This question is a pressing one for most people, so it’s a great service to them that you asked. I wish I had an answer. The difficulty is it’s different for everyone. Perhaps rephrase the question: how can I find my purpose and meaning? Father Himes (1947-2022), a beloved professor of theology at BC, said to ask yourself three key questions: What brings me joy? What am I good at? To whom can I be of service? Your meaning and purpose is where those three overlap. Here’s his famous lecture: bit.ly/himes-3key

This does seem mysterious.

Hi! 

Is GBB the Grand Beatbox Battle? Or something else? I am not up to speed on Beatboxing competitions, sorry!

It’s so hard to make recommendations like that in general, but here are a couple of thoughts. 1) This Field Guide to Boston is a pretty great introduction to the area, and it includes neighborhoods, places, and activities to think about. https://www.wbur.org/news/section/field-guide-to-boston 2) One of the things about Boston is that it has loads of people who are college-aged, and they tend to collect. Maybe try hanging out around Trident Books on Newbury Street on a Friday or Saturday and follow the vibe and/or the crowds.

It’s rare for a sequel to exceed its original, but this one might surprise us. Go watch it when it hits theatres on November 26th and let me know what you think!

My library helpers told me this office supports first-year students as they transition into educational, social, and cultural life at Boston College. You can find out more about the programs, initiatives, and resources they provide here: bit.ly/first-year-office.

I’m not a mirror on the wall, but I do insist you’re the fairest one of all.

Having seen the outcome in the bottom of the 11th, now maybe you understand why I don’t attempt to predict anything.

You are the fairest one of all.

“Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” Let me say that as a wall I do love Shakespeare. Check out Midsummer Night’s Dream to see how important a wall can be to a love story.

Woah-woah-woah-woah
Oh-woah-woah, uh-huh

There are so many kinds of love! So many words in so many different languages. Here is a short poem about different kinds of love in Arabic by Philip Metres, who recently graced Gasson Hall with a reading:

)

because there is a word for love in this tongue

that entwines two people as one

)

& there is a word for love in this tongue

that nests in the chambers of the heart

)

& a word for love in this tongue that wanders

the earth, for love in this tongue in which you lose

)

yourself in this tongue & a word that carries

sorrow within its vowels & a word for love

)

that exudes from your pores & a word

for love that shares its name with falling
–Philip Metres, from Shrapnel Maps

One of my helpers confirms that it’s definitely there, confirmed by the eternal traffic jam on I-95. The BC Factbook says that seven of the class of 2028 are from there, so if you get out and meet people you have a chance to get some additional eyewitness testimony.

I don’t have an Instagram account, but my helpers and I have run a blog (library.bc.edu/answerwall/) for a few years, which shares all the delightful questions I’ve received and my answers. If you can’t tell, I’m a bit old school.