First Year Blog

Salvete all!

Well, the end is here! Actually, it has been here since my last shift and epic ride home on Saturday, but I got my wisdom teeth out Monday (which explains the delay in posts). Only my left cheek is swollen, which is a good look for me, I think. I cannot fathom the fact that I will be home for the next 4 months—it seems unimaginable after eight months of constant back-and-forth, five hours down and five back up—Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, Easter…where did the time go?

The last question on my last exam, Astronomy (bright and early on Friday morning), was one that caused me to reflect on this all-too-quick passage of time. It asked something to the effect of, “What was your favorite or the most interesting thing you have learned this year?” I know my professor meant “in Astronomy,” so after I answered about a concept we learned this year in class, I took the question to a broader scope. I have learned so much about myself this year, had so many wonderful experiences, and as I dotted my last “i” and crossed my last “t” on my exam all of the fantastic memories I have made this year came flooding back to me. I vividly recall making it to the top of Mt. Monadnock and looking around in shock at the fact that I had survived a mountain climb without getting seriously injured. I still remember my first trip to Boston, the beautiful city to which my friends and I already have plans to go back. I can still smell the change in the air when the leaves started to turn colors so bright that I could not help but stop and stare. I recall being so sick during study period first semester that I could not help decorate the hallway for Christmas, but walking out after all was finished and soaking up the season. A blur of memories involve classes themselves—rocking back and forth in my comfy chair in Montserrat, discussing some ancient piece of art which tied in brilliantly with our reading, or re-living my trip to Rome with Doc Bender, listening to him lecture once again on sites that I saw first-hand with him. Most of all, I’ll remember walking to Kimball at 6:45 in the morning, bundled up against the torrential rain or wind or whatever other crazy weather Mt. St. James was throwing at us that day, and loving every second of it. Fenwick at sunrise is a sight that you just have to see to understand.

The bad news is, you’ve got about four months until you hear from me again. The good news is that I’ll be blogging next year about my new adventures! I can guarantee that my sophomore year will be just as chock-full of shenanigans as this year has been. I have enjoyed writing this blog so much and I sincerely thank everyone who has taken the time to read my ramblings. So, until next year! Valete (in the true sense of the word—be well!)!

Salvete all!

Well, the end is here! Actually, it has been here since my last shift and epic ride home on Saturday, but I got my wisdom teeth out Monday (which explains the delay in posts). Only my left cheek is swollen, which is a good look for me, I think. I cannot fathom the fact that I will be home for the next 4 months—it seems unimaginable after eight months of constant back-and-forth, five hours down and five back up—Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, Easter…where did the time go?

The last question on my last exam, Astronomy (bright and early on Friday morning), was one that caused me to reflect on this all-too-quick passage of time. It asked something to the effect of, “What was your favorite or the most interesting thing you have learned this year?” I know my professor meant “in Astronomy,” so after I answered about a concept we learned this year in class, I took the question to a broader scope. I have learned so much about myself this year, had so many wonderful experiences, and as I dotted my last “i” and crossed my last “t” on my exam all of the fantastic memories I have made this year came flooding back to me. I vividly recall making it to the top of Mt. Monadnock and looking around in shock at the fact that I had survived a mountain climb without getting seriously injured. I still remember my first trip to Boston, the beautiful city to which my friends and I already have plans to go back. I can still smell the change in the air when the leaves started to turn colors so bright that I could not help but stop and stare. I recall being so sick during study period first semester that I could not help decorate the hallway for Christmas, but walking out after all was finished and soaking up the season. A blur of memories involve classes themselves—rocking back and forth in my comfy chair in Montserrat, discussing some ancient piece of art which tied in brilliantly with our reading, or re-living my trip to Rome with Doc Bender, listening to him lecture once again on sites that I saw first-hand with him. Most of all, I’ll remember walking to Kimball at 6:45 in the morning, bundled up against the torrential rain or wind or whatever other crazy weather Mt. St. James was throwing at us that day, and loving every second of it. Fenwick at sunrise is a sight that you just have to see to understand.

The bad news is, you’ve got about four months until you hear from me again. The good news is that I’ll be blogging next year about my new adventures! I can guarantee that my sophomore year will be just as chock-full of shenanigans as this year has been. I have enjoyed writing this blog so much and I sincerely thank everyone who has taken the time to read my ramblings. So, until next year! Valete (in the true sense of the word—be well!)!

It’s pouring outside. I’m listening to it as I sit on my bed.

My REAL bed.

That’s right, my dear readers, this young “adventurer” has made it back home safe and sound after a year of perilous exams and papers, daring escapades into Worcester, and bold interactions with Kimball Dining Services.

Oh yes, I have survived and dragged you all along with me!

As the rain is battling it out with Lady Gaga for my attention (it’s what happens to be playing on the radio right now…I shall hold my head in embarrassment at a later time) I will tell you the story of how I happened to get here.

It was horrendous actually. Yesterday, after finishing my Organic exam, it occurred to me that I still had my poetry paper due.  I went back to my room to finish it up…and ended up falling asleep for a couple hours. The problem with the paper was not so much that I didn’t want to do it, for I have discovered a secret passion for poetry I never knew existed (I bookmarked poets.org for my own amusement), but that I didn’t know what to say. It was one of those things where you want to say something completely epic and mind blowing…and you come up with nothing.

I worked on it, and submitted the final copy ten minutes before my parents came to pick me up. I don’t consider it up to par, but we’ll see what happens. As it turns out, I hadn’t packed because I was working on my essay, so that involved another few hours running back and forth between my room and the car as bag by bag filled up. I never knew I had so much stuff! There was hardly any room in the car at all as we drove back. All of it is sitting on my bedroom floor with no where to go!

On that note, the mess in my room beckons. I hope you all have a good summer, and if you happen to be coming to the Hill next year and see me traversing along, say hello. And if you happen to be lost feel free to approach me—I’m sure I can point you to someone who knows where they’re going.

Thank you for reading!

It’s pouring outside. I’m listening to it as I sit on my bed.

My REAL bed.

That’s right, my dear readers, this young “adventurer” has made it back home safe and sound after a year of perilous exams and papers, daring escapades into Worcester, and bold interactions with Kimball Dining Services.

Oh yes, I have survived and dragged you all along with me!

As the rain is battling it out with Lady Gaga for my attention (it’s what happens to be playing on the radio right now…I shall hold my head in embarrassment at a later time) I will tell you the story of how I happened to get here.

It was horrendous actually. Yesterday, after finishing my Organic exam, it occurred to me that I still had my poetry paper due.  I went back to my room to finish it up…and ended up falling asleep for a couple hours. The problem with the paper was not so much that I didn’t want to do it, for I have discovered a secret passion for poetry I never knew existed (I bookmarked poets.org for my own amusement), but that I didn’t know what to say. It was one of those things where you want to say something completely epic and mind blowing…and you come up with nothing.

I worked on it, and submitted the final copy ten minutes before my parents came to pick me up. I don’t consider it up to par, but we’ll see what happens. As it turns out, I hadn’t packed because I was working on my essay, so that involved another few hours running back and forth between my room and the car as bag by bag filled up. I never knew I had so much stuff! There was hardly any room in the car at all as we drove back. All of it is sitting on my bedroom floor with no where to go!

On that note, the mess in my room beckons. I hope you all have a good summer, and if you happen to be coming to the Hill next year and see me traversing along, say hello. And if you happen to be lost feel free to approach me—I’m sure I can point you to someone who knows where they’re going.

Thank you for reading!

And so, the last remnants of the year decide to speed by, leaving me with only textbooks and hot weather to remember them by.

Am I horrified to discover that the year is almost over and that I am this close to not being a freshman anymore? Absolutely. I’m currently trying to soak up the last bits of the year with both studying and small adventures. For yes, they are adventures, even if they are on a smaller scale.

For example, last week, the class of 2012 hosted Wet ‘n’ Wild, which was supposed to be an outdoorsy type of thing with a Slip ‘n’ Slide and cotton candy and other tooth rotting goodness. As it turned out, it was far too cold for that, so the little fair was moved into Mulledy basement, where it became Dry ‘n’ Wild. Clara, Cynthia, and I all went to it, and I must’ve gotten at least three things worth of cotton candy, made by our class president, Tom. I played paparazzi and subsequently took his picture afterwards.

And then there was the Spring Carnival. It was so much fun, and involved a small fair on Easy Street (with lots more sugar!) and a carnival and picnic dinner on Hart Center lawn. There were inflatable things there, which I had never been on, so it was really cool running around some of those. There was a gladiator type thing, where you fight someone else, and between me and Cynthia, I lost. It was a little depressing actually, as I could barely stand up and lift the giant whacking stick to fight back.

It’s what I get for my lack of physical exertion.

Clara fought Cynthia though, and won by a long stretch.

There was a fireworks display that same night, which was cool watching from the top of the Hill. The views are breathtaking from Hart Center lawn, what with all of nighttime Worcester sprawled behind you on one side and fireworks on the other.

It’s sad thinking that I’ll be away from a place that I’ve learned to call home over the past few months, but at least I’ll be leaving for my actual home with some great memories of life on the Hill. 

For example, last week, the class of 2012 hosted Wet ‘n’ Wild, which was supposed to be an outdoorsy type of thing with a Slip ‘n’ Slide and cotton candy and other tooth rotting goodness. As it turned out, it was far too cold for that, so the little fair was moved into Mulledy basement, where it became Dry ‘n’ Wild. Clara, Cynthia, and I all went to it, and I must’ve gotten at least three things worth of cotton candy, made by our class president, Tom. I played paparazzi and subsequently took his picture afterwards.

And then there was the Spring Carnival. It was so much fun, and involved a small fair on Easy Street (with lots more sugar!) and a carnival and picnic dinner on Hart Center lawn. There were inflatable things there, which I had never been on, so it was really cool running around some of those. There was a gladiator type thing, where you fight someone else, and between me and Cynthia, I lost. It was a little depressing actually, as I could barely stand up and lift the giant whacking stick to fight back.

It’s what I get for my lack of physical exertion.

Clara fought Cynthia though, and won by a long stretch.

There was a fireworks display that same night, which was cool watching from the top of the Hill. The views are breathtaking from Hart Center lawn, what with all of nighttime Worcester sprawled behind you on one side and fireworks on the other.

It’s sad thinking that I’ll be away from a place that I’ve learned to call home over the past few months, but at least I’ll be leaving for my actual home with some great memories of life on the Hill.