By: Gabriela Yareliz
The following list was compiled from notebooks where I did my articles, class journals, news outlets, etc. 2012 was great, 2013 will be just as wonderful I hope. Like every year, it had its ups and downs.
The Best of 2012
Cricket: In January of 2012, I walked onto the field by the Southwest Rec Center, and began jotting down names and phone numbers of the members of the cricket team. Some asked me if I was taking attendance. Little did we all know, this would turn out to be a long and awesome friendship. I learned how the game works, even though I suck at it and still am terrified of the ball—and I met the awesome adviser, Dr. Hill, and many cricket club presidents around the state of Florida. Cricket team and community, I will always love you all.
Court reporting: I interviewed the Senior Staff Attorney, I followed a crazy sentencing, and I learned to search the docket.
World Hum: For a class project, I interviewed the co-founder and co-editor of World Hum. This site is amazing; excellent for world travelers, or those who can’t travel but travel the world through reading.
What is Love?: While walking to Anderson Hall, Gator Wesley was tabling and they had a sign that said, “What is Love?” When they showed me the sign, I said “Baby don’t hurt me?” and we all had a good laugh.
http://www.alligator.org/news/photo/image_0f903792-52e8-11e1-ba96-0019bb2963f4.html%5B/caption%5D
Cemetery: I followed a cemetery show down from years ago, and documented how it is trying to become a nationally registered historic site.
El Nuevo Dia: I interviewed Victor Pillot Ortiz. Award winning sports journalist. It was a Spanglish interview. He has a fascinating career.
International Students: I wrote a piece on international students and why they came to the University of Florida. People do some amazing things and come from amazing distances.
Good-eats: I discovered Reggae Shack Café and Bahn Thai after a veggie fest at the university.
SAVE CISE: So I joined forces again with Beto, Brant and the GAU people to protest, this time not administration or Rick Scott, but the university threatening to cut the Computer and Information Science & Engineering College completely. We saved it after marches, sit ins and town hall meetings. I even somehow ended up stopping traffic during one of the marches. Don’t ask. The movement even ended up in Forbes Magazine and CNN iReport.
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CNN iReport
Social Justice Class: We had some heated debates and provocative readings in this class. I loved our professor who is a graduate student. We went to the Bo Diddley Plaza and saw Dr. Cornel West. It was a sunny perfect day. I was eating gelato and chilling with Christian D., this very nice ROTC gentleman and Puerto Rican friend from my class.
Pool: I learned to play. Thank you Bhargava and Yash.
DILLLIIIPP’s Birthday: It was a good time.
French Presidential Elections: Sarkozy was out, and Hollande in. It was fascinating.
TIME: An undocumented Latina made the Time 100 list. She founded the DREAM Act Coalition in Arizona.
STADIUM PHOTOS: Felicia and I went to the stadium on a cold and sunny day to take photos. She even climbed the wall with the sign that says: DO NOT CLIMB.
Graduation: YES! I got a Bachelors of Science.
Law School: Started law school. Super awesome.
Prayers: My friends praying for me during Hurricane Sandy. Thank you guys. Every prayer and phone call means a lot.
Prateek: He came to NYC!!
Boba and Aloe: I continued my fascination with chewable drinks.
Central Park: I found my bridge and went ice skating.
Comedy Central: Saw the Daily Show live, and bought a Steven Colbert T-shirt.
Torts: We fell in love.
Selena Gomez: Broke up with Justin Bieber on New Year’s Eve. She can do sooo much better.
The Worst of 2012
Interviews: I always did interview around campus, and something would happen… the man with the blower would show up, a rain storm, a man hitting a metal staircase with a hammer, you name it. No silence. I learned to interview through adversity.
Henna: on the International Day by the International Center, I finally tried henna. I walked barefoot to class and it was so hot outside that it literally melted off my feet. Henna destroyed= sad me.
I-75 Smoke Accident: There was a pile up accident on I-75 after some fires because of no visibility. Eleven people died and at least 2o went to the hospital.
Pakistan’s women suffering: Fakhra Younus, an acid victim, committed suicide in Rome. Malala, was shot by the Taliban, and today she is being released from a hospital in the U.K.
Latina: Sofia Vergara did the dumbest interview with Esquire. She made Latina’s look really dumb and air headed.
Paolo: My car, he died
Moved to New York: It was so hard to say good-bye. Sigh.
Fever: Fought a fever and was really sick, all while doing legal writing and the TA was passing out candy I couldn’t eat.
Kosher: Ate Kosher pizza, and vowed to never do that again.
Hurricane Sandy: a week without power in the cold and darkness and the disaster it wreaked. Not cool. Plus, we had to make up the time and reading. Classes and reading were twice as long.
Skype: Attempted to do a Skype interview with a person in another time zone. FAIL.
WOMAN OF THE YEAR: EVA LONGORIA
GABRIELA YARELIZ 