The World Beyond Union

Lark Street, Albany N.Y,

Over the past two weeks I've been spending some time off campus due to my friends coming home from college, my desire to visit my parents, and a need to take a breather from campus life. This campus is a wonderful place, but after a while you can begin to go stir crazy as it doesn't have shopping plazas, movie theaters, and other misc. places to amuse oneself. It was time for me to go out and experience the world, or in this case neighboring towns, around Union. I grew up in Albany, a twenty five minute drive from campus, so I know the surrounding area pretty well. I figured now would be a great opportunity to list a few attractions outside Union and outside Schenectady for those students or prospective students who aren't familiar with the area. I will discuss a few of my favorite locales and what merits them this title.
One place you can't really go wrong is Crossgates Mall or Colonie Center. Both malls offer a variety of stores from J. Crew, Coach, Forever 21, H & M, American Eagle, Macy's, Old Navy, and, my personal favorite, the Pet Center. These malls are stock full of endless possibilities for the college student and due to the fact that we are all (for the most part) 18 years old, we won't get kicked out by mall security after 4 pm! The Forever 21 at Crossgates is absolutely massive and it is possible to get lost in there for close to 3 hours. Beware, once you go in it is very hard to come out without spending over a 100 dollars. Both malls also have their own movie theaters playing a bunch of new releases and serving the most disgustingly delicious and chemical filled popcorn. The seats are also really comfortable, but make sure to get there early when going to see a newly released movie because it fills up very quickly with screaming teenagers. The Cheesecake Factory at Colonie is also a hot spot due to the delicious food and the bustling atmosphere. I love going there just to eat the red velvet cheesecake they serve. If that isn't enough entertainment there is always the Pet Center where you can take out puppies to play with. Every time I go to either mall I have to take out a puppy. It is so much fun to pick out one of the squirmy little guys to play with, especially when you go with a friend to share in the cuteness.
Another locale I would highly suggest is downtown Albany. I LOVE downtown Albany and all the awesome, quirky shops it has. I would have to say that my favorite street hands down is Lark Street as it has a bunch of cool little shops and restaurants like Bomber's Burrito Bar, The Daily Grind, Lark Street Flower Market, Lark Tattoo, Lark Vegas Piercing, Lil' Buddha Tea, Psychic Gallery, Seasons Skate Shop, Shining Star, Svengali Studios, etc. Each place is unique in its own way and offers a different service to all visitors. The port in Albany is also beautiful. I have spent numerous summer days down by the river walking along the foot path with family and friends. It is a great atmosphere, especially when it is nice and sunny, and many times bands come to perform there. I also love Washington Park. When I was younger I used to tan on the grass and play on the jungle gym there. Nowadays it is just nice to walk through and look at all the flowers.
For the more adventurous students I would suggest going hiking at Thacher State Park in Voorheesville. This was one of my favorite places to go as a kid in order to hike, bike, and picnic with my family. Growing up, this hasn't changed. I love to be outside whether it is to hike, swim, etc. The trails aren't too difficult to hike and the views are worth any amount of sweat or grim. It is a bit difficult to get here without a car, but if you can work out a way to get there you won't regret it.
The last place that I really like off Union's campus would be the Spectrum 8 Movie Theater in Albany. Now I am biased as I have worked there for the past 4 years, but it is by far my favorite movie theater out of the many I have been to. It is so much smaller and more comfortably intimate then going to the gigantic movie theaters at the mall. Plus it also has a small art gallery upon entering and I always thought that component of it was very cool. It is essentially an art house complete with many independent and foreign films while mixing in a few main stream every now and again. The food is also delicious as the theater serves popcorn with, get this, REAL butter and brownies, cookies, cake, and banana bread. My favorite movie time snack is a small chai tea and a slice of banana bread. You wouldn't be able to get that anywhere else.
These are just a few of the places outside Union I suggest visiting. It was nice to get away for a bit and experience the joys of the great beyond, but I also realized how much I consider this campus my home. After being gone a few days, I experienced a sort of home sickness that could only be cured by my return to campus.

Relay for Life

Last Friday April 29th was a very special evening for the majority of the campus community. From 7 pm to 2 am Relay for Life took place in the Union College Field House. I think about 450 people showed up throughout the course of the evening to take part in the relay. 51 teams signed up to walk around the track continuously from 7 to 2 am. These teams each raised money towards cancer research (it cost $10 per person when signing onto a team) and many frats and sororities took place in the event as well. Over $25,000 dollars were raised over the course of the evening, but that is not what made this event so spectacular. It was the coming together of a community to fight cancer and to listen to others speak about their battles with cancer, or the battles of their loved ones. As I looked around the crowd I noticed several people so overcome with emotion that they were in tears, hugging the person closest to them. Granted this was largely a female population, it was still very touching to see. As one speaker after the other left the stage they were met with abundant applause and a warm hug from a student waiting off to the side. The event included a Survivor's Lap where three survivors from the crowd took to the track in a symbolic show of determination and strength.
Although it was stated that you should walk around the track continuously my team, or the Gold Team, took time to enjoy the barbecue and delicious nitrogen ice cream dessert. We sat together, bonded, and munched on hot dogs, hamburgers, or, in my vegetarian case, cheese pizza. Different activity tables were also set up around the track. One of my friends decided to create a luminary bag as her close friend had passed away a year ago from cancer. She lit a candle and placed her bag on the track along with dozens of others. My friend Kelsey and I also sat down at a table to make cards for cancer patients in the hospital fighting for their survival. It was nice to imagine how that one little card might brighten a little bit of their day.
The event also featured a few acts. Union's very own Garnet Minstrel's performed to cheers from the crowd, the break dance team performed to hip hop, and their was also beautiful Indian dancing. I wasn't expecting to be treated to a show upon attending Relay for Life, but it made the time pass much more quickly and entertained everyone. Unfortunately the evening was cut short as Union rented a bouncy castle. I have always been a lover of trampolines and basically anything that allows me to bounce around like a spaz, so when given the opportunity I leap for it. Bouncing around with my friends was so much fun, but sadly one of my friends landed wrong and sprained her ankle (and if she were asked how she sprained her ankle she would deny this story whole heartedly!).Wanting to get her back to our dorm without falling and breaking herself even more, my friend group decided to call it quits for the night and went back to Davidson to watch a movie.
All in all the Relay for Life was a success. It brought the community a bit closer together, raised money for an incredible cause, and told the stories of those who once had to fight for life, thereby allowing the audience to appreciate the life they have that much more.

Work Study: The Good, The Bad, and the Delightful

If you are on financial aid at Union College than you are pretty much guaranteed to have a work study. What is a work study, you wonder? It is a job on campus in an area that you may excel in where all that you make is either put towards tuition or put into your personal bank account. In other words, I love work study. I will take the rest of this post to inform you of various work study jobs around campus and the many benefits of having a work study job while attending classes.
At first I wasn't sure about how I could fit a work study job around my class schedule, but soon found out just have accommodating this job really is. You are able to work around your classes and change your schedule based upon trimester. Not only that, but if you have a meeting or an event that pops up out of the blue you can usually change your work schedule in order to attend these events.
I personally work in the Web Communications department. At first I wasn't sure I was placed correctly as my html and web skills were slightly limited, but you learn quickly. Over time I have come to love this job, especially because I get to shoot video and create this blog. The job went from being a necessity to something I actually really enjoy doing and have had a lot of fun with over the course of this year.
I have had a couple friends who have either really liked or hated their work studies. One of friends works as a life guard at the pool. Obviously you have to be a qualified life guard in order to obtain this position, but she believes it is worth it. Her job is to essentially sit at the pool, do homework, and watch everyone swim in case someone begins to drown, which never happens. So she basically gets paid to do her homework which is a great deal, even if it is a million degrees in the pool. My next friend works at the front desk of the gym watching college students filter in through the doors for a workout. That is literally her job. Most days I walk in and she is sitting doing work or eating a sandwich. I have another friend who works in the library where she is not allowed to eat. She is in charge of one of the reference desks and checks books, movies, magazines, etc out to the campus community. When no one comes in she sits and does homework or reads. Needless to say she is another friend who loves her work study.
I have only met two people so far who have been dissatisfied with their work study placements. The first is one of my guy friends who used to work with the ground maintenance department. His job was to essentially beautify the campus by planting flowers, weeding, raking leaves, etc. Now this might not sound too bad, but in the winter he was forced to get up at 4 am to be ready to shovel snow at 5. When you are a college student sleep is so essential and therefore this work study was a nightmare. He eventually switched work study jobs he disliked his first one so much. My other friend works in Rathskeller preparing greasy yet delicious food for the masses. She really doesn't like this job too much as she is constantly on her feet, constantly cooking some sort of greasy food, and is constantly a million degrees hotter than she feels is normal. Her job is basically one sweaty, greasy mess and I am sure that next year she will be applying for a new work study.
All in all work study's are a great way to meet new people on campus, become a part of the behind the scenes activities that take place, and earn a decent amount of money to either be put toward tuition or kept for your own personal spending. Anyone who applies for a work study should be honest about the skills they possess and what interests them in order to be placed accordingly. Sometimes you can't help what work study you get, but it will be a new experience that, in the end, you will learn a lot from.

Under the Weather

My general appearance Monday morning

Here is something I have yet to post about: sickness on campus. For most students mama doesn't live close enough to come take care of them nor is it possible for her to make an emergency trek up to Union to pick them up and take them home. This leaves few options for the sick individual.
I bring this topic up today as I have a serious cold and while I live close enough where mama could come take care of me, I have opted to be a big girl and deal with this beast on my own. Being sick on campus can be a real pain in the butt as I have found out. For one thing if you are deathly ill and are having trouble leaving your bed you better hope you have a caring roommate otherwise you will starve to death. It was a miracle to wake up yesterday and see that my sweet roomie had brought me some yogurt and fruit for breakfast. It really makes you appreciate the person you live with ten fold. Another issue that may arise is getting an appointment with health services. It seems like the moment you get sick so does the rest of the population of students at Union. I called to make an appointment this morning and the only opening they had was for 11 am, right when I was supposed to be getting to work. When I asked if they had another appointment open, they told me I would have to make one for tomorrow or possibly the next day if they didn't have any openings. What is a sick girl to do?! I took the 11 am.
Illness can get even trickier when you realize that the nurses at the health clinic are prescribing you with medicine that you can get at the Reamer Campus Center without going through the hassle of scheduling an appointment and waiting around for a half hour just to be told that you have a common cold and need Mucinex. Sheer annoyance. Skipped classes are also negative outcomes of having some sort of sickness. One class missed isn't a huge deal, but excessive absences can lead to bigger problems. It is imperative that you email all the teachers who's classes you have missed in order to excuse your absence and see if there was anything truly important you missed in class. Some teachers require that you have a note for a missed class which is tricky because health services doesn't give out notes which I found out today : (
If you are really sick, don't go to class and risk contaminating the Universe, but if you have just a little cold, try to make it as a skipped class is a couple hundred dollars out the window. Who knows how many hundreds I've lost due to illness this year.
If you are really, really sick (aka an emergency) and can't get an appointment with health services skip it altogether and call Ellis Hospital or Campus Safety for help. They tell you this when you call to make an appointment at the health clinic, but I thought I'd reiterate it here. If you live close to home, don't feel bad ducking out for the weekend in order to get some much needed TLC from Mom and Dad. Sometimes that is all you really need in order to get better quickly. I know that has always helped me.

A Change of Heart

One thing that is so great about Union is that it allows you to change your mind. I must admit that when I was younger I was the type of person who constantly changed her career path. I went from wanting to be a famous singer to wanting to study molecular biology. As I got older I realized my true passion was for psychology and that all I really wanted to do in my life was help others overcome their specific disorders. Without a doubt I knew that psychology was the major for me and upon arriving at Union I immediately threw myself into psych courses with zeal. Psych 101 was basic, yet interesting nonetheless. I learned a lot in the short ten weeks I took it, but something was missing. I brushed this feeling aside and took three courses the next trimester that had nothing to do with psychology. It was nice to have a little break in between, but by trimester three I was ready for psychology once again. This time I decided to take Psych 250 or Abnormal Behavior. Thus far the course is interesting, but not stimulating. It wasn't until last night that everything clicked into place.
For so many years I have been enclosing myself in this teeny tiny box, stating over and over again that I am psychologist and will never be anything else. I decided I had to major in psychology yet when it came time to turn in the declared major sheet, I found I was hesitant. Now I understand why. While I love psychology, I don't love all of it. There are parts that interest me, but there are also many parts that bore me to tears. I love psych, but deep down I've come to realize I will never make it as a psychologist because the passion will never be there. And that is what I love about this school. I don't have to decide what I want to be right now, I have so much time to figure everything out. Last night it dawned on me that I should do something with my life that infuses me with joy. I need to have a profession that I am so passionate about it fills me with emotion. It wasn't until my friend put things in perspective for me that I realized the things I love lead to two possible professions. I have now decided to become a nutritionist and a writer, because two really is better than one.
Even if I think I've figured things out, I can still go back and change my major, change my career path. I don't have to tuck myself into a little box stuck with a label of what I am convinced I should be. Now out of this box, I have the freedom to figure my life out. I am surrounded by new possibilities at Union and the world seems endless. I am so thankful that I have had the luck of attending a liberal arts college as you don't truly know what you want until you are waist deep in what life has thrown your way.

'Tis the time of year

My very first visit to Union (Note the big smile!)

It is another rainy day here on campus. The rain has reduced the school to one giant swamp pit complete with a million squiggly worms and students wearing all sorts of patterned or ridiculously expensive rain boots. Despite the icky weather, I can't help but notice just how many students have recently been visiting the campus. Although the rain puts a damper on things, it can not mask the splendor of the campus and its community. About this time last year I myself visited the college for the very first time. At this point I had no idea I would fall in love and make it my college. I actually applied to Union on a whim, never having visited or expecting to want to go here. After I received my letter of acceptance, I was blown away by the amount of financial aid I received and it became a very serious option for the 2010-2011 school year. What solidified my decision was the visit. It was a slightly chilly spring day, but was nevertheless lovely. Driving down the tree-lined avenue and seeing the Nott Memorial for the first time was incredible. I had had no idea that such an interesting and exotic building existed in Schenectady, let alone the state of New York. It was really an unusual and stunning site. Leaving the car with my mother and boyfriend of the time in tow, I began to explore the school I quickly began to realize would be my school for the next four years. The buildings reminded me of old southern charm and the people surrounding me were incredibly helpful and good natured. Union has the kind of atmosphere that draws you in and doesn't want to let you go. I was hooked immediately. I remember going home that night with my decision already made and was even more excited upon my return with my father. He loved it just as much as I did.
The Accepted Students Day is right around the corner and I can't help but get a little bit excited. This year I will most likely host a student for the day and I am very excited at the prospect of sharing all Union has to offer with someone. I hope the students who visit feel the same strong connection I did and that they fall in love and never want to leave. It can be an incredibly overwhelming day with so many activities, so many new faces, and so many questions running through your mind, but it is also a day of answers and of powerful community. Whether these accepted students decide to make Union theirs or discover that it isn't the perfect fit, I wish them all well and hope to see many of the same faces around campus next year.
Disclaimer: If any prospective or already committed students have any questions, comments, etc please feel free to contact me on Facebook via message (Adah Keegan). I would be more than happy to answer anything anyone would like to know!

We're Backkk!

The lovely Memorial Chapel

After a much relaxed week and half without classes, school work, or a self-imposed curfew it is now time to head back to the daily grind here at Union College. I can't say that I am sorry to see spring break fly by as I spent my time at home doing almost nothing the entire time. I was so excited to step foot back on campus this past Sunday and even more elated to see my friends once again. The weather was absolutely beautiful, as opposed to today when it is once again snowing, and I couldn't wait to start my new classes. This spring trimester holds so much promise for all of us Union students. With warmer weather comes brighter moods and higher energy levels. The weather will also bring us out onto the campus to enjoy the sunshine and each others company while tanning on the lawns, playing frisbee, or simply sitting around chatting on a sun-warmed stone wall. With this delightful weather comes warnings from our professors, advisors, and even R.A's. I can't tell you how many times I have already been told to keep myself and my education in check this spring term. I have been told how easy it is to fall off the wagon and simply give up caring about school due to all the summery activities going on around campus. Although this might scare some, it does not scare me. I see spring trimester as a chance to have an incredible social life, but at the same time I understand the ramifications of making this social life my sole focus. In my life it has always been school first, having fun second. It is easy to balance both by getting your work done early so that you can enjoy all that the campus has to offer.

Something that I am greatly looking forward to is Springfest in May. The rumors I have heard thus far are fantastical, proclaiming that it is a week of debauchery mixed with a raging good time. I have heard it is a full week of nothing but fun, listening to a band perform while hanging out with friends. I personally hope that it is a week that brings the campus community a little bit closer together in the warm months ahead as I feel like the classes are their own separate entities. Until I experience it I won't know what truly happens, but I will be sure to write an entertaining post on it. 

Some other things that I am looking forward to are the classes I have chosen to take this final trimester of my freshman year. I will be taking French 201, Geology 101, and Abnormal Psychology (or Psych 250). Each class offers something different and that is what I love about them. Two of the three courses are required for my majors, but that makes them more exciting as they are classes I am truly interested in with professors I actually connect to. Geology, otherwise known as the odd course, already seems like a great choice. So far I have had two classes and while some of the material is review, I have already learned so much. I never thought in a million years I would be taking a course in Geology at Union, but I am very glad that I took this opportunity and signed up for it. My excitement is endless due to the fact that I finally get to use my hiking boots this season when we take field trips! 

All in all I have much to look forward to throughout the course of my favorite season. There is already so much to do that I don't even know where exactly to start. All I know is that by focusing on this trimester and all that is has to offer I will become a stronger student and a much more integrated member of this community. 

Piling on the Stress

The last week before spring break and all I can think about is the amount of work headed my way. Today, Thursday March 10th, 2011 is D-Day. With a final English paper due tomorrow as well as two revised papers and two writing contest entries, my evening will consist of nothing but dramatically typing on my laptop to churn out three polished papers and two solid entries. My outlook at this current moment: Bleak.
As many college students struggle to find equilibrium between studying and having a social life this weekend, my weekend will be spent in my bedroom eating ramen with my head crammed in a book. My first final, English, is on Monday and the thought of entering the classroom bright and early completely unprepared terrifies me. I figure that my social life can hit an all time low in order for me to receive an incredible grade (or passing grade...) on my final. I believe the weekend will also consist of doing arm exercises in order for my hands to function at a high level with all the essays I will have to write. I also keep forgetting that I have a final paper due for my precept on Monday. Although I have already written the paper it needs much improvement. Just one more thing that has to be added to my list of to dos. The only thing that might save me from going insane this weekend are a few trips to the gym to work up my endurance. Next week is going to be brutal.
I keep telling myself over and over that it won't be so bad and that the finals I will have to endure after next trimester's classes will be much worse. This isn't helping as I am in the thick of work at this moment. I find that nothing can take my mind off the work that has to be done. I'll be at the gym on the elliptical thinking about how I should be in my room writing a paper or I'll be at work wondering if it is okay to start work on revising a paper. A good question to ask is how many papers can a girl write before she goes bananas? The answer is surprisingly low.
Although it is crunch time and this is the most amount of work in the shortest amount of time I have had to complete here at Union College, I really shouldn't complain. I have friends from other colleges taking six courses that they have finals for! I am lucky to only have three courses, one of which I don't even have an actual final in. Things might seem terrible, but so many other people have it so much worse than I could even imagine. Plus, I still have time to fit in a blog post : )
So I guess the moral of this story is that even though finals are horrible and make you want to rip all your hair out, there is always a silver lining. It is possible to get through finals unscathed and make it to glorious spring break, it just takes a bit of patience, a lot of endurance, and copious amounts of snacks.

High School vs. College: The SmackDown

The Albany Academy for Girls (My High School!)

It's time for a much anticipated blog entry (and by anticipated I mean I'm the only one who is really excited for it). The similarities and differences between college life and that of the high school life. I know that I can not truly give an accurate depiction of the two as I attended a private high school that is very similar to Union, but I will give it my best shot.


Five Similarities:
1. The Amount of Work. Surprisingly my workload from high school has transferred over to my work load here at Union. In fact I can almost say that I actually have less work to do here than I did in high school. The level of difficulty is about the same, but keep in mind that my senior year I was taking three A.P. courses.

2. The Teachers. Believe it or not the teachers are actually very similar to the teachers I had in high school. They are super willing to help with any issues you might be experiencing, they are often times very creative and open-minded, and they allow you to express yourself in your own way. They will always make time for you and keep office hours a few days a week in case you need to stop by for clarification.

3. The Activities. Many of the activities offered on campus are the same or have the same underlying goal as the activities that were offered at my high school. For example: On campus there is a Habitat for Humanity club, just as my high school had a Habitat for Humanity club where we went to build sites in and around Albany to build houses on the weekends. Many clubs and organizations here at Union College have the same motives as those clubs in high school.

4. The Participation. At my high school everyone was very involved in class discussion and in discussion of the school's values and maintenance. Here at Union, I've found this to be pretty much the same. The whole campus is involved in events the campus puts on, students actively participate in class, and members of the student council work to perfect campus life.

5. The Gossip. This has definitely not changed since leaving high school. The only thing that has changed are the names of the people being discussed. I hate to say it, but coming from a small private school to a small private college the gossip has stayed at a pretty consistent level. Everyday I am bombarded with stories about you know who doing you know what with she/he who shall not be named. The stories are the same with minor twists as their is more freedom on a college campus. This was something I had hoped to put behind me, but gossip always has a way of following you around.

Five Differences:
1. The Food. This is something that is very, very different from my high school based on the element of nutrition. My high school served the most delicious health food complete with a salad and sandwich bar. At Union, and I am sure many other colleges, the food is delicious but less than healthy. You really have to reach deep inside yourself in order to make wise food choices. Although healthy food is an option, it seems that it is slowly being forgotten for the fried and greasy.

2. The Freedom. I won't lie. College life is pretty sweet. There is an abundance of freedom that I never knew existed. You can do what you like, be who you want, and get to live on your own for once. It is incredibly liberating to answer to yourself, while at the same time daunting. It can be frightening in the beginning to find that you hold all the power in your hands, that it is you who fully makes decisions about yourself. You no longer have mom and dad dictating every move you make. It is a powerful thing, but just remember to be smart and don't let the power get to your head.

3. The Weekends. My weekends are about as different as can be since arriving on campus. In high school I used to work Friday and Saturday nights and then spend the rest of my weekend either hanging out with friends or relaxing at home. The weekends have completely changed for me. Now there are so many more things to do, so many more places to go. It is possible to go see movies, go out to eat, go to frats, see the different shows the campus is putting on, attend concerts and comedians, volunteer, etc. The list goes on and end. I find that my weekends are taken up by dancing the night away, going to on campus movies, doing some work here and there, and attending different sporting events. Everything I could ever want to do on the weekend is at my fingertips.

4. The Dating Scene. I'm just going to go ahead and say it. What dating scene? I have yet to hear about this proposed dating scene on campus. I have scene a few couples get together in blissful harmony, but that is very rare. In high school I was known as the girl who, for the most part, was always dating someone. Arriving at college was an eye opening change for me as I realized the concept of dating someone doesn't really exist here. At least not for underclassmen. I think this might be the same on most college campus'.

5. The Grades. There are so many more distractions on campus then there ever were in high school. I find that it is sometimes impossible to sit, quietly studying in your room or even in the library without a distraction somehow appearing. It gets tougher to make the grades you want in college as you are constantly doing this, that, and the other thing every waking moment. Going to class can also be an issue as you no longer have a parent there to push you out of bed and out the door. Making stellar grades can be a really tricky process, one that you have to constantly be on top of in order to make it through a trimester successfully.

Spring Break: Mon Amour

As the second trimester winds down and spring break comes into view, I can't help but become a little excited. With one final and two final papers looming on the horizon before ultimate freedom I am becoming giddy. The only thing standing in the way of my spring break is the freezing cold weather. Growing up in Albany I know what to expect from the weather this time of year, yet it seems like the winter continues to drag on and on and on with no end in sight.
Spring Break. This is usually the time when students actually take a vacation and go someplace warm, sandy, and alcohol friendly. People tend to come back twenty shades darker than they were when they left with a fresh outlook on the third trimester. Sadly, not all of us can afford the luxury of traveling abroad and therefore must either stay at home bumming it or work over the break. This will be the first year I will not be traveling abroad, and in all honesty it is a welcome change. I do not have to stress over flights, try to pack a suitcase under fifty pounds (I always had to get rid of some of my heels at the last minute...), nor do I have to wake up every morning at 8 am in order to site see for the entire day. Instead I have decided to spend my spring break at home, alone (my father and brothers do not have the same vacation), sleeping in and working here and there. I can not wait. After a trimester of ups and downs, full of stress and sleepless nights, I am so excited to lay in my own bed at home and just relax. As the weather slowly gets nicer I am elated at the prospect of being able to run outside, in my own neighborhood. So long boring treadmill!
Another great thing to think about is that Union College students have no work over the break due to the trimester system. This means there are no essays, projects, or textbook reading to worry about it when all you want to do is enjoy a much deserved break. Union has a true Spring Break and for that I am quite grateful.
I am counting down the days until I can sleep until noon, walk around my house in my pajamas, hang out with the boys in my family, and read an actual book of my choosing. Until this day I continue to go to class, do my work, and of course make the most of the last week and a half of my second trimester. I don't know how excited everyone else is, but that first day of Spring Break is going to be incredible.

No Guts, No Glory

On Saturday night at 7 p.m. I had the privilege of attending the Union vs. Princeton hockey game with a group of my friends. This game was by far one of my favorites to watch. It was fast paced, triumphant, and incredibly passionate. Since last year, hockey has become a large part of my life, a part that excites me and thrills me as a spectator. It is something about the drive and the sheer talent the players have that makes it my favorite sport.

Arriving at the rink early at 6:45 pm (my fear that all the seats would be taken thoroughly freaking me out), my friends and I began the trek up into the stands to find enough room for the six of us. The student section was yet to be filled to capacity, but looking out across the rink it was clear we had made a wise choice in coming to the rink early. The stands were full of families, locals, and students all vying for seats so they wouldn't have to stand. Within 15 minutes the stadium was pretty much packed. The show was about to begin and I found myself on the edge of my seat, full of butterflies of excitement. 

At 7 pm the lights went out and all around me was an expectant air. Then the music grew louder and the team was announced, giving way to cheers and applause. Union's players poured out onto the ice in their dark uniforms while Princeton's team came next, dressed in frightening Halloween orange. It was seriously like watching an ice dancing show as the spotlights jumped around the ice, highlighting players here and there. It was an intense opening followed by the starting lineup emerging from the darkness as they were announced. My heart was in my throat as the lights rose and the players took their respective places. Game time. 

The experience of watching this last home game was thrilling. It was almost like I could feel the adrenaline coursing through the players as they jumped onto the ice and headed into the thick of battle. It might sound foolish, but I could hardly contain myself from bursting from my seat and running onto the ice to join in the fight. Throughout the entire game I wished I was one of the players. The need to succeed was so intense that after every goal Union scored I jumped to my feet in applause. My friends must have thought I was a lunatic as I refused to have my focus broken. I watched as Union scored 5 goals, one by Luke Cain, Stéphane Boileau, John Simpson, and two goals by Daniel Carr, throughout the three periods. Princeton just couldn't keep up. The night ended with a 5-0 victory, very happy players, and an equally happy audience. What made the game so great was that it was the last home game of the season. The team was so passionate and full of pride as they played and the audience only added to this atmosphere. At the end of the game, the team was presented with the Cleary Cup. This was a beautiful moment in Union College's history and for all the members of Union's Ice Hockey team. This was the first time Union College received the Cleary Cup since the ice hockey team entered Division One. It was truly a special moment for all involved in achieving this goal. After the presentation of the cup, Senior Night then commenced. Eight seniors were honored including Brock Matheson, Andrew Buote, John Simpson, Stéphane Boileau, Adam Presizniuk, and Corey Milan. The ceremony included the families of the eight senior members of the team which was quite touching. The ceremony brought back memories of my senior night for Field Hockey and how moving it was to be honored for one's commitment and dedication to a well loved team. 

Not only was the game the perfect combination of skill and violence, but the ceremony afterwards brought back so many positive memories that I left the rink on some sort of high, as I am sure the team did as well. Congratulations to the team, the coaches, and the honored seniors! 

Number one in the ECAC

P.S. I am terribly sorry for the poor quality of the video. I am no Steven Spielberg...

Good Ol' Schenectady

The Stockade District

As it is absolutely freezing outside I doubt many people want to travel farther than they have to. This usually means students are contained within campus walls as the prospect of leaving the comforts of the campus also comes into play. I am well aware that Schenectady doesn't have the best reputation, however I decided to see for myself just what this town has to offer. Having no expectations I was quite thrilled when I left campus to discover that Schenectady does, in fact, have many charming attributes. I'm not saying all of Schenectady is a walk in the park, but for the most part this town has a lot to offer young college students.

1. State Street
This street has much to offer us Union students. Although it seems to go on forever and ever without an end, all that we really need is located within walking distance to the campus. Given it can be a very cold 15 minutes walk in the winter, it is worth it to go catch a movie or make a quick run to pick up goodies for your dorm room. A few of my favorite places on State Street include: CVS, the Bowtie Cinema, Bombers, and the Paul Mitchell hair salon. I am a frequent shopper at this CVS as I have an obsession with dying my hair at the most random of times. The CVS offers a lot of different hair color options and has the perfect college dorm room snacks. My favorite is the multi-pack of Nature Valley bars they have started selling. It is also a good place to pick up an misc. items from a new toothbrush to deodorant. No one wants to pay a million dollars at the book store for something they can get for a discounted price right around the corner. I also love the Bowtie Cinema as it reminds me a little of the Spectrum 8 Cinema in Albany where I used to work. I love the tiny theatre feel and the fact that I can order chicken wings and fries, even though it takes ten years before they are prepared for you. They also show a good variety of movies and although they don't show independent films I usually like all the movies playing. Bomber's Burrito Bar is also located on State Street and makes my life a little bit brighter. On top of loving the food there, I also love the environment. It reminds me a lot of Union with all the college paraphernalia on the walls and the homey feel to it. I enjoy my trips to Bomber's so much that I have even applied for a job there! The Paul Mitchell hair salon is also a fantastic place. Because it is a school the rates are reduced and you can get a gorgeous haircut for a reasonable price. The atmosphere is also nice as many students are in their twenties and are very easy to relate to.
 2. Jay Street
Ahhhh, Jay Street. This is fast becoming my favorite street in Schenectady. In fact I was just there yesterday at one of my favorite restaurants. It is full of colorful shops selling bizarre, funny, and delicious items. Some of my favorite places on this brightly lit street include Chez Daisie, The Open Door Bookstore, and Tattoo Blues. Chez Daisie is absolutely incredible. It sells homemade crepes that are some of the best crepes I have ever eaten. The first time I dined there I skipped the dinner crepes and went straight for a dessert of banana, peanut butter, and nutella deliciousness. When I went yesterday I had my first actual dinner crepe there which consisted of red peppers, diced chicken seasoned with Cesar dressing, greek olives, and so much more. It was incredible, especially because it was followed up with a crepe filled with strawberries and nutella. I was in heaven. The next shop I love is the Open Door Bookstore. I can honestly spend hours in this little place browsing the bargain books and staring entranced at the giant books filled with all sorts of interesting images. It also sells various odds and ends such as picture frames, candles, and knick knacks. I have already bought three novels from this store and have great difficulty not buying a book every time I walk past. Tattoo Blues is my next favorite store on this enchanted street. I love to walk past and look in the windows at the people getting tattooed. I have always been fascinated by the thought of tattoos, of someone forever staining their skin with something that means so much to them. I find all the books filled with images of thousands of different tattoos incredible. I have a hard time resisting the urge to tattoo myself. It is like they say, once you get one it is almost impossible to stop there.
3. The Stockade
And now for my final locale. The Stockade District is a historic site in Schenectady that has one of the largest concentrations of colonial houses in all of the United States. Upon first visiting this historic area I made the correct choice of visiting it with my parents. They knew more about the area than I did and therefore almost gave me my own personal tour through the tiny, winding streets. The area is just incredible, full of these gorgeous, old colonial structures that are bursting with history. I loved seeing the authentic plates on each house dating the time of its construction. Some of the houses had sadly fallen into disrepair, but I saw glimpses of hope as many older, more shabby looking houses were in the process of being restored. I had no idea so much history was lurking down the street from Union College. I encourage everyone to go and visit the Stockade. It was truly a treat to be able to see these beautiful houses. My favorite part of that day was finding a small park located alongside the river where my parents and I took a little stroll together. I remember discussing my future at the college and all that I hoped to accomplish while gazing out at the river surrounded by so much history and promise. It was one of the most peaceful days of my life.

A Trip to the Gym

The Sanctuary

Out of all the buildings on campus the Alumni Gymnasium is one of my favorites. My love for this special place has come about through various means. Before arriving on campus I was someone who loved to workout sans the gym. Running outside was a great passion of mine with some crunches on my bedroom floor thrown in for good measure. Ever since coming to Union, I have become obsessed with the gym.
I think part of it is because of the atmosphere. I love walking into the gym and being greeted and/or smiled at by those students at the front desk. It puts me in a good workout kind of mood. When heading up to the gym I can gaze out at the swimmers diving into Union's beautiful pool. I like to imagine myself diving off the high dive with such grace, even when I know this will never be possible due to my lack of elegance and my irrational fear of the high dive. Terrifying. Before I enter the actual gym area I usually make my way to the bathroom as running on the treadmill with a full bladder is a nightmare waiting to happen. I love the bathroom at the gym, which is really a weird thing to say. The bathroom is usually empty, doesn't smell like decaying animals, and has cheerful yellow stalls. My kind of place. After my bathroom stop it is time to enter the gym. Ahhhh, the Alumni Gym.
I have two reasons for going to the gym. One is to attend my wellness classes and the other is to do my partner workout with my suite mate. I take two wellness classes, but I really only attend one regularly because I am not as interested in the other. Dance Cardio Fusion is so much fun every single class I find it almost impossible to want to attend Kickboxing. I was let down the first day of kickboxing when I realized we actually weren't kicking giant punching bags. We simply shuffle around and punch the air a few times. Sadly lame compared to my intense dance class. Dance Cardio Fusion takes place in one of the little classrooms off of the gym. It combines all different types of dance so you can never be bored. So far we have done African dancing, the Jive, hip hop, country hoe down (one of my personal favorites), modern, and some crazy 80's dance moves. All in all a terrific class which doesn't meet enough. The second reason for going to the gym is my partner workouts with Gina. We started doing this end of fall term and although some weeks we haven't followed through we are beginning to pick back up on the workouts. I love these workouts as we encourage the other to push themselves harder in order to live a healthy lifestyle. We also have created our own diet which consists of anything and everything healthy (this of course we only really stick to on the weekdays...sometimes you just have to have those fries on Saturday night). The workout consists of 20 minutes on the elliptical, 15 on the treadmill, 30 for crunches and weight activities, 15 back on the elliptical, and a cool down of 10 minutes on the treadmill. When it gets warmer we have decided to add a swimming component to our little workout.
So back to my description of the Alumni Gym. It is full of ellipticals, treadmills, stationary bikes, weight machines, and mats for misc. activities. I love using the elliptical and being able to watch my favorite crime dramas. It seems the channel is always tuned to some type of crime show and I could not be happier. The absolute worst is coming in to the gym and finding that all the televisions have been turned to some sort of sports channel. Hockey I can deal with, every other sport makes me want to hurl the T.V. out the window in sheer boredom (Don't worry I would never actually do this!). Although I believe there should be more of a mat area to do crunches on, I do like how the gym has little mats you can drag across the floor and position yourself. The water fountain is also near by if you forget to bring a water bottle so that is a nice bonus. I have never been downstairs in the Alumni Gym. I believe there is another, more intense weight room down there, but as I have the arm strength of a baby lizard I have never felt the need to check it out. There are also squash courts I have never had the pleasure of seeing as I played squash in high school and have been scarred for life by it (I played against my coach and was smacked so hard in the head that I fell on the floor half dead...).
During fall term I also used to frequent the swimming pool during open swim hours. I was usually the only person who went during these times and it was absurd that there were five lifeguards to one little me. I remember getting decked out in my friends flaming hot pink and bright orange one-piece swim suit complete with crazy eyed goggles and a metallic swim bonnet. If you think that looked incredible imagine me wearing it while swimming .1 miles an hour in Union's pool. I have never been the fastest swimmer and on top of that I can't swim with regular strokes, I have to doggy paddle. I am a happy embarrassment when swimming. I have recently had to stop my swimming as it is freezing outside to the point where my hair turns into icicles and I fear that it will break off and cause me to become bald. Thankfully spring seems to be approaching which means that I will once again be able to make the trek to the pool every night in order to swim my painfully slow laps in perfect contentment. I love the gym!

Late night at Reamer

Union's own Campus Center

As I am sure most readers know, Reamer refers to Union's glorious Campus Center where many of the colleges activities go down. It is a bubble of energy on campus and recently it put on a late night party that I am still thinking about fondly.
This party, running from 10 pm until 2 am, seemed like some sort of corny event via email. For the first week I began receiving emails I had already determined that I would not be attending, but the week of I had a spontaneous change of heart. I figured I might as well check out what the campus had to offer its students on a Saturday night. So I trudged across campus with a few of my friends and prepared for a lame time.
The first thing I noticed upon entering the first floor of Reamer was the bull riding that was taking place center stage. A mechanical pull stared me in the eye before taking its rider on one crazy ride. As I took up a table and sat watching rider after rider try to stay atop the evil thing, I realized the longest anyone could hold on was 10 seconds. Now that is just plain sad. Students were getting whipped around like Willow Smith's hair in her music video 'Whip It'. Talk about hysterical. One kid actually flipped off the bull and landed feet up on the blue mats! While wondering whether I would have the strength to hold myself up on that massive beast, my eye caught hold of a bunch of students dressed up in old time costumes. I quickly realized this meant there were old fashioned photos being taken and my heart skipped a beat. I had always wanted to do just that. The girls and I hurried over and began putting together some of the most ridiculous outfits I have ever seen. Since there were three of us we decided that one of us would be the gun slinging cowboy complete with faux leather floor length jacket, one would be the town's own southern belle, and the other would have to be the crazy bar maiden who side-lined as a can-can dancer. I of course chose the bar maiden and what ensued was one of the best memories I have at Union College thus far. The photo was a mix of embarrassment and delight as we posed in front of a saloon back drop. I am still laughing when I think back on it.
After our photo opportunity, we headed to the second floor where some arcade games were set up. We didn't stay too long on this floor as we realized the food wasn't so great and the games were of no interest to us. Heading up to the third floor, my friend and I realized that they had a build-a-stuffed animal workshop. We immediately decided we wanted to make one for each other, an early Valentine's day present. But as we rounded the stairs we came face to face with a line like no other. Everyone and their mother wanted to create a stuffed creature. What appeared to be a million and one couples stared back at us from there places in line, no doubt ready to defend there position if we should decide to budge the line. You can't get in the way of true love. There was no way we were waiting in that long a line to stuff cotton into a furry creature. We looked sadly at each other as we both knew there would be no teddy bears knit with tender love and care this Valentine's day. But what there would be was fried dough covered in powdered sugar! Our eyes moved from the line of students and fixed on a distant food set up. Sweet mother of the lord I had never been so excited in all my life to see that fried dough. We loaded our plates with delicious goodness and sprinkled an extra bit of powdered sugar for good measure. My eyes and my mouth watered as I took my first bite. HEAVENLY.
On to the fourth and final floor. This floor had lots of arcade games, but we soon found what we were looking for. Sand art! What a forgotten art form. I filled up a smiley face bottle with all different colored sand and was heart broken when some of the sand ran together. My artistic vision ruined! Thankfully my suite mate was there with a surprise. She had created sand art for me as an early Valentine's day present. I made sure not to mess with this one. After leaving the sand art station, I came face to face with the hot dog table. Oh no. Whenever I see hot dogs I can't just let them lie there. So instead of ignoring them, I grabbed a plate and chowed down on two incredible chili dogs. So worth the extra high intensity dance session the following day.
After the carnage, the girls and I travelled back downstairs to sit and relax. It was nice to sit in a peaceful, warm setting and talk about our days over glasses of lemonade. Around 12:30 we decided to go dancing at the frats, but not before stowing our prized possessions from the evening in our mail boxes for safe keeping.
I have never been so glad that I attended a campus event. It was a lot of fun, even if we never got to build a stuffed animal. It was also nice to see how many people from the community came out to support a school sponsored activity. My only regret for the evening was not riding that devilish bull. I still dream of beating 10 seconds.

Someone's Hungry

Ozone Café

I am not just writing this post due to the fact that I am starving right now. I also want to discuss dining opportunities and where to go to get the perfect chicken parmagiana. Yummy.
There are quite a few dining options on Union's campus which is fantastic for me as I am a girl who likes to mix things up every once and a while. The college offers West Dining Hall, Dutch Hollow, Upper Class Dining Hall, Rathskeller, and Ozone Café. I have decided to spill my own opinion on each dining location so that whomever is reading this will have an idea of what to expect.
West Dining Hall:
Otherwise known as the busiest place on earth to be between the hours of 12 pm to 1 pm. Every time you venture into this world between these two times it is like stepping into the wild jungles of the Amazon. It is the Animal Kingdom in there as students fight for the last piece of pizza and load up on greasy french fries or a boring looking salad. The best time to go is right when the dining hall opens or right before it is about to close. I've found the environment much more peaceful and therefore have had a better dining experience. The food isn't too bad. Some of it is overly greasy and seems to be screaming, "Eat me, Eat me! I won't make you gain forty pounds!", but you just have to exercise self control and turn your ears away. The salad bar is really great. I love being able to create the salad of my dreams especially because it offers celery and raw broccoli both of which I can't live without. The sandwich station is also great as it has its very own grill where I can create paninis. For me, the overall best meal at West is brunch on Saturday's and Sunday's. I LOVE brunch as it is every type of food I would ever want to eat all concentrated under the same roof. The omelets are delicious, the pastries are heavenly, and they have grapes which makes my heart soar to new heights. While West isn't the best place to eat all the time, it does have the best brunch I have ever tasted. Amen to that.

Dutch Hollow:
This dining option is located in Reamer Campus center and offers all kinds of goodies until 12 am. There is soup, salad, sushi, fruit, yogurt...pretty much anything you could ever dream of. One downfall is that you have to pay with your declining balance, but the taste of the food makes up for it. Dutch Hollow makes a mean chicken parm that I always recommend to all my friends who come to visit me. The environment is also less stifled and more relaxed as there are less people milling around. The cashiers are also really friendly and always wish me a good day! Overall, it is a really nice place to grab a late night snack if you aren't afraid to walk across campus to get it.

Upper Class Dining Hall:
I have only ever eaten at Upper Class once, but it was a nice experience. The cafeteria is spread out along the second floor of Reamer and it has a lot of great food to offer. The first time I went there there was strawberry shortcake and I think that biased my opinion of Upper Class from then on. The layout is much better, more of an open spread. While the food is probably worse for you than at West, it is all the more delectable. Plus you are surrounded by all different aged students which is great because at West it is mainly freshmen. While the food might taste better and there might be more of an eclectic society, I still prefer West as it is a five minute walk from my dorm in the winter time.

Rathskeller:
I hate to admit it, but this is by far my favorite dining option. It is located under old chapel in a cellar, yet it is anything but dark and drab. I love the low hanging ceilings and the diner booth set up. I also love all the greasy, disgusting food they have to offer from milkshakes to cheese sticks. It is a great place to go on the weekend at 1 am when all you want is a salty snack before bed. The place has a bar atmosphere to it and that makes it have a cool, youthful feel to it. But don't expect to be served right away on the weekend. The place is usually packed around 1:30 am and the wait to get your food can be up to 45 minutes long. In the end, the food and the vibe is still worth it.

Ozone Cafe:
Truth be told I have yet to eat at Ozone! From what I have heard it is very very good, but sadly I have never been. It serves organic, healthy food by the plate, but must be paid for in cash or with the declining balance. I will have to update this post as soon as I get my butt over to the café to try all that it has to offer!

So all in all the best place to eat is....West during the week, Upper on Friday nights, Dutch hollow for a late night snack, and Rathskeller when going out on the weekends. I have no favorite place to eat, but instead enjoy all that the campus has to offer.

Minerva on the Brain

For the past two weeks I have mainly had one thing on my mind. One thing that keeps nagging at me and making it impossible to go to sleep at a reasonable hour. My Minerva.

The Majestic Golub

The Minerva houses at Union have always fascinated me due to their uniqueness. I have never seen a housing program quite like this at any other college or university. What is really cool about the program is that you are automatically involved in a Minerva house the moment you become a student, but it is up to you how involved in the house you want to be. Living in a college dorm can be really gross, so it is a nice change to be able to go to your Minerva house whenever you want in order to lounge around on the plush couches or cook an actual healthy meal in the kitchen. I have loved being able to go into Golub, my Minerva, whenever I want in order to hang out and watch T.V. or bake cupcakes. Plus the house is all around so much nicer than the dorm I live in it is like a welcome vacation every time I step inside. 

So why, you ask, am I constantly thinking about my Minerva? This is due to the fact that Minerva housing applications are due in less than a week. My application has already been filled out and sent, yet I can't help thinking about it. I want so badly to live in my Minerva next year for a variety of reasons. 

1. I have yet to feel a true sense of community in Davidson, my current dorm. I want to be part of an actual close-knit community of students of varying ages. I keep having this recurring dream in my head of waking up in Golub and cooking pancakes for the whole house. Not that this will ever actually happen due to the fact I probably would burn the house down cooking that early in the morning, but it is nevertheless a wonderful thought. 

2. The Minerva's put on so many events that I can't help but be drawn to it. I want to feel a part of these events by actively participating in organizing them. In high school I really enjoyed planning events and and attending the finished product. I want to constantly be surrounded by activity and amusement. How great would it be to come downstairs and find a little party going on in the living room? 

3. The other housing options for next year seem so bleak compared to my Minerva. I would either be living in Fox Hall or College Park. Fox Hall is essentially the same as Davidson and the thought of living in a Davidson-esque building for the second time makes me shudder. While College Park is a renovated hotel that has been turned into a dorm complete with air-conditioning, the walk to campus is really not worth it. If I had a car I would be all for making the drive everyday to campus, but the fact is I do not own a car and probably will not own a car until Junior year. Therefore a 15-20 minute walk to campus everyday is out of the question. 

4. My Minerva is beautiful. Who doesn't want to live in a house equipped with its own bevy of study rooms, great lounge areas, and a very cleanly and organized kitchen? While I have never seen the bedrooms, I have seen the floor map and I must say they are much bigger than the bedrooms in Davidson. Plus the bathrooms are much closer to all the rooms. 

These are only a few reasons why I wish to live in Golub next year. I am crossing my fingers my application is good enough to allow me to move in next year, but I won't know until the spring whether I have received a coveted bedroom. Until then my Minerva will never leave my brain.

Moving In, Moving On

First day of Orientation

I had so many expectations about what my first day at Union would be like. I dreamed that I would move all of my things in to my immaculate dorm room, my roommate and I would become instant best friends, I would meet and make so many friends using my stellar personality to win them over, I would find a sweet guy, preferably on the hockey team, who would profess his love for me and become my boyfriend, I would dress to the nines for classes every day, and I would not get lost once while on campus. Soon after arriving I realized it is better not to have such ridiculous expectations.

First of all, my dorm room was anything but immaculate. Apparently I was thinking I would be living at the Plaza Hotel my freshman year. This was not the case. I moved into Davidson Hall and came to realize that it was known as the "party dorm" or the dorm that no one truly wants to take up residence in. I went around my room jotting down cracks, holes, and other misc. damage I found, thinking I would eventually give this list to my RA (The list is still sitting on my desk as I type...). The ceiling had holes in it, the cement walls were discolored and lumpy, and my mattress was literally as soft as a bag full of rocks. I was sad, yet not broken. After dolling up my room with all my belongings, I realized that no amount of make-up was going to make this room beautiful. I also realized the seven giant suitcases plus three plastic bins I had brought might have been too much. Complete with my roomates belongings, my room was on overload. I quickly shoved most of my possesions under my bed. Problem solved.

Meeting my roommate for the first time was one of the most nervewracking things for me. I so wanted to get along with her as I knew we were stuck with each other for the rest of the year. Upon first meeting, we were cordial with one another and excited to be on campus, but as for instant best friends, I was quite off. We both had our respective activities to go to, plus we were both clinging to our families like they were about to leave us in war torn Iraq. I was not thrilled with our first meeting and once our parents left and we were alone together, we commenced talking. At first it was a little awkward for me. I've never been the most socially open with people so it took some time for me to warm up to my roomie. Plus I tend to ask ridiculous questions when nervous so that didn't make the situation any better. We definitely did not become best friends at first, but over the course of the first trimester we formed a fantastic friendship that I am glad took time to cultivate.

So...about making a million friends the first day. Like I said, my expectations were way to high as was my confidence in my level of outgoingness. Here I had this image of myself as being a bubbly, super easy to get along with, incredibly open college freshman. Here's the thing: I am 100% all of these things, only problem is that I am only like that with my actual friends. I have to be comfortable in order for the true Adah to emerge. Therefore, when people introduced themselves to me I would smile awkwardly, declare my name, and then quickly look away from the person speaking to me, pretending to be fascinated by a classroom wall. My attempt at starting a conversation was so strange and disjointed that eventually I gave up entirely and vowed to one day get over my irrational fears. Thinking back, I must have come across like a nut job who shouldn't be within ten feet of other humans. Fantastic. So much for making a million and one friends on the first day. Thankfully my phone was fully charged so I could look cool sending out a bunch of texts to all my new friends. No one knew they were all to my mom and dad...Thanks for not blocking my number guys.

And now onto the topic of guys. Walking the campus I made eye contact with a bevy of possibilities. My heart was soaring as I pictured myself with each one of them. The awkward first dates, the adorable strolling and hand holding, and the amazing first kisses. Sadly I was given a wake up call those first few days of school. Men, or should I say boys, are just not as romantic and/or charming as you hope they will be. In fact it is a miracle if they hold the door open for you when entering a building. I also realized that the concept of dating has been completely eradicated from the college campus. This was something that struck me as terribly sad. As for the amazing first kisses, it became painfully obvious that dental hygiene had become outdated since my high school days. I was to have no breath-taking first kisses. Even my dream to date a hockey player was slighted when I came face to face with the truth. These talented athletes are already taken. They will forever be married to hockey, while I could only hope to be second best, a patient mistress. 

The first day of classes I got up super early to primp myself. I spent two hours getting ready, painstakingly picking out the perfect first day outfit, and then stepped out onto campus. By the end of that first day I was completely exhausted, mentally and physically. After completing my homework, showering, and getting ready for bed, it was past midnight. I set an early alarm so that I could wake up to get all dressed up for classes the next day, but the second the alarm went off that next morning I realized that my getting up two hours early just wasn't going to work. I turned off the alarm, slumped back in bed, and happily slept for another hour and half. That was the beginning of the yoga/sweat pants, tee, and a messy bun that quickly became the staple of my everyday life. 

As for not getting lost on campus, I was embarrassed to find that it was quite easy to be led astray on this small campus. Or it was quite easy for me to be. For the first week I had no idea where the Visual Arts building was located even though I had a psychology class there. I had to ask someone everyday of my class as I just could not remember which of the lovely cream colored buildings it was. I even got lost on the way to the gym, suddenly finding myself at Messa Rink wide eyed and throughly confused. Since I refused to carry a map around with me, the ultimate mark of a freshman, I continued to get lost even when studying the map the night before my classes. To this day I still find entrances and hidden staircases that I had no idea existed. 

I cannot express how glad I am that my dreams were not fully realized. This allowed me to truly experience what it is like leaving home for the first time. It can be lonely and at times painful to leave all that one knows, but in the end it is an incredible life changing experience. My dorm room may not have been the nicest place to live in, but it is my own little space on campus. In the end, I am fiercely proud to show it off to my visiting friends as it is my niche that represents my new life. My roomie and I may not have become best friends at first, but over time we grew to form a strong bond that no one else can share. As for meeting new people, it took time and some soul searching for me to find people I really get along with, but many times the good things in life are harder to acquire. On gaining a boyfriend: this idea seems quite silly to me now. Things will happen when they happen and you can not force it. For right now I am content being single and focusing on my own happiness. As for getting dressed up everyday, I realized it really isn't worth losing sleep over. Who cares if your hair is perfectly styled or if you are sporting some extra comfy sweatpants to class? What matters is that you are engaged in class and get enough sleep to do your best work. About getting lost, it's okay! It happens to everyone on a new campus and people will be more than kind when you ask them for directions. Just study your map and eventually it will all sink in. 

 Many things might not have gone the way I would have liked, but I now realize that my life has been made so much more interesting because of it. Union College is not a cookie-cutter kind of place. It is a place for uniqueness to sprout, a place where over planning and high expectations become boring. This is a school where you will be exalted for being yourself and bringing new ideas to the table. I have only been here for a trimester and a half and already I consider myself part of this fantastic community.