RIO HANSON

After a year of telling my parents that my Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies major would lead to job prospects it was finally time to tap into the illustrious Bowdoin alumni network at Sophomore Bootcamp. I immediately felt out of place as my finance bro friends regaled me with stories of snorting lines and doing time in minimum security prisons with their alumni connections. I felt lost, searching for a connection that would appreciate feminist literature as much as I do (6’ 3” btw). 

 On the final day of boot camp, the CXD assigned me an alumni they thought would be a good fit: Beatrice, class of ‘71, a doula and spiritual shamen. I was immediately enticed as I read about her work integrating Eastern medicine into the lives of the rural Maine population. Her availability to meet was few and far between, but we settled on a time in between a moon howling session and a water birth delivery. As I logged onto our Zoom call I felt a range of emotions but upon seeing her sapphire nose ring and pashmina I was at a loss for words. Our connection was unstable, but the flame between us was anything but. 

After running through the lines on the “How to Network” pamphlet provided by the CXD, I was at a loss. What should I say? How do I express my feelings while staying professional? Beatrice leaned into her camera and whispered “I can feel your energy. I can feel your desires. Now we must surrender to the rhythm of our hearts.” I’ve never felt so understood, so entranced. 

What followed is not fit for the written word and ground to a halt as the timer ran up on our Zoom call. That said, I am excited to share that I will be joining Beatrice this coming summer at her goat rehabilitation commune. I write this not to say that phone sex is the best way to land an internship but to express my gratitude towards the Bowdoin GSWS Department. Had I not gone against my parents’ urges to become an economics major I would have never met Beatrice and found my path in life. Surrender to your desires. Surrender to the Beatrices of this world.