Synaptic

By Keilah Brewer ‘26, Elyse Shaw ‘27, and Shaylee Smet ‘26

Welcome to the 46th edition of The Writing Anthology – now known as Synaptic. Founded in 1981 by now retired Central College professor Dr. Walter Cannon, Synaptic provides an annual assemblage of remarkable student work that covers a wide array of academic disciplines. Following a review and conference about dozens of outstanding student submissions, our editorial team selected the following pieces for publication. This publication serves as testimony to the incredible and plentiful talents of Central College students. As both editors and fellow students, we are proud to amplify their exceptional efforts.

By Chris Ver Heul ’26

I could almost see the water rushing in. Like a fire of water, growing inch by inch until the town became lost to the rapids. Buildings that once housed sawmills, doctors, and books were submerged. No longer were they the homes of humans; instead, they were to house bass and bluegills. I could picture it, as I looked from the top of the dam across the water of the lake, reflections of sunlight burning into my eyes.

By Jacob Williamson ’26

This poem takes inspiration from the works of Walt Whitman, specifically from his poem “O Captain! My Captain!” In light of Whitman’s usage of powerful figures in the world of politics, this poem takes a path to the road of sports. Sports has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, with football being at the center of it. The narrative of this poem unfolds as I explore a prominent figure who is known as the captain of every football team, the quarterback.

By Rylie Grabau ’29

People with disabilities are often used to make able-bodied people feel better about themselves. This usually means that disabled people are used as inspiration, even though they are just living their lives. This can also occur when an able-bodied person takes advantage of a disabled person in some way, a concept of disability theory called disability porn.

By Jomar Leon ’29

At a young age, I thought sustainability was just about the 3 Rs: recycling, reusing, and reducing, but it isn’t. Sustainability is also emotional and cultural; it’s about not losing who you are. In this way, my journey toward sustainability has been about reconnection. Here, I’ll tell my story of how I came to see the food crisis in Puerto Rico as deeply tied to my family, my heritage, and the planet.

By Owen Brase ’26

“Good morning, Agent Carter. You look extra perky today!” the security guard exclaimed to me at the front gate.

“Well, it’s task assignment day, Demi, and I’ve caught the last 3 evos they’ve thrown at me, so I’m expecting a challenge this time,” I replied, unable to hold back my grin.

By Various Artists

Imagery from Amelia Brown ’25, Lauren Litterer ’25, Lauren Husz ’26 and more.

By Isaiah J. Cochran ’29 and Jackson Jurgens ’29

Video games have evolved from simple pixelated screens to immersive virtual worlds that attract billions of players worldwide. While gaming has become one of the most profitable industries globally, it has also sparked controversy regarding player well-being. Many modern games are intentionally designed to keep players engaged for extended periods of time using psychological techniques. This has led to growing concern about “gaming addiction,” especially among younger generations.

By Jacob Williamson ’26

Thinking back to my time in the southern United States, it’s not the cities or busy highways that come to mind. Instead, I picture the calm, misty wetlands close to my grandmother’s house in the Louisiana swamps: the lethargic water, the distant call of a heron, and the tall, old cypress trees standing erect in the distance. There’s something almost sacred about those trees. Their trunks are sturdy and wide, their roots reach deep into the murky water, and those big, knobby “knees” poke out of the water like silent guards keeping watch.

By Anikah Rath ’26

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask and he will tell you the truth.” This famous quote by Oscar Wilde, novelist, poet, and playwright, reveals the idea that through the act of covering oneself up, one can paradoxically uncover who one is. This further reflects the intention of this analysis and of Bob Dylan’s career. Bob Dylan, famously known for reinventing his persona and musical genre, trailblazed the way for many other artists to expand their own horizons.

By Cathryn Brown ’26

Cada primavera se desvanece en otoño, como la juventud se desvanece en un recuerdo. Este concepto es presentado por Rubén Darío, el poeta nicaragüense de <<Canción de otoño en primavera.>> Considerado el <<Padre del Modernismo>>, Darío impactó la poesía con su uso de ritmo, simbolismo, y la musicalidad del lenguaje y escribió con una imaginación profunda que mezcla el tiempo, la belleza y la juventud en su obra.

By Hannah Higgins ’26

This study investigated whether grazing duration in domestic horses differs between morning and evening or by breed. The breeds used included Missouri Fox Trotters, Pony of the Americas (POAs), and American Quarter Horses. Horses were observed twice daily for four days, and cumulative grazing time was recorded during ten-minute intervals.

By Colbe Cruz ’26

For the final course project, students were invited to produce a creative response to or interpretation of one of our course texts that demonstrated both careful engagement with the original literary text and creative thinking and skill. Colbe chose to create a multimedia response to Oscar Wilde’s 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray in the voice of Dorian’s portrait just before the final climactic moment at the novel’s end.

By Luciana Laidlaw ’26

In this project, Lucy orchestrates a collage of her videos over time that resonates with themes in our LAS 410 Ecotones course. In addition, we appreciate her artist’s statement, which interweaves the visual vignettes with intertextual music to demonstrate connections to Thoreau’s Walden and perspectives of beauty where “profound experiences often come from places of familiarity.” We also appreciate her integrating herself in the video as part of nature.

By Lilly Trager ’29 and Abby Wilshusen ’29

For this project, first-year students were assigned to create a podcast showcasing “Untold Narratives” where they share the story of a person who they thought deserved more recognition than the world typically provides them. This pair identified a female career and fifth-generation Navy sailor who serves as a Corpsman, naval medical personnel.