Saint Peter's College: Nicole Onello

Do The Shuffle

2009-11-13T20:46:57Z

October was pretty action packed with things on my 'to-do list'. The Metro PCS concert definitely started the month off on a positive note. Mid-terms came and went; the amount of work and studying that accompanied it was not as brief. I pulled my first all-nighter of the fall semester in October (combination of Economics, Sociology, and Management). That is always a reminder of the status I currently possess, 'college student'. As you can imagine my diet during this month consisted of gallons of caffine and junk food. I know: not nutritious but definitely energizing! What are girls GREAT at? - Shopping! Retail therapy. I also received 'the' call I have been anxiously awaiting since the middle of August. I was excited to learn that I have been called back this summer as an intern. I couldn't stop pacing as the logistics was laid out for me via phone. It was a GREAT month!!! November definitely has some potential as the days and weeks rapidly move along. We are already in the middle of the month and there are so many events jam packed into the next couple of days/weeks. The month started out with a celebration as the New York Yankees finally brought back the World Series glory for the 27th time! It doesn't get any better than that! A welcoming event that occurred was the Presidential Ball. The Presidential Ball began as a celebration to welcome our current president, Dr. Cornacchia, to Saint Peter's College. It was a way for the college to embrace a new member of our tight-knit community. It has transformed into an event that welcomes each new incoming class and their student body officers. This is the first year (out of three) that the event was actually held on campus. The administration usually chooses a nice resturant such as Puccini's. Our administration thought that students would prefer a more affordable venue. Cost per ticket: $5, which includes dinner. Girls This being my first Presidential Ball, I had a really good time. The ball actually had a program set-up which almost showcased some of the talents our students possess. Our drama society, Argus Eyes, preformed a section of their upcoming play, a student sang a beautiful Whitney Houston song, and The Voices of Praise performed an interpretative dance. After the program was completed, and food consumed, the dance floor was the main event. It was fun to see everyone having a good time with one another. President Cornacchia even made his way to the dance floor and danced to one song with us. I love going to a small tight-knit college. I don't know students from other colleges/universities that can say that they danced with the president of their institution. "Party in the U.S.A." was sung in unison as us girls made our way back to down the hill. Fun night! Just dance Argus Eyes is putting on a performance of "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940". It is a fun murder mystery starring some of my friends on campus. Office of Admission's biggest event of the semester: Open House. Like all fall Open Houses of the past three years, it rained. Fortunately, the rain did not dampen our spirits. Our student ambassadors were champs as they gave tours with umbrellas and provided smiles free of charge. Our Fall 2009 Pavo Clan Tour anyone? Upcoming events: - SPC All-Nighter [the fun kind] - Thanksgiving Break

Five Day Weekend

2009-10-10T19:08:06Z

This Monday is Columbus Day, which is a College Holiday at SPC. I love holidays that fall on Mondays just because I am granted the wonderful joy of having a five day weekend thanks to my schedule! I have been looking forward to this weekend since my last 5 day weekend which was from Labor Day. This vacation is a little different though. Why? Its mid-term season. Coffee has become my best friend over the past week and probably will be for the upcoming week as well. I think I did really well on my Poetry/Drama mid-term in class portion. I have to complete the take home portion (essay), which is due on Sunday. I also have two mid-terms this week and one the following. I'm planning on studying A LOT this weekend since I have the time. I also went to a luncheon earlier in the week to discuss the grad school application process. Yes, I did say graduation! It is only a year away and as much as I'd like to focus on my current classes, I need to start planning ahead. Its funny how my views have changed pertaining to graduate school in the past year alone. Last year: I wanted to go straight from SPC into grad school. I figured that it would shed some more specified light on my interests as well as give me a competitive advantage in the real world. After this summer my views have changed. I'm now hoping to get a full-time offer by the time I graduate and postpone grad school for a couple of years. My plans are always changing; we'll see what path I actually end up going down! The best start to my weekend was the Metro PCS College Campus Concert last night. SPC was home to the main event: Fabolous along with Iyaz and Serani. Hofstra University hosted Kim Sozzi and Justin Bieber. Jumbotrons in the Rec Center allowed us to see the performances at Hofstra. Iyaz Iyaz "Replay" (the chorus) Fabolous "Breathe" "You Make Me Better" To sum up the performance/night: INCREDIBLE! What's coming us this semester? Come back again soon to find out!

Harvard

2009-09-25T17:49:26Z

A lot of things have been going on around campus since my last post. The semester started out great with our annual Mass of the Holy Spirit. It is a noon mass in which students, athletes, faculty, staff, and administrators have an opportunity to bless our campus and student body. I always feel that this mass kicks off the semester. It was nice to have most of our campus community in one place. After mass, food was provided. If you are a college student you realize that events with free food is always a treat! This also meant that our 1pm classes were also cancelled. It was a FUN short day. That weekend, a few members of the Pavo Society along with our advisor left campus at 5AM on a Saturday morning to attend an Admission's forum in the Boston region. I was so excited to be a part of the trip since I had travelled to Boston in high school and absolutely feel in love with the city. Getting cozy on the way to Massachusetts Angellica and I before the forum We arrived at Stonehill College at 10am and attended different workshops until about 4pm. The rest of the day was ours to explore! We were able to drop off our bags at our advisor's sister's house and take a train (almost like the Path) anywhere we wanted. Instead of traveling into Boston, we decided to go to Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is home to Harvard University. We went shopping, got pampered at Lush, went to dinner at John Harvard's Brew House and dessert (ice cream), and visited the Ivy League institution. It was beyond incredible. On the train: Cheryl, me, Angellica, and Barza Barza, Angellica, and me We were all eating our ice cream as we approached the campus. We were such dorks as we tried to fit in. It was kinda hard to do so wearing my SPC sweatshirt!..lol. The feeling of being tourists was definitely felt but it still didn't stop us. Barza and me on the steps of Harvard building...lol. Angellica with her ice cream. Before long the weather changed a bit and started to drissle. We decided that this was the best time to start heading back. As we were walking back from the train station to Cheryl's sister's house it started to rain. It was NOT light rain but downpour!! We were absolutely not prepared. We ended up waiting for Cheryl's family to pick us up as we waiting underneath some building. It was quite the adventure! We also have an academic awards ceremony known on campus as Michaelmas Convocation. It is a way to recognize the achievements of our students. I found this year to be more exciting since I know a lot of the seniors who were recognized and inducted into the Most Noble Order of the Peacock (MNOP). Classes have also kicked into high gear. It just hit me this week that classes have started. As if it didn't take me long enough (we started in late August)! In summary I've had two quizes, one exam in Money, Credit and Banking, a bunch of accounting homework assignments, one sociology paper, and endless reading to do so far. This weekend is going to be dedicated to getting ahead in my classes so that it can be a relaxing week. However, I am going to see Surrogates tonight. I'm not going to let this weekend be a complete wash-out!...lol.

Good News Bears...According to KB

2009-09-01T20:54:18Z

Long time no see! I spent this past summer as a summer analyst intern at a prestigious financial institution; I had the opportunity to learn from the best in the industry, in my opinion. Interns had the opportunity to also attend learning series to gain a deeper understanding of other sectors within the finance division. I guess I was extremely naive in my understanding of the industry at the start of this summer. I had the wonderful opportunity to gain first hand knowledge about the meaning of a bank holding company and what it actually entails. My department was newly formed and consisted of me and my manager for a period of time. It was incredible to have real work, not busy work. My projects continued even after I left. Being asked to have one shadow your daily actions is the best feeling in the world, knowing what you’re doing is of substance and value. Networking was a fun part of the experience since managers had an open door policy-literally. It was also fun running into the city for meetings at least once a week at their various offices. Interns Ruchi, Arielle, and myself in front of the NYSE I have always believed that one should give back to others. I feel extremely fortunate and humble for everything I have been blessed with-family, friends, health, and happiness. I loved that I was able to extend my feelings as an intern. All interns had the opportunity to give back to the community. We participated with a non-profit organization called SoaringWords. We attended a school in Washington Heights and helped fifth graders decorate quilts and pillows for children who are sick in hospitals. It is a way for these children to know that people on the outside care about them. It was fulfilling to hear the stories of these fifth graders and the creativity that filled their imaginations. My internship lasted ten weeks. Prior to this summer, friends told me that I wouldn't have any time to do anything fun. I think they were wrong. I woke up happy to go to work every morning. Something new and exciting awaited me day in and day out. I was able to go to Mountain Creek Water park in NJ. My best friend and her sister and cousin accompanied me for a day of childish fun. It was nice to get out of the city and into the suburbs. I almost forgot how beautiful parts of the state are as mountains and trees were visible in the distance. I also didn't realize that this water park was actually on the side of a mountain! I like to think that I was getting a tan and working out at the same time. The only disappointing part of the outing was the food. I ate an Italian wrap. Who messes up an Italian wrap? It is only ham and salami in a tortilla. Sure enough, the wrap was gross! My friends make jokes that I'll eat just about anything-the human vacuum cleaner. And yes, I ate the wrap. Mind over matter. :] Wave pool! Getting ready to head back East. This summer was not entirely all ‘work and no play’. Catching up with friends was difficult. I can recall not returning phone calls for weeks just because time was hard to come by. When the opportunity presented itself, friends would pick me up just to ride around. Going out to the Red Mango for frozen yogurt and gossip was popular. I also turned twenty this summer. I am no longer a teen! In a few short years, I will be in the real world without this safety net to lean on. Hard to fathom! :] Me and Lydia Me and Nat Cousins Before classes even started I participated in an adventure retreat sponsored by Campus Ministry. This retreat was the start of an annual tradition designed for freshmen to meet other students and have an outdoor adventure in upstate New York. Our retreat leaders were upperclassmen Peaches, Jacob, and KB. They had mini presentations that helped us connect with nature, faith, and each other. I am so happy that I went on this retreat. I am a city girl. I had never been camping before. Bug spray became my best friend on the trip. Our itinerary for the weekend was flexible. On our first night, the plan was to have a campfire in the woods near the Hudson River. We had a campfire set and smores ready to roast. Then the rain became an expected camper. The rain started to pour and before we even got up to head back to our site thunder and lightning stepped into the stage. It was so dark that we could not look 2 feet in front of us as we treaded through the woods. Our sneakers were soaked and muddy and we even missed our turn back to our site. We were all drenched from our heads to our toes. The rain didn’t stop our parade. Since it was not safe to be outside of our cabins, the girls decided to have a mini campfire of our own. We ate smores with flashlights and told stories about our college experiences. It was the perfect end to the night. Our campfire thanks to Father Stump Some of the girls The highlight of the trip was probably our high ropes challenge. We were to be walking across this log that was suspended about 25 feet in the air. It does not look that bad from the ground. However, once you got up there, it was intense. We learned how to correctly put on a harness and belay our teammates. Belaying controls how much rope feed a climber gets. We supported whoever was on the log by cheering and easing their fears of falling. The message that got across to everyone was that if you fall in life something will always be there to catch you whether its your faith or a loved one or friend. It was comforting to know that, while on the log, you weren’t going anywhere. Your team would not let that happen. It was a great adrenaline rush. Belaying Melissa In the trees Video of me and Peaches in the high ropes challenge. Our Adventure Retreat Crew :] Classes have already begun. NUTS! My schedule is perfect. I only have to be on campus three days a week. The other days give me plenty of time grasp a better understanding of the material and prepare for classes later in the week. I am taking Principles of Accounting and Management, Money, Credit, and Banking, Literature, and Sociology. I already have homework due and tons of poems to read. It’s going to be a demanding semester but I love a challenge. Being back on campus has me appreciating the life of a college student. My responsibilities consist of being a good student and person. That’s it! This summer was quite the opposite. Also, the campus is alive again; seeing the same happy friendly faces on campus just makes it easier to get out of bed in the morning. The only sad part about starting classes, in my opinion, is noticing that friends are missing. Some friends are studying abroad in different countries across many oceans. This semester/year isn’t going to be the same without them! Love you guys :] Stay tuned. <3

Summertime

2009-05-13T21:02:33Z

It is official: Year two is under my belt. It is a bit mind-boggling to think that August will mark the beginning of my third year at SPC. These past few weeks have been a bit hectic when it comes to studying for finals. Final’s season is never fun. I tried to shift all of my attention towards my classes. It was hard to focus as procrastination lingered in the distance. I am happy to report that I am done with academic work for the moment. Spending time with friends was an important aspect of these past weeks as well. The Pavo Society welcomed and inducted nine new members. We dedicated one Saturday towards intense training. A lot was accomplished in a few hours. We ended the evening with a sit down dinner at Grand Banks with almost all of our current and new Pavos. Having brunch at V.I.P.’s and heading to the movies and Starbucks really balanced out finals. I am really going to miss a lot of the people I have made bonds with this year; you know who you are! Rose and Chris Rose, Me, and Audrey So what do my summer plans consists of? I have many goals for this summer. I want to read a few books, hang out with friends, head down to the Jersey Shore a few times, and hit the tennis courts like old times. The most important thing I will be doing this summer is interning in “Wall Street West”. I feel extremely fortunate and I’m excited for the challenge that lies ahead. This summer is going to be a learning experience that one could not possibly put a price on!!!

Confirmed

2009-04-30T02:10:46Z

I can no longer measure how many days of classes are left by counting how many papers I have left to write. I can now shout at the top of my lungs that I AM DONE writing papers for the semester!!! I had two papers due this past Monday and a case study I have due tomorrow, my last one! I pulled my first all-nighter last week trying to finish my Seminar paper. It is all part of the college experience, or at least that it what I keep telling myself...lol... Besides all the class work that needed to get done, a few fun things have also occurred last week. I spent Thursday night hanging out at Frank Sinatra Park. I wanted to celebrate the end of a hectic week. My treat was playing soccer at midnight!..lol..It was a bit spontaneous. So a few friends and I found this weird shaped log thing by the river. I was dumb and forgot that during regular tide the river probably covers the log. My jeans were soooo dirty when we left and my shoes were all green. It was pretty gross! This was my liberated gesture after a long week. CRAZY!!! One thing I loved about Hoboken on a clear Thursday night was that the stars were out. Living in Hudson County, I rarely get a glimpse of any stars. I normally have to go to my uncle's house to observe them. It was fun to just lay on the sidewalk and look into the dark night's sky. I felt a bit dorky but its not something I do often. I also hung out this past week with one of my best friends, Nataly. The weather this past weekend was insane! The temperature reached 88 degrees on Saturday and 92 degrees on Sunday!!! I've lived on the East Coast my entire life and never experienced such HOT weather so early in April. I have had to stand snow in April but never summer weather. I have to thank global warming for the wonderful preview of the months that lie ahead. I am a summer baby; the warmth was definitely enjoyed! We spent the day at Hudson County Park in North Bergen, went shopping in Edgewater, and enjoyed a cold Mango smoothie from Panera Bread. It was a wonderful day! Sunday was all the more meaningful. One sacrament I never completed was Confirmation. I took endless CCD classes but the event never materialized. Getting frustrated, I just gave up. Attending SPC has rekindled my faith that was lagging. It never went away; however, it was not as strong as it is now. I decided to meet with one of the Jesuit fathers at the college to complete this sacrament. This is my wonderful friend and Sponsor, Marisa. She is a fellow Pavo. Our relationship started way before our freshman year. All incoming freshmen are required to attend orientation, which is a three day and two night sleep over to get to know one another. It just so happened that Marisa was standing in front of me on line to register and was my roommate for the two nights. This relationship was strengthened by being Pavos together. Who knew such a GREAT friendship would blossom from summer orientation?! Kelly Rose, Father O'Brien, Audrey, and myself. Kelly Rose was Baptized and Confirmed. It was a Pavo event...lol.. These are probably two of the closest girlies I have on campus. Audrey also made her Confirmation on Sunday. It was a coincidence that we both wanted and needed to complete this sacrament. It was a fun thing that we both share. Priscila is making her Confirmation in May. Audrey and I plan on being there for her big day! :] That is what friends are for!!! The Pavo Society, a volunteer student organization who enjoys sharing the first year experience with prospective students, has just completed our Spring recruitment. Our advisor, Cheryl, and Development Chair, Barza, and I interviewed wonderful candidates for next semester. Our candidates (students) were so enthusiastic and energetic. We are proud to add 9 Pavos to our mini family. :] This weekend the Pavo Society will be having our end of the semester dinner. If the weather cooperates with us, the dinner will consist more of a barbecue. We always have a fun evening together before the semester draws to a close.

Reaching New Heights...Literally

2009-04-21T00:41:03Z

It is crazy to think that April is wrapping up as professors start to discuss finals. I feel like there is so much work to crunch into the next six, yes SIX, days of real class. I only have two more papers to write which makes me want to procrastinate. I just got back my third Seminar paper and my fourth is supposed to be due this Wednesday. My paper is about President Clinton's second administration and their policies. I am putting a lot of effort into this class since I feel as though I am an underdog; I am the youngest in my class. My third paper received an A and I was estatic!! This weekend alone was insane; it was jam packed with fun! SPC hosted our Open House this past Saturday. Being a Pavo Society member, I met so many friendly prospective students on a warm sunny day. Some of the girlies on Saturday! This is probably one of the few Open House events that the weather actually cooperated with us. It was so nice that I took my large tour group for ice cream before the tour started so that they could enjoy the weather as we walked around our campus. The families seemed to have liked the option of eating and talking. I feel as though that was my must comfortable tour that I gave on Saturday. All of our Pavo members and student workers did an amzing job as we received wonderful reviews! I do have to admit that my feet were killing me by 2pm. Wearing heels was not a smart decision on my behalf. After Open House, I snuck in a short nap. I was exhausted and ready to knock out. The minute my head touched the pillow I was in my own little world. Saturday night was memorable. My history professor, Dr. Rabin, was to sing in Carnegie Hall with her choir group. She always invites her students to attend her concerts. Complementary tickets were provided. I was not going to turn down an opportunity like this. Some of the greatest musicians have performed at Carnegie Hall. A few friends and I took the Path and the subway to the show that started at 8pm. Chris, Marisa, Marielle, Me, and Sinclair Us girlies in front of Carnegie Hall. We got to the city a bit early and decided to walk around Central Park. I have lived in New Jersey my entire life and have never been to that part of Central Park. We found a gorgeous bridge and took pictures on it like HUGE tourists. We considered walking up some huge rocks but then decided that it wasn't the wisest idea. The performance itself was amazing!! St. Cecilia's Chorus and Orchestra was incredible. They performed Brahm's "Schicksalslied". There was a contrast between a blissful and anxious mood. The performance then continued with Vaughan Williams' "A Sea Symphony". The text of the entirely symphony was drawn from Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass." I never heard Whitman's work put to music. The concert lasted about two hours and we made sure to congradulate Dr. Rabin afterwards. This is the perfect example of curis personalis and getting to know our professor outside the classroom. One of my closest friends at SPC and her roommates joined me for a day of fun on Sunday at Six Flags. We left early and got to Jackson, NJ, right when the park opened its doors. We went on most of the important rollar coasters like Batman, Nitro, El Torro, Superman, the Scream Machine, Skull Mountain, and Rolling Thunder. I I can go on just about anything as long as I have someone to ride with. It was nice to go to the park and not even wait ten minutes to go on each ride. El Torro was probably the scariest rollar coaster I've been on. I thought that Nitro was going to be the scariest coaster but I was definitely mistaken. Not only was my head moving around like crazy but I felt as though I was about to crash into the wood. The worst part is waiting to reach the top. Once the drop was over I thought that the coaster would slow down for the drop that was to proceed. This did NOT occur!! The rollar coaster kept its fast speed the entire time. El Torro was the only rollar coaster I was actually dizzy after. It was the greatest adrenaline rush that I never want to experience again...lol. Stay tuned! :]

Hi! :]

2009-04-05T01:30:00Z

Hi! My name is Nicole Onello. I am a current sophomore at SPC majoring in Economics and Finance and minoring in International Trade and Finance. I have always wanted to travel; these fields will hopefully enable me to mix a bit of business with pleasure. I was born and raised in Hudson County. Living half an hour up the boulevard allows me to be involved on campus without living here. I am a member of our radio station, WSPC Radio. Many students are not aware that we broadcast via internet. My job is to help get the word out in the Promotions Department. If you are interested in listening to our on-air talent, feel free at http://www.spc.edu/pages/1788.asp.I am also the Communication Chair for the Pavo Society. We are the friendly faces you encounter when visiting our campus and receiving a tour. This semester is drawing to a close and the work is piling up. There is less than a month left and yet I am calculating the remaining days in terms of how many papers I have left to write, which is about three big papers. I am writing this entry as a Word document is minimized for my Seminar class in Macroeconomic Policy. I am looking forward to having a four day weekend, thanks to Holy Week, to accomplish a lot of work I have procrastinated on. I have also been balancing work with fun outings. In the past two and half weeks, I have gone bowling, karoking, to the batting cages, and ice skating. It's fun to hang out with friends and forget about class work. I should definitely keep my singing confined to the shower but it was a lot of fun! This Saturday, I attended a 'spiritual retreat' with some of my friends here at SPC. I am one of three who will be making Confirmation here at the end of April. Confirmation is one of the sacraments that I never made for reasons that vary. Coming to SPC has opened my mind and given me a renewed sense of my faith. I thought that there was no better place than here to take the next step of being confirmed. There were about eight of us, including Father O'Brien and Father Braden. It was extremely insightful and made us look into the depths of ourselves including our hopes, fears, strengths, and weaknesses. It was an open conversation followed by a shortened mass. The retreat was a fun afternoon spent with good company! Stay tuned for more updates on my life here at Saint Peter's College! :]