First-Year Diary

May 10, 2007

So I guess this is good-bye. My room is nearly all packed. Kelly and I are now just packing the little odds and ends into the boxes we took out of the recycling bin. Slowly, we are moving the boxes out to the hall, where we stare at them, wondering…how are we ever going to fit all of that into ONE car? But we’ll figure it out. Hopefully.

My freshman year is over. It’s a daunting idea that I’ve survived a year at college. Some classes were better than others, some I wish I had taken, others I did take and wish perhaps I never had. But what is in the past is in the past, and we move on, facing the future. And whether that future is bright or dark, we may never know until we get there. But for all of you, and for all of my friends here at Holy Cross, (and everyone else I know), I hope that future may be bright, full of opportunities and lots of enjoyable moments.

Being the first year blogger has been an amazing opportunity and I’m so glad I had the experience. Thank you so much for having me!

And now I leave you all, as I go home for the summer. Let’s see if I can fit everything into the car…

See you in August!!!!

Love always,
Rebecca

May 9, 2007

Only two more papers to hand in and my freshman year is over. It is so strange to be packing up my room, searching in every drawer, and in every corner for things I might have forgotten. I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon to return home to the Cape. Luckily, my roommate will be spending a few days with me and some of my friends will also be coming down to the Cape for the week, so I will be able to see them before we all go our separate ways. Still, it is sad. I think I’m already getting a little nostalgic. The room I have lived in for the past year has become akin to my home. My roommate and my friends are like sisters. Living without them this summer will be so different. And even stranger next year since we will all be living in separate dorms.

But until tomorrow, I get to experience the last couple days of my first year here, finishing papers, going to Kimball, that sort of thing.

I will miss Holy Cross. A lot. Including all of the hills and stairs. You get kind of used to them after awhile.

However, thankfully, I don’t have to say my final good-byes until tomorrow. Instead, now, I get to go finish those two papers. So until then…

Have a good day everyone!

May 3, 2007

It looks like I have some catching up to do in terms of the last couple of days. First of all, Tuesday was the last day of my freshman year of classes. So, so weird. Then, Tuesday night was the OAR concert. Amazing, by the way, and I’m not even that huge of an OAR fan. But the set was really good and it was live music. And if you ask my roommate (or really anyone who knows me) I can barely function without music. Therefore, just about all of my books and stories start out being inspired by songs. (i.e. the first book I ever wrote about five or so years ago was inspired by the band The Calling, and their song “Wherever you will go”.) I also run to music, fall asleep to music, you name it. Anyway, back on topic. I went to the concert with a group of my friends, and while I couldn’t see much of the stage (I’m also extraordinarily short), every now and then there was a glimpse, and I’d see the lead singer, or the drummer, or the saxophone player. All in all, it was so much fun.

Then yesterday, Wednesday, I had two banquets to go to. The first was for the writer’s workshop, where I will be tutoring next semester. It was really nice to be able to sit and talk to the old and new tutors, eating pizza and ice cream. The next banquet was for FYP. It was that banquet that really made me realize, wow, I am almost done with my freshman year. You really know it’s the end when the first year program is saying goodbye and good luck with your next years at Holy Cross.

I know I’ve said this before, but the years do fly by. I remember sending in my deposit for Holy Cross (last minute of course, like so much else I do – besides writing that is). It just seems so recent and so long ago at the same time.

In other news, I did write yesterday! It was so weird, being able to sit down, pull up my book, and start writing. I really can’t wait to get back on schedule this summer with my writing. That and you know, going to the beach.

Have a good day everyone!

April 30, 2007

Today is my last Monday of classes of my freshman year. I know, scary right? Of course, that doesn’t get rid of the fact that I still have a Spanish exam at noon, or a portfolio due tomorrow for Creative Writing. But it does mean that next Monday, around this time, I will hopefully and probably still be sleeping. Or even better, maybe writing a little. Pulling up that word document and reading back a few pages, to get reacquainted with my characters. Who knows?

Anyway, so this weekend was Spring Weekend – just about one of the most fun weekends you have at college (at least that’s what my older brother used to tell me). Here at Holy Cross, we had a Pep Rally, complete with loud music, a person making balloon animals and hats, someone drawing caricatures of different people, and lots of fried food. This was on Thursday in the dining hall. Then, Friday, there was the comedian Daniel Tosh, and later, mocktails and various games. Saturday, though, was the carnival and BBQ at Hart. Basically, you just went up and got food and sat around inside or outside on Hart lawn. But then, inside the ice-rink, were all these games and moon-bounces. It was a ton of fun. They even had cotton candy and fried dough!

However, due to the rain, the fireworks were postponed until this Saturday. It’s still nice, however, since I only have one scheduled final this semester (my Spanish oral final, every other class is a paper), and it falls on that Saturday. So I guess its like just celebrated the end of finals for me, but also kicking off the finals for other people.

And then, May 1, is our Spring Concert. This year we have O.A.R.. I have to admit that I am excited. I love live music, and this concert should be a blast, kicking off study week, in which we all scramble to remember everything that we learned this semester, or if you’re like me, trying to write all of those final papers.

But now, I really should go study for that Spanish Exam.

Have a good day everyone!

April 26, 2007

I just talked to my dad on the phone and we were discussing how I used to go to his “Bring Your Son or Daughter to Work Day”. So this had to be about four years ago? Five? (Yeah, I was one of the older kids there, but he had this Neutrogena store where I could go shopping so there was some motivation.J) Anyway, he asked if I remembered what I had said I wanted to study in college (we had to fill out surveys). And I had said….Quantum Physics. I know, crazy right? Let me tell you, now I am so glad that I am majoring in English (and possibly Spanish with a concentration in Creative writing as well).

But it just goes to show you that you might think you know what you want to do. Many times though, it changes. I probably really thought I wanted to study Quantum Physics. And then I got into writing and found my passion, and now I’m an English Major. Though, now that I’ve said that, ask me in another year or so, and I’ll probably have changed it. But maybe not. I really love English and - I am about to sound like a huge geek here - but I actually like to write and revise my essays. Oh dear. I guess what I’m trying to say is that so many people worry about what they want to do with their lives, what they’re going to major in, where they’re going to work. But you have to realize that what you write down now or maybe even ten years from now might not be what you’ll actually wind up doing.

There are so many things that influence you in life. Like, it wasn’t until this semester that I really thought about majoring in Spanish. But the class I had was so much fun and so challenging that it made me consider it. College is a journey, it’s about finding yourself. And honestly, like the book, that I received from Holy Cross last year when I was trying to decide where I wanted to go, said: sometimes you have to lose yourself in order to find yourself.

Have a good day everyone!

April 25, 2007

Just a quick entry today since I have a Spanish oral presentation that I still need to go over. Anyway, it has been incredibly nice here on the hill. Everywhere you go, students are hanging around outside, lying in the grass on towels to do their homework, playing catch, whatever. I’m excited because the trees are beginning to bud, and the sun and air are finally warm (I’m such a summer person). The only down side to the whole thing is that once I’m outside, even if I have all my homework with me, I really don’t want to study. I just want to lay there and fall asleep. Unfortunately, I really do have to study, since there are…FOUR days of classes left. Yep, that’s right four. I honestly cannot tell you where the past year went. It’s amazing that I’ve almost completely my first year here at Holy Cross. It flew by so fast!

Well, more on that later, we don’t want to get too sentimental just yet. But now, I really have to go work on my oral presentation. It’s on the book La Ciudad de las Bestias by Isabel Allende. (Completely in Spanish by the way). Which, you know, as I was reading it, I could understand fairly well. Now, trying to go back and remember? Yeah, not so easy. Oh well, we’ll see how it goes…

Have a good day everyone!

April 19, 2007

Enrollment was today. Cue about 700 first years nervously sitting in front of their computers, index finger posed over the mouse, reading to click the Fall 2007 link as soon as the second hand hit the twelve and it’s 7:00am. Next, cue the yelling and groaning when half of those students realize they cannot get into their classes because STAR is having a hard time processing the same 700 requests. And then, afterwards, there are always the loud shouts when a student finally gets through STAR only to find their class of choice has already been filled. But there are also the sighs of relief when the students do get what they want. Welcome to the highly competitive and incredibly nerve-wracking college enrollment process. All you can do is click your mouse, and cross your fingers, and pray that you get into some of the classes you want.

I was one of the lucky ones this morning. Kelly and I were both sitting at our laptops at 6:45 this morning, anxiously waiting for the exact second when we could begin our enrollment process. Just a bit hectic. But luckily for us, it worked out, and we got the classes that we wanted. In fact, I almost feel like it went too smoothly. I’m half expecting to get an email saying, Whoops, by the way, you actually can’t be in that class… So far, so good though.

As of right now (I might change one and I am adding a fifth class later – probably a math or science, both of which make me so nervous my stomach hurts. Oh dear. Fifth classes are usually pass/fail though, so that is always a plus). Anyway, my fall 2007 classes are as follows: Readings in 20th C British Lit, Intro to Creative Writing Poetry, Intro to Literary Genres (Spanish), and Intro to International Relations. However, I am thinking of adding a Sociology class to the mix, instead of International Relations, since Kelly was in Sociology, and I actually liked what she was learning. But, of course, I haven’t decided yet. I’m just grateful that I got my hopeful four, and I am very sorry for those who did not, as I know, there are quite a few of them. Usually, however, everything does work out for the best. Fingers crossed.

On the brighter side – literally – the sun is finally out! I’m thinking about going out there, laying out a towel (since the ground is still wet), and…yep, work on all that homework I have yet to do.

Off to my Spanish essay then…

Have a good day everyone!

April 18, 2007

In light of what happened at VT, I felt like I should include a post about how the attacks and the subsequent fear affected me here at Holy Cross. Like most other college students (and the rest of the country), when I heard about the attacks at Virginia Tech, one of my immediate concerns was whether or not I was safe here at Holy Cross. However, never in all my time here, have I ever felt unsafe. In fact, this campus is one of the places at which I feel most safe. Still, I suppose it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive, to be on alert. But then, Father McFarland (the president of Holy Cross), sent out an email to the student body discussing what happened at VT, and also revealing what Holy Cross would do in a similar situation. After reading the email, again I felt sure that I was in a safe place. For that, I am grateful.

My heart goes out to those students, and their families and friends. What happened at VT was absolutely terrible, and it really shakes the ground that you’re walking on. It does scare you, makes you afraid to leave, to go anywhere really. But while we should feel scared and upset about what happened at VT, we really can’t let it keep us from living. But you know, it does make you realize that the world is a dangerous place, that you can’t say it will never happen to me. I guess what you have to do is be aware, know the dangers, stay safe within reason, but still live your life.

Sarah Dessen, one of my favorite YA authors, wrote: “So the best you can do, I guess, is say your version of a prayer, think a good thought, pull those you love close, then closer. It's all you can do, really.” And she’s right.

We do have to keep moving, but we should also take a moment and say a prayer for those students, their families, and their friends.

Have a good day everyone.

April 16, 2006

First of all, I would like to say congratulations to Gbenimah. He won last night’s Holy Cross Idol. It was an amazing performance. The whole event was wonderful, and thoroughly entertaining. Also, great job to all the other singers!

Anyway, in other Holy Cross news, yesterday it was Accepted Students Day. I hope you were able to attend, even if the weather was a bit poor. And in poor, I mean snowing and freezing rain. In April. (I promise, this isn’t the case every year – at least I hope not. And the rain we’re having today? Not so fun, either. But the sun does eventually come out up here). Yesterday, I was helping out at Dinand Library during the FYP sessions. (And I do recommend doing FYP your freshman year. It is a great experience).

For the rest of the weekend, I watched The Holiday (multiple times, as I cannot sit more than an hour for a movie, and even then, it’s pushing it). I also had to study and write papers. Not exactly fun, but necessary. At least the weather is bad, so I don’t feel pressured to go outside and run in the gorgeous, warm, weather. Oh well.

But now I have to run to my Spanish class which starts in about…ten minutes. Whoops.

Have a great day everyone!

P.S. If you were here for Accepted Students Day, I hope you did have a good time! Holy Cross is an amazing school. You will not find a better school and community than the one we find here. I hope you come this fall!

April 12, 2007

Quick entry today, as I do have to start writing the essay for my Comp Theory and Pedagogy class. I actually promised myself that I’d do it last night, but then…well, it didn’t exactly happen. Instead, stressed from all the work we have to do in these next three weeks, Kelly and I decided to have a “roommate night”. We went to Crossroads and bought two pizzas, and then rented the movie Stranger than Fiction from Crusader Rentals (The movie rental place on campus, which is conveniently located right next to Crossroads). And then we just bunkered down to de-stress. It was really nice, not having to study for those two or so hours that we watched the movie, and just relax. I love having a roommate who will order pizza with me in the middle of the afternoon, (or well evening since it was around five), and then just watch a movie.

Anyway, I really should get some work done. Today, I have to write this paper, work on those short stories for creative writing, and I have my internship at the writer’s workshop. Plus, of course, all the other homework that I have to get done by tomorrow. Oh well. If I get really stressed again, we do have the movie until midnight tonight. Plus, there is a wealth of music on iTunes and imeem that I have yet to discover, which will also de-stress me, though probably distract me at the same time. Oh dear.

At least, there is a monsoon outside though, so I won’t feel the urge to go out and run. I mean, that’s one way to look at bad weather, right?

Have a good day everyone!