1. I chose this place because it’s right between my classes in the International Building and in Old Main. It’s also a nice place to observe people passing by, and it gets a lot of sunlight, which is always a good thing.
  2. What I’ve enjoyed about connecting with it is that it’s very close to the parking lot, which is where I tend to meet my friends and my boyfriend between classes and after classes. It also gives me a place to just sit and relax. University can be very stressful, and it’s nice to have a place that feels comforting and safe and familiar, especially on such a large campus.
  3. The course theme I found easiest to connect to was spatial interaction. It’s a very common space that is most likely shared among other students, and it’s close to the buildings where I have my classes. There’s a lot of foot traffic near my place, since it’s right next to the International Building. It’s also a part of my mental map and helps me figure out where I am, especially when it gets dark early during the winter months, so I use this bench to navigate my way around TRU campus.
  4. One thing I am grateful for in my place is that it provides comfort and beauty. It’s somewhere I know I can go, and I don’t feel judged for sitting there. It’s close by and provides familiarity, which can be hard to find, especially in your first and second years at TRU. It’s also surrounded by nature, and despite the construction that’s been going on outside of Old Main, it’s still beautiful and full of natural life.
  5. One reason my place might feel grateful for me is that I visit it every time I am on campus. I always go there on days I have classes, and since I have a large gap between two of my classes, I spend a lot of time there admiring the nature around me. I’m always respectful of my place, and since it gets so much sunlight, it keeps me warm during the colder months.