Spending the Summer at EC

This past year, I decided that I wanted to spend the summer break on the Elmira College campus. I was not sure what I was going to experience, but whatever it was, I knew it was going to be life changing. 

W - Wind & Rain - On July 26, EC was in the midst of Summer Registration III.  The last third of the incoming Class of 2016 were on campus, taking assessments, while I was at work in the Mark Twain Exhibit in Hamilton Hall.  All of a sudden I noticed the sky turn an eery grey and it start to rain.  At first the rain was light, then it grew to a downpour and eventually was falling in horizontal sheets of water.  The mist and the fog rolled in and I could not even see across the street from Hamilton Hall.  When the mist subsided, I saw the damage.  Trees were down everywhere; in the middle of Washington Avenue and all over the lawn by the newly renovated Cowles Hall.  Because the power went out (and would continue to be out for three days), we had to evacuate our building.  It was not until I walked across campus that I realized the extent of the tree damage.  There were trees and debris in the puddle.  Two trees even uprooted and fell and broke two benches next to the Fountain.  In the days that followed, I saw professors, Administrators, and students outside helping to clean up debris.  The 2012 Tornado is a moment that everyone who was on campus will think back to and remember how close of a community Elmira College really is.

A - All the World's a Stage - This summer, not only did I conquer my biggest fear (tornado), but I also visited and did a lot of things I have not had the time to do in the Finger Lakes/Southern Tier area.  One weekend, I travelled to Ithaca to see all of the cool little shops that the Ithaca Commons has to offer.  Many of the stores were antique/consignment shops, while others were handmade crafts that would make beautiful gifts.  Even though I did not buy anything on that trip, I enjoyed just looking at all of the boutiques!  I was also able to attend the Chemung County Fair.  Where I grew up, county fairs are always the places to go during the summer.  Since I was not home for the summer, I took a short trip to Big Flats and watched the truck and tractor pulls one afternoon! It was a little piece of my hometown in my other home!

R - Reading by the Puddle - One of my favorite things I did this summer involved the Puddle and good book!  Sitting on a blanket by the Puddle with the sun gazing down on you is a great feeling and during the chaos of the term, we forget about it.  This summer I was able to reconnect to a great feeling that made me love living in Alumni Hall my freshman year at EC.

M - The Mark Twain Study - One of the greatest little treasures of American Literature sits on the Elmira College campus.  Before I became a Mark Twain Ambassador, I had never set foot inside the Study.  Once I worked there everyday, I could understand the magic that the building carries to many people.  This summer I encountered visitors from Las Vegas, North Carolina, England, Australia, and Japan.  There is such a history in that Study that you do not realize until you are stepping foot inside the place where Samuel Clemens wrote his great works of literature.  What amazed me the most is when people would point to a picture of Mr. Clemens sitting by the window and then ask if he really sat there.  I think a lot of students forget that Elmira College and Elmira, NY has a lot of rich history that we students need to take advantage of and learn from. 

Spending the summer at Elmira was one of the best decisions I made, I learned a great deal about myself and enjoyed making many new friends!

I hope everyone has a great Fall!


**Photo Credits:  Elmira College Office of Public Relations

Term III 2012 - Paris, France

Hello everyone and I hope you all had a wonderful spring and summer, I know I did.  This spring I spent 5 weeks in Paris, France with some classmates from Elmira College.  We lived in aparthotels and attended classes everyday.  This is what I learned/realized during my five weeks in a European country. 

P - Practice -  As I am a French major, this trip was especially important for me.  I wanted to leave the trip with a better understanding of the language and the nuances of the culture.  So, I decided that I would practice my French as much as possible.  There were only about four of us on the trip who were French majors, so during our group outings I did need to speak English with them.  However, during class and when out shopping or in museums I made sure I used my skills in the language.  It seemed silly to me why anyone who knows the language wouldn't try to use it as much as possible.

A - Americanizing - I had a really unique experience one day when I was at a department store.  A lady came up to me asking about the check-out lines.  She could obviously tell that I was not a native French speaker, so she asked where I was from, how long I have been studying French ... etc.  After I responded to her questions, she said that she was glad I was trying to speak the native language of her country.  She said that the real France is getting lost because all of the tourists come to Paris expecting everyone to speak and understand English, so they bother not trying to learn the language.  I thought this was really interesting and what she said made me want to use and practice my French more and more!

R - Regrets are not an option - When a student goes on a Term III travel trip, it is important that they realize the opportunities that lay ahead of them.  I know for myself, I spent a lot of my own money to go to Paris for five weeks and I was crazy if I wasn't going to do everything that I wanted to do on that trip.  So I made it my mission to do two things:  Go to Disneyland Paris and go to an interesting museum.  So, I did just that, we set a date to go to Disneyland and it was so much fun!  I rode the Tower of Terror and felt like I was going to die while doing it, but, at least I went on it!  I met Micky Mouse, Cinderella, Aurora, Prince Charming, and Snow White, and I took a ride on Aladdin's magic carpet!  It was so much fun to spend the day with the girls on the trip and just revel in our childhood of Disney Princesses and the Lion King!  For the museum, I chose to go to the Museum of Decorative Arts on the Free Museum Sunday.  We got passes for the major art museums in Paris (the Louvre and the Orsay Museum) so I wanted to go to this one when I didn't have to pay for my entrance.  This museum was WONDERFUL!  I say that because there was so much to see and look at.  They had antique jewelry exhibits, old-school furniture, and my favorite, a LOUIS VUITTON and MARC JACOBS exhibit!  If I could have spent all day in that exhibit, I probably would have.  It showed the progression from LV's designer luggage to the more modern doctor satchel and his fabulous shoes as designed by Marc Jacobs.  It was so amazing to see how this man who originally started out making little hat boxes became the name-brand designer that he is known for now! I did everything I wanted to do on this trip and more because I looked at where I was and there was nothing that I could not accomplish in the city of lights and love!

 

I - Immersion - As I stated above in the Introduction, we took immersion classes for four of those weeks that we were in Paris.  These classes were very helpful because everything was taught in French. But, what I especially liked about these classes was that it wasn't a class just filled with Americans, people of other nationalities were there too.  In my class, we had students from Angola, Israel, Spain, Mexico, China, Romania, so many places and we got to learn about the French language, the French culture, and all of the fellow students' cultures.  It was one of the greatest experiences of my life being in those classes with people who cared about growing in the language and who wanted to participate and practice.

S - Self-Reflection - Spending five weeks in an unfamiliar country, without your family, without your best friends, without the comfort of fried chicken and macaroni and cheese can be pretty intense for people.  I will not lie, my first few days were rough, I was incredibly homesick for my Homeland, but when I finally relaxed and was able to look at the bright spots of the trip, I enjoyed my time and I learned a lot about myself in the process.  It showed that, I did not need to be defined with the adjectives that would normally define me while in America; Conservative, Upperclassman, Student ... etc.  In Paris, I was the definition of myself.  The people I met did not care that I was from the United States, they did not care that I was staying in Saint Denis, and they certainly did not care that I was a student at a private college in Upstate New York.  What they cared most about was the way I acted towards them and how I carried myself.  All they wanted to do was have a good time and learn, just like myself and I think that that is what I love most about Parisians, they always want to learn and they always want to have a good and enjoyable time with their family and friends.  This is what I have taken most out of this trip: a new sense of self. 

Academics at Elmira College

I thought I would devote a Blog to the unique academic environment that Elmira College has to offer all kinds of students!

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A - Analytical Discussions: These happen in almost every class that is offered at EC, whether it is Freshman Core, a French Literature class, or even a dance class. These are so important in a collegiate environment and it helps expands the student's knowledge and range of thinking. I recall during Term I of Freshman Core, my professor said, "There is a lot here, so let's flush this out some more." She was referring to The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. To this day, that quote is stuck in my head and whenever I have to do an in-depth reading, I refer back to it!

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C - Creative Presentations: As a student, one will have to do a lot of presenting throughout the four years they are here. This is important because it helps enhance public speaking skills, as well as, conveying information to a large audience. Now, since everyone is doing a presentation, there should be a lot of different methods to convey the topic. For example, one presentation I did, I used a quote from the Austin Powers trilogy to support my thesis regarding the Psychedelic '60s to add something different to the old-fashioned PowerPoint. When forming a presentation, it is important to remember what is going to set it apart from every other PowerPoint and outline that the class sees. Originality is the key!

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A - Avoid Procrastination: This is a great piece of advice that everyone should take into account, whether it is for an essay, or a presentation. It will need to be done no matter if it is two weeks before or if it is two days before it is due, so why not work on it over a long period of time, so as not to stress oneself out? This is important and it allows for enough time to proofread and rehearse.

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D - Distinctive Honor Societies: There are rewards for high averages, not just the personal gratification, but also the possibility of getting inducted into the many prestigious National Honor Societies that Elmira College has. Some of these include: Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honor Society), Psi Chi (Psychology Honor Society), Scabbard and Blade (Military), and so many others. Many of these organizations have community outreach programs and develop presentations or conferences that their members can go to. They help make one's academic career even stronger with the many educational opportunities that they continually offer.

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E - Extra Credit Opportunities: A part of the Psychology major at Elmira College mandates research classes where students create a thesis and test it on their fellow students. For most of the other students who are in Psychology classes, they can go to these research sessions and receive extra credit from their professor. This usually depends on the professor who teaches the class, but both my Introductory Psychology and Child and Adolescent Psychology professors allowed this. The sessions usually only take a half an hour, but it is incredibly valuable for all students; test subjects and researchers!

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M - Mandatory Officer Hours: One would be crazy not to go to them at least once throughout the term! These are where a professor has to be in their office for at least an hour a week, most professors have their office hours twice or more during the week. I found this is most helpful when preparing for a large essay assignment. Some professors will look over outlines or rough drafts before handing in the final copy. This is great because it can be the difference between a C and a B for some students. These hours also let the professor get to know the student on a personal level and helps establish the student-professor connection that will help for future classes or even recommendations.

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I - Interesting Classes: These are plentiful at Elmira College, one just needs to look for them! Some of these include, "Marking the Body: The Art of Body Modification," "Fermentation throughout the Ages," and "History of Rock and Roll." There are many other ones, but these are the classes that have interested me the most. Term III is best to take these classes because they can be enjoyed without the hassle of four or five other classes! One can really find value in what they are learning and take the most out of their classes while applying it to their major as well!

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C - Committed Professors: When a prospective students enrolls at Elmira College, they know what they are going to get out of their professors. They are all committed to their subject area, as well as, helping their students grow. Not once in my almost two years at EC have I doubted the commitment of my professors, not only are they there for you to teach you a subject, but they also provide great life or future career advice. A small college, like EC, allows for the personal one-on-one interaction between students and professors and this is invaluable in a society where two opinions are always better than one!

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Hope everyone has a great week and enjoys studying in the sunshine!

EC Tap Ensemble Presents: "Party of Our Lives"

This past weekend, February 3 and 4 was EC Tap Ensemble's performance! The theme was music of our generation including, "Believe" by Cher, "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies, "MMM Bop" by Hanson, and so many others! It was such a great show with something for everybody.

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T- Teamwork – The one thing that I have noticed with Tap Ensemble, as opposed to any other club I am in, is the amount of teamwork and camaraderie that every person has with each other. Whether someone hurt themself during Tech Week, or were crying because it was there last Tap performance, we all came together in a big group and comforted each other! These ladies keep the heart in dancing and I am so glad that I have been able to be a part of such a loving group!

A- A New Way – This was my first year of tap … besides teaching five-year-olds how to shuffle, and I could not have asked for a better experience. After a while, not getting anywhere with your dancing is quite frustrating, so this allowed me to really recognize what I love about all art forms of dance and really “Find a New Way” to dance.

P- Professionalism – Tech Week is quite honestly one of the most stressful weeks in college. We all have our normal homework and reading to get done, as well as, other projects, plus three hours of tapping every night. This would give anybody a reason to be cranky and rude to anyone they see. This was not the case with our Officers. They were so cooperative and helped anyone who had questions or just needed clarification. It was probably the highest level of
professionalism that I have seen in a Tech Week … ever.

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Thank you to all of our Officers, Dancers, Emcees, Tech staff, and anyone else who made this show so great! :)

Holiday Season!

I apologize for not writing a blog sooner, but the Holidays are always a crazy time, especially with Finals in the mix! This years Holiday Season was a bit different than normal for me, but I enjoyed being able to spend time with both my family and friends and enjoy the beauty of Winter.

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H- Holiday Banquet is a great tradition at Elmira College where our professors and administrators serve us a turkey dinner with all of the fixings! This was my first year going, but I had a great time. I sat with my French professor, Dr. Diamond-Nigh, her husband, and some of my classmates. We enjoyed delicious food, great singing, a blessing by Christian Fellowship and a reading by Hillel. It was an enjoyable first Holiday Banquet!

O- Ongoing studying never stopped during the Holiday festivities. The Holiday Weekend falls before Finals Week, so this is the last event before everyone starts studying and beginning to live in the library. For me, there were only two classes that I really needed to focus on, Child and Adolescent Psychology, and Table Tennis. The only reason I say Table Tennis is because I never really played it before. Since I do not have the greatest hand-eye coordination, I was extremely nervous for the final skills practicum. Either way, the worrying was not necessary as I did well on both tests!

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L- The lines at Midnight Breakfast were looooong this year, but thankfully, my friends and I got there at 11:45 and were able to just walk right on through the lines without any hassle! Midnight Breakfast is a great tradition where on the early morning Monday of finals weeks, staff and administrators serve breakfast to all the students! It is a great break from studying where you can load up on eggs, potatos, french toast sticks, and DONUTS! The school's donuts are very delicious and give the right kick of sugar to keep you awake during studying.

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I- Intense games of Catchphrase were some of the highlights of EC Tap Ensemble's Holiday Party! We exchanged gifts and I got a pillow pet and blanket! There were some great gifts given and lots of delicious, bad-for-you food! The highlight of the party were the games of Catchphrase where everyone had high energy and lots of screaming! This was a great beginning to the Holiday Party season!

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D- Dancing at the Holiday Ball was a great conclusion to the festivites before the Midnight Breakfast. The Dining Hall was transformed into a dance hall where everyone enjoyed themselves and simply let loose! It was a great time spending the evening with some great friends and listening to tons of new music!

A- Another Christmas spent with family made my break very enjoyable. The Holiday Season is my favorite time of year because the family comes together to reflect on the year that was and the year to come! This Christmas was also the first Christmas where traditions had to be altered due to my sister and I growing older .... Although we will no longer wake up at 1:30 together to sneak a peak at the tree and we will not start opening Santa's gifts at 6:00am, we are creating new traditions with the extended families and each other. All in all it was a great Christmas spent with everyone in my family!

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Y- Year ending Reflections. 2011 was a pretty good year for me. It did have its ups and far more downs that I would of liked, but they all taught me something about myself! I learned to let go of the things that were keeping me down and to hold onto those that make me happy. I met many amazing people in 2011 who showed me how to relax and not be so serious, while I also found a new artform in which to express myself. I have high hopes for 2012 and am excited for what it has in store for me!

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I hope everyone has a happy and prosperous year in 2012!

College Visits!

Hey all! The time of frequent vacations is coming up and college visits are great to do during this time. Here are my tips on having a successful college visit.

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V - View the newspaper - The student newspaper gives a great idea as to what that college is all about. It shows the issues that matter to the students, as well as, opportunities to get involved. Our newspaper, The Octagon, has a news, entertainment, academic, and letter-to-the-editor section. The campus newspaper gives a good overlay of how campus runs and shows you whether that style fits you.

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I - Interview - Take the interview seriously! Even if your admissions counselor tells you that it will be a relaxed atmosphere, still treat it as something important. Oftentimes the college's Admissions Office will tell you not to get too dressed up, but remember that you do not want to go in there wearing sweatpants and a hoodie; that is not a good first impression. Also, really think about your answers when they ask questions. Compose yourself and make sure you sound articulate but not rehearsed. Most importantly, BE YOURSELF!

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S - Sit in a class - Oftentimes you can get it arranged where you can pair up with a student and go sit in on a class. (At Elmira College, this happens when you schedule your Overnight visit.) This is really important because you will see how your potential classes will be structured. For example, if you want the professor to know you name and that your favorite band is Pink Floyd (Hypothetically), you will want to attend a smaller college so that your classes contain fewer students. If you know that you only want to be taught in lectures with limited interaction with your professors then a larger university would fit you. The purpose of a visit is to see if the school fits your learning style, so sitting in on a class will accomplish that.

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I - Initiate questions - Go to the visit prepared with questions! Even if they are standard questions that everyone asks, you may get a more in-depth answer from your tour guide than from the brochures. Also, your tour guide will be able to give the student perspective. Do not think that a question is silly because chances are the tour guide had the same question during their visit. It is a good idea to take notes during your tour about the things you saw and heard that captured your interest. It is probable that you will forget the information you hear on tours, so this will help when it is time to narrow your schools down. Write down what you like, what you want to know more about, and even what you did not like so that you can see if those 'cons' weigh more than the 'pros.'

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T - T-shirt - Finally, visit the campus bookstore for fun! You will see what they provide there and what you may need to go off-campus for. Also, after all of that walking around the campus and listening to information sessions, reward yourself with a nice t-shirt from the college! (Go for the purple shirt (= ).

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Hope this helps everyone and hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

BIG EVENT!

O - Opening Act of Epic Proportions - The special guest for this year's Big Event was Oregon Native-based band, Plug In Stereo. These guys are young, but so talented! They have a mellow sound that makes you love life while listening to it. As a Big Events volunteer I had the pleasure of helping these guys bring their instruments into the Gym and meet them! They are so nice and so grateful for having the opportunity to play for a college campus. Their song "Oh Darling" is so catchy and definitely worthy of a download on I-Tunes. Don't forget to check them out on Facebook.

A - "All it takes is some time but I'm shattered" - O.A.R. was the Big Event this year and even though much of the student body only knew two of their songs, there were a few hardcore O.A.R. fans in attendance. One of the songs everyone knew, and this was apparent by the volume of singing that came from the crowd, was "Shattered." This song is quite popular on Top 100 Radio and other pop radio stations. Although it is a sad song, the lyrics are very catchy and have everybody singing along.

R - Revolution was lived - The theme for this Big Event was "Live the Revolution" and it was definitely done as this was one of the most well attended Big Events in years. Not only did a lot of Elmira College students go, but students from area high schools and colleges were in attendance. Not only that, but some adults from the surrounding cities, like Binghamton, traveled to hear O.A.R. in concert. Overall, this was a great event and everyone enjoyed it! Thank you to O.A.R., Plug In Stereo, and the entire Big Events committee for setting up a memorable concert for all!

** Photo credit to Caitlin Morrow**