highly individual to each student, and seeing what your peers produce just before they graduate is one of the most rewarding and underrated aspects of being a student here. My reading list is small, as of yet, but once I get closer to finishing my advanced projects, I can be assured that it will grow in size and scope towards something that summarily reflects the breadth and depth of the coursework I’ve completed at Bennington.

-Evan ‘13