Immaculata University: Sarah McClean

2008-03-13T18:17:42Z

Just had our second performance of Gary Grinkle's Battles with Wrinkles and Other Troubles in Mudgeville today... I can't believe that the semester's so far progressed that the play will be over tomorrow, and then I'll be on Spring Break for two weeks! Craziness.
I won a poetry contest sponsored by a grant through Delaware County College... first prize! I'm really excited because this is the first time I've shared my poetry with the general public, and it's sort of just an exciting affirmation that I might actually be good! There's a cash award to the tune of several hundred dollars, which is also pretty exciting!
Well, I guess I'd better pack up to go home tomorrow... even though I have tons to do over break, it will just be nice to be at HOME.

2008-03-06T14:53:42Z

Today, like all Thursdays, I have my education field experience. My placement at Villa Maria Academy High School has been such a blessing: my cooperating teacher is great, the faculty has been very welcoming, and the girls are funny, endearing, and eager to learn. Today I have to teach an intro on the Great Gatsby. I can hardly believe that I only have three observations left until I'm finished for the semester... and next semester I'll do my student teaching here!

This time of year is always incredibly hectic... actually, I can't think of a time during a school year that's relaxing, unless it's the summer! But it's right before Spring Break, and when we come back, it'll be April and we'll only have a little over a month left of classes. The SEPCHE conference at which I have to present two papers rapidly approaches. Everyone always says that this semester is the hardest, though, so I'll survive it and then... oh my goodness, it'll be senior year! Incredible.

2008-02-24T00:09:00Z

Finally, a snow day this year! Unfortunately, it fell on a Friday, when I don't have any classes anyway, but it's the thought that counts! It's so frustrating when it's cold without snowing-- what's the point?

Went to see Spiderwick Chronicles this weekend-- I actually really enjoyed it. My boyfriend was gleeful that it was based on a book I HAVEN'T read, contrary to the norm, so I didn't know what happens either.

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian comes out in May. I am PSYCHED! I wish they would have made "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," "The Silver Chair," or "The Last Battle," but those come later in the series, so I guess they have to proceed chronologically. I love the fact that the Lord of the Rings Trilogy made fantasy films legit.

I'm doing a paper right now on the creative process as applied to poetry, in the forms of free and formal verse. Is one better than the other? Are they poetry? I have to present this paper and another one I wrote at the beginning of the semester at the SEPCHE conference in March.

2008-02-13T22:59:49Z

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today was a momentous occasion: I got my braces off! My teeth feel very weird and smooth... But to eat Swedish fish again (without guilt-- I didn't always adhere to the doctor's orders!) will be marvelous... at least, that is, once Lent is over. My family has never eaten sweets or treats during Lent, which I sort of don't think is fair, because other people are like, "I gave up chocolate," but I always have to think of something better because it's a given that I'm not going to eat sweets.

Come to think of it, I guess this is better, because although abstinence can strengthen spiritual discipline, a motion in a positive direction (such as promising oneself to say prayers each night and each morning) might be a better use of the period of Lent. I believe the value of Lenten disciplines has been muddied, with everyone "giving something up," as some kind of second-wind New Year's resolutions. I guess I shouldn't be talking, because I still haven't decided what I'm going to do for Lent, but it still irritates me...

Random thought from my Linguistics class: Are our brains pre-programmed for language? Think about how children who have never learned the so-called "rules of grammar" create constructions like "I goed to the store." Do we learn language or merely develop what's there?

2008-02-06T21:37:23Z

I drove home to New Jersey after my 1:00 to 3:40 class yesterday to vote in the primaries. It was so nice to see my family again: they were all really sick these past two weeks with a terrible virus and so I stayed away to avoid being infected with this plague. Unfortunately, however, I had so much reading to do for school that I had to cut my visit short and just stay in my room and read and read and read into the late night. Then I woke up early this morning (ughhhh) and drove back this morning to babysit and then survive a slew of classes with play practice coming up right after... I'm a little irritated that I've been in class all day and so couldn't go to any of the Masses or prayer services to get ashes for Ash Wednesday.
I'm excited for my field experience at Villa tomorrow... it's so great that I love my cooperating teacher and the entire school environment. Tomorrow we're going to do a peer-review writing session: I'm going to work with half the class and she'll take the rest. And then my week is over and I can go back home for a longer visit =)!

My boyfriend's taking me skiing this weekend!

2008-01-31T01:12:09Z

I have to wake up early for my field experience in education tomorrow, but I'm so excited! I went to the school where I will do my student-teaching for the first time last week in great apprehension, and was thrilled to find that my cooperating teacher is young, energetic, dynamic, and awesome! I'm excited to work with her, and she's all for me getting as involved in the classroom as I wish. I can't wait to go back tomorrow, even though it's a long day... and whatever, my school week is over after 3:00 tomorrow because I don't have class on Friday, so that gives me enough energy to make it through! There's a dance this Friday, which makes me happy, because sometimes the only thing to do with a long week is to dance it off =)

2008-01-18T17:01:35Z

It's the beginning of a new semester!! There's already a lot going on around campus, what with meetings, new classes, auditions for spring children's theater, the Variety Show tonight.... it's all sorts of busy around here! My birthday just happened this past Saturday, and most of my Immaculata friends lived too far away to make the party I had at home, so we're probably doing something fun this weekend... maybe a trip to Dave and Buster's, or Cheeseburger in Paradise, or just Applebee's... we'll see =D
For the first time since the first weekend freshman year, I was really homesick all week long. I'll have to make a drive home soon!
It snowed and snowed yesterday-- we still have classes today, but I always have off on Fridays, so I don't! The snow is beautiful, but I'm glad the roads aren't too bad, so my boyfriend can still come visit me =P

2007-12-06T02:11:34Z

I sold back one of my books today for a class I finished this week that doesn't have an exam next week--- I made $33 just by carrying a book over to the bookstore! For someone who's been living off only $15 in my bank account for the entire semester, that's a monstrous amount! My newly acquired wealth will go towards Christmas presents, I suppose, but for who? All of my friends have already received my ingenious gifts of beautiful jewelry and crocheted scarves that I made.... maybe I'll be nice to my boyfriend and buy him something. Or maybe I'll save it for books next semester. I know, I'm treating it like it's some terrific sum---- but to me, it is!!

I had my last day of classes today: exams here I come. Fall semester of junior year, I look forward to putting you to bed. You were more than slightly lackluster and atrocious.

2007-11-27T23:56:20Z

This weekend both the Cotillion and the Christmas banquet occur-- YAY! I love the fancypants fun of Cotillion, in the beautiful and elegant Great Hall, and then the Christmas banquet is so nice, sharing the holidays with all of your friends, in a sappy, nostalgic sort of way... And Santa comes and gives out candy canes-- really, who can compete with that?
I'm throwing a baby shower for one of my professors tomorrow and it's going to be an awesome surprise and I'm really excited =D

Well, I guess I'd better get going, I have a five to eight page paper as well as a twenty page paper to write sometime before ummmm tomorrow!!!

2007-11-20T16:55:24Z

Hooray for Thanksgiving break! Of course I have to use it to write several papers and an annotated bibliography, but hey! I'm not thinking about that until Friday. Mostly because my mother told me I wasn't allowed, since we're having Thanksgiving at our house for some reason this year and she needs all the help she can recruit. I don't mind, I'd much rather just put it out of my head for a bit so I can thoroughly enjoy the preparations, meal, and my family.
There's only a little while left till Christmas break, something like 10 days of school and then exams. This ENTHUSES me GREATLY!!! hahaha

I love Christmas, I can't wait! Julia, Jen, Alice, Sarah, and I watched the movie Elf last night to get in the mood. I giggle out loud at that movie every time: "I love to smile, smiling's my favorite!"

Well, I'm just going to grab a few things to shove in my car so I can jet off for home as soon as my 1:00 to 3:40 class is over. That's the latest class before a night class, and night classes are cancelled today, so of course I'm here as late as can be. This does not make me terribly productive. Hopefully we get out early-- that would be AWESOME.

2007-11-13T20:56:00Z

It's THAT WEEK again. It comes around every so often, and it's always the same. It usually involves the week of the play: dress rehearsals, tech rehearsals, LATE rehearsals...It also usually encompasses the academic week from hell, when all of those papers that you might have started beforehand but either didn't have the time or the motivation for are suddenly due bright and early the next morning. AFTER the rehearsals until 11 or 12. AFTER classes all day, with smaller homeworks and readings due. It usually also involves registration for the next semester. At least now SOME of the stress is removed from the equation, since I don't have to get up early and sit outside the registrar. This semester, registration is online, plus I register with the seniors because I'm a few credits ahead, so I'm golden.

The play IS going to be phenomenal, after I survive this week. Last night I was having so much fun performing in the dress rehearsal that I was giggling so hard I almost couldn't sing.

Wow, I'm feeling very "bold" today. Also, CAPITAL-ish.

Oh, the end of THAT WEEK-- it inevitably ends in a few quick-fix candy pounds gained, significant dark circles under the eyes, and a depleted immune system. Thankfully, the next thing on the agenda:THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

2007-11-07T14:09:31Z

Drove home to vote yesterday-- I had forgotten to get an absentee ballot, and I exercise my participation in government as often as possible, especially for big votes. Made some brownies and then came back-- not bad! Family, voting, and brownies that I get to bring back to school. All in all, a very sweet deal.
Play practice was ummm.... interesting last night. The first two hours I wanted to cry, everything was going wrong-- but then, that last hour or so! The energy was amazing, the songs were amazing...!! We've really got something here-- Can't wait till we open next Thursday!!!
All my term papers are starting to be due, and I have to write a lesson plan for a lesson I'm teaching tomorrow--- ahhhhh!! Between class, play practice, other homework, eating, sleeping.... there's just no time during hours normal people are awake. So I'm slightly fatigued and exhausted-- I don't have more than an hour window or so any day before play practice at 7, which doesn't end till ten or eleven, which is when I starting pining for bed and sleep.... but that's just when I need to be awake and alert and functioning to write and read and create. Oh well, this always happens, and we only have 19 more days of school before Christmas break--- Alleluia!!!

2007-10-30T21:09:53Z

I'm getting ready to plan a lesson for my educational field experience! I can't wait, every step like this is one step closer to having "my" classroom-- I just hope my lesson goes over well. I really dislike American Lit, but that's what my cooperating teacher teaches, so I have to do a lesson on the Declaration of Independence, from a literary standpoint. Oh well, I'll just get excited anyway!
My roommate and I unbunked our beds because we are incredibly strong and innovative, lol. Really, though, it only took us like half an hour to completely redo the room, and I don't have to face the daunting challenge of climbing down from incredible heights in the early morning. I think the setup is cozy and nice, and facilitates me doing work in comfortable positions. like on my bed. YAY!
Also an item of extreme excitement: FOUR DAY WEEKEND!! I know I never have class on Fridays, but CCD and my observations are both cancelled because of All Saint's Day-- I'm going to go home and RELAX! Which translates to feverishly writing papers. Or not. and feverishly writing them later, at obscene hours of the day and night.

2007-10-25T19:30:56Z

This weekend: Haunted Grotto, with some very lovely (but SCARY! FRIGHTENING!) mad scientists, and the Masquerade Ball slash Halloween Dance. My boyfriend and I were thinking about being Dwight and Angela from the Office, but we'll see. My friend Priscilla and her boyfriend are being firefighters-- aren't they just coordinated! Halloween isn't really my thing, though-- I just want to be a princess or something pretty every year.
This semester is positively flying by, but at least I have very little time to think about how in the heck I'm going to get everything done that I need to get done. It'll happen though, and next thing you know, it'll be Christmas vacation... speaking of which AHHHH Christmas shopping! Oh well, I'll just give everyone Christmas cards and remind them of my undying affection for them which does not entail robbing a bank to buy them presents.
Well, I have to go teach CCD now, and then I'm running home for tonight and some of tomorrow-- it's awful, I'm really getting gipped out of my time at home this semester! But what with the play and everything else I somehow end up being involved in... there simply are not enough hours in the day!
Except Priscilla and I did take two hours after observations this morning to cook up a Tombstone pizza, eat fudge, and watch a couple episodes of Friends-- but I mean, really, have a heart now, I don't think I've stopped for three days!

2007-10-16T02:49:16Z

Well, my friends got married on Saturday, and we had so much fun! First the legion of us 'lata people that were going got all gussied up, and then we ventured over to the Open Door for brunch. We drove out to her church, and then the reception was at Great Valley Sheraton. We were dancing and singing and just generally enjoying the heck out of it. Then we came back here and watched this really cute movie with Meg Ryan and Tim Robbins called IQ.
This morning, I was tagged in a thank-you note via Facebook-- from my friend and her new last name! I got excited all over again.
Today, I had two classes that I really didn't want to go to, but I woke up and went to anyway, and then a midterm in my 4:30-7:00 night class. That was fun-NOT! I really don't think that true and false questions are a valid assessment of a student's knowledge-- when things are written down, all of the inflection is lost and it's a huge game of "guess what teacher's thinking." Bogus.
Then I had play practice-- the set's being built and I'm starting to really get into this: I'd better, the show's only a month away!