#J198 Twitter Scavenger Hunt

1. School spirit!: I stood in the entrance lobby of Linderman Library with the hope that someone looking spirited in Lehigh garb would walk by. Luckily, Jack York walked by in an LU sweatshirt and hat, and he was very will to talk to me about Lehigh's spirit and how he shows it.
2. At my favorite spot to eat off campus: I went to my favorite spot to eat off campus, Subway, waited for a customer to finish ordering, and asked her what her favorite sandwich is and if she ever switches up her meal. (I also initially sought the "fanatic fans" answer here but only chatted with two people who haven't been following Lehigh sports this year.)
3. Professor on the street: Spoke to a female professor walking out of Drown on my way back up from a class at Linderman. She said social media is like a catalyst for social change because as soon as something alters, media like Twitter is there to make sure everyone knows it right away. Unfortunately, I can't find my notes that included her name, department and quote... So I resorted to asking my chef for her answer at the last minute just so I had a photo and quote to put up.
4. News source of a person on the street: Adrian and I went to the Goose, and I asked a cop in line to order where he gets his news and how familiar he is with some social media outlets.
5. Academic excellence: A few of my friends have done research with Lehigh. I knew Taara's opportunity in particular was interesting in that it incorporated contemporary American literature and society's perception of the environment, and she is studying for degrees in English, psych and environmental science.
6. Scenic spot: I spend a lot of my time on this balcony, and I think it and its view will leave an impression on me after college.
7. Little-known fact: This information was gathered at the same time I spoke to Jack York in Linderman. Mari offered other facts she knew through ASA, but this one was interesting and the easiest to share in 140 characters.
8. Fanatic fans: After several attempts at questioning boys both in Subway and on campus, I turned to actual athletes who were guaranteed to know about their sport at least.
9. Adrian and I in our favorite spots on campus: Adrian photographed me in Taylor Gym, where I exercise and have a work study job, both of which I enjoy. Adrian photographed himself in the theater where he performs and also spends a lot of time.
10. Extracurricular extravaganza: Lauren's involvement represents a range of opportunity at Lehigh. I intended to photograph several friends together holding skis, a stethoscope, a cheer bow, etc., all in representation of what they're involved in, but I could gather everyone, and I don't know how well that would photograph.

Yes, I did use a mobile for this project, and I borrowed three smart phones in the process. I'm admittedly not the most tech-savvy college student, but I do feel like this lab made me learn a lot about twitter and all its possibilities, in addition to the simplicity of downloading an application on a phone that let me complete most of these tweets on the move. Some of my friends were proud to see me using twitpic.

A couple of my tweets were retweeted by classmates, and my partner, Adrian, mentioned me for number 9, of course. I liked going through #J198's tweets, but I what I found more interesting was the interaction between the schools involved in this. I noticed a few #j4801 students posting and communicating more often most and wonder if any of this communication will go beyond this project.

The "Twitter Scavenger Hunt" really exemplified the networking abilities of twitter that I was unaware of before this class. It reinforced the realization that something I once thought of as just fun and pointless for people, really does have a point. People who opt to follow me have an interest in what I'm saying and create a (kind of unfamiliar) type of relationship by doing so, just as when I follow others. Also, plenty of pages take me to an individual's blog or other website that further my interest in what that person communicates or how they share information.

The thing I would have done differently, now looking back at my tweets, is to have tweeted with a little more general description so that people outside of Lehigh would have a better understanding. My twitter knowledge was definitely enhanced by this project. Right now, I think I'm still adjusting to being comfortable with twitter and really getting used to tweeting outside of class expectations.