[Hello! I’m Emily Hopcian, a recent graduate of Denison University and the new intern at Purple Orange. I’ve been instructed to shamelessly promote myself on the blog. In short, this is me!]

What’s in a list?

I’m in a list. Well, this one, at least. With college behind me and the real world – and the rest of my life – before me, questions of what I want to do and accomplish in the years ahead have become more persistent and seemingly relevant. Now, I’m trying to see my dreams as goals rather than simple musings; they have a shape and focus. At times, pinpointing exactly what I want to do can be challenging. However, in the end, my list is uniquely me, and so, I’m using it to give you a glimpse of who I am.

Before I die, I will …

Walk the coast of Ireland

When I studied abroad in Bath, England, two years ago, our group (Advanced Studies in England) spent a weekend traveling the southwestern coast of the country. Blessed with clear skies (an uncommon occurrence in England), we spent Friday and Saturday hiking the breathtakingly beautiful coastline and exploring tiny fishing villages. Along the way, we crossed paths with a couple who was travelling the entire western coast by foot. Perhaps that’s when this idea first popped into my head. Add an obsession with water – I’m a swimmer and grew up surrounded by water in Michigan – and Rory Stewart’s The Places In Between (in which the Scottish author walks across Afghanistan) and you might find my motivation for this item. Why Ireland? I don’t know.

Help decrease the number of stray cats and dogs

My mom – the inspiration behind this item – is a veterinarian. As such, she continuously educates those around her on the issues that plague animals: puppymills, overpopulation, and farming regulations. From volunteering at the local humane society (while in college) to speaking out for animals, I want to continue to help and serve as an advocate for all animals. I want to educate others on the importance of spaying and neutering cats and dogs and show them the beauty in adopting rescues while also funding projects that have the same mission.

Have tea with JK Rowling

Every list has to have at least one seemingly unreal item, right? Well, this is mine. And yes, it is a long shot. However, I would love nothing more than to sit down with JK Rowling (author of the Harry Potter series – for those living … who knows where) and talk writing with her. I am not unique in my appreciation for her stories but feel that not all fans would join me in my deep admiration for her writing – writing as an art. Not only does JK know how to write a captivating story with characters and places and plot … she knows how to weave words together, how to put them on the page in the right way so that they work together. And that is much easier said than done. Trust me. I am a self-declared lover of words; I love to write. As an English Writing major at Denison University, I learned how to read as a writer and how greatly word choice and word order can impact a piece. I suppose JK and I could chat anywhere. But if we’re in Britain, we should do so over tea :)

See the Northern Lights

This may be the most important item on my list – at least right now. Many nights of my summers have been spent Up North on Crystal Lake (in Michigan). And of those nights Up North, many have been spent looking up at the stars with family or friends while lying on a dock or beach. Those moments have left me mesmerized by the stars and the Milky Way. The sky has brought me closer to people in ways I never thought possible. I have yet to see the Northern Lights, though. I’ve seen photographs and videos but want to experience them in real time, in real life.