Unpacking Upheaval

     Last week on Thursday was my last day as a first year student at Saint Michael's College.  It was bittersweet- I didn't want my first year to end, but I want to start next year and start the summer, but I loved living in my single, but I really, really can't wait to live in my suite next year....my thoughts can just go back and forth for hours with things I am looking forward to and things I don't want to leave.  However, time marches on and so must my college career.
     Finals is a very stressful time for all students and it's just a task to try to remember which finals you have which day and when.  So, there is a very helpful list posted on the SMC website to help sort out when we have our finals. Finals started for me on Monday with Spanish.  It went very well and was a good start to the week.  On Tuesday I had my European history exam and Wednesday I had my Calculus exam.  My parents drove up from Long Island that afternoon and checked into the Double Tree.
---Side Note- the Double Tree is an amazing hotel it is fairly reasonable and has a Saint Mike's rate.  It also has delicious cookies for free!!!---
     My parents and I met up that night and we packed up some of my clothing and put it in our car.  I was so happy that some of my friends who were still on campus got to meet my parents.  Alex, Megan, and Taylor all met my parents and got to enjoy some Double Tree cookies!  My parents left me to go back to the hotel and I got to work on studying for my next final. 
     On Thursday my parents came back to my room and helped me finish packing.  It was a hard job and it felt like I had much more stuff than I had to begin with.  We packed the car up though, I took my exam, and we were headed back home around 4:15. 

Here is what our car looked like from the back...scary right?

     We drove, and drove, and drove for hours until we stopped for dinner at a Longhorn's in Massachusetts.  Longhorn's is a really delicious restaurant if you haven't been and I definitely recommend the Flo's Fillet!!!  We had a good meal and headed out again.  We finally arrived home on Friday at 1:15 A.M!  We had a long drive, but I wouldn't trade my time at SMC for anything.

     We all made the executive decision to not unpack anything until later on, and so around 12 in the afternoon that day I unpacked my whole car and brought everything into my basement. 

Here are just a couple of images of the chaos of all of my stuff

     I unpacked and started putting everything in its rightful place.  It was a lot of work and took me a couple hours, but I was happy once it was all done.  Good Luck with finals, Graduation, and Prom!  Have fun!!!

Feel free to ask me anything! 

Kayley

Could you say what is special about your friends at SMC?

     I have seven best friends at Saint Mike's and many more very close friends. Each of them are special in their own ways, but they are all loving and caring. I find that all the students at Saint Mike's are extremely caring and friendly. I did not know anyone when I came to Saint Mike's but I had no trouble making friends. I started to eat meals with the girls on my floor at the beginning of the year and eventually I became friends with Taylor who was in my First Year Seminar and she introduced me to her friends Alex and Allyson. Then Alex introduced us to our friends Marci, Megan, Katie, and Mary. Classes are a great way to meet people and make friends. I love all my girls and I can't imagine what my life would be like without them. It hasn't even been a week away from them and SMC and I miss them so much.

Ask me anything

What is like the main theme song for SMC if you have to choose one?

Hmmm, I'd have to say that our theme song is Black and Yellow by Wiz Khalifa. Our DJ Mitch played this song all the time at our basketball games and we would all sing along. But, we would substitute "Black" for "Purp" to make it more Saint Mike's themed.

"Yeah, uh huh, you know what it is
Purp and yellow, Purp and yellow,
Purp and yellow, Purp and yellow"

Ask me anything

Does SMC have something online where I can see what freshman dorm rooms look like? Thanks =}

Yes! http://smcvt.edu/studentlife/residential/housing/livingareas.asp

Here is the link to see a dorm room in
Joyce- http://smcvt.edu/tour/housing/joyce.htm
Lyons- http://smcvt.edu/tour/housing/lyons.htm
Ryan- http://smcvt.edu/tour/housing/ryan.htm

The Quad (where the three freshmen dorms are and Alumni) is probably the best area to live in all of campus. It is in a central location to Alliot, the academic buildings, the library, and the gym. I sometimes even hear upper classmen say they wish they still lived in the freshmen dorms.

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask me any other questions you may have!

Ask me anything

Are you a pet lover or own any pets? Do they allow pet visits at SMC?

     I have two dogs at home! I have a mini doxie named Olive and a miniature pinscher named Pickles. I really miss them at school and hate to leave them, but I know they'll be waiting when I come home. Because I live so far away, I fly home every break and my parents don't bring them up to see me. If you are able to have your pets come visit they are definitely allowed to come up to campus, but they are not allowed in any of the buildings. It is important to respect this rule because of the possibility of people having allergies. Thanks for the question, and feel free to ask more!

Ask me anything

formspring.me

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/KayleySMC14

Essential Effects

     Wow!  The year is almost over and it feels like it has just begun.  Finals week is a stressful time for all college students, and I thought I should take a study break to tell you about what I think are some essential supplies for college life.


1. Post-it Notes- these are a no brainer!  They are so helpful to mark important areas in your notebooks and textbooks.  You'll definitely need them.

This is my European History notebook!

 2. Tide to Go- accidents happen, but sometimes you don't have the time to wash something right away, so Tide to Go is helpful to keep your clothing nice. 

 3. Holiday decorations- At home, my family and I decorate for the holidays, so I like to bring a little of the holiday spirit back to school.  I love window stickies or just having fun with friends and make construction paper decorations. 

Here are some Easter Eggs I cut out of construction paper

4. Calendar/ date book- As students, we get so many emails with interesting events coming up, teachers assign projects, and we make plans with friends, so it is important to be able to record these important dates.  A planner is helpful, as is a regular calendar. 

My planner

5. Extra blankets- if you're not from Vermont or New England, you may not realize just how cold it can get here.  I recommend you bring up a couple of warm blankets besides your comforter. 


6. Under Armour- Once again, it can get pretty cold outside and it's nice to have an extra layer of to keep warm.  Under Armour is nice as well as thermal underclothes. 

7. Snacks- sometimes you're just hungry! 


8. Alarm clock that you'll wake up to- It's important to have a reliable alarm clock that will wake you up in the morning.  Professors expect students to arrive to class on time every time. 

9. Camera- A camera is a great way to record the exciting events in college.  I love taking pictures of my friends when we are hanging out and when there are special events on campus. 

10. Stapler- This is self explanatory, but some professors don't like to receive loose papers.  

11. Water Bottle- I have a metal water bottle that I love to fill up and use when I go to Zumba or just have in my room.  

12.  Extension cords- these are most important on move in day to plug in something where an outlet may not be nearby.

13. Lotion/chapstick- Sometimes the wind here is so cold and just dries your skin out.  I've never really liked lotion or chapstick before, but up here I find they are essential.

14. Rain boots- It rains here quite frequently and it also gets really muddy.  My rain boots are my faithful companions when battling the elements.     

mine are the pink ones

     There are so many other important necessitities to consider when packing up for college, but these are a few that I think are extremely helpful. 

Kayley

What was your favorite tv show growing up? Do you still watch it or encorporate it into your life at SMC?

     Actually, my favorite show growing up was Arthur! I don't watch it anymore, but at school my friends and I like a lot of the same tv shows. Although I do get a lot of work from my classes, I always manage to fit in some time to relax with my friends by watching Glee or Modern Family. My newest guilty pleasure is Say Yes to the Dress and my friends Taylor, Alex, Mary, Megan, and I love critiquing the dress choices on the show. Thanks for the question and don't hesitate to ask more!

Ask me anything

What are you most excited about right now?

     Right now I'm most excited about seeing my parents in a couple of days and going home to see my family and friends. I love being here at SMC, but it's nice to go home. I'm a little nervous about finals, but I can't wait until they're over. Next year I'm going to be living in an Honors Suite in Pontigny with 7 of my friends. We are all so excited and I can't wait to be a sophomore!

Ask me anything

formspring.me

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/KayleySMC14

Kayley, how did you become a blogger and were you friends with any of the bloggers beforehand? Are they nice?

     Some of my first best friends here at SMC are bloggers! Two of my friends, Alex Byrne and Marci Wood, became bloggers at the beginning of this year and they inspired me to try and become one myself. They are amazing girls, like many SMC students, and they really care about helping prospective students, which is the Bloggers' main goal. The first place I heard about becoming a student blogger was at the Founders Society. Founders is concerned with prospective and alumni relationships with Saint Mike's. It is a great program to become involved in, so if you are interested in becoming a blogger, you should definitely contact Mallory Wood and find out some more information!

Ask me anything

Stunning Spring

     Hello everyone!  It has officially been spring for over a month, but up here in Vermont, it feels like it has just begun!  I thought I would show you some images of Saint Mike's while spring is in bloom...



This is a picture of my window! I just had to put some summer window stickies on it!

    
     Spring is a really exciting time around Saint Mike's because all the students get really active and enjoy being outside taking advantage of the weather. 
   

Alex and I

Alex, Marci, and I

Alex and Marci posing for the camera with their gorgeous sunglasses!

Marci and I

Katie and Mary doing some homework- not easily accomplished on such a beautiful day

Tons of SMC students out enjoying the amazing weather!

     It is really a great scene watching students outside laying on blankets, playing frisbee, rollerblading, and just having a good time.  And up here at SMC this is a common occurance on the days when the weather is exceptional! 

Kayley

Kayley, what do you think is the most defining part of your experience at saint michael's?

     Hmmmm, this is an excellent question and thank you for asking it! I really think the most defining part of my experience at Saint Mike's is the acceptance I feel when I'm here. Everyone, including both the students and the faculty, is really welcoming and willing to help you around campus. Last semester I was taking my Geography final two days early and thought that the exam was at 1:00 in the afternoon on Tuesday, but it was really at 9:30 that day. My friend, who was taking the final exam with me, texted me that morning asking why I wasn’t at the exam. I was already late by 30 min and I was so nervous to walk into the class. I got to the classroom and froze; I was terrified to go in. I was pacing and pacing outside the door, when a girl was passing me. I stopped her and asked her 'should I go into my class? I'm a half hour late for my exam.' She calmed me down and told me to go into my class. My professor was really understanding and allowed me to stay a little late to finish my test. At the time I was extremely nervous, but I am so happy I asked that girl for help. This is just one example of the compassion that both students and faculty are willing to give any person. The community feel at Saint Mike’s is palpable and is one of the main reasons why I came to Saint Mike’s.

Ask me anything

Tremendous Talent

     April 29 was the MLK Talent Show.  MLK Society is "an
inter-racial group dedicated to promoting the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by hosting and sponsoring programs, lectures and workshops, including the annual Martin Luther King Convocation."  It is a great program available to students on campus and it has a really great message to send.  
     The talent show was to begin at 7:00, but the doors were to open at 6:30.  As a first year, I had never been to this talent show before, but I heard from other students that it is extremely popular and well attended.  Alex and I left our dorm rooms about 6:30, and already the line was getting pretty long. 

    
      We finally were allowed in at around 7:00 and we found seats quickly.  Megan, Marci, Alex, Taylor, Mary, and I all sat together waiting in anticipation. 

Mary, Marci, and Megan!

     While waiting for the show to begin, a DJ played some music and we all sang along.  Even waiting for the show was a lot of fun!  Finally at 7:30 the show began and it really took off.  First performance was a student named Gerhard who played the accordion while his younger brother played the drums.  It was really cute and they did a good job.  Then, the Acabellas performed!! Check them out in my video- (sorry for the head in the middle of the video) 

After they performed, the Celtic Knights put on a great dance....

     In the meanwhile, some students did a rap song about SMC, there were duets, someone played a great guitar solo, and some more singing.  Also, some Japanese exchange students delighted us with a medley of songs they knew....

     And after they performed, our own Gabbi sang and did an amazing job!!!  Sorry the video is side ways,  I thought you could turn a video clip.....but it turns out you can't, so close your eyes and enjoy the music

The tap club showed off their superior skills in a dance....

      In the end, it was a really great night and all of those who attended had a terrific time!  I can't wait until next year, and I hope that you'll consider taking part in these on campus acitivities. 

Kayley