Archive for September, 2008

September 25, 2008

September 25th, 2008 by emhest09

I feel like the beginning of this year has been one giant puzzle and all the pieces are slowly falling into place. I sat down last week and planned out literally every hour of the last few days and it really helped me to know exactly where I was supposed and what I had to be doing. It also helps that I am feeling more confident in the commitments I am doing, whether it be learning how to use Excel for CAB or practicing a firm handshake for interviewing.

Speaking of interviewing, it has finally started! After doing two shadow interviews and meeting with my mentor in admissions Amanda (you can check out their blog) I got to “go solo” for the first time on Wednesday and then again on Thursday. I can honestly say I was surprised just how much I enjoyed it! I’ll admit, I was probably much more nervous than the first girl I interviewed but by the end everything seemed to run smoothly. I already can’t wait for next Tuesday when I get to do it again!

Along with interviewing there have been some fun events here at Holy Cross, one of which was on Friday when CAB brought a HUGE outdoor movie screen to show Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on the Hart Lawn. It was a chilly night but lots of students grabbed blankets, pillows, Kimball trays and even an air mattress and made the trek up the hill for free popcorn and a great movie. I added some pictures of the set up, including a humorous one of some CABbies standing by the 125 foot screen with an interesting movie playing!

After Friday I went home for the first time this semester for my grandmother’s 72nd birthday and had a great time with the masses of relative who assembled; I added a picture from Christmas to give you some idea! It was great to be home and with Columbus Day weekend coming soon I am looking forward to relaxing from the hectic schedule I have made for myself. Only Apple Picking, Cranium nights, 1000 pages of Bleak House by Charles Dickens and a celebratory speech about a yet-to-be-determined subject stand between me and home! It should be an exciting few weeks!

100_6609

Movie1

Movie2

September 11, 2008

September 11th, 2008 by emhest09

The whirlwind of activity has yet to die down here on Mount Saint James, it’s difficult to snatch even an hour of free time! The first weekend of school was a fun and successful one. I helped move first years into Hanselman and the best part of the day was carrying a huge suitcase into my freshman year room (Hanselman 213, the vault, in case you were wondering). My misty eyes and words of adoration seemed to terrify the girl I helped move in but hopefully her year will be as good as mine was! Freshman First Night was also a success, I learned how to make smoothies, how NOT to slide down a giant inflatable slide and how to warn someone before dropping an entire barrel of ice…all great life skills I am sure. The Mass of the Holy Spirit, one of my favorite Holy Cross traditions, was held indoors for the first time in my four years here but that made it even more powerful in my opinion. Colleen mentioned it in her blog and though it was EXTREMELY hot in there, I was deeply moved by the parent’s blessing and memories of my own first day at Holy Cross came back. Since this entry has been a little too nostalgic, I’ll work my way back to the present.

Some highlights of the first week of school and classes include giving a tour to new faculty (with fellow blogger Colleen Curran of course) and starting work again in the Religious Studies office. I also cooked for the first time in my apartment and though my mom warned me not to burn anything, I made it through grilled cheese and mac and cheese just fine! I’m taking baby steps, I plan on being a 5 star chef by the end of the year! We also had a very successful CAB retreat and the first few CAB events have been definite successes. Interviewing begins next week and I can’t wait, I have already done some observations and I can’t wait to meet potential Holy Crossers…I have definitely been missing the interaction because my first tour of the year was empty (which was probably a good thing because there was a flash flood warning and thunder, but it would have been an adventure!)

Classes have started as well and I think I am in for a lot of work, a lot of learning and a VERY interesting semester. I am taking two English classes and two History classes for the third time in my college career but I wouldn’t have it any other way. For my English classes I am taking 19th Century Novel, which starts with Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice…you can’t get much better! I am also taking Rhetoric with my advisor Professor Bizzell, a class I have wanted to take for three years. For my History classes I am taking Imperial Russia and The Age of Jackson, opposite ends of the spectrum to be sure but both seem very interesting.

The year is off to a great start and it seems to keep getting better! Instead of pictures I thought I would send along the link to the move-in day video, I didn’t make the cut but lots of CABies did!

http://www.holycross.edu/publicaffairs/features/2008-2009/class_of_2012