Monday, April 23, 2012

The end of the beginning

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." A special thanks to oft quoted Winston Churchill for help starting off this Monday afternoon blog. These words really capture what is happening in the lives of St. Michael's seniors right now. We are not ending anything, but beginning another phase of our lives.

Confession time-I have a HUGE mental block around graduating. I half believe that it isn't going to happen, maybe the apocalypse will occur before I walk across the stage and get my diploma. Maybe I will find a wormhole and be transported back to my freshman year dorm. This sense of disbelief isn't helped by my Peace Corps medical forms. Completing them may turn out to be my life's vocation. I am also going to India four days after graduation, so my SMC activities aren't going to end until mid-June.

However, I went on my last trip to the Lund Family Center, which has been an important part of my time here. I presented my political science thesis at the school's Student Research Symposium. My friends and I are looking for apartments (with a year lease!) so that we can stay in the Burlington area after graduation. All signs point to me graduating, leaving the comforts of campus, and finding my way in the world outside. I can only hope that the weeks to come will be filled with friends and fun, and that we will all be ready to leave our cocoon when the time comes.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

What's going on

Hello friends, I have not blogged for the longest time and I think that Billy Joel would agree. In these past few weeks I have gone on spring break to Aruba with my friends. Here we are posing on a Catamaran in the Caribbean:



My friend, Kelsey, parents were very kind and allowed us use of their timeshare. We had six lovely days of lounging around the beach and adventuring.

Lately we have also been working tirelessly on India preparations. The departure date is getting closer and closer, which is exciting but also nerve-wracking. Our group has to fundraise for the charities that we will be working with. Here are some of us at the spring concert, selling concessions to benefit the organizations:



I am really luck to be going with such a great group of people. Since St. Mike's is such a small school, many of us were fortunate to know each other already. We have biweekly meetings and other events more regularly, and it has been nice to get to know each other before the plane takes off.

I hope that everyone is having a nice post-Easter week and still has some candy to enjoy!