a consolation prize for the cold

Gibbons Hall tower

Hello from campus!! I feel like I've been back and forth on campus this week as I worked at Admissions on Wednesday and moved in finally yesterday. Afterwards, it's been unpacking, going to an SGA retreat, and job training. It's been really cold all week and especially so with the wind these last three days. However, today I finally got to see some snow on campus!

Still building amidst the snow!

 If you thought Notre Dame is pretty any other time, I think  a snow covered campus is really the best.








For the ladies in orientation who braved the cold today, welcome and see you on Monday! Meanwhile, here are some pictures of our snow white campus!

      

College Acceptance all over again

I got in!!!

My hoodie is now official! 

Opening my letter today was definitely a deja vu moment from two years ago and opening a package from Notre Dame that would put me where I am today. It's certainly been an eventful journey from that letter to now, and a decision I am proud to have made. Congrats to my other nursing buddies and best of luck to everyone currently going through acceptance letter season! Remember though that while the word "acceptance" is popping at you, don't glance over the "it is necessary that you keep up your good work over the spring to continue meeting the admissions criteria." I assure you, it's just as important! 

Any other ladies coming in to the program with me in the fall? Or in spring/fall acceptance for the university? Be bold and keep in touch using the comment section--I'd love to hear from you guys!

Resurfacing in 2013

Hello ladies and happy new year! It's back to these compressed blogs for now but I promise, I will write more soon once school is back in session!!

Anna, BSN/RN?

It's the final stretch of winterim break so that means it's time to get back into school mode...which is perfect (or maybe not so!) because this is also the week I hear back from the School of Nursing about my application into the nursing program. As of right now, I am on a pre-nursing track and major wise, I am undeclared. Hopefully that will all change soon and I can officially sign a major declaration form.

It's such a photogenic building!

I've been saying I'm a nursing major and technically on the pre-nursing track I am but let me explain a little bit more of the technicals. For all of those interested in nursing here's the gist: for the first two years you are on a pre-nursing track completing university gen-eds and classes that prep you for the actual program . Then winter of your sophomore year (December 15 this year), you complete an (what I thought was a stress free) application and wait for the results in January. My class is the first 4 year BSN class going through the program so there really isn't a class above us to assuage our fears of getting in or not (lucky for you guys, we'll be here). I can honestly tell you that Facebook has been in turmoil over the anticipation of getting these letters. However, I have total confidence in the ability of my classmates so I'm not too stressed out. Although I cannot agree more that those letters should come sooner but that's another note :)

 I'll keep you guys updated but for now, I'll give you a glimpse of what a college winter break looks like.

It. Snowed.

Talk about crazy weather in Baltimore. Snow before and after Christmas!

Everyone's back in town! Yay!

No matter what college they attend, most people, if not everyone, are home in January, and since the holidays are over, there is really nothing much to do but to go see everyone. My classmates and I had a little bit of a hard time scheduling anything because not all of us are on semester schedule and half had to go back by the second week of January. When we did hang out, it was like 2 years of college didn't separate us at all. That and our high school teachers groaned upon seeing us again (haha!!)

L: we had a little too much fun at the restaurant
R: my research class 3 years ago. I can't believe it's been that long! And yes, we did do the chalk drawing on ourselves lol

Back on campus for a day

Last Thursday I came back to campus for a day to get my schedule sorted out. I think I might try to pick up a minor in philosophy--wish me luck! Anyway, when I stepped on campus I was greeted with construction galore but it's the good kind (not traffic everywhere kind, ugh lol)

L: The new Otenasek Morrissy Honors house standing next to Cana House. It still needs paint and maybe a few more things on the inside but it looks good...and it's standing. When we left they were just digging the ground for the foundation and now it's almost ready!

R: The nursing building has a tangible roof and there are solid floors. The curved area on the back (not pictured) is really starting to come together, too. 

You know what they say, a campus under construction means expansion...and expansion is good! So if you happened to drive or walk around in this, excuse the mess--it'll be a fantastic addition soon enough!

Before this becomes a novel...

I just want to give a shout out to the girls who came out to see us on Saturday for Winter Open House #2. You guys were a great bunch to walk around with. If you missed it or want to come back again, no biggie. There's another event in February or you can always schedule a personal visit. Either way, we hope to see you on campus soon. (if you'd like to overnight, my door is always open as well!)

Our tower is purple!!

More next time (probably when I'm back on campus!) GO RAVENS!

By the way, for those of you coming in the Fall CONGRATS! And don't forget FAFSA priority deadline is in February so get started on them. It takes less than 30 minutes to complete and it could mean more financial aid!

Home bound to Baltimore! ...wait...

Haha, yeah home's actually around the corner but it's a totally different perspective on Baltimore when you live away from home (but that's a totally different post later :). As of yesterday, I am officially on break for SIX WEEKS where I plan on sleeping....and sitting in front of my Netflix when possible (lol).

Anyway before I head into my six weeks of student hibernation I just wanted to say it was awesome meeting some of you ladies yesterday at Open House. If you missed it, don't worry--there's another one January 12th! Either way, it was definitely a great way to end the semester meeting the potential students of 2017 and 2018. Here's a candid of my fellow SA's as we all head home after a great morning

Oh and if you've been following up on us, Brenner and I have not had headshots yet and so while in our uniform walking back to sign out and go home, we decided to do this:

Considering this was done on a phone, I'd say not bad!

Oh, and more great updates for you fellow nursing majors out there: the new building HAS A ROOF. I know that sounds silly but looking at it simply gives me hope and encouragement to weather the next semester.

And with that ladies, I bid you goodbye...till next year! See you all in six weeks!!!!

the "life" of a college student

Whoo-hoo!! I have officially completed my fall semester of sophomore year which means...ONE MORE SEMESTER UNTIL NURSING SCHOOL!! ahhhh I'm excited :) My application and everything is all in and I hope to hear back soon

 *sigh* even the sunset agrees with me on this day! Such a gorgeous view from my balcony! I haven't seen the sun all day because of exams. Now I get to relax and enjoy this hangout spot.

Back to the fun stuff!

I know my last post was just a little somber and serious but sometimes that's college...typically on exam week haha! Anyway, here's the other side of college you'd probably want to see. So last Friday (I know, I'm so out of order!) my friends and I had our own mini Christmas dinner. I'm such a big Christmas fan and I definitely may have gone a little overboard on the decorating but it sure makes it feel like Christmas despite the 70 degree weather we were having last week. Too bad Santa didn't get me the real tree I wanted...haha


Ahhh, finals....aka the nerd post

Late night study break breakfast (the tradition of staff, faculty, and even the President serving us a late night breakfast because let's face it, coffee and ramen can only be endured for so much haha). I TA for the School of Nursing's Chemistry and here are some of my students taking a break from esthers and thiols and acids base and all that fun stuff. 

I know I already posted a study picture but I really thought this was a wonderful motivation quote from our Service Sorority on campus (they made study care packages for everyone with handy quotes like this to get us through finals week). I know it definitely made me smile as I was writing my genetics paper on cancer and the gene associated with it.

Student Ambassadors?

The people behind the scenes of Admissions...well, aside from the counselors, of course. This is us at our Christmas party/gift exchange on Tuesday. Yep, great team right there! top L:R Christine, Morgan, Brenner, me, Jazmin, Christina bottom L:R Liz, Cavill-Matthews, Rachel We're missing Kristen and Christina in this pic :( Don't mind Brenner below I think I reminded her of our exam here. Aww look there's Morgan, too!

Making the most of campus life

Today was the end of my 3 day study streak and I decided to make dinner. Our suite has an unoccupied room with a lofted bed. This is what happens when you put coffee, sugar, testing, dinner, sleep deprivation, and a lofted bed together. Oh how I love my friends...

Seriously, though, college has taught me to cook...and make delicious hot chocolate s'mores drinks. I think I'm gonna go sip this now and catch a movie. After all, I do have the next six weeks homework free, right? It still feels weird to not have any school work to do, though... Toodles till then!

Btw, Admissions is having our Winter Open House on Saturday. I hope you'll be there! I promise, no cameras this time :) Don't forget to come say hi!

Along the Home Stretch

It is currently 12:28AM and my nose is still in my psychology book and my ears filled with orchestra music from the Age of Enlightenment. Just in case you were wondering, it's the weekend before exam week and all the through the halls are the sounds of pages flipping, pens writing on paper, and computer keys a-typing. Yep, it's the end of the fall semester. Just one more week of exams standing between us and winterim (six weeks of vacation--a time for catching up on sleep, internships, and even taking a class, or studying abroad!). Me? I'm just looking forward to cuddling in my bed and reading a book that's not for class. So what's the point of this post aside from me taking a break from studying? Just a few words of encouragement: during this season of applications, don't get discouraged by road blocks of tests and essays. Just like me looking forward to vacation, just think when you finally have all those applications (if you haven't yet sent one to us ;) how much more time you'll have. And remember, if you have any questions or concerns, the friendly counselors and my fellow bloggers are here for you! Anyway, it's now 12:38. Break time is over, sadly.

Let me just leave you with this picture because what would my blog be without them? 

This is the view from my roommate's bed. Yes, that is a post-it Christmas tree. There were more presents yesterday but we opened them last night during our gift exchange with our friends. Oh, and excuse the mess--it IS finals week :) 

"Christmas..." Part 3: Christmas Dinner '12

Fair warning, when I said this was a blog of pictures, I kind of really meant it. What can I say? I like documenting memories :)

As before, Christmas dinner was so much fun! It was kind of interesting this year for me because I was a lot more involved this time around with Campus Ministry and the prayer service to SGA and the tree trim. Also because Molly was such an awesome subject for my videos :) This year I was with Sam and Molly (btw, they're all admissions counselors!) See the above pics! on the left, L:R Laura, Molly, Sam. I know, they look like elves, right? LOL On the right, me and my friends

I always tease Sam and vice versa. This is the "nice" pic because in the one she has on her camera (if you check out the admissions facebook page, I'm sure it's there...) I made a face, because that's just how we are. Gosh, I really AM short...

More pictures!!! These are roommate pics. These girls are pretty much my college besties. I love the part where you get to be all dressed up like a real Christmas dinner with family. Then again, I guess they are my family, and campus is home now. Also, note our scarves obsession. Liz likes them too but I don't think she had any to go with her outfit...

Last one, I promise! We're here posing with our chaplain who will do just about anything to NOT smile in a picture. Throughout this picture he kept talking about how he doesn't know how to smile. Needless to say, I made it my point to get a candid of his smile. Once I sift through all my pics, I'll let you know if it was a success. 

Anyway, from our "home" to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season. We're not really following advent timeline here but we're not here for Christmas so I guess Advent is just going to have to be early!