Richton's Spider Anthropology

To many people, spiders are terrifying. In fact, behind death and public speaking, arachnophobia, the fear of spiders, haunts fifty percent of women and sixteen percent of men (The Wall Street Journal). However, these usually small arachnids are highly underestimated in their capabilities. They are clever, industrious, and inventive, giving them the ability to thrive in many environments. Spiders spin their webs with silk, the strongest known natural fiber. They also have eight eyes, eight long legs, and many different tactics with which to catch their prey. While spiders may be widely feared, they are actually amazing creatures.
The same could be said of The University of Richmond’s Spiders. Although the University is a small, private liberal arts college, it has a secure and powerful foundation based on collaborative learning and research. Similar to a spider’s living environment, there is a strong web of alumni connections and students who are academically driven. The campus fosters a community where people are smart, motivated, and always looking to do something better. Like the spider with its eight legs, the students are fast moving with many opportunities to go in different directions and explore different avenues of study. For me, …show more content…
They are always ready to absorb more knowledge and challenge themselves academically. In my life, I have always chosen to take higher level classes when they were available. As a result, I have been fortunate to find my courses engaging and relevant. This is something I hope to continue at the University of Richmond, surrounded by people who share these goals. I have found that it is not enough to merely take these courses, but it is important to take them with people who motivate you to work harder. As a Richmond Spider, I believe I will find these people, and I am looking forward to joining the web of Richmond