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It is really an odd feeling to be writing this from home. It’s nice to be home though, and Christmas was great since I got to see my whole family. Now I have to find time to see everyone before they all go back to their colleges (not all my friends are blessed with such a long vacation). The strange part about this break is that I don’t have anything I have to worry about for school. I think it’s the best part about this break. I don’t have assignments or projects to do like every other year, so it’s really a vacation. Last year Christmas vacation was spent doing college research, and that’s what all you prospective students should be doing! I think I will make you a …
Prospective Student Winter Break To Do List:
(for Seniors! You juniors just need to focus on SATs right now …sorry.)
1.Make a list of all the schools you have applied to (or are applying to) so you can check off those which you've visited, sent in applications for, and heard back from. Oh, and put it in order of most to least interested in.
2.Get those Applications in!! Deadlines come wayyy faster than you think.
3.Visit all the ones you haven’t yet! (You should have already started visiting!)
4.Start narrowing them down and checking the mailbox for any response from colleges you may have sent early applications to
5.This may be most important of all: SIGN UP FOR ROYAL NIGHTS at SCRANTON!!!
But in all of this don’t forget to just relax. This is all very stressful. I know. I was there last year. Find time to just organize your thoughts about what you want your college experience to be like.
Number 5 is very important, though. I’m not getting paid to recruit you, I promise. I say this because, in all honesty, if I didn’t go to Royal Nights last year I would probably not be at the University of Scranton. Any questions I had or doubts about anything were answered. But not everyone had the same experience as me. I almost hate to say this, but, it really depends on your host. My host was absolutely awesome. Not only did she answer all my questions, no matter how dumb I thought they were, she gave me a ton of advice even after Royal Nights. In fact, she still does. She’s like a big sister to me here. So this year I’m passing down the favor and being a host for someone. I hope I can be as great as my host, Emily, was. On the other hand, you can’t let one person be the deciding factor on whether or not you come here. I also made friends with people I still talk to. It was funny because I met my friend, Mike, because I was forced to sit next to him on the bus on the way to the movies (part of the program is that they take you to the movies). I was by myself, so I forced myself to make friends, but that’s how everyone was. You just have to talk to people. Well I’m still friends with Mike, so even though you may be nervous to talk to someone, don’t be! It’s how you make friends. I know I’ve been talking just about Scranton, but this goes for all college visits and over-nights you have. Enjoy your time there! Imagine what life would be like there next year.
Have a relaxing break, don’t stress too much, and maybe I’ll see you for Royal Nights!
Becky
I'm going to have to apologize in advance because I know this blog will be short. In my justification, I believe it was Shakespeare that said: “Brevity is the soul of wit." Finals are my excuse. I've never seen so many people in any library, anywhere. I'll speak for all of us here, it's been a week of hurdles, and we are all just racing to vacation when we can plan our day around sleep and not when Java City is open, and the best time to get a seat in the Lib. Some of my friends have turned completely nocturnal; sleeping during the day and staying up all night, studying until they take the exam the next morning, and then returning to their dorms to sleep. I can't say it's come down to that for me. Since I have a lot more time on my hands, due to a lack of classes and work (Hollister pitied me and gave me off for the week), I have been managing a healthy schedule. I've been managing to go to bed fairly early and then waking up a little earlier in order to get breakfast before my test. I've even been able to squeeze some gym time in to work off the stress. Don't get the wrong idea; every spare second I have is spent studying. And the finals themselves...well, it's a tossup. Some are what I expected (my microeconomics was exactly what I thought it would be = good) others are not ( math, which was assumed, by my class’s tutor, to be a 10-20 question test turned out to be about 50 questions = ahhhhhh!)
The light at the end of the tunnel is Christmas vacation. I can't wait to see my family and friends. On my list of things to do is 1. Sleep, and 2. Christmas shopping, two of my favorite things. We have about 6 weeks home. I know I'm going to miss everyone, and I'm going to be raring to go back come February, but right now it is such a relief.
Well my Public Speaking Final is calling my name. This didn't turn out as short as I thought it would be... probably since procrastination has made this blog my new favorite thing to do. Off to hit the books, I go!
Don't study too hard, Scranton!
Becky
I love Christmas! Who doesn’t? I mean, in the end even the Grinch and Scrooge had a change of heart. It's hard not to catch the holiday spirit here in Scranton. I started off the week the best way I can think of - Holiday Mass in the Byron Center! The gym was decked out in all its holiday finery and smelled of my favorite Christmas scent, incense and pine. After the mass we had a candle lit procession to the huge Christmas tree outside Gunster, where we lit the tree ("Ooooh, Ahhhhhh!") and sang carols. The festivities didn't stop there, either. Pictures with Santa, gingerbread cookies, and hot cocoa all followed. I wish you could have seen it. Imagine a dark night with snow softly falling on about 200 students bundled up and carrying candles. The candles looked like strands of Christmas lights in the dark. It really was beautiful.
We "decked the halls" in Nevils, too! My roommate, Corrie, and I have had all 5 strands of Christmas lights up since we got back from Thanksgiving break. We hung the stockings by the mini-fridge with care, and put up our little tree too! Our hall's Christmas tree is cute, too, in a Charlie Brown Christmas tree sort of way. I love walking through the other doors that are all decorated. My favorite has to be first floor Casey, where my best friend, Diana, lives. All of their doors are decorated so are the bathroom mirrors!
As much as I love how everyone is in the Christmas spirit and excited for the season, I can't wait to go home and see my family. First things first, though, I have to get through my finals! (Uuugggghhhh.) I only have four, but I'd be happier with none. My Intro to Drama final is actually a project where my group acts out a scene from the play, Fences. This is the only final I'm actually excited about. I'll get through them, though. I'll just have to log in some extra hours in the Lib.
I experience a great example the other day of how close-knit the Scranton family is. I got a text from my friend, Joe Curci, telling me that his mom read my blog and asked him if he knew me. I loved it! My family at home keeps up with the Scranton news, as well as all my teachers back at my old high school, Bishop George Ahr. The University of Scranton connection can be felt in a lot of places you don't realize. It's my extra-extended family.
So from my huge family here to yours, have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Becky
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