Well, it is after spring break and there's about a month and a half until graduation... it's insane, I know. Before the break I was extremely busy with many school activities and homework! One weekend I took a trip to Cornwall, NY on a McMullen Chorale retreat and it was a blast. I had the opportunity to hang out with my fellow choir members (including Peaches) and we had an overall great time. We learned music, ate junk food, and even took a hike up the mountain with Fr. Schroth as our leader. He just happened to be in the area and we enjoyed nature together.
The two weekends after that I spent a lot of time at the New York Public Library. My favorite is the Humanities and Social Science one. The second weekend I also helped out with the Peacock Variety Show. I helped out doing concessions like always (so if you come to the next show I might be there again!). I absolutely loved the show. We had a snow day after so the second variety show was canceled but I did get to sleep in!
On Feb. 29- March 2 I had the chance to go visit my cousin Eddie while he was in Ft. Belvoir, VA. I had the best time. We went out right after I got there (by Amtrak of course) and didn't get back on the base until late! I met one of his buddies and all three of us had a great time. Most of the time I was there we spent it in Alexandria, VA but I also did get to visit Washington D.C. In Washington D.C. we did a drive-by of the sites (we didn't have much time) and went to the International Spy Museum. I completely fell in love with that place. I learned a lot of history about the US and of spies. By the end, I was suspicious of everyone and swore that my cousin was a spy. The day after our Washington D.C. adventure, my cousin and I did some bonding. We went to the movies and spent all day there, well, until I had to leave to come back to school. It was fun hanging out with my cousin and I'm so glad that we did. We had a chance to talk and exchange many stories about what we've been up to. Oh and Ft. Belvoir is so beautiful. I would definitely want to visit there again.
Some Flamenco dancers we saw while out on Friday night.
Well, after that weekend I spent a lot of time catching up on the work that I didn't do over the weekend. I spent more time at the library doing my homework. On March 15th, we had Scholarship Brunch and I gave tours on that day. It was pretty fun showing prospective students around the college and telling them different stories about different areas.
The next week was the beginning of spring break. I left on Tuesday the 17th to go home and I spent a good week and a half in Los Angeles. My best friend Kim and I hung out on Thursday to do some birthday shopping. While at the mall, I played in the Kid's area with her son and I was being such a dork. After the mall, we went to the park and I played some more. I spent at least 1/2 hour on the swings. No matter how old you are, you can still enjoy the park. I played with her son some more and it was just so much fun. I seriously think that kid is special and I feel like he and his mom are a part of my family. Friday, my best friend Liz had a birthday dinner and it was a blast. Our first stop before dinner was my best friend Michelle's house, where I got to see her boyfriend. I think of him as a sibling so it was funny when he was questioning me about school, just like a brother. The dinner was an awesome time. My friends and I caught up since I've been gone all this time, at school of course, and they wanted to know how I was doing.
After Friday, I spent the rest of the time with my family mostly. Kim came by my house on Monday with her son Felix and we played in the kiddie pool because it was warm enough to do so. I felt like such a kid again and I acted like it too.
Wednesday through Friday, I spent it at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, CA for my oldest sister's birthday. We had so much fun. On the first night, we went to an Improv show with Bobby Collins. He was so funny! He talked about New York and the subway system and I completely understood. I was almost on the floor from laughter. After the show, he stood out in the lobby and signed his CD and DVD. The proceeds were going to a good cause so my sister bought both. We chatted a little and I told him that I went to school in New Jersey and he said really? Once I said St. Peter's College, he was like oh wow! =)
The day after, my sister and I spent it either eating or walking around the place. We spent time in the room we were staying in and ordered a movie (27 Dresses) and ate junk food. It was fun hanging out with my sister. On our last day, we went to do a little shopping in a nearby shopping mall and I found this awesome dress. I'm thinking of wearing it to formal.
On Saturday the 29th, my sisters, my brother's girlfriend, and I went to this Hawaiian presentation in El Camino College. It was very interesting! They talked a little about the history in the Hawaiian dance and dress, had many musical numbers, and it was so cool to see it. It was for a fundraiser and some of my sister's friends were performing in it. I was so amazed by the dancing and the singing.
Sunday was my last day in Los Angeles, before I move back there after graduation. The next time I see my family will be when I'm crossing that stage, going to my new adventure in life. Well, the semester isn't over yet, so I still have more time to enjoy SPC and all it has to offer! =)
I can't believe that my winter break is almost over. I've done a lot over this period of time. Before the break, we had our Senior Christmas Party. It was such a blast. It was a great way to have fun with friends before the start of finals and the end of the semester.
A few of my friends at the Christmas party.
Andrea, Tricia, and I at the party.
That night was just full of fun and laughter and dancing. It was great.
Well, finals came and they went. Some of my finals were tougher than others but I was done by the 14th. I was very glad. On the 14th of December we had our SPC All Nighter. It was so fun.
Kamen singing "Satisfaction".
Robb singing.
Aicha also singing.
Kevin Cummines singing in front of the crowd. He rocked it.
Joe singing.
After the band finished playing they were very kind and signed CD's and took pictures.
Highbench and I with my signed CD.
Highbench and a group of SPC students.
During the event, they were raffling off giftcards and the grand prize: a Nintendo Wii. Guess who won the Wii... I did! I still can't believe it. I am still in shock over it.
Well, the All Nighter was the last SPC event I participated in before the break. I left the next day to come home and have been here since. I've actually been doing a lot at home, mostly spending time with my family and some friends.
This is my friend Sondraya at work. My friend Kim, Michelle, and I went to see her. (Michelle is not pictured).
I did a little Christmas shopping while I went to visit my friend at work and it was pretty cool.
My best friend's boyfriend finished his training for the Air Force and we threw him a little welcome home party.
This is a group of my friends and I that got together to welcome my friend Edwin back from boot camp (or whatever the Air Force calls it).
Our Airman.
Christmas Eve was such a blast at my house. A few of my cousins came over, along with one of my aunts and one of my uncles. It was great to spend Christmas eve with them. My uncle played the guitar and my dad sang around the table as we enjoyed each other's company.
Some of my family during Christmas Eve.
Christmas itself was pretty quiet at my house. We just spent time together and ate (like any normal family does.) I called a few of my relatives to wish them a Merry Christmas but that was pretty much it.
The day after Christmas was my dad's 60th Birthday. My brother's girlfriend and I spent the day baking a sugar free cake with a cream cheese frosting (using Splenda instead of sugar of course). My dad has diabetes so he cannot enjoy too much sugar so in order to make his birthday special we made him a special cake.
My mommy cooking for my daddy's birthday. She is holding sopes.
My dad cutting the birthday cake. =)
It's been so much fun being home with my family, but I can't wait to go back to SPC on Saturday. It's so close!
Thanksgiving break came and went to fast. This year the short break was needed more so than ever. It was nice to be with family and get away from some of the craziness of being at school. I got to play with my cats and put up our Christmas tree, which is my favorite part of the holiday!
I brought home loads of work to do and barely accomplished anything making this past week way more stressful than it needed to be. I had three tests three days in a row and a long paper due on Friday which made me stress out even more. One thing that helped me to relax was going to Zen Meditation Thursday with Gina. Kelli, my roommate, was helping with the mediation. It was part of the advent activities they are doing on campus. It was actually what I really needed at the time since it helped me relax a bit and become more focus on the work and things that I needed to get done with out stressing me out. Later that night was the tree lighting in the quad. It was really nice. The choir sang in the chapel then we all walked over to the quad with candles to the tree where the choir sang again and Paul (I do not know his last name but he is a freshman) and I did a reading together of the Jesus’ birth. Father O’Brian blessed the tree and it was lit. After that there was a small reception with cookie and hot chocolate.
So there is a week and a day left of school for this semester. This was the fastest semester so far. Even though I do not have many classes I am still busy enough not to be bored. Working with the freshman general biology laboratory class has been great and I can’t wait to do it again next semester. The Senior Christmas Party is coming up and I know we all can’t wait for that.
Since winter break is almost here I have been thinking about what I want to do. I need to sit down and really start working on getting myself together for graduate school stuff. I want to go through my GRE book and pick out the thing I really need to work on. I have few graduate schools in mind and I know I should really start to look into them. I have decided that I want to wait to take my GRE until late May or early June since I know the likelihood of my studying while I am school is really low. This way I can work (hopefully in my field) and apply to start grad school for next spring.
Well, this semester has been one of my busiest yet. Inauguration week was a process. There was so much that I participated in and I am finally recovering from it. Pictures are on the main page if you would like to see. I had a blast with everything from the Coffee House to the Inauguration itself.
This weekend I took a little trip to San Jose, CA. Yes, it's all the way across the country, but it was for a good reason. My cousin served a year in Iraq and now he's back in the states. He's on leave for a few weeks so there was no way that I was going to miss his welcome home party. I flew out of Newark after my classes on Thursday and made it to San Jose around 8:50pm (California time). My cousin had arrived about an hour and a half before me so we met up outside of a Mexican restaurant (the place was closed by the time I got there). Before I even had a chance to open the van door to get out, someone opened it quickly and came at me. I was tackled by a soldier... it was my cousin! I was so glad to see him that I squealed and hugged him so tight. We talked for a little while and then he had to go home and I had to go to my aunt's house to spend the night. On Friday, my cousin came to my aunt's house and took me to his house. We went food shopping for the party that was to take place on Saturday and I got to see a lot more of the Bay Area and around the town that he lives in. It was just beautiful. I met one of his cousin's and hung out with some dogs while some stuff was unloaded. We went back to his house and played video games while his daughter and I made cupcakes. I had such fun playing Wii tennis and bowling (it was my first time playing and I was pretty bad at it but by the end I had a hang on the game). After we finished with the video games, we watched Unaccompanied Minors (it's a funny movie). I was still pretty jet lagged from being in New Jersey all semester so I went to bed around 1am and woke up early the next day.
Saturday was a blur. The party was a success and I got to see many of my cousin's that I haven't seen in a while. I also got to see my parents and two of my siblings, since they drove up from Los Angeles.
My cousin Eddie And I
My aunt and uncle (not Eddie's parents), Eddie, me, my dad, and my mom.
Some of the cousin's with Eddie.
My cousin Ruben and I. I just met him that day.
My dad singing and my uncle playing the guitar.
My cousin Eddie and I again. We were sitting on the floor because we were bored and tired of standing around.
After the party Eddie, his family, and I went to their place and I ended up crashing on the couch (I fell asleep there).
On Sunday morning, Eddie made breakfast. He hasn't cooked in a year but it was so good. I even had seconds. We watched football after breakfast was done and I was his family since his kids didn't want to watch the game with him. After a while, we decided to go shopping. We left the house and went to the Navy Post Exchange. It was so cool. We did a little shopping and then were on our way to a late lunch. We decided to go to Fresh Choice and they had really yummy food. After Fresh Choice, we went to Dave and Buster's and played some of the games they had there. Finally, it was time for me to go to the airport and fly back to New Jersey. I was sad to leave but I did have to come back to school eventually. I arrived Monday morning before classes and I was pretty tired for the rest of the day. Next time I'm going to make sure that I get to school earlier so that I can sleep. Hahaha.
Overall, I had an amazing weekend and so glad that I got to see some family even though it wasn't during Thanksgiving. Now I have a lot of things to be thankful for next week.
So last Saturday (Oct 20th) was Dr Cornacchia's Inauguration as the 22nd President of Saint Peters. The Ceremony was really great.
Pris carried out the Peacock and lead the procession of student leaders. All student leaders were invited to process. (I did not process out since there was a need for student volenteers for the day so I choose that instead.)
One thing I really liked about the ceremony was i got a chance to learn a lot about
Dr. Cornacchia. He went to Fordham University (which is also a Jesuit College) and has been teaching at SPC 1981 and has held so many different positions while here from starting as an adjunct to chair of the Political Science Department and to moving into administration in 2000. There is no doubt in my mind that He was the best choice for President.
As Student Senate President Meg gave a speech that was awesome. The best part was at the end when she decided to give Dr. Cornacchia some advice and one thing she said was to take to time sit in the quad (something we like to do when ever we get a chance).
Of course after the ceromony there was a reception. That was a lot food, drinks, and fun.
Top: Jolie, Joe (Director of Admissions), Jenny
Bottom: Meg, Me, Pris
Nice picture even though Joe's eyes are closed.
This day made Saint Peters History for Inaugurating its first non-Jesuit President. I feel special for having the chance to help by being a student guide because when is the next time I will ever have the chance to see a something like this again?
So like two weeks ago I went with two of my roommates to the Phillies and Mets game at Shea Stadium. We got the tickets through SPC. They were only five bucks and had a bus to take us two and from the game. It was pretty sweet! The night was even better because the Phillies won the game and I got to see Chase Utley (my favorite player) hit a home run! The Phillies ended up winning the whole series that week end
Kelli, Erica, Me
So this weekend was Fall Fest and I had a great time. Friday I went with my friends to see The Variety Show that the Argus Eyes Society put on. They sing differnt songs mostly from Broadway shows and they do some great improv.
Saturday was just as fun despite the rain. We went to the breakfast with the First Family, which would be Dr. Cornacchia his wife and daughter. Later there was a BBQ which got sort of rained out. The DJ was there, the food was just being thrown on the grill and then the rain came. A few of us hung out on apart of the stage that was under an a piece of the roof
Erica, Pris, Me
The DJ started playing fun music like "Its Raining Men" and who could help but not dance in the rain? I couldn't!
Erica and I dancing on the stage in the rain
The Coopers, a student band, played for a while in the theater and it was fun.
Classes are pretty much fully underway. I love my schedule so much since i am busy enough to keep me interested with out bearing me down with loads of work. I have been helping Dr. Guiliani with her freshman Bio labs which I love doing.
I moved in to school last sunday so I could participate in the Peacock Flock on monday. The Flock was very busy! The orange tubs that were supposed to help us move larger items were a few hours late so the beginning of the morning was rather busy and felt extremely hot.
Tuesday was when the upperclassmen moved in and the freshman convocation. I got up to sit the pavo table with Jenny during the mini club fair that was held for them (club fair Thursday 6, 2007, 11:30-1pm in quad). Actually it worked out nicely since the Pavos and student senate were placed on one table and I participate in both making it easy to talk to quiet a few students about joining both. My last roommate moved in this day too since the rest of us were helping with Peacock Flock and have been here since sunday. I was excited to have us all together so we could talk about summer, the classes we are taking and things we want to do before we graduate.
First week of classes is usually the easiest. I am pretty happy with my classes but I think I am going to change my theology teacher. My class load this semester a lot easier than what I have had my past three years which is super exciting. With all of my down time I will probably work in the Biology Department, start yoga, and get interested in doing Zen on Thursdays at the meeting hour.
With being a senior every body wants to ask "What are you doing after you graduate?" Well i thought i had it all figured out but the more i think about things the more they change. I want to take my GRE later and apply for grad school but not till spring semester 09'. I thought i wanted to go to University of Boston but I found an awesome program at University of Maryland i like better. Things always change is what I learned this summer.
Enough about school. My weekend was great! I loved that on Friday and Saturday I did nothing. The hardest thing I did was go to the gym. It was a well needed rest for myself and my other roomates. Sunday was a day spent at the beach with Erica and Marjory (two of my roommates). It was beautiful! Not to hot and the water was warm enough to be refreshing. We all got lots of color and even a little red in places. Today was spent doing the same thing but all four of us went which made it a better time. It was a little hotter but the water was again very refreshing.
Time to get back into the full swing of school this week. I have already started filling my planner with class work, meetings, and even a little community service.
Gina - New school year, new experiences, and new reasons to never get sleep
That image is meant to convey a deep, meaningful message to incoming college students. If you stay on-time and on-task in all your responsibilities, you can achieve any of your goals! Yeeeeah, boy!
I can't believe school has started again! I don't feel like I had a vacation at all, since being on staff for the Orientation Team took up most of my time this summer. Which was absolutely fine, since I really loved meeting the Class of 2011. Myself and other O-Team staff found ourselves really surprised at the energy and drive present in Saint Peter's incoming freshmen class. Personally, I wanted to get up and start dancing every time I found a student who would say "I can't wait to get involved in This Society," or "I really really want to be active for That Club", or best of all, the students who really wanted to start their own interest clubs on campus. We have a lot of writers coming in with the new classes, so selfishly, I'm really excited about seducing them into the student newspaper.
But today was the first day of classes for this year. My first was a 9 AM sociology class, and the last course that I need to complete my core at St. Peter's (which ROCKS. Now I can take fun electives!) I found that out of a class of almost thirty students, I think I might be the only non-freshman in that sociology course, which I don't mind. I set into my normal class time routine with no problem at all - I took the seat that I typically take in classrooms (the third back in the row against the right-hand wall, so I can lean against the wall), and on my desk was only a tiny yellow notebook and my pencil, for doodling. After years in college, I know that notes do nothing to help me learn, but I need to keep my hands busy in order to keep my mind active (the doodling) and I need to pay very sharp attention to the lecture, as well as read the text.
So it was funny for me to watch the new students try to figure out where they wanted to sit, and when the professor started into her lecture, it also surprised me to see everyone whip out a large notebook and start furiously copying everything she wrote on the board into their notes. I was starting to get concerned myself - should I be freaking out as well? - but I was able to keep my non-freshman head cool. I did want to yell out "the first day of class won't make or break you!" at one point, but I figured that the professor might not like that. Though, maybe if I had raised my hand before yelling...
Anyways, it really brought me back to my first class at Saint Peter's College. On my first day as a freshman, I wore a rather nice suit-dress, and I sat in the front and center of my Introduction to Psychology course, a brand new 5-subject notebook on my desk and a pen already death-gripped in my hand. I remember being so overcome by nervousness that I wrote down every single word my professor said, and I was already panicking about our first test. By the third week of class though, I had moved to a seat by the right-hand wall, and I started to doodle in-between my frantic bursts of notes. Now, I can take any course in stride. But just like in high school, or with any other situation, adjusting to college classrooms take some time, experimentation, and a bit of bravery too. Maybe you do learn the best when you are engaged in answering questions and speak up in class, but you'll never find out until you give it a try. I do get people glaring at me for not taking notes, but if that's not how I best learn, then why force myself into it?
A number of my class of 2008 friends are going around, excited that this is their last first day of school. I can't feel the same. I want to utilize this semester so that by this time next year, I'll be having a first day of class at my graduate school of choice. Some people are also impatiently awaiting the end of the year, but I have so many things to look forward to in 2007-08 that May seems to be an infinity from now. I'm the managing editor for the Pauw Wow now (which I find amusing, since I'm 'only' a psychology major), president of the Psych Club, VP for my class, working on-campus, then also working on my senior thesis project and trying to get into graduate school. Not like I'll be getting much rest this semester, but even if I did, I can't rest easy until I know that I have been accepted into graduate school. But with all of the guidance I've gotten over the years, both from my professors, I'd be really surprised if I couldn't get into grad school. That, and I'd probably be camping out in front of Career Services!
But right now, I'm extremely excited to be a GEM (which stands for "Get Engaged in Mentoring") for a freshman seminar in psychology course, As a GEM, I'll be acting sort of like a teaching assistant, but not quite. I'll be conducting an hour-long lab course once a week (so I need to figure out how to make lesson plans, oops) and I'll act as an out-of-classroom resource for the introductory students. This is really exciting for me because I might want to be a professor in psychology myself one day, so getting a taste for teaching now, as an undergraduate, is a dream.
Additionally, I am SUPER HAPPY with my on-campus apartment this year! So happy that I will make you look at it!
Yeah, I need to buy more posters. But the size is great, it's on the first floor, and I don't even have to pay for cable. It's taken my roommate Steph and I most of this week to get moved in, but hey, by the time you are a senior, you accumulate a LOT of stuff. I have to throw myself against my drawers in order to get them shut, and I considered making a quilt out of all of the free tee-shirts I've gotten over the years. I'm very serious about trying to set up flea market in the school's quad this May, because I can't imaging moving all of my stuff again.
(Between the poster, the bedsheets, and the row of manga on my desk, can you tell that I'm a Yu-Gi-Oh! fan? Because I really am. And I'm getting my hair dyed purple tomorrow, to make matters worse.)
I am so glad to be back to school. I saw most of my friends around and we just started where we left off. It's so weird to think that this is our senior year. It just went by way too fast. I got a new roommate and she's pretty cool. I am glad that we get along. I got back to New Jersey on Monday and I am still jet lagged, but somehow manage to function. Give me another week and I'll be more awake. Most of my stuff is still in storage so my room looks pretty empty and I just hope that everything I have fits in my new apartment!
This semester I am taking four criminal justice classes, parasitology, and general chemistry 2 (chemistry and I don't really agree so I am trying for a higher grade =)).
I took my MCAT's in August and it was one of the hardest test I have ever taken. I was pretty prepared but I am still not sure how I did. I still have no idea where I want to go to medical school but hopefully I will have an idea by the time I get my scores.
I just felt like summer went by so fast, sort of like a dream (a 3 month dream) and now I am jumping back into the swing of things. I already have homework and readings to do, which seem pretty interesting. So far, I love my classes. My favorite part of the day today was when my Parasitology professor asked if we had our tetanus shots. I was a little nervous when he said that but explained that we were going to work with mice and rats for our experiments. I was glad that he asked, better to be prepared than get a bite and have to go to the doctor, haha.
Well, since I am back at school I will be updating more, I promise! =)
I was visiting Megan in California from the 7th to the 14th and I had a blast! I have never been to the west coast so it made the trip even better. First we spent three days in Vegas which I have also never been to. The whole casino thing is not new to me since I live so close to Atlantic City but it was still amazing to see all the lights and huge hotels. Meg, Me, Jenny (megs friend from home)
We tried gambling and I took a dislike to it since I really have a hard time watching my money be wasted away. We walked around and looked at shops, hung out by the pool, and of course went out at night. The only thing I really hated about Vegas was the heat. I was not meant to spend time in the desert. Spending time in California was great! We went to the Long Beach Aquarium, which I loved, hung out with her brother and friends, as well as getting the chance to see Andie and Jolie. Lying on the beach was one of the best, mostly because I could lay on the beach everyday if I had the chance. Though out the school year Megan usually comes to my house a few times so it was cool to get the chance to see her house and where she lives. I defiantly wouldn’t mind seeing more of California, but only when its not hot, even though when I was there it was not to bad.
I am super excited for the start of school. I am moving in early to help with Peacock Flock, and can’t wait to meet some of the incoming students!
On August 2nd my internship was over. It seemed like time went by so fast! It really felt like I was just learning about terrapins and the institute in general then in a blink of an eye it was over and we were all giving our presentations. I learned so much this summer about turtles of course, but also about conservation, environmental issues, and different techniques of science. This also confirmed that I really love to do field biology over being in a lab all the time. I could not have asked for a better experience. Our presentations were all amazing. Not only was I a little nervous about giving my own but about everyone else’s as well. We all had helped each other through out the summer, so most of the presentations I felt connected with in some way. I won’t know how my research has helped until next nesting season after construction of the new sea wall has taken place. I chose to focus on a conservation problem and even though it was not as interesting as most of the projects I still think it is as important to show different ways to keep terrapins off the road ways. There were a lot of long days and didn’t get to do the things I wanted to this summer but I don’t regret any of it!
So life being a Wetlands Institute intern had been pretty interesting to say the least. For a while we had a slow two weeks and some cooler weather which made for a lot of data entering parties as well as most of us getting a good start to our independent research projects.
My research is being done at Corsons Inlet State Park which is a small area at the south end of Ocean City and has a bridge that connects it to Sea Isle City. The county wants to do some reconstruction there but since terrapins are a species of concern for the State of New Jersey they have to take the turtles into consideration. My job really is to research how much turtle activity is going on in the area and think of how this construction will effect their habitat. So i get to hang out in the heat, get lots of bug bits from green head flies, try an avoid poison ivy (which has not been to successful) all to try and find terrapins. All of this on top of doing things at the institute that need to get done. So needless to say my life has been nothing but Terrapins for a while.
The plus side of this is that I was on TV last week! It was the local ABC news station. (the link will send you to the web site were you can view the video clip) I was the first person interviewed while I was with our high school interns (they only stayed with us a week). We were on our road patrol and they news van followed us while looking for Terrapins crossing the street or for road kill. They also went to the institute and showed alot of what we do.
The 4th of July was crazy with traffic as it always is because people like to go "down the shore". This year particularly bad since it was in the middle of the week and people came down last weekend and people are coming down this weekend. This makes driving the parkway not so much fun most of the time. The interns sort of were given the day off. Aside from Road patrols and the daily trail and fence checks we had nothing else to do. So after my wonderful 12am I slept at the institute did the early trail and fence check and drove to my grandparents were i had a nice day in the pool.
So this will be the rest of my summer until August 2nd (my presentation day). We have our Gala Reception on the 14th that I can't wait to tell every one about and hopefully get some good pictures!!
Hey All! I am just popping in for a little update. Last week Wednesday I got the chance to attend the Southern California Alumni Reception for Saint Peter's on LMU's The Bird Nest. It was a great event. I really enjoyed it. I got to shake hands with Dr. Cornacchia, our new president, and there were also some Jesuits there, including Fr. Kuntz. I got to meet a prospective student and her family and had the chance to chat with her. There was a man there that graduated from SPC in 1940! It was just a great opportunity to meet everyone. I definitely plan on continuing to attend these events even after I graduate and leave Saint Peter's. Well, here is a photo of some of the group:
I've been very busy for the past couple of weeks with my MCAT class and the family trips to Tijuana every weekend. It's a pretty long drive, especially if you go and come back on the same day. It really takes a toll on a person. Well, about three weeks ago I went fishing with some family to this beautiful place in Tijuana. I wouldn't even know how to get back there since we took a lot of back roads and dirt paths. The drive was pretty intense. We were so high up that at one point I thought that we were gonna tip over. It was that scary of a ride. But it was definitely worth it. While we were at this lake, I swear I saw some cows and a cowboy trying to round them up. My cousin's husband jumped in the lake with a net and caught so many fish. By the end of the night there were over 100 fish! Good thing that there were a lot of us and we were hungry. =). Nothing beats getting fresh fish. I just love it. While in Tijuana, we go to a lot of places, especially the "Dulceria" (candy store). It's a must if you go to Tijuana. I bought a lot of candy since I was planning on sending it to my cousin in his care package. I ate some and the rest did go to the Middle East. Anyway, it was a fun experience just hanging out with family. I don't get to see them as often and therefore enjoy every minute. It's also a good thing that my cousin Minerva knows how to cook since she had to feed at least 15 people, including my mom, dad, brother, sister, and me. She's the best cook ever! She cooked up the fish and made all this other food. She is always feeding us. =). She made a custard type dessert but used Splenda instead of sugar since my daddy and her daddy have diabetes. It was still yummy nonetheless. I had a great time there. Well here are some pictures:
Little Dana, my niece... she is so adorable!
My cousin's husband catching some fish
My cousin Juan and my uncle Juan enjoying the fire (Juan is a very common name in my family)
I told you I saw a cow!
and here's the cowboy
It got dark and there were so many mosquitoes!
There were so many mosquitoes around... you can see them covering the car.
I am still having fun at home and the summer is starting to speed by just a little.
So I have been super busy and could use a day off. Since nature never rests neither do I. Last week was a whirlwind! Of course lots of time was spent at the institute, I also worked a few more days then I normally do. Pretty much if I wasn’t in Stone Harbor or Fashion Bug I was at home trying to get some sleep. Even though all of us interns worked hard we still had fun at the same time!
Some students from the Jordan Road Middle School in Somerspoint NJ meet us in the little town of Strathmere to do a turtle release. These students have learned about terrapins all year and have had bake sales to raise money to give to the Institute. Rodger talked to the kids about terrapins and we had the chance to show them a number of things from what a head start turtle is to how we micro chip each turtle and how to check for micro chips in recaptured turtles.
A few of the interns haning out before the school kids came (left to right: Rachel, Jess, Clara, Joe, Keithe, Cathy, Brian, Katelyn)
These little guys are called head start turtles. They are about a year old even though they look like they are three years old. These turtles come from the eggs that were taken from road kill and incubated the year before. They hatched and were taken care of at Stockton College where they did not hibernate so they could grow bigger. This is done so that the survival rate is higher than if a newly hatched terrapin (which about about the size of a quarter) was released.
This is Katlin telling people about a microchip. A microchip is a tiny chip that getts injected into our "headstarted" turtles (as well as all the ones found at the institute). Each chip has a certain number and that number is assigned to a turtle on a data so if a turtle who is microchipped is recaptured we can pull out old data sheets to find out the last time we saw her. The big white thing she is holding is a microchip reader
Here is Roz and Roger talking to the kids about the importance of Terrapin Conservation
This is the little turtle that my student and I released her name was "Turtle"
This week has been not as busy but still just as hard. I feel like i have worked and done so much and its not even officially summer yet. (June 21st) I still need to start studying for my GRE, which is very important!! I need to work on my math skills the most and refresh some English rules.
I passed my boating course test just fine, as did the rest of the interns. They gave us the weekend off and we started really getting a chance to do things on Monday.
We finished putting up the fencing that keeps the terrapins off the the side of the roads and it went faster than I thought (well i didn't put any fence in; I got to walk to the ends of the road and collapse the fencing so the sides of the road could get mowed).
I learned how to drive the two boats the rest of the afternoon.
Tuesday I learned how to dig up nest enclosures even thought all the hatchlings are gone (if they hatched) we pulled them up and got to see egg shells. The new nesting terrapins are going to start nesting soon and if we see one we are supposed to watch her and make sure we enclose her nest so predators stay away.
Wensday we all went to theDelaware Bay to see some shore birds and the horseshoe crabs. The main bird they were looking for were rednots (i am not to good with birds but have been learning a little more about them and how to tell them apart). Later that night we went to Cape May Point to do a horseshoe Census which is done for a survey for the state and they get volenteers to help so the wetlands institute helps as well. We only saw 20, but the other group that went out found 950 (i don't remember what beach they went to).
the sunset over the dunes at Cape May Point
the sunset over the ocean at Cape May Point
(i had to add these!! it was sooo pretty)
This is horseshoe crabs when spawning...I took this at the end of the night when a few of us took a walk to the dock at the institute...sometimes there can be two or three males attached to one female (thats why they look clumped together)
I had to add this! the whole reason we walked to the dock was to release a baby terrapin! i know the picture is kind of blurry but in my defense it was dark and my camera batteries were dying. The darker image in the pic is the baby turtle (look more to the top). Better terrapin pictures as soon as I get some.
Today we went to an island called money island (no idea where I was) to catch rednots with a group of people from Australia who have been researching them for 10 years. Well it was hot, with lots of bugs that like to fly around your head. We were there for about 5 hours and didn't catch a single bird. The group went to a different beach and we all went home since we didn't think we were going to be there that long: we all ran out of water and were very hungry.
So I have been doing this for a week and I feel like i thas been three weeks. I like it.
if anyone has any questions feel free to ask!! I have learned so much in the past week soon I will be an expert on terrapins (well kinda but hey close enough!)
Today I started my internship! At first I was really nervous and excited all at once. They have dormitory style housing available and I was really scared that everyone but me was going to be living there and I would end up being the odd person out. That so wasn’t the case since most people are commuting anyway.
Since it was the first day they gave us breakfast lunch and dinner but that will never really happen again. First we meet the staff, then the researchers. They had us do and ice breaker and ask another intern a question, then we had to stand in front of everyone and introduce that person (I hate ice breakers). I won’t start to tell you about the other interns yet since I really don’t remember all of their names.
Something funny happened today too. It reminded me of a SPC moment. Most bio majors know that sometimes Gannon Hall (the science building) has strange smells, chemicals, things can catch on fire, you know, fun science stuff. Nothing serious has ever actually happened but they do things for safety measures. Well as all the interns are sitting in the library getting ready to listen about the institute someone comes in and said: "Lab 3 is on fire we have to go outside." They had no idea why since that particular lab is no longer a lab but an office.
Here's what happened: the township decided to run tests by blowing smoke through pipes to see if they were in working order. This explained why that room was smoking since that sink had not been used in many years. The fire department did think to tell the institute they were running this test.
The researchers seem like a great group of people that have actually found out some really interesting things about Terrapin Turtles. These turtles are specially adapted to live in the salt marshes from Maine to Florida. These animals rise from the water to lay their eggs on land but when they do this they usually end up getting hit by cars. Part of my internship will be to help put up fencing on the coastal causeways (the roads that connect the islands to the main lands), and to go out a few times a week to do what is called turtle patrols. Turtle patrols are done at 12am and 5am and the purpose is to find terrapins on the road that have been hit so that we can extract the eggs. The eggs are incubated then released back in to wild about a year after hatching. There are lots of different research projects going on aside from just turtles such as a beach survey, horseshoe crab census, and lest turn (a shore bird) research.
As interns we are supposed to work a little on each project throughout the summer as well as come up with our own research project to work on (with the help of other interns and the researchers). The first week will be tricky just getting used to how things work but I am really excited to do this for the summer. I love doing research but I guess that just is because I have always had an interest in it. The hard part is actually thinking of my own research and the boring part is doing all the background research on it.
Even though I am interning I am working at Fashion Bug again too. This is a women’s clothing store where I worked last summer and over winter break this year. They seemed happy to have me come and told me they would work with my hours so I will be able to work and be an intern. I need to work to make money to pay for the gas to get me to the unpaid internship.
Oh! And I forgot that pollen sucks and I currently have a slightly stuffy/runny nose and a scratchy throat. One of the perks of living in a city, no allergies.
Pictures of the Wetlands Institute next time! And maybe a Terrapin Turtle if I can. Hopefully some of the other interns as well.
Well, my week home has been pretty interesting so far. When I got to Los Angeles last week the first thing I did was see my sister since she picked me up from the airport. I got home and my brother was dead asleep because of his surgery. I would show a picture but it's kinda gross, you honestly don't want to see it. After a few hours of being home I got to eat real Mexican food. It made me happy. I love Mexican food (or just food for me... =)).
The rest of the week was a blur except for Friday. My sister had called me on Thursday to ask if we should get a new cat. She said it was a few weeks old and needed to be fed from a bottle. I immediately said yes and on Friday she brought it home. It is such a cute kitten. It really is like taking care of a baby since I have to feed it with a bottle and wipe it so it can use the bathroom. Apparently it simulates the mother licking its behind. It sounds gross but it's actually kinda funny and interesting. We named the cat Simba since it is a yellow tabby cat. That same night, a neighbor came by since she found a bird in her yard. It was really scared but we took the bird in and gave it a home. We went to Petsmart on Saturday and had all the intentions of just buying a cage. We came out of the store with the cage and another new bird. We have yet to name them so any suggestions will be appreciated. =) Now with all the new pets we have a total of two dogs, three cats, four birds, and a snake. My house is seriously a zoo!
My kitty Simba
The new birds, they are so cute!
Saturday was really fun. We went out to San Pedro and ate a lot of seafood. We had a pound of shrimp, 2 large fish, and 2 dozen oysters. We seriously went all out. I would have taken a picture but we went at the food super fast. After we were done eating, we walked around and they had a mini carnival kinda thing. We played one of the games and won two fish. Unfortunately, by the time we got home they died, but we had a fun time.
San Pedro... we're almost there!
We're in San Pedro! yay!
We went to the Pan Pacific village. Basically, you pick out your own seafood there.
This place is so popular, especially on the weekends.
My daddy and I =)
My brother's girlfriend Jessica and my niece Roxanne.
My mom and my oldest sister
My brother making his serious face
My mom wastes no time to go for the food!
While we were walking around we saw a helicopter... really cool.
My parents and I with the fisherman in front of Port O'Call.
The fish that we won at the carnival! too bad they died.
Sunday we spent most of the day at home and hung out as a family. I missed these times. We watched TV together and had tons of fun just sitting around the house. I had to go take my MCAT diagnostic test on Monday and it was kind of difficult. I officially start the class tomorrow so now I have to get prepared for all the studying that I have to do over the summer. Oh man, it'll be a challenge but I am up for it!
Today I seriously spent the day watching season 2 of Grey's Anatomy. I am trying to catch up with all the episodes before season 4 begins. I blame my brother and his girlfriend for getting me hooked. It's a really goos show and I love medical shows. Well, I must be off to do my laundry!
Unlike most other students at SPC, I'm not going home for the summer. It's now a week since people started returning home, and I'm still on campus, going about a sort-of normal schedule. This week, I've been either at the president's office making the big $$$ (not really, but I like pretending that work-study makes me rich) or I've been helping out with Senior Week activities. Senior Week is the week between the last final exam and the commencement ceremony for all of SPC's fresh graduates, and the college holds a number of fun day events for the seniors who choose to stay on-campus until commencement. Yesterday was the day in the park, which was rather chilly, as well as a cruise, and today a group is going out to Dorney Park. Tomorrow is the Baccalaureate Mass, and Sunday is commencement itself (where I'll be bearing a flag for the ceremony, which is awesome because I get to be on-stage).
I would go to Dorney Park, but I am flat-out exhausted from this school year. While college isn't as back-breaking as I thought it would be, when you add in clubs and other obligations (for me, the student newspaper was a huge time investment), then you are looking at roughly an 8-5 work day each day. After eight months of this, I just want to burrow in my bed and stay there about a week.
Even then, I'm too antsy to stay in one location for long. So I have work study to go to, as I mentioned, and next week is the start of my summer class in computer science. This weekend, I want to buy myself a GRE study book so I can be somewhat prepared for the exam in the fall, and I need to start seriously looking at graduate schools as well. I never imagined that I would say this, but I really want to stay in the Jersey City area beyond my graduation from SPC, so I'm going to work hard to try to get into a psychology graduate program in NYC, like Fordham. Later in the summer is O-Team, but I'll talk about that as the time draws nearer.
I do have more free time now, thankfully, which I use to hang out with my friends, write fiction, and to wander in the city. And for those of you who are fans of the singer Rufus Wainwright, one of my wanderings ended up with me in the third row of one of his free concerts in the city. The Barnes and Noble in Union Square, which is probably my favorite place on the planet, hosts a number of free book readings, signings, and performances (I've seen Jimmy Carter, Tom Wolfe, Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Salman Rushdee there, and I'm going to see Al Gore next week). I had to get to the store three hours in advance in order to get a seat, but WOW, I got one of the best seats in the house. Of course, Rufus was -amazing- live, and it is so obvious that he puts his soul into his music, and he is completely adorable (I'm very sorry that I don't have any pictures, but my camera hasn't been behaving lately).
I have a number of other singers and bands I want to see this summer, including Bright Eyes, Muse, and maybe even The Police if I can gather enough money. Have I ever mentioned that I'm obsessed with music? And free things?
I am super excited to be going home. I really missed being with my family, even though I never show it. I am currently waiting at the Newark Airport to board my flight. It's supposed to be sunny with a high of 85 degrees. Just like how I remember it. I can't wait to go to the beach, see my friends, and most of all, see my family. My brother Manny just got tympanoplasty, or eardrum surgery, since he had a hole in his eardrum and had problems with infections. Gross, I know but at least I get to play nurse for a couple of weeks. Also, my dad and I plan on going up to Northern California to visit some family. I miss them so much and the last time I really saw them all was in 2002 so I am definitely due for a visit. I have so many plans for the summer and I hope that I have enough time to do everything. Don't worry, I will still be updating this blog =).
I wish I could say I was done with finals but I still have one more. My professor was very accommodating because I scheduled my flight for the same time as his final. He said that he would email me the final so I can complete it and email it back to him. I believe that was very fair of him. Thanks Dr. Franklin! =)
I still can't believe that I am officially a senior and only have one more year left at St. Peter's. Time sure went by too fast. This year went by too fast. There were times when I was frustrated and times when I was super happy. I will never forget the memories I have of my junior year. Now I will be older (and hopefully wiser) to everything.
Well, I want to end this entry in Clinton tradition (with a quote... not necessarily from a musical)
“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.�- Hal Borland
So after a long day I finally made it home. It feels good to be back in South Jersey where everything looks so familiar. Unpacking is always a project so this year I decided to throw things out before I started to unpack. I haven’t called my friends yet since I still feel like I am on school mode. I always have torn feelings about being home. I love my hometown and my friends here, and my family so much. At the same time I feel so sad leaving everyone at school.
They have too become like family. We live together all the time and we fight and get annoyed but we get over it. If you are mad at someone there is no getting away from like you can when you are at home. These are people you share meals with, hang out with, take care of when each other doesn’t feel good. We are there for each other when an event is needed to go to and our parents can’t be there. It’s a different bond that I have with my friends from home. I don’t want to get all sappy and gushy but it’s always something I think about when I have to leave, even now so that when I go back next year I know it is going to be the last time I move and move out.
On the upside it feels like a ton of bricks has been lifted off my shoulders now that I know finals are over!! No more school for a whole summer and this break will be much needed. It’s scary to know that I am officially a senior! So pretty much my summer will be filled with my internship, studying for GRE’s, and getting a part time job. I start my internship on the 23rd, one week from Wednesday; it’s at The Wetlands Institute: The Coastal Conservation Research Program. I am nervous and excited all at the same time. I will let everyone know how is everything with it is going through out the summer. The internship is unpaid so I need to get a part time job too. Last summer and over winter break I worked at Fashion Bug (a women’s clothing store), and loved it, so I hope they will let me work full time with really flexible hours since the internship will take up most of my time but I still need to make a dew bucks. Hope everyone has a great summer. See you all in the Fall!!
Gina: This past Monday was SPC's Junior-Senior Formal, which is an annual event where the upperclassmen dress up, dine, and dance before the start of Finals. Those three hot ladies above are your Class of 2008 bloggers, all posing together in their finest. Tricia to the left in her under-the-sea teal dress (very fitting for a marine biology dork), Andie to the right in her demure brown gown, and myself in the middle, in the kimono that my dear ol' momma made for me.
Of course, there was more to Formal than our beautiful faces. There were many other beautiful faces to see too! Onward to more pictures!
Gina: If you come to SPC just to meet good looking college women, I wouldn't blame you.. Andie: There were multiple cameras taking pictures at the same time so half of us are looking at one and the other half are looking at the others... but we still look so cute! =)
Tricia: Megan went inside and yelled "group pictures outside" and we all pretty much came running
Gina: Say hi to the college's new student senate president Megan Craven (in the coral dress) and the Class of 2008 president Priscilla Marion (in the yellow). Priscilla did the brunt of the work involved with making Formal run as wonderfully as it did, which we are all infinitely grateful. Tricia: Pris did an awsome job...she said that next year she wants to top it!
Andie: Chris was the best date ever! We had so much fun together. Tricia: and you guys were so cute
Tricia: I love Megan so much!! we had a great time (as we always do) we have tons of pictures of the two of us but this one is definatly a favorite
Tricia: These are my roomates!!!! this is the best picture since is definatly captures all of our personalitys in one picture...i love it!! Left to right- Erica, Me, Kelli, Marjory
Tricia: Yea my dress breaks up the red...lol
Gina: Kelli Ann, on the far right, unfortunately broke our shiny-dress streak.
Gina: It was too dark for me to take a great photo of the dance floor/dinner room, but it was huge and gorgeous. It was really fun to see so many familiar faces really enjoying themselves. If only I had the chance to dance off all of my meals... Andie: You can barely see me on the dance floor but I definitely did not leave it for too long. I danced more that night than anything! =)
Tricia: yea its dark but trust me the room was great and dancing with all my friends was a definate plus
Andie: Priscilla and I with one of the waiters. He made us laugh so hard. =)
Gina: Myself and Mike Smith, one of my favorite partners in crime. The kimono came off after I realized that dancing and two layers of heavy brocade fabric didn't mix well.
Tricia: i am a Mike Smith fan i must say...he is smart and funny (if you get his humor)
Andie: Some of the bio majors! I, of course, am missing because I was bouncing around the place. =)
Tricia: a personal favorite of mine i must say...i didn't sit with them but out of all of the bio majors these are my particular favorite!
Gina: ALL HAIL THE GREAT ICE PEACOCK!
Tricia: too bad ice melts...it was cool rotation around the finger food table. All in all it was a great night with great food, dancing and most important great friends!
Andie: I had so much fun that night. I danced with pretty much everyone and enjoyed having some fun before all of my finals. But remember, make sure your shoes are comfortable or you will end up with blisters... like I did. They were definitely worth it =).
Yesterday was a lot of fun. After volunteering to give tours earlier that morning I was ready to hang out. Palooza is an all day out door barb-b-q, 1pm to 9pm, that has different bands come and play. A month ago we had a battle of the bands and the top two bands go to play on the stage yesterday with the winning band getting to close out the end of the night. They also have other bands come and play too. Most of the bands that played yesterday have friends who are here at school.
Jenny and I
Megs, Jenny, Pris, and I volunteered to grill the food since we all wanted to come and hang out but that type of music isn’t really our thing to just sit and watch. We had a great time doing it too. Aside from the fact that we all pretty much have no hair left on our hands it was a good time. It was cool to get the chance to see people come and go hang out for a little.
Drea, Me, Andie
After all the food was gone we all pretty much smelled of charcoal and lighter fluid so we ran back to our rooms to take showers. We all went back with the chance to actually get to hang out with people so that was a good time. After the concert was over Pris had to go sit the front desk of Vets so Megs and I sat with her to keep company till 11pm. We were hungry so and went to VIP Dinner for awhile to get some food since we barely ate all day even though we were grilling. Last night I stayed in Megs apartment since I was so tired for being on the go all day and there was a ton of people hanging out in my apartment last night. So all in all it was a pretty fun day. Today I need to finish up some last minute homework and tomorrow is the last day of class for the year!!!! Finals start on Wednesdays so the year is almost officially over.
So May 2nd was Pris’s 21st birthday!! At 12am as soon as the clock turned her roommates ran to say happy birthday and gave her birthday presents and such. Even though it was her birthday she was a champ and went to class. It was awesome that a whole bunch of us went out to NYC for dinner. It was Mexican restaurant called Chevy’s, which Pris picked out herself.
Her first legal drink was a Peach Margarita.
The food was awesome. Everyone of age bought drinks, well I didn’t since I was sick and I am still taking medicine for my ear so I didn’t want to chance having a drink with it. Jolie and I stuck to soda but we all toasted to Pris.
She is an amazing person and does so much for all of us so it was nice to take her out for her birthday. While she was at the bathroom we had ordered something special for her to drink that made her laugh. The waiters at the restaurant brought out ice cream and sang to her and they also gave her a sombrero that she got to keep. In typical Erica fashion she ended up taking the margarita glass that Pris was drinking from. When we got back to school she wrapped it up in tissue paper and we went over to give her presents. I bought her “Dear John� by Nicholas Sparks since he is an author that I love and I know she has read some of his books too and this would be one she would like. So all in all it was a great night for a great friend.
Meg, Me, Jenny (megs friend from home) 
