I was completely captivated by Joseph O'Connor's readings tonight! I loved how his writing style combined such clear and concise language with beautiful vocabulary and vivid imagery. Each piece he recited really hit me. This was another speaker that was not difficult to stay attentive to. His smooth presentation and incredible work made the event go by quickly and enjoyably. I simply loved the poem that O'Connor wrote about Baruch. It just spoke to me so much! I loved how he painted such an incredibly lively and unique picture of the environment that is our campus. Each person that he mentioned and each site that he observed really captured both the diversity of Baruch and the overwhelmingly different atmosphere of NYC. I was just so shocked at how he presented his work so much like a performer. His passion for his words and thoughts and for Baruch streamed through his excited tone and strong presence. It is often difficult to find people who are passionate about much of anything, and to encounter someone who is so confident and so passionate and driven really motivated me to pursue my strongest desires in life. I am very interested in reading more of his work. Every word he writes seems to just flow effortlessly together, and I can imagine that reading one of his works, even one that is lengthy, would feel natural and pleasant. Reading and listening are two things that are difficult to do. I realize this most when trying to tackle challenging or boring literature, or at events such as this. O'Connor is one of those writers and presenters that I look forward to running into in life. He makes what can sometimes become very drab and lackluster feel exciting and intriguing. Everything he said seemed so eloquent and well put such as his statement, "Names are pieces of poetry in everyday life..." I thought this was such a beautiful way to look at an aspect of life that is sometimes not really considered inspiring or artistic. It was obvious that he really approaches writing as artistic expression. This became even more obvious when he said to find the "music" of the words you are writing. He clearly understands that there is much more to writing than an understanding of the mechanics of the process. He was truly a unique person. I was really amused by how he explained the process of writing one of his novels. He talked about how the character wouldn't leave his mind, and basically he credited the work to the character and not to himself. There was something so generous about O'Connor. It felt like his purpose in writing is to share the beauty of language with others, not to produce award winning literature or to even gain personal recognition. I just loved this event! It was such a privilege to learn more about someone in this world who truly stands out and seems to strongly advocate self-expression and living a life full of passion and happiness! Writing is a huge passion of mine, alongside photography, and it was so inspiring to see someone who has a strong reputation in the writing world. I feel really motivated to do more of my own writing.