Rain Perez

Lubec, Maine

What has been your favorite class at COA? Why?
Creative Writing. It was the last term of my first year and I was releasing a bunch of pent up creative energy that had either taken a back seat for my classes, or been limited to the relevance of my class topics. Various professors had encouraged me to come out of my shell and pursue this form of self expression but I didn't feel as comfortable with my work until I was given a supportive group of peers and constructive feedback.

What classes have you taken at COA?
Philosophy of Nature
Theater Workshop
Feminist Philosophy
Writing Seminar II
Japanese II
World Percussion
Turn of the Century
Creative Writing
Physics I
Chemistry of Cooking and Foods
Philosophy of Science
Philosophy of the Mind
Anthropology of Class
Satanic Verses

What was your favorite project at COA? Why?
My favorite projects have been the nonacademic student theatrical productions I have been involved in. A lot of collective energy is put into these productions, and while people are working on various aspects of the performance we are all working toward the same final product. It is especially interesting when smaller groups of people who are working on one thing for the majority of the term (acting with a particular group of people, dancing, set, etc.) come together and see the show we've created.

What is your dream occupation?
It is hard to say at this point. I fantasize about writing philosophical fiction, possibly teaching and working with the community centers and outreach programs back in my hometown.

Do you work on or off campus? If yes, where?
I work mostly on campus but also a bit off. My work study award is with Computer Services but I also drive the Night Bus and give tours for Admissions. Off campus I pet sit for members of the Bar Harbor community.

What do you see yourself doing after COA?
I aspire toward graduate school.

What country or state would you like to visit? Where would you love to live?
There are only few places in the world I wouldn't be interested in visiting. I am particularly intrigued by Japan and Russia. Having lived a few places growing up I feel rather adaptable to different living situations, but my parents also instilled the romanticized image of "home" as a drafty Victorian house on the coast of Maine.

What is happiness to you?
When life suddenly feels easy, like I'm supposed to be where I am.

What are your plans, if any, for your internship?
I have not had an internship yet but hope to do something for a community center.

What are your ideas for your senior project?
I've considered doing something in relation to, or in the form of, writing a novel.

What is one of your favorite childhood memories?
My mother always had impressionable ways of waking my sister and I up. One particular evening/morning it was absolutely essential for my sister and I to wake up and watch her newly obtained copy of the Karate Kid II. She let the room stay dark but bribed us to stay awake by bringing us snacks. Afterward she let us go back to sleep, saving our viewing of The Princess Bride for the following day.

What is your favorite food to eat? What is your favorite thing to cook?
My favorite food is shrimp but I most enjoy cooking classic rice and beans.

What do you like to do when you're not doing school work?
Work on theatrical productions, accompany my friends' musical performances and, of course, read and write.

What is your favorite color?
Yellow

What are your favorite flowers?
Morning Glories

What are your favorite animals?
Bats

What came first, the chicken or the egg?
The egg...My science oriented roommate can explain it better but I remember it has something to do with dinosaurs.

What is the motto you like to live by?
"Mobilis In Mobili"

Why did you choose to come to COA?
I was intrigued by the concept of Human Ecology and the interdisciplinary curriculum. I came from a mostly home schooled background and was really looking for a college were I would be given the same sense of independence and self-motivation I had with my prior education.

What do you like to study?
I primarily enjoy studying philosophy and literature but am also interested in preforming arts and social issues.

Who are your favorite writers? Poets?
My favorite author is Ayn Rand, but I also enjoy Dostoevsky and Kawabata.

Who are your favorite artists? Musicians?
I adore the architecture of Santiago Calatrava, and have various other favorite artists, of different mediums, and musicians.

Who is your favorite fictional hero?
Nancy Drew

What historical figure do you most admire?
Lucy Burns

What do you value most in your friends?
Self ease, humor and personal ambition.

What do people say is your most marked characteristic?
My sense of justice.

What talent do you wish you had?
I often wish I could sing because then I could become one of those people who just randomly breaks into song as they walk down the street...or, rather then, maybe people wouldn't look at me so strangely when I do that.

What is your least favorite spice?
Cumin has a dominating smell when it is just sitting in the cupboard with the other spices.