|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Emily Corr
Class Year: Freshman
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Commack, NY
High School: Commack High School
|
Despite a disappointment at "The Dunk" Tuesday night against Georgetown, the spirits on campus were buzzing with sheer excitement when it was announced that Wednesday was officially, you guessed it, a snow day. And despite the lack of snow that "covers" the sprawling greens and paths at PC, the day was not wasted. For many, the snow day provided the opportunity to sleep in late, pop in a movie and curl up under a blanket with some hot chocolate. For others, including myself, it was the perfect opportunity to catch up and get ahead on some school work (don't worry, I still took advantage of the opportunity to sleep until noon).
And while classes may have been cancelled, many previously scheduled events carried on despite the slick paths and slushy snow. One of which was Ceili Night, sponsored by the Campus Ministry Center and the PC Irish Dance Club. PC's very own Father Vidmar led the festivities by teaching various Scottish and Irish Folk dances, such as reels, jigs, and even a few waltz's. And despite being an Irish Dancer myself for the past 11 years, I learned many new folk dances that I had never seen or learned before.
I personally enjoyed the opportunity to show all of my friends a small glimpse of something that has been such a large part of my life leading up to college. In a strange, but beautiful way, to see them all dancing - the unique dancing that I thought separated me from the crowd and made me different throughout all of high school - in a way connected us even more. To see my friends slip so naturally into an aspect of my life I tried to keep quiet from my high school peers was completely surreal, yet at the same time, seemed inevitable. I was not surprised at all to see how easily they caught on to everything - it seemed to be just as natural for them as it is for me.
I once used an analogy to describe the search for true friendship in one's life - the search is like turning the dial on the radio. Slowly and carefully, you turn the knob, being sure not to skip over any radio stations so you can find the clearest frequency. Sometimes you hear your favorite song, but the station has poor reception. Other times, the sound is as clear as a bell, but it is not the genre or the song you're looking for. But if the timing is right, you'll turn the knob at just the right speed at just the right angle at just the right time, and the station you were looking for will come in, clear as day. And the song will be exactly what you were looking for - not too overplayed, not even played all that frequently. So it surprises you how easily the lyrics come to you, how they bubble up from your heart and breathe out in a sweet voice you didn't know you possessed. The song makes you think about each and every word, and what it could possibly mean in the big picture. And when it's over, you wait eagerly for the next time it can be played again.
Be thankful for those who come in at your frequency.
"When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels"
UCONN: 66
PC: 81
Further proof that anything is possible in Friartown.
As a freshman, I am learning that one of the most important things I can do as a student, as well as personally, is to listen with attentive ears and an open mind when encountered with a debate. Whether the debate is something as basic as the coke vs. pepsi argument or as controversial as the pro-life/pro-choice debate, opening up your ears to hearing the diverse thoughts and beliefs of those around you will allow you to form your own opinions on the subject matter. This, I believe, is much healthier than seeing an argument on one side and not bothering to consider any other possibilities than your own.
Case in point, as citizens of one of the most fortunate countries in the world, we are all given the opportunity to chose what we believe in, and we are allowed the freedom to express our beliefs without fear of punishment. And this is why I decided to participate in the March for Life last Thursday and Friday in Washington DC. As I am beginning to form my own opinions concerning controversial subject matter, I took taking advantage of both my freedom as an American citizen and the opportunity to travel with PC to DC to begin my personal journey of finding myself.
So along with 55 PC students and staff, I traveled eight and a half hours by coach bus to Washington DC. I prayed with my peers and thousands of strangers in The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for three hours, worshiping on the floor because all of the pews were full, even three and a half hours before the mass began. I slept on the marble floor of the crypt under the National Shrine. I celebrated mass in the Dominican House of Studies. I ate a grapefruit for the first time. I rode the metro. And I marched for life with my friends, my fellow PC-er's, and 400,000 supporters of life.
PC for Life!
My friend Emily and I at mass in the Basilica.
Setting up camp in the crypt.
The amazing Mike, who planned the entire trip!
Emily and Kelly supporting life!
The weather held up! At the national mall with Megan, Sabrina, Tommy, and Emily.
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful, blessed holiday season with your loved ones! With a new year - and a new decade - underway, the atmosphere here at PC is positively optimistic as students and faculty have been refreshed and reunited after a one month long winter break. And while some students may have returned with some presents from santa or maybe even sporting a new hairstyle, everyone came back to campus with new resolutions for the new year, the new decade, and the new semester, hopeful of creating a very memorable 2010.
As for me, I cannot wait to get started on my classes this semester - I am officially starting my psychology major! And the fact that I have officially fulfilled my math requirement is a huge sigh of relief too. This semester, I am taking Intro to Psychology for my major, Intro to Dance to fulfill my fine arts requirement, US History since 1877 to fulfill my social science requirement, and of course, the infamous Development of Western Civilization - freshman spring semester edition.
There's a strange beauty in starting a new semester of college. While this is the first time I have ever had a month long break during the school year, it was most definitely necessary. And while the break seemed never ending at first - all talked about at Christmas time was how much I missed everyone at PC - it was just the perfect amount of time to reflect on all of the incredibly positive happenings of the past four months. The break provided time to mull over classes and learn from mistakes - what and what not to do when you have a paper due in the next three days. It allowed for reflection on friends - who has changed your life in such a short amount of time? Who did you recently meet that you feel like you have know your entire life? But most importantly, it was the perfect time for self-evaluation. The break, at least mine personally, presented me with moments where I had nothing to do but sit and reflect on how I had changed as a person since I had started my new journey at PC. And personally, I was content with what I looked back on, but more so, I realized how blessed I am that PC has become a part of my life. Everything, from the professors to my peers to the picturesque buildings to the long lines at Ray, has changed the way I view the world. I have made an effort to refrain from constantly speaking my mind, and rather, opening my ears and listening for a second opinion. I have discovered that there are answers that I need to search for that cannot be found in textbooks, but through living and experiencing. And I have learned to keep an open mind and refrain from judging, because people may just surprise you.
So here's to a new year. A new decade. And in the short term, a new semester. May we find wisdom and knowledge through our willingness to open our minds and ears. Here's to my peers, my family, and my friends. May we find comfort and solace in each other. Here's to the prospective students considering PC. May you find exactly what your heart desires. And here's to life - it's happening right now, in this exact moment. Live it.
Merry Christmas Eve everyone! As the clock ticks down towards the 25th of December, it is hard to believe that 2009 is winding down. As I am certain the year was extremely eventful for all - especially all of the seniors applying to college now! - 2009 was most definitely a hallmark year for the freshman class here at PC. It was a year of lasts, with every single event planned during each of our senior years bearing the weight of "bittersweet" and "memorable". Proms, graduations, diplomas, high school, and "childhood" in general all wrapped up within a matter of months. Things came together, lose ends were tied up, and endings were sealed, just like a Christmas present. Only this present wasn't being put under the tree to be unwrapped in the future - this present was going into storage.
But on the other hand, 2009 presented the class of 2013 - and our families - with just as many firsts. How about college!? The transition to PC was the largest stepping stone in my life thus far, and I am certain I do not stand alone amongst my classmates. It was my first time away from home for more than one week and my first time with a roommate. I experienced my first field trip in another state and my first retreat. I ate my first candy apple and played my first intramural soccer game. It was as if all of those "presents that mom and dad had been hiding" were finally being "placed under the tree" and I was "opening" them, one at a time.
And as the semester finally came to a close - for me, on the 21st - I look back on the past three and a half months and wonder, "Where'd the time go?" For it seems like just yesterday I was exploring Newport with the girls I now call my best friends, just yesterday that I was on the retreat that changed my college experience, making connections with some of the most incredible and inspiring people I've ever encountered. Making memories - something, three months ago, I wasn't sure would happen so easily.
I think the most important realization that I made this semester was something I didn't discover until recently. In high school I had a lovely group of friends who I still share a strong bond with, regardless of the miles that may separate us. But I had a misconception, for I believed that being alone was the only time to make realizations and think. That isolating myself was the only way to ensure that I could draw rational conclusions about different aspects of my life. But when I came to PC, I realized that by listening to other people, that talking and communicating with others is the only way that we can allow ourselves to grow as people. But most importantly, I learned that the journey isn't truly beautiful unless you have someone to share it with.
Just like Christmas, as we grow older, we realize that it isn't about the presents or the candy or the gifts. We realize that what matters most is that we are surrounded by those we love and those who make us happy. Being around each other spreads the true message of Christmas - that God is with us wherever we go. By sharing the joy and spirit of the holidays, we are letting each other know that we will always be there for one another. Just like presents, that in time we won't remember, I surely won't remember every single time I walked to Ray and slipped on ice, or every time my card failed to work at the gym or on the bus, or how many cups of tea I made in the chapel basement. I won't remember the small, little moments. But what I will remember are the beautiful people I shared them with.
The special, irreplaceable people who help us create our memories are true gifts - They are always in style. They are always in stock and readily available, for every holiday and during every season. They come with a promise - to love you and care for you. They are priceless. And most importantly, they are forever.
Week of stress and chaos – Check.
Week of rehabilitation – Check.
Thanksgiving Vacation – Today!
Happy Tuesday everyone (: While usually, the beginning of a new week can produce a dark cloud of negative thoughts to hover above, I welcomed this week with open arms. Why? Because Thanksgiving is right around the corner! The week before last proved to be one of the busiest – not to mention sleepless – weeks of my eighteen years so far. With three papers and two tests with due dates 3 days within each other, I started to call the chapel basement “home” and found solace in caffeinated tea. Last week, however, proved to be the week of winding down. Don’t get me wrong – the workload wasn’t too much lighter, especially with finals in three weeks [EEEEK!], but I was able to catch back onto my normal sleeping patterns and I even found time to answer some neglected emails (:
As for this week, consisting of just two days, everyone on campus is buzzing with excitement in anticipation of the Thanksgiving vacation, which officially starts today. And while I am extremely excited to go home to see my family and friends, I know that a part of me is going to hang back at Providence. The thought of it is scary – in just three months, a small part of me has become a part of something much larger. I belong to Providence, and that feeling – that connection – is the same feeling I have towards my home, back home. That feeling of comfort when you’re there, surrounded by the people you love and those who love you back. That sense of belonging is extremely unique and hard to find, but Providence has helped me find it, and quite quickly, I must say.
It seems that the next big challenge that I am going to be asked to face is finding the balance between my home back home and the new home I have found at PC. When I am at Providence, I will have that longing for home cooked meals and the unconditional love of my family and the witty humor of my friends, and when I am home I will probably find myself missing the daily specials at Ray, the lengthy CIV lectures, and the beautiful friends that I have come to call my family.
Life is all about finding the balance. And while that can be overbearing at times, especially to a college student trying to maintain good grades while finding their true identity, we can find solace in the feeling of belonging. Having the support and love of those around us is the only way we can overcome our problems and succeed. Lending a hand and accepting help are essential elements in maintaining those good grades AND finding those identities. That’s why I like to say, “I get by with a little help from my friends”. Because when you’re up at 2:30 in the morning, cramming for your 9:30 exam just 7 hours away, those who love you and support you will be right there with you, helping you make it through to ensure you don’t pull an all-nighter.
So what am I thankful for this Thanksgiving? I am thankful for the support of my family and friends back home. I am thankful for my new friends and family here at my new home. And I am thankful for the elements that help us, in those subtle ways, to find the purpose in our lives.
Knowledge is the water. Absorb it. Friendship is the fire. Feel it. Love is the air. Breathe it in.
Happy November everyone! As the leaves continue to fall and the temperature starts to chill, life here at PC is still going strong with tons and tons to do on campus every day. And although two months have already passed since the 2009-2010 school year has begun, things still seem fresh and new. For instance, two weeks ago we celebrated Halloween on the PC campus in, well, a more native style… And for someone who never really celebrated Halloween much in the past, it was definitely one to remember.
The Office of Residence Life sponsored “Halloween on the Quad” – a night of fun music, dancing, and food right outside on the quad in front of the picturesque Aquinas Hall on the night of the 31st. But it wasn’t that simple – it was raining. But, as PC has continued to show me time and time again, the spirits remained high and people still gathered on the muddy quad in their festive Halloween costumes. And it didn’t stop there! Not only did it rain on-and-off for the entire night, but the upper quad sprinkler system had never been turned off – a sign that if you weren’t wet yet, you were going to be.
I’m not much of a girly girl – I’ll gladly go on a nature hike or climb a tree [with some assistance] – but I’m not the jumping-in-the-mud type of tomboy either. So I even surprised myself with my willingness to not only let the sprinkler soak my Indian costume, but to enjoy it as well.
This is just another sign of how, only two months into this new stage in my life, college is starting to shape me into a new person. Don’t get me wrong… I liked the person I was when I graduated high school, and all of that summer-before-college talk about “creating a new identity” didn’t sound as appealing to me as it did to my friends. But there were smaller things that I was ready to change and experiment with – one of those being my tolerance for rain. And on October 31st, 2009 – on a holiday I never celebrated save for working at my school at our “Safe Halloween” program – I discovered a part of myself that is willing to throw caution to the wind and get her feet wet.
I guess what they say is true. Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
This past weekend, PC celebrated its annual Freshman Family Weekend – a wonderful opportunity for the class of 2013 to reunite with their families for a few days. It was so sweet to see my mom and dad park in the Ray parking lot, waiting for me to come out after dinner, five minutes before I was scheduled to be at Romeo and Juliet - just to say “hello” and that they were safe and had made it to Providence.
On Saturday, my parents picked me up early and we drove over to Whole Foods where we had lunch and talked for hours upon hours. It was so wonderful to share all of my stories in person with the people I care about most – while Facebook and texting and cell phones are addicting, there’s nothing like sharing your memories with the person right in front of you.
After our Whole Foods extravaganza, we drove over to Thayer Street and did some sightseeing around the area. I bought a travel mug with a lovely quote on it – “What would you attempt if you could not fail?” – and a Gandhi poster (: After our Thayer Street expedition, we went out to a huge dinner party with all of my close friends and our families at Jackie’s Galaxie Restaurant, where we enjoyed some Chinese cuisine and got to know each others families a little better – yummo (:
The weekend was a great opportunity to see our loved ones and continue to meet new people. Meeting the families of our new friends and learning more about their histories is what makes life, well… life. We’re constantly absorbing knowledge, whether we’re aware of it or not – we don’t have to be in a CIV lecture about Roman Architecture or Seneca’s stoic philosophy to attain it [although it definitely counts].
Knowledge is like a river. College is a stepping stone. What’s on the other side? I guess that is what life is about – figuring it out for ourselves.
So as of 11:45am yesterday morning, I am officially a Psychology major! Well, okay… let’s back up.
When I was applying to colleges as a senior in high school just last year, I had a passion for English. [Don’t get me wrong – I still do! But more on that later…] I had an incredible English teacher for both my junior AND senior years, and I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps. Then as the summer settled in and high school was behind me, I realized I still wanted to teach… just not high school students [because let’s face it… we can be a bit moody and snippy at times]. So I decided I wanted to become an Elementary/Special Education major instead. I absolutely LOVE children, so it seemed to be the perfect profession for me. By the end of August I had decided – I was going to switch my major when I arrived in September.
Well as fate would have it, I decided to stick with English and Secondary Education as my major – I was content with the classes I was taking, and I told myself that I had time if I decided to change my mind – I’m only a freshman! Well, I was right… I did decide to change my mind, but not to the major that I imagined.
I should probably be kind and rewind. Here’s a little tid bit about myself – I love to help people. I like to listen and offer advice when people need an ear. So why psychology – a profession of offering help to others concerning their problems – never occurred to me is beyond me. But one brisk October morning, as I walked from McVinney to Harkins for my Educational Psychology class, it hit me – Psychology. Helping people for a living. The perfect fit.
I am super super excited to get started with my new major. And of course, I will keep you all updated with how things are going (:
So I thought I’d preface today’s post with a huge thank you to everyone who reads my blog! I know - kinda random and out-of-the-blue, but I just wanted to say that I truly, deeply appreciate that you all take time out of your day to take a peek and see what is going on here at PC. So thank you all so, so much! I hope I’m doing alright!
So as a fun, little thank you gift, I thought that we could possibly start having some different “post” themes going on… small, little constants between each post or even something to look out for every month… for me, a strategy to keep my readers reading! So I thought we kick off with a “throwbacks” theme – once or twice a month, I could dedicated an entire post to something that I didn’t have an opportunity to post at the time. Throwback’s could be fun because it’s a break from the casual, traditional post, and it’s also a ton of fun to reminisce on the past (: So let’s throwback to Orientation Week!
Throwbacks 2.0 – Newport, Rhode Island
So I know I told you all about our freshman trip to Newport, Rhode Island, but I never showed you any pictures! So here you go (:
Megan, Sabrina, Emily, Claudia, Danielle, Me, Erin, Kathryn, and Meag checking out the cute shops near the shore.
Sabrina and Erin rockin’ out.
The beautiful First Beach shoreline.
The Cliff Walk.
Sabrina and I sitting on the cliffs.
One of my favorite pictures ever! Me, Kathryn, Meag, Danielle, Erin, Sabrina, Claudia, and Emily – basically the 9th floor – after our trek down the cliffs!
Now you know what happened, and you've seen it too (:
Stay tuned for my connections post - hopefully I'll have it up before the end of this week... I've let it go for too, too long!
Spread the joy,
Em
|
|
|
|
