Rhetorical Analysis of Place

Other than being in my dorm, the place I spend the most time is probably the RPAC.  The architecture of the RPAC is very modern and when you are in there some areas feel almost futuristic, like the scarlet skywalk.  It is also very organized and new looking.  Many of the walls are windows, which makes it a very bright and uplifting atmosphere too.  The natural sunlight shines in almost all the rooms and there is even a patio where people can enjoy the atmosphere of the RPAC along with the nice weather and a view of the Horse Shoe.  The tone of the RPAC is very active and busy.  People are always walking around whether it is to workout or go to class or to eat.  There is a very upbeat mood when you enter.  The people working at the fringe desk are very friendly and help you with whatever you need.  You can also see people socializing in any part of the building.  People are mostly there for exercise, which is something that involves a lot of energy.  Along with that, since working out produces endorphins, people are in a better mood after working out.  Although people don't think about it, the RPAC has a lot of other functions.  There are rooms used for classes like the majority of buildings on campus, but since there are also food courts, it's used for a place to eat.   This creates a lot of different ways for people to interact with the space.  The machines and weights are there for the purpose of getting people and shape but the spaces around the RPAC can also be used as study spaces.  

Primary Source

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXlBSlyU8xY

When thinking about who I am, I think place and identity are two words that lead very closely to defining me.  I moved around a lot in the last 19 years.  Most of these moves were due to my dad's work and as much as I love him, I didn't love that I had to keep starting over.  I was born in Sweden and lived there (and a couple of years in Denmark) for 8 years.  In 2001 my family and I moved to Ohio, followed by another move to Long Island in 2007, and then back to Ohio this past summer.  Moving to the United States was a huge adjustment for my family, but since I was younger I don't think I was fully aware of how it would actually affect me.  Going through school, not being fluent in the language and seeing an entirely new culture was difficult at times.  Once I began to get the hang of it, five years had gone by and to my dismay, it was time to leave again.  Our move to NY was the hardest on me.  For some reason I shut down for about six months and was miserable because I missed my friends and wanted to go back to Ohio.  Long Island was not, and will never be, a place I am fond of.  No offense to anyone from Garden City, NY, but the general view of its population is rich, white narrow minded people.  Along with all the moving around, I am also multiracial, half black and half white.  People that are multiracial know that sometimes knowing where you fit in isn't the easiest thing.  My friends always say I'm "the whitest black girl" they know and it does make sense.  Since Sweden's population is mostly white, this helped shape who I am.  I grew up mostly around white people, including my mom's side of the family.  Garden City also happens to be 99% white so obviously that culture has been dominant through out my life.  

Over the last 19 years, I've gone through a lot of ups and downs, not only with place but also identity.  Moving around and not always knowing who you are is something many people are familiar with.  I know I've been shaped into this person and it wasn't until recently that I found myself being okay with it.  Coming to college allowed me to see that I was happy with the person I had become and I was confident in myself.  I now know that no matter where I am or what changes about me, I will always be able to make something good out of it.