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Well, Thanksgiving is only a few days away, and it could not have come at a better time. Last night was a bit rough. Although I tend to be a good planner with most things that I do, term papers are something that I always leave until the last minute. Why? It's not that I can't write them ahead of time, but I work much better under pressure. I know it may sound strange, but I do some of my best work when I'm totally freaking out. Everyone has their own system, but this is what works for me.
So, I was up until 2 this morning, took a five hour nap, then got up at 7:00 to do it all over again. And did I finish? Absolutely! And was the paper good? Well, I would consider it to be good.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that I leave everything for the last minute. I made sure that I had done all of my research before I even sat down at the computer. I've developed a keen sense of how to effectively use resources in my papers in my time here at Scranton. Being an English major helps, too. And having worked at The Writing Center where I've helped so many other people to revise their papers for correct grammar pushes the process along just that much quicker.
I do agree that writing papers in phases is a better idea. Starting out with a rough draft, sitting down with someone to look it over, and making changes usually does work best. After a while, though, good writers will develop at least somewhat of a sense for their own writing, perhaps even being able to look at it from a more objective standpoint.
In the end, though, I am a definite proponent of whatever works for the individuals.
Now that I am done lecturing on my writing habits, things are going well in Scranton. I'll be heading up to Syracuse tomorrow with my fiance, Liz, to meet a whole bunch of family members that I've only heard about. Am I nervous? Well, it's not that I'm nervous. I like heading into new surroundings and meeting new people, but I'm going to miss going home a bit. I'll be home in a few weeks for winter break, though. Hopefully, my parents will be able to hold up. I think they'll be just fine.
I have some work to do over the Thanksgiving holiday, so Liz and I will probably be heading to the library for a bit. Honestly, it will probably be something of a break for us. Sometimes when I meet so many new people for the first time, it can be a bit overwhelming. We having bowling to look forward to tomorrow night. Two of Liz's friends from home are planning on whipping us at 10 pin, and I intend to make sure that doesn't happen.
This semester has gone quickly, but I am definitely looking forward to Christmas break. This semester has been a bit busier than usual with classes, work, and ResLife that I haven't gotten to see my family as much as I would have liked. A few relaxing weeks at home should definitely do the trick.
That's it for now. I wish you a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
~Rob
Things are beginning to change around Scranton. I know that I talked about the changing of the seasons last week, but I wasn't talking about the most wonderful time of the year--the holiday season!
This is definitely something to be excited about when you're at The U. The wreaths on the lamp posts have started to appear; a huge wreath adorns the faces of Brennan. The base for the Christmas tree has been set up on the Dionne Green. Community Outreach and University Ministries have begun different charity funds for the season. The Cura Personalis residence hall, McCourt, is continuing to collect for their annual Thanksgiving food drive. And, for the first time on Monday, there was at least a little bit of what I would call snow. Exciting stuff.
Without a doubt, Thanksgiving and Christmastime are some of the best times to be around Scranton. Yes, spring is usually my favorite time of year, but sunny skies take a back seat to how the holiday season makes Scranton shine.
And the most exciting part of this season comes this year on November 30 with our liturgy and tree lighting. Everyone on campus comes out for it. We're able to catch up with people we haven't really gotten a chance to see during the semester, have a nice cup of hot chocolate, sing some Christmas carols, and just enjoy the company of those people who care so much about The U.
I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, though.
Thanksgiving is next week, and I will need the break. I have a five-page paper due before the end of this week and a ten-pager due on Tuesday. No matter how much I plan in advance, it always seems like there are a few bigger assignments standing between me and every break we have. College is tough; no one said it was all going to be hot chocolate and tree-lightings. Still, as I've said before, all of this work that I'm doing now makes me feel prepared to enter that "real world" in only a few months time.
This Thanksgiving, I'm heading up to Syracuse with my fiance, Liz. I've met the immediate family and all is well there, but I haven't met her extended family and a few of her closer friends, friends who claim that they'll be able to whip us at bowling. I have serious doubts about that, but I'm hoping for good things nonetheless. Still, any awkward introductions will immediately be forgotten when that first slice of turkey is cut.
Of course, though, there will be some work to do over the break. Standing between me and the end of the semester is a six-pager, another ten-pager, and three final exams. I have no doubt that I can handle it, but it seems a bit overwhelming when I think of all the other commitments I have as well. I have confidence that, like every semester, the last day of final exams will come, a few weeks will go by, and I'll be begging for classes to start again.
It's become cliche to say that Christmas is one's favorite time of year, but I just can't help it. I love being around my family for the holidays, especially because of how separated we are. In high school, it was a bit different. My family was either in my house or close by. Now, the most interaction we have is a chat on the phone a few days a week because of our conflicting busy schedules. Yes, they do come to Scranton every once in a while, but going home is just so...awesome. It gives me a much-needed break from the day-to-day of college while affording me time to share with the people I love most. A few presents and some home-cooked meals thrown in there every few days or so helps to make the season bright, too.
But I'll be back soon enough--January 4th to be exact. I begin full-time work at the Visitors' Center the Monday after New Year's, which is good for me. If I lie around the house too much, I get bored quickly. I always need to be doing something. RA winter training will roll around mid-January, and I'm sure you'll hear a bit about that in a two months or so.
That's it for now. Those papers are calling my name.
(And when I have time to lower the resolution of a few pictures, I'll have some up from tree lightings of years past.)
Later days!
Well, we had our second Open House this past weekend, and it was great. There were even more people at this one than the first, something I haven't seen in my time with Admissions. Hopefully, that means that interest in Scranton is growing!
Yesterday was a bit of an exciting day for me. I stopped by the Registrar's office to get an updated CAPP sheet--a log that tracks our classes and our grades--and I was thrilled to see that every single area requirement that I needed to graduate would be met. Of course, I expected this after speaking with my adviser, Dr. Gougeon (a professor of English here at The U), before registering for classes. Still, it was awesome to see it in print. One more semester...
Of course, I don't really want to leave Scranton. I kept telling all of the families that I met at the Open Houses that Scranton has become my second home. After all, this is the first place that I have lived away from Staten Island, where I grew up. I have friends here; I've gotten to know the town; I've gotten to know the people. Leaving here won't be easy, but I definitely know that I am prepared to face the world because of the courses that I've taken and because of the people that have guided me at The U.
The seasons are definitely changing here in Scranton. The past month or so has brought us very warm weather and very cold weather side by side. Looking out my window now, most of the trees are bare, and the only leaves left are either yellow or brown. Fall is definitely present in Scranton, and winter will be here before I know it. I'm usually summer person, but the changing of the leaves at The U means that a bunch of great things will be happening.
For example, Community Outreach and McCourt Hall, home of the cura personalis program, have been working hard to raise money for our annual Thanksgiving food drive, continuing the strong tradition of community service that our students keep. Also, at the end of the month, our Christmas on the Commons celebration will begin with the first Advent liturgy and the lighting of our Christmas tree. And Christmas, of course, gives our students even more chances to help those in need.
I'm looking forward to all of the great things that the holidays bring, but this year, my last year, is especially bittersweet. I will definitely cherish the times that I have with all of the people I've grown close to, but I keep telling myself that I have to live in the moment while I still have the time.
That's it for now. I've left you with a few photos that are long overdue. Enjoy!
Well, November 4 has finally come, and campus is buzzing with news about the election. For my residents in Casey Hall, this is the first election in which they actually have a say, so most of them got up early and voted. It's a pretty exciting time. To help my residents and friends enjoy this historic event as fully as possible, I've planned a program in my apartment tonight so that we can stay up late and watch as the election results come in. It's been an interesting year and a half or so of campaigning, but I'm ready for this election to (FINALLY!) come to an end.
Halloween made for a good time last week. A bunch of things were happening on campus. The previous week, many of the residence halls teamed up with Community Outreach for a program they call "Safe Trick or Treat." It gives kids a chance to trick or treat throughout our residence halls and the residents a chance to give back to and be a role model for their younger counterparts. Residence Life, the department that facilitates housing and residential programming, presented a haunted house in one of our older residence halls at the edge of campus. I, of course, had the most interesting task of all. I lay in a casket (yes, a REAL rented casket) for a few hours, scaring some of the people waiting for their tour guides. And, of course, all of the money collected went to a good cause, specifically to the granddaughter of one of our Physical Plant workers. (At Scranton, it's nice to know that we give back to our own.) The day itself was nice, too. I hung out with a few friends and watched scary movies. Granted, it may not have been the most exciting of times, but it was great for all of us.
Otherwise, I've had a lot of work to keep me busy. Tonight, I'll be catching up on some paper writing that I've been putting off. Later in the week, I'll be planning my oral report on the 18th century poet, James Thomson, for one of my poetry classes and getting ready for the MACUHO (Mid-Atlantic Association of College and University Housing Officers) Student Staff/Live-In Conference on Saturday. The conference is a great place for student interested in student affairs to meet one another, to do some networking, and to receive some supplementary training. I went last year when it was at Salisbury University in Maryland, so the trip to Penn State at State College should be a fun time as well.
And, last but certainly not least, our second Open House will be this Sunday. In case anyone is looking for me, I'll be speaking about The University of Scranton academic experience in Brennan Hall. Be sure to stop by and visit!
Well, that's it for now. Please feel free to comment me or to ask questions. I'm sure there are things that people want to know about The U that I totally take for granted because I've been here so long, and I definitely want to make sure that your questions are answered.
Later days!
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