User:GirlWithTheCards

Hello, there. I'm Matisse. I like math and philosophy and CTY and asparagus. Sometimes I get existential after reading short stories. Sometimes problem-solving fills me with joy. I'd love to talk to you if you like math or philosophy or CTY. Or asparagus, for that matter.

I was one of the four founding members of The Unpause 14.1. I was also the kid with the "SMILING IS SIN" sign and the handmade Queen of Hearts dress (that is, the dress on which about six hundred cards were handsewn that I wore on Halloween and lent to Nico Vallone for Second Saturday).

• LAN.13.2.LOGC.B
• LAN.14.1.THEO.A
• LAN.14.2.CHEM.A

I was a potential five year freak, a nevermore, and/or a two year tragedy. Read: I was eligible for five years of CTY and didn't come the first year, so I was a 13 year old squirrel the summer before my freshman year. I loved CTY so much that I double-sessioned the next year, in full knowledge that I was a nevermore because I wanted to go to math camp. It's sort of silly, actually--I didn't want to outgrow CTY. I obsessed over CTY all through my freshman year; I didn't want it to ever get old. That's essentially why I left: so that I can call myself ā forevermore. It was a good decision, in the end; LAN.14.1 was literally a perfect session, and there's no need to try to top it.

Addendum: it's a few weeks before 16.1, and I want to record that I chose right. I'm sitting here now about to return to math camp; I'll be heading to college in the autumn. While I'm technically still eligible for another year of CTY, I don't want it. I'm able to say that with love and no trace of bitterness in my heart precisely because I was a nevermore. Sometimes, you have just got to move on. I'm still emotionally invested in CTY; I talk to CTYers, will send a care package, and might even visit Lancaster this summer. I miss CTY -- but in a healthy way, and I'm so grateful for it. So, to potential five year freaks and those who have made odd choices with their educations: it's okay to leave if you need to leave. Feel free to reach out to me if you're ever worried. <3

Facebook: you can find me pretty easily, as there aren't an awful lot of CTY-going Matisses running about. Feel free to message me there; I do check message requests.

Email: [from the moon, knowledge -- but not in english][last two digits of my high school graduation year + 1][location signal][7th-pigeon][the end of the phrase "the bomb ___ ___"]

Do come talk to me if you're interested in CTY history or tradition, interesting mathematics, or philosophy -- or if you'd like to tell anecdotes or groan-worthy puns.

Come find me at Splash! I go to MIT now (oh my!) so I'll be there.

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MATISSE! Oh wow, I miss you so much. You're such a wonderful person and such an awesome CTYer and I really wish I could've been at First Session and Second Session to see the Unpause/Watermelon/fun stuff unfold. Your smile is gorgeous and so is your personality. <3 ~ Sharon

HI MATISSE! I hope you read this. My name is Roshni from Lancaster 14.1. I loved your "Queen of Hearts" dress and it looked fantastic on Nico as well. I didn't really understand the whole Unpasue cult thing, but it was cool. I remember you being so nice and I miss you! ~Roshni

hi matisse. <3 -Ariel