Mr. Mitchell

1. What is your full name and date of birth?


Taylor Louis (Damien) Kaimanaokekai Mitchell. Damien isn't on my birth certificate, but it's my confirmation name, and I like it. It's in honor of St. Damien of Moloka'i, who is pretty sweet. Kaimanaokekai is my Hawaiian name, and it is translated literally as "Diamond of the sea." It is in reference to the sunlight sparkling off the ocean. I'm a sparkly person, apparently. I was born on May 27th.


2. What was your goofiest moment at CTY?


Goofiest moment at CTY? Every moment at CTY is a goofy moment. There is not a single moment that goes by that is not goofy. But I'm assuming you'd prefer a specific answer. Let's see. I tend to get pretty goofy at the dances. Also, activities that I haven't done more than ten minutes of preparation for get really goofy. Also, I would assume that I look goofy yelling at kids who don't use the crosswalk. As a student, I think that I was at my goofiest when I dressed up as a hula dancer (complete with coconut bra) for drag day and handed out lei (lei is the plural form of lei, fyi) to everyone, or when I wore a cassock (what priests wear) to all the dances. I actually ended up with a role during American Pie!


3. Which session do you prefer?


As a student, I preferred first session. I always went to first sessions, save for one summer, and they seemed to be more fun- fresh and exciting, and the staff had boundless energy. As a staff member, though, I find that I really enjoy second session. I'm certainly much more easily exhausted, but I'm also much more familiar with how things are run, so I don't need as much energy, i suppose. Also, by the time second session rolls around, I know my co-workers really well, and that makes things so much simpler.


4. How does LMU compare to Carlisle?


That's a hard question, my friend. Why don't you ask something simpler, like would I like to give up my legs or my arms? I did two years of Carlisle as a student, and it was wonderful. I would call it a completely authentic, traditional CTY experience, if not the MOST authentic, traditional CTY experience (Please don't get me started on Lancaster. Suffice to say I'm not a huge fan). It's a very large site, and it's been going on for ages, so everything is very established. They are very good at whimsical activities, and the dances are nothing short of fantastic. The Cannon is sweet. The traditions there are done in such a way that they are a constant presence, but it's not at all overbearing (Like a certain other site in PA). The site is only slightly bigger than LMU, but it seems a lot larger due to the way day to day things are handled. At CAR, you spend a lot of time independent of direct staff supervision and you aren't necessarily always together as a hall or class, so there is less of a sense of a whole site community, although you do develop closer one on one friendships with people that you don't live or go to class with, which is nice. On the other end of the spectrum, cliques tend to form. At LMU I got the sense that there was a fantastic sense of community- everyone knew each other at least by sight, and there was a sense of one-ness. Sounds tacky, I know, but it makes for a great session. The campuses are both beautiful. CAR's buildings are classic and dignified or modern and classy, in comparison to some of LMU's tacky 70's monstrosities, but I have to give LMU the slight edge, because it's got beautiful weather and Los Angeles is so much nicer than Nowhere, PA. LMU also has better food. So I suppose, after all this rambling, I will give LMU the win, ever so slightly over Carlisle. Its nicer, more loving, and prettier.


5. Which is your favorite and least favorite canon song?


A few words about the Canon: LMU is seriously lacking in many traditions that would be commonplace at other sites, and usually I don't mind, except for the dances. LMU Canon is a skeleton, and needs to be beefed up a bit. That being said, anytime I mention Canon, it's largely based off of the Carlislian Canon, with slight modifications.

First, I love American Pie, forever and forever. It's magic. I think the most special moment of my CTY career was hearing American Pie at my first dance as an RA. It was an intense, beautiful moment that was the epitome of all things CTY. It's hard to put into words, but it's something I very truly treasure.

But that's kind of a cop-out answer, isn't it? Let's see. There are tons of wonderful songs, many of which aren't played often anymore. Birdhouse in Your Soul, Brimful of Asha, EOTW (I KNOW ALL THE WORDS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!), Blister in the Sun, and Barbie Girl are all marvelous. I think that my favorite, though, would have to be Nightswimming by REM. It's not played at LMU (something I would like to change!), but it's a beautiful, slow song that, with Forever Young always reminds me of Nevermores and CTY relationships.


I'm afraid to tell you my least favorite song, because I dont' want to start a mass. Oh hell, I have nothing to hide. I HATE STAIRWAY. HATE IT. It's so long, and so unnecessary. It just cheapens American Pie. I will fight to the death for the rest of the canon, but that can go. Do you know what that song is? That's my go to the bathroom, run to the office to pick up mail, get a drink of water so I can get my voice back so I can shout during American Pie. That's what that song is to me. Go ahead. Judge me. I just don't love it. I show up for the last minute of it, and everything is fine.


6. Do you enjoy nerdy things like Star Wars, The Princess Bride, Harry Potter, etc.?


Of course I enjoy nerdy things. I go to a Great Books College. I am spending four years reading exclusively the Western Canon- no textbooks, no nothing. It's spectacular. Apart from that, I am your run of the mill nerd, with a focus in Cooking, Crafting, and Catholicism. I'm particularly nerdy about Catholicism. It's a passion of mine.


7. What is the most trouble you've gotten into as an RA?


I always get in trouble. There was that time that I locked my kids in their rooms because they wouldn't be quiet after lights out, and that time that I made them eat only bread and water because they took too long in the omelet line, and that time that I made them run laps while conjugating Latin verbs because they weren't paying attention in class. Honestly, I don't know why they keep re-hiring me.


8. Do RAs have strange discussions in the way CTYers do?


 RA's, when not actively supervising you, or intensely preparing to actively supervise you, usually talk about you. We know all of your secrets, and share them openly among us. Ever wonder why, when you run into RAs while you are with your class, we clam up really quickly and start talking about how nice the weather is? Because we were talking about you. That is literally all we do.


9. If you were to conquer LMU, which dorm would be your fortress, which two RAs (one male, one female) would you enlist, and which buildings would you seize first?


I think that Rosecrans would be the easiest to defend, owing to the sole entrance/exit (which also makes the dorm incredibly easy to patrol!). Sullivan would be useful due to the fact that it houses the office, the supply rooms, and the nurse. Also copy machines, which are of vital importance. Huesman, which wasn't used last year, has a Chapel in it, which is a plus in my eyes. I think I'd have to go with Rosecrans, although if the office were moved to Huesman, it would be my pick.

I don't know which RAs I would pick. Why am I limited to two? Dane would be a shoe-in, but Christian is a boxer or something equally frightening. I think Philip or Chucho would be the best though. Chucho would be incredibly entertaining, and Philip probably could create battle machines in his sleep. Of the girls, I think I would pick Kendra. She's the scariest, although Sophia and Newby could give her a run for her money.

Actually, I'd be fine with whoever. Everyone would be awesome. I'm not picky.

Chuchosity

Chucho's soooo nice!

1. What is your full name and date of birth?

Jesús Adrián Pérez Cuesy, born November 30th, 1990. I know! My name is long! Here in México we use up to two names, our father's last name and our mother's last name.

2. Is it strange attending CTY as a student and then enforcing the rules as an RA?

I wouldn't say strange. From the day that my CTY experience as a student was over, I knew that I wanted to be an RA. At Monterrey site, most of the students were older (16-17) and we got along really well with the RA's! I was only kind of afraid that my students wouldn't like me or that they would give me a hard time with lights out (not that I did that when I was a student right? Lol!) but nothing of that happened! It was awesome! :) I'm not fond of rules, but when I was a student, I realized that rules @ CTY had a reason of being... So it was simple to follow them, and I had one of the best experiences of my life! So when enforcing them, I just tried to make students see that I believed in the rules and that they were really easy to follow! :)

3. What was your favorite item of food at the cafeteria?

Iced tea! Jaja does that count!? I just loved it! And I miss it so much now... :/

4. Which CTY tradition is your favorite?

Hmm... To be honest, I'm not very into traditions... When I was a student, since it was Monterrey's first year, and half of the students were from México and only half of them knew english, traditions were not very important... (And just fyi, we all had an awesome time enjoying things as they came! So I would advice you not to obsess with traditions...) The only tradition I remember we enforced was the American Pie dance... That I'll never forget! :) Though we didn't scream "orgy" at the end... Which honestly, I liked better! Ok... So... Now is the part when I fear to be taken as "rebel" that "doesn't stick to the CTY student codes" and that "doesn't enforce tradition as he should"... But I'm trying to be honest here... Die, live, sex, more, has been going on for MANY years now... But orgy... I just think it's a lil' too much!

Oreo's Comment: Sage Virtanen should listen to this answer ^

5. Which session do you prefer?

You'll probably get the same answer from most RA's here! First session you aren't tired at all, second you are close to passing out from fatigue! But I think both are just as meaningful and encouraging... They are different in many many things! And differences are what make things unique and irreplaceable... I'm just glad I was able to work both sessions... And I would love to work both sessions again! :)

6. Did you ever play pranks on students or RAs this year? if so, what?

Jajaja why do you ask ME this question? Do I look like someone who likes people to get punked!? (Rhethorical question!)
I did prank Erik! :D Jaja it was so funny! I should've played pranks on more people more often! But I'll keep it in mind for next year! In the meanwhile I'll tell you bout Erik! Lol!
So all the RA's decided to go to Santa Monica one morning just to chill you know!? So once we were there, most of us went shopping! And while some bought flip flops, shorts, hats and dresses, guess what I bought!? A whopee cushion! XD
We were going back and everyone was bragging bout their clothes and I thought: "Man! Am I ever going to grow up!?" (Btw! The answer to that is "NO"!) :)
So well! We were at the posts for social time that night! I was with Patrice at the Fountain and Erik was at the door of Doheny! So we called him to come over to the fountain, and when he was sitting down, (whopee cushion sound) he farted! XD
Jajajaja that was pretty funny! :)

7. Do you like such nerdy CTY things like Harry Potter, The Princess Bride, Monty Python, etc.?

I do like nerdy CTY things... I like nerdy things... I like "intellectual" things such as art cinema and stuff... But I also like many other things! :) I try to find something positive everywhere... So it's not hard to like movies from Casablanca to Transformers, and it's not hard to like things from skateboarding to game theory! ;) I just try to enjoy everything! :) But I do like nerdy CTY things! :P

8. Did you ever lose your patience when it came to your hall?

NEVER! And that could be considered quite amazing cause I'm not the most tolerant individual! But here's the thing! The only thing that gets on my nerves is human stupidity! And even though students at CTY are not always standing for the T, (let's face it! You know it too! Lol! XD ) they're very far away from what I consider human stupidity! ;)

9. If you were to conquer LMU, which dorm would be your fortress, which two RAs (one male, one female) would you enlist, and which buildings would you seize first?

Jaja that's a strange question! :P
Humm... I would choose Rosecrans as my fortress just because that's the building I got used to! I would chose Justin (pretty strong) and Sofia, (did you ever see her Tae Kwon Do kicks!? O.O Lol!) and I would seize Sullivan just because the main office was there! :