Back to School...for the Last Time at Stonehill :(

I'm a senior. It's a statement that's easy to say, but very difficult to wrap my mind around. Being a senior means that 3/4 of my time at Stonehill has already come and gone int he blink of an eye and that in less than a year I will be entering the real world. Scary stuff. But on another level, being a senior means that I am in the prime of the college years, and I have so many things, such as 100 and 50 days, Mr. Stonehill, and Cape Week - just to name a couple Stonehill traditions - to look forward to. The best way to put it is that the beginning of my senior year is bittersweet. I am feeling optimistic about the fun times and memories I will have and share with my friends this year. But I am also feeling overwhelmed by the daunting task of preparing for a life after Stonehill, which includes, but is not limited to, taking the GREs, applying to grad schools, and applying for jobs. I don't feel old enough for this yet!

But to start this year's series of blogs, let me describe my first week back at school, my new room and roommate, and of course fall orientation!

I moved in early (a week before all other upperclassmen) for fall orientation training. I was excited to move-in early because this means I could avoid the business of move-in day, and get settled and comfortable in my room before classes start. I am living in Du Lac, which is generally known as the "quiet dorm," which will be perfect for me this semester since I am student teaching. Here are some pictures of me moving in:

And also my room fully set-up after my roommate also moved in:

My roommate, Carrie, is from Queensbury, New York, and, like me, she is an Elementary Education major. In fact, also like me, Carrie is also teaching first grade at the Robinson Elementary School in Mansfield! We are very excited that we will be sharing the same experience this fall and are fully prepared to support each other since we will be going through the exact same thing. Carrie's second major is fine arts, and she is specializing in graphic design. She has worked with her dad making brochures for all the Lake George attractions near her home. As you may remember from my summer posts, Carrie is outdoorsy and adventurous, and she is also a lover of country music like me! We are living in a suite with Carrie's group of really sweet friends. It's perfect for senior year! I also have lots of friends all over campus in the other upperclassmen housing, so I am sure I will be spending a lot of time in those residence areas too!
My first week at Stonehill was full of training and preparation for fall orientation. During the week we heard from offices such as the Counseling and Testing Center, Academic Services, and Campus Ministry for planning the Into the Streets volunteer afternoon. We spent time discussing and planning the Transitions course, which is a way to help students transition to college and deal with issues such as time management, making friends, getting along with roommates, and finding resources on campus. We also trained for the sexual assault awareness program that all incoming students are required to attend. But my favorite parts of the week's training were when we got together with the other groups of student leaders on campus. The Peer Mentors, Crossings Student Ministers, and ALANA Brothers and Sisters helped the RAs with training. We assisted with being the participants in party scenarios that RAs may encounter during the school year. For the first time, all four groups of student leaders met for the Student Leader Experience in the atrium of the new science building. We got to meet new people and learn about the roles of each of the other groups and also discovered how much we have in common. Here are a couple pictures of the event in the atrium of the science building:

Fall Orientation began on Saturday when the first-year students moved on campus. We held Building Socials in the Residence Halls, which included pizza, ice cream, pictures, and some pretty awesome dance parties. We heard from Student Government Association, discussed diversity, and learned about the academic integrity policy on campus. The highlights, however, are always the trip into Boston and our afternoon of service when the entire freshman class, the Peer Mentors, and faculty went "Into the Streets" to make a difference in our surrounding communities. Here are a couple pictures highlighting Fall Orientation:

Orientation came to a close and the academic year began with Academic Convocation. The senior and freshman classes were honored and welcomed, and Professor Mary-Joan Leith was honored with the Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in teaching. Here is a picture of me with my roommate and some of my suitemates, plus our friend Kait who I am sure will be visiting a lot this year, outside the Sports Complex after convocation.