G.O.T. S.K.I.L.L.S.?

   This past Thursday I was fortunate enough to attend a G.O.T. S.K.I.L.L.S.? event here on campus.  It was a lecture given by Dr. Maura Cullen about diversity.  She was extremely informative and interesting to listen to.  She talked to us about how what we say can affect others.  We also participated in little mini activities that got us thinking about our perceptions of people, and our surroundings.
   You may be wondering what G.O.T. S.K.I.L.L.S.? is.  I did not know what it was until coming here, and I only really grasped it since researching it more for this post.  G.O.T. S.K.I.L.L.S.? stands for Socially just, Kindness toward others, Inclusive toward all people, Leading at every turn, Listening with care and, Self-respectful (good thing we have the acronym).   The program is designed to "encourage students to attend programs and activities that promote human dignity". The program puts on events to promote the ideas listed in the acronym, and at each event you get a survey and the survey puts you into a raffle.  The prizes range, but they vary from $5 gift certificate to higher housing bids.  This program is very cool and it makes it possible to live somewhere really nice next year.
   In short, the program was very insightful.   I will definitely be attending more G.O.T. S.K.I.L.L.S.? events in the future.  They are interesting, and they also can win me cool prizes.

Art Hopping

    This weekend was the South End of Burlington's Art Hop and I was lucky enough to get to check it out.  I had to go for my first year seminar class, but I would have tried to get there anyway.  My assignment was to check out two artists and to write about their work.
     Living Digital is my first year seminar and it is incredibly interesting.  A first year seminar, for those of us who don't know, is a small, discussion and writing based class for first-years.  The class doesn't need to go along with your major.  The main goal of the class is to hone writing skills and help one's transition into college.  Here is the link to the first-year seminar web page on Saint Michael's website.
  So anyway, I needed to go to the South End Art Hop and the only time I had was late on Friday night.  Fallball games for softball started this weekend, so I was super busy.  I ended up just making it to the art hop and I am so happy that I got to see it.  My friends Michaela, Misha, and my roommate Katie came with me.  We caught the bus to Burlington and speed walked down to the Art Hop.
    The flyers said it ended at 9, the event was still in full swing when we finally got down there are 8:50.  Our first artist was set up on a front porch.  He had gorgeous airbrush paintings set out for everyone to look at.  Here is his website, definitely check it out.
   Then we made our way over to the S.P.A.C.E. Art Gallery to check out even more cool works of art.  In the S.P.A.C.E. there were people who painted, sculpted and experimented with light set up.  Here is the link for that website as well.
   After all of that walking around, we really built up an appetite.  We got Samosas from a street vender.  They were absolutely delicious, and a bit spicy.  Michaela and I got the Vermont Spicy potato and Katie got the Vegetable one.  Both were outstanding.
     We topped off the night with Ben and Jerry's to cool off our roasting tongues and headed back to campus.  When we got back, I had a special treat because my family had made it up here to visit.  They came up to watch my softball games this weekend.  It was very good to see them again after the few weeks that I have been here.
     I can't wait to check out the Art Hop again next year.

Dorm Tour!!

On one of my first days here at SMC on Joyce fourth floor, we were all sitting around getting to know one another when we decided to do room tours.  Everyone sets up their room a little differently.  I find dorm rooms to be the most interesting examples of people's personalities.  Here are some pictures of my dorm room.  I love my room, even though right now it is pretty toasty.  So, welcome to Joyce 402!

A panoramic of my room (Go Iphones!!) I think if you click on this you can see a larger version

This is my bed and my gorgeous quilt.  I am still working on wall decorations. 

My desk.  Note the fans, the fourth floor gets real warm.

My roommate's desk and our fridge and microwave.

Our shelves.  I love these shelves.  

My closet. I love the huge above cabinet because it fits everything.

Our room from above.  Check out our cool rug.

Our beds.  We went with the line method, trying to add space in the room.  We also half-lofted our beds.

Our map.  This is a map of Burlington and surrounding areas.  We also have the places we want to go this year all around the actual map.

View out our window.  I believe we have the best view of everything happening out in the quad and on the library lawn.

Well, I am off to some more studying and some dinner later.  Have a good week!

National Whistle Weekend..umm I mean Orientation

As most of you know, Thursday started off National Whistle Weekend here at SMC.  The whistles were in full force.  They greeted us, they told us what to do, they woke us up in the morning, they got us pumped at the dance. Yup, this weekend was all about the whistles, oh ya, and Orientation too.

Because this week has been so hectic and I have done so much, I thought I would break it down by day so that I don't miss anything. This has been such an amazing week.

Sunday Aug. 21st
- I had a BBQ with my Senior English class and teacher.  We had a really special class and it was great to see everyone before we all left.  I loved getting to meet my teacher's dogs as well.
- Right after my english class BBQ, I had a family going away party at my house. It was so cool to say goodbye and to eat my favorite meal of enchiladas.

My family and I on my front lawn on Sunday.

Monday Aug. 22nd
- Spent the day with my amazing neighbors.  We went to Lake Compounce, which is an amusement park in CT.  We had so much fun and I was very impressed with Landon's (5 years old) and Preston's (3 years old) bravery with the rides.

Tuesday Aug 23rd
- Packed all day.  Got everything organized for Wednesday's adventure.  Finished up my Eating Animal's Essay. I also went to softball practice.

Wednesday Aug. 24th
- My last Neil's Donuts breakfast for a while with the family.
- Packed the car, so it would be ready to take off the next day.
- Went to see WICKED with my friend Dani.  We had so much fun! What a great show, it was beautiful and amazing, and I still kinda can't believe I saw it.

Mom and I with the stage in the background

Mom, Dani and I during intermission

Thursday Aug. 25th
- Left for SMC at 4:15 am.  I was really tired because of Wicked so I slept almost the whole way here.  We only stopped once, which is pretty much amazing for my family.
- Arrived at SMC at about 8:50, I was greeted by some awesome and energetic O-Leaders at the gate.
-  Drove to my dorm and forgot my room number.  I eventually remembered and the orientation leaders kicked butt at getting all of my stuff up the FOUR flights of stairs!
- Started moving all of my stuff into my room.  Sent my dad and brother to get the bed lofter guys.  Unpacked all of my clothes.
- Lofter men came in and lofted my bed.
- Met my roommate and my roommate's family.
- Went to check in at the Ross Sports Center and checked out all of the cool exhibits there.
- Took our class photo in the gym.  Then we ate some delicious food and met with our orientation groups.
- Convocation Ceremony.  This was very nice, and also very hot.
- Then it was time for "fun for all" which was really cool and, you guessed it, fun.  We did team builders in the gym.
- Hang out/walk around campus
- Bed...finally!

My little brother CJ and I before they left

Friday Aug. 26th
- Wake up to whistles
- Breakfast with my Mom, Dad, and brother.
- Went to opening Mass with my family.  It was very nice.  Then we said our goodbyes.
- Went to lunch with some of my Joyce floormates.
- Hung out until dinner, then dinner at Alliot.
- DANCE PARTY!! The dance party was for the freshman class and it was really fun.

Saturday Aug 27th
- Wake up to whistles
- Went to an informational academics program fair.
- Then a really helpful panel on my summer reading, Eating Animals.
- Lunch
- Met with my advisor, he seems really cool and knowledgeable.
- Dinner
- Scavenger hunt with my orientation group.  Loved walking around campus and enjoyed the beautiful sunset.
- Super hilarious hypnotist show.  Best I have ever seen.
- Hung out with some floormates.

Sunset outside of my window

Which brings us to today...

Sunday Aug 28th
- Irene!!!!
- Rain boots were in order this morning, as well as a heavy duty rain jacket.
- Ross for our last orientation event.
- Wrote a letter to myself for when I graduate. Then we watched a really cool presentation by a  very interesting man.
- Underwent an Orientation tradition that includes a really special braid.
- Went to informational sessions on SMC Athletics for softball.
- Back to my dorm to write this.


Now, I am just writing this, looking out my window at Irene which is rocking it right now with a ton of wind and rain.

As you can see, it has been a busy couple of days for me with very little sleep.  So far, I LOVE SMC!! Orientation was great and the O-leaders each deserve a trophy or something.

Fun Fun

This is going to be a quick post because I need to go pick up my brother from his summer job in about 5 minutes, but I thought I would let you in on my packing progress and try to put a youtube video into this post.

This is a video I made and even though it is quick, the real-time is alot slower and I probably spent an hour organizing my college supplies and figuring out my final list.  I leave in about 10 days and I am trying to finalize all of my stuff.

Hopefully the video is right below here...

I thought it was kinda fun to share.

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT LAURIE!!

"Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold"

I was a Girl Scout for 13 years and I cannot tell you how many times I have sung this cute campy song.  We sang it at every meeting from the tender age of 5 to the "wise" age of 17.  Although I used to sing it constantly, never has this song had so much meaning than this summer.

This weekend was my last softball tournament with my team of the last 2 years.  We are all headed off to college in the fall (2 of us leave this week!).  Our schools range from as far south as Georgia to as far north as Vermont (Go SMC!), so we know that this is the last time we will see each other for quite a while.

For those of us who play on travel sports teams, we know that the people on our teams are the people who we spend almost all of our time with. Today, I had to say goodbye to all of those great people, but we know that it is not forever.  We are definitely going to get together during breaks, and we made a Facebook group so we can all stay in touch.  They are amazing people and I am so sad to be leaving all of them.

It is not just my team that I am leaving in about a month, it is also all of my "home friends" as I am sure they will soon be called.  Even though I am leaving my "home friends", I cannot wait to start at Saint Michael's.  There will be so many more people to meet and I know I will make more friends while in Vermont.



One is silver and the other is gold...

College Packing Progress

This is just a progress report on the sometimes daunting task of packing for college that I have undertaken. So far, I have a pile that seems to be taking over my under-construction basement bathroom.  I thought I would share with you some pictures of my pile.

This is half of my pile, I am trying to keep it as organized as possible, so I have sub-piles. 

This is my latest purchase, a bed topper.  I got it at Wal-Mart.  

This is my closet pile.  My mom got me hanging closet shelves.  I hope that they fit.  I also have some hangers, but I think I am going to need more.  My mom and I joked that I would pick the school with the biggest closet.  I am happy that I am living in Joyce with the big blue closets.

This is my desk pile.  My friend Dani got me most of my desk supplies as a Graduation present.  

This is my shower caddy and some of my health and beauty stuff. 

The second half of my pile.  Plus the dehumidifier (I'm not bringing that to school).

These are my towels, all in my laundry basket.  I also have some kitchen-y supplies in this pile and my first college purchase of my sleeping bag. 

This is my room stuff.  It has things like decorations, my big calendar, and other small things.

So that is my infamous college pile.  I hope I don't forget anything!!

On a side note, I went to Stew Leonards yesterday...