Lau 1

I think the first floor of Lauinger Library represents the dichotomy of the Georgetown student. What I mean by this is that the different spaces on Lau 1 house two different mindsets: that of stress and academic disillusionment and that of intellectual curiosity and passion. In the computer room of Gelardin and the cubicle section of the floor, one can find an array of silent, focused students their respective closed-off workspaces. The mood is depressing and unexciting; students come to Lau 1 to hunker down and chip away at the immense burdens of assignments and exams for their classes. On the other hand, however, Gelardin is also lined with recording and editing rooms for musicians and videographers, and bookstacks separate the cubicles from the Maker Hub. Not only have I spent endless nights grinding away at essays in my corner cubicle on Lau 1, but I have also spent countless hours in the recording studio at our fingertips, joining a Georgetown graduate and up and coming rapper in his creative process. There may be nothing in the world about which I am more passionate than hip-hop music, and I have been able to explore that passion on a much deeper level because of the first floor of Lauinger Library. I am a firm believer that learning and personal growth manifests in many ways, which go well beyond the classroom. I think this underappreciated alternate dimension of Lau 1 promotes learning and passion more than any cubicle or study room ever could. For me, Lau 1 serves as a subtle reminder to never lose touch with my interests and to continue to pursue the truly well-rounded college experience that brought me to Georgetown. The world’s next innovators and problem-solvers will not emerge from the Lau 1 cubicles of the world; they will find themselves and their callings in the Maker Hubs, the recording rooms, and the vibrant and collaborative spaces that promote learning in its purest form.