thegoldengoosewac-blog

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Summertime!!!

Hey Goslings! 

As much as I LOVE Washington College, I am very much ready for a break from classes! 

This summer, I have quite a few fun things going for me that I am very excited about. I am going to list them below! 

1. Archaeology Field School 

Eight weeks of my summer will be spent working on archaeological excavations here in the great state of Maryland. The first four weeks will be spent at a campsite in Anne Arundel County, and the final four weeks will be spent here in Kent County! I will in fact be staying here on WC’s campus which is very exciting for me! 

2. Summer Storyquest Remote Internship 

As well as field school, I am also going to be working on the Starr Center’s Summer Storyquest program. I will be working as an interviewer and an archival intern. I am very excited to gain more experience with the Starr Center while learning some great local history! This will run from June to August! 

3. Contributor Writer 

I will also be occasionally writing for a magazine called Sustain! This magazine promotes eco-friendliness and everything sustainable! I am excited to be published while also learning a lot about new techniques for sustainability. 

4. A Week in LBI 

When I come back from Field School, I will be going on a short trip to Long Beach Island! I have never been, so I am very excited to be visiting and celebrating my grandmother’s 70th birthday! 

I will probably be updating every once in a while over the summer, so stay tuned! I hope all of you have an amazing summer and that I see you in August during orientation week! 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

RA Julia on Duty!

Hey Goslings! 

I am very happy to say that I have officially been hired as a Resident Assistant! I will be living in Reid and have lots of plans! 

There is a lot that goes into this job, you need to be able to work with other people very well, have a lot of patience, and be able to keep certain things confidential. 

Working with others in an important skill to have in being an Ra, you need to be able to work with other RAs and other people. Being sort of like the parent of the residence hall can be hard, because you want to avoid getting residents in trouble but still have a very important job to do! 

You also need to keep things confidential, you are dealing with peoples private lives and it is important to not tell anyone under any circumstances what issues can arise on the floor. There usually are not many too serious issues but you never know. 

The more fun part of being an RA is designing events for residents and decorating the interior. I have so many fun ideas for events already! I am looking forward to having a Pajama Par-tea! I plan on having everyone come together in pajamas and enjoying some tea while talking and getting to know each other. 

If you end up living in Reid next year, you just might see me around! 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Watch out Indianna Jones, here I come

Hi Goslings! 

Before I came to WC, the only idea of archaeology I had was the very fictionalized Indianna Jones story I grew up with. Since coming here, I have found a passion in archaeology and aspire to work in it. 

In two weeks, I begin summer Field School for archaeology -something that I honestly would not have even known about before coming here. At WC I really found my passion and what I aspire to be in life. 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Chestertown Favorites

Hey Goslings! 

Being at college in a very small town like Chestertown is amazing, it’s a nice homelike feeling and you feel more in touch with your surroundings. The one issue about living in Chestertown is that sometimes it can get redundant doing the same things every weekend. Things close early, and there is not an overwhelming about of places to go in town. But I make the best of it, and I would not have it any other way. Here are some of my favorite weekend activities. 

1. Kayaking 

When it’s very nice out, I love to kayak. It’s a very fun and relaxing way to feel peace with yourself and your surroundings. Plus, it’s free for WC students to rent kayaks throughout the semester at the Boat House! 

2. Farmer’s Market 

This makes getting up early on a Saturday completely worth it. I love walking around the market and seeing all that Chestertown has to offer. Plus, waking up early=wanting to go to bed early so you’re less likely to get board later at night! 

3. Movies 

I love the movie theater in town. It is very cheap and it is always a good time to go see movies with friends! 

4. Local shopping 

This town is adorable and has some really cute stores that LOVE college students and give discounts to us. I would highly recommend Twigs and Teacups and Bookplate! 

5. Restaurants 

Chestertown has some nice cute places to eat such as Bad Alfreds, Ellen’s, Play it Again Sam’s, Evergrain Bread Company, and Proc’s. Plus there is also Cafe Sado, which is always a great time. Going out to dinner is a very fun way to connect with friends while trying some local cuisine! 

6. Run or Walk 

I love to go for runs with my friends, but for those who are not as crazy about running this is also a beautiful place to take a walk. 

7. Homework 

It might sound dorky but you have no idea how much you can appreciate the weekends when you just had a busy week. You have more time to get things done and relax! 

It is also a lot of fun to have movie or game nights with friends. Some of my best nights here involved nothing but some good food and friends. Fun here is what you make of it, I believe as long as you have some fun friends to be with you will be fine! 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Making Friends 101 at College

There are many ways to make friends at college. The first tip I have before I even go into good methods is to keep calm and understand that everyone else is in the same shoes as you are. Every single freshman is nervous to come to college and has the same fears you do in regards to making friends. This is nothing like High School where you know everybody who comes into the school, every year new students from all over the globe come to college. You never know who you will meet.

Another secret I have is to meet one upper class men and befriend them. Once you have one Sophomore, Junior or Senior “adopt” you, you will be friends will all of their friends. When I came to WC, I met one Sophomore and through him made most of the friends I have now. Including my best friend at WC. 

Joining clubs is especially recommended. You might not meet your best friends through clubs but at the very least you will meet people who share your interests and who you might have classes with. For example, through History Society I know a lot of the people in my classes and who share similar historic interests as me. 

Club or intramural sports are another great method. Since I joined running club, I became a lot closer with another one of my best friends, Hannah. Those who suffer together running 5ks every day become closer bonded because of the experiences they have together. Those who sweat together stay together! 

Finally, I would recommend a job. I have made a lot of friends through the Starr Center who are also most of the people I will share classes with. This gives you an easy way to meet people effortlessly. All you have to do is start a conversation about what you are working on, ask about the other person’s working schedule, or maybe throw in a complaint or two. Working together gives you an immediate connection to a person and can easily connect you. 

It might take time to make friends, the first semester at college is always the hardest. But as long as you’re trying, and putting yourself out there it should not be difficult to make friends! These are the friends you will have for the rest of your life. 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Why Not WAC!!!

Hey Goslings, 

All year, if you have learned anything at all from reading my blog it is that I am crazy about Washington College. I really love it here for many reasons including the size, location, history, curriculum and opportunities. 

Today, I am going to tell you the story of why I came here and maybe you will see why you should also come here. 

Throughout High School, I was always told that I was advanced in a way. As a Freshman in High School, I had adults telling me I belonged in college and that I was mature enough to handle it at such a young age. All I longed for in High School was to go to a good college, one that is hard to get into and will be a big well-known school that will look impressive to people. I will not single out any of the schools I was looking at, but one in particular was an IV League School. 

As my senior year rolled around, I had spent all my high school experience working hard and joining a million things to get into this “perfect college” of my dreams. I cared more about what people thought that what I actually wanted, and there was absolutely no pressure on me or reason to feel this way. 

When I first stepped on to Washington College’s campus, I realized that I had a new perfect school. Not only is Washington College a very rigorous and challenging institution that will help me learn a lot, but it is also a place that promotes something that gets very lost in the whole college search; Being happy and pursuing what you love to do. Out of all the schools I have looked at, this school had the happiest students. At the end of the day, that is all that matters; being happy and doing what you love. A wise man once said “if you follow your passion you will never have to work a day in your life”. 

Yes, of course there are some busy and stressful times in college. But looking back to where I was last year, I can with confidence say that I have never been happier, more confident, or more appreciative in my entire life. 

Choose happy! And fun! We have all the best out of classroom experiences here!  

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Experiential Learning!

Hey Goslings! 

Typically, when people think of studying history in college, there are many false assumptions. Some assume it consists of just reading dry textbooks and being bored all day. Some believe that a history major is a set up to become a teacher later in life. 

My experience at WC has completely murdered those stereotypes for me. I am not going to lie to you, a history degree is very reading and writing intensive. However, most of what I am reading for my classes are very interesting books about topics such as Bacon’s Rebellion, Slavery, and Roanoke which is now my absolute favorite period in history. 

The Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience has brought many skills to me this year. I learned how to present public history in a way that is both appropriate and effective. I have been working this semester on an exhibition for the Customs House. So far, I have learned a lot about curating and exhibition design. All of these are skills that I would not get anywhere else. 

I also this past semester have learned a lot about research techniques and methods. Along with my work in the Starr Center, I have also been working with one of my favorite Professors Dr. Wilson on her sabbatical project “Slavery at WC”. From this, I have learned how to look into archives and read old handwriting. 

All of this has lead me to pursue public history and applied anthropology with my college life. I will as a matter of fact be attending Archaeology Field School this summer, which will give me even more amazing experiences outside of the classroom! 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

My Life Goal

Hey Goslings! 

College is a time for you to figure out who you are and where you want to be in life. Since coming here, I have learned a lot about myself. Some things, I never would have known if I never came here. I am taking my time on my journey, and focusing on my time here and enjoying it. I did not get to enjoy myself as much as I wish I did in High School because I was always so stressed about getting into college. As much as I’d like to go to grad school right now, I recognize I have a lot of time and need to enjoy what I have here and now. 

That leads me to my life goal. I know it sounds a little corny, but as of now my main goal in life is to be as happy as can be and to love what I do at all times. I want to be able to pursue things I am passionate about and be as happy and healthy as I possibly can be. 

So far, I am proud to say I am living that goal. I hope to pursue it and be this happy forever. Washington College is a big reason why I feel this way. 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Advising Day

Advising day is that magical day in the semester where we get a day off dedicated to choosing classes. This time around, I had a nice relaxing day. 

I woke up at noon, which sounds crazy but this semester has not allowed me to sleep in at all. It was very refreshing. I stopped by the sustainability fair too, which was a little event dedicated to teaching students sustainability practices such as bringing your own coffee cup to java or advocating for a plastic-free campus. 

I had to work in admissions from 1:30-3:00, but it was nice still because I got to help prepare for the upcoming admitted students day. 

After that, I went to Evergrain with my friend Sam whom I have not gotten to spend nearly enough time with this semester. We took a nice walk into town and chatted for a while. 

Then, my friend Hannah met me on campus and we sat outside and tanned for a bit. I am loving this warm weather we have been getting! 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

April Fools Fail

It was a dark and not so stormy night, the weekend before halloween. I was in the Sass Common room, it was after midnight. My friends and I were playing cards against humanity as the cable tv played in the background. 

Cookies were baked, hot cocoa was boiling in the kitchen. It was peaceful, but tense. We had just come from the haunted house at Middle Hall, and finished a horror movie. I was scared, but having a fun time. 

All of a sudden... BANG...... there was a knock on the window. Usually, I try not to show fear when I am in front of other people. This time? I screamed my head off and ran into the conference room. Moments later, my friend Michael came inside laughing like crazy. He was passing by and only wanted to say hi, and I got startled.

Lots of funny things have happened this year to me, but nothing topped this. Michael made jokes to me about this the entire week and it was really funny. 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Stress Less!

As happy as I have been here at WC this semester, it is getting to be the end of the semester. That means deadlines deadlines deadlines. Deadlines for research grants, internship applications are coming up, deadlines for housing and class registration are coming up, and of course final assignment deadlines are coming up. It has been a very intense time for me, I have a lot of fun social events coming up with are paired with loads of school work. It is important to find ways to eliminate stress with a busy time coming ahead. 

Here are some ways I de-stress: 

1. Go for a Run 

The waterfront is the best place to run along, I go every morning. With the warm weather, it is perfect for a run or walk to downtown. Plus, every time I go I feel a lot better and more energized. 

2. Take a nap 

When in doubt, always take a nap. Maybe not a 3 hour nap every time, but a 45 minute never hurt anyone. 

3. Spend time with friends 

Today, I am taking a work break to go to the baseball game with some of my sisters. That will be a great way to get out of the office-feel pace of my day. 

4. Listen to music and take a walk around campus 

Sometimes, we take for granted how lucky we are to be at such a gorgeous place. The best way to remind yourself while getting in some de-stressing is to plug in some headphones and walk all along our beautiful campus, going around the perimeter and cutting across. 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

College Honors: AP Classes definitely did not prepare you for this

Hey Goslings! 

As I mentioned, last semester I took Honors Macroeconomics a class that I came here thinking would be a piece of cake for me. 

As I came to learn, it was one of the hardest classes I have ever taken and I took AP Bio in High School. I just did not click with the topic as well as I thought I would have. I was a great economics student in High School, a key reason I received the special invitation to take honors in college. 

My Professor, Professor Mayer was my saving grace for the class. I struggled to keep a B+ in the class (I am usually an A student so this was hard for me). He let me come to his office hours almost every single day, and would sit with me as long as I needed to make sure I understood the material. 

I was especially stressed out about the final exam, being I was never a great test taker. In the end, I got a 90 on it which was a great accomplishment. I could not have done that, or made the Dean’s List last semester without the help of Professor Mayer. 

While Economics may not be my thing, we do have a great program here. If you are interested in Econ I would definitely recommend it. 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Natural Math and Science Day!

Hey Goslings! 

Once upon a time, I wanted to study Neuroscience here at WC. My plans changed when I spent the summer working on my history themed Gold Award Project and decided I wanted to do History and Anthropology. 

As a prospective Psychology student, I felt that Math and Science Day was a lot like Candy Land. 

There were labs for every possible experiment you could want to do. My focus would have been developmental psychology, for which they have a designated lab for. The whole day is dedicated to Sciences and Maths, with tours of the lab facilities and students all over ready to answer questions about the departments. 

I would definitely recommend the Science department here. I am hoping to add a Psychology minor at some point, so maybe I will be a Toll Troll after all! 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Spring Break

Hey Goslings! 

My spring break was very relaxing. I didn’t do much, which was nice because as much as I love WC, the semester can get overwhelming and breaks are much needed. 

I went back home to NJ, and mainly relaxed at home. I did not do much school work, but luckily my professors did not give too much to do the week after and I was not overwhelmed coming back. 

I saw Weezer in concert which was a lot of fun. They are one of my favorite bands and performed a great set! 

I also had the opportunity to go hiking with friends which is one of my favorite things to do when I am home. 

It was a lot of fun! Now back to work for me! 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Chick Flicks and Horrors!

Hey Goslings! 

I am a very random person, and have a strange variety of interests. I am a huge fan of romantic comedies, but I also LOVE horror movies and true crime. I love ethnographic and documentaries too. TV is more of a mixed bag, anything from a drama, historical show, or comedy to a reality tv show or a true crime documentary. Here are some of my top choices on both tv shows and movies- significantly ones I like to watch here at school. 

Movies: 

1. Mean Girls 

The ultimate pre-exam movie. It’s best to relax the night before a big test and kick back with a movie. This is a classic and no matter how many times I watch it, I still love it. 

2. Legally Blonde 

Another great one to watch before something big. It really in a way empowers you and makes you want to feel as driven as Elle was! It’s also hilarious! 

3. Clueless 

I think it’s actually impossible not to love this movie. It’s the perfect 90s chick flick and has some big names! 

4. 13 Going on 30 

Another great coming of age and empowering movie, its also a lot of fun! 

Tv Shows 

1. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

I am obsessed with this show. It’s supernatural, romantic and funny all in one. It’s so good! 

2. Turn: Washington’s Spies 

A great and educational action-packed series! I recommend this if you love history! 

3. Bridezillas 

I know, a low one. But it’s nice and mindless for my busy days. My Tuesday-Thursdays especially, I start the day at 8am and am not done till 8pm. It’s nice to have a guilty pleasure. 

4. How to Get Away with Murder 

A chilling but fun Murder Mystery, same characters new story every season. 

I wouldn’t recommend spending too much time watching tv in college, school takes priority. But it is still nice to let loose, and important to take brain breaks! 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Sorority Recruitment!

Hey Goslings! 

Before I get more into this, I want to make something very clear. Greek life is something that people take part in on campus but it is NOT the kind of thing where if you don’t want to do it you will be the only one not doing it. Plenty of people choose not to go greek and that is perfectly fine. 

With that being said, recruitment week was very intense but a lot of fun and I learned a lot from it. Day one was Sisterhood night, I don’t think I ever talked more in my entire life. The point of the first night is to visit all the sisterhoods and get an early look onto which one might fit you. My favorite one this night was Alpha Chi Omega, the sorority I am not apart of. The sisters rotate for the hour you are with them so you get the opportunity to talk to a lot of sisters. It got tiring but was still a lot of fun. 

After you finish sisterhood night you “pref” which means you go to the director of Greek Life on campus and put into her computer which of the three sororities you liked the best. 

The second night was philanthropy night. This night is dedicated to the philanthropy of the organization you might be pledging to. I loved all of them, but Alpha Chi still stood out the most. AXO’s philanthropy is Domestic Violence Awareness which is very important to me, and in my opinion is not given enough attention. 

The final night was Preference night, where you get invited back to the chapters of your choice and get a final look at what they’re about. I got invited back to AXO, and this night had be convinced it was the sisterhood for me. I had a very meaningful conversation with one of the sisters, and really felt at home during the entire night. 

Sunday morning following Pref Night is Bid Day, where you find out which sorority you got a bid from and choose which one you want to join! It was one of my favorite days that we had that weekend. The pressure of meeting new people was over and I could just relax and socialize with all my new sisters! 

I chose to go Greek because I wanted to be a part of a group of strong women. I played field hockey in High School but could not commit to an athletic schedule in College. I missed feeling like I had a bunch of sisters and constant support. Since I joined, I have felt more confident and happy. I don’t think I have ever felt more confident and independent in my entire life. 

I am still close with my friends who are not in the sorority, this did not change anything. I know this was the perfect fit for me though! 

[thegoldengoosewac-blog]

Why choose subway when we have create?

Hey Goslings!

The dining hall here on campus makes pretty good food and is very good at accommodating for students, like me choosing to eat the vegetarian diet. 

As you can probably tell, there is not much variety in what I eat since my diet is more limited. However, I do have meals from all eating establishments on campus that I absolutely LOVE. 

Hodson Dining Hall 

My usual is a sandwich on multi-grain bread with cheddar cheese, spinach, tomato, carrots, cucumber and honey mustard. I also love when dhall has tomato grilled cheese and mozzarella sticks. Sometimes, when I am feeling like being a high maintenance pain I will order a PB&J from the sandwich station. If you’re ever on tour with me, I promise you will hear that story! 

Create 

I love the veggie couture sandwich, the Reid with no turkey, and the Kent with no bacon. For all of you who are not fluent in WAC yet I will translate. 

Veggie Couture- a delicious combination of feta, tomato, spinach, onions and peppers that I usually get on flat bread. 

The Kent- egg salad usually with bacon, but for obvious reasons I get it without. 

The Reid- cucumbers, pesto mayo, provolone and turkey. I prefer this without the turkey too which might sound weird, but I enjoy it a lot. 

 Martha’s 

The actual light of my life! 

At Martha's I am OBSESSED with their grilled cheese sandwiches. Growing up, that was a favorite meal of mine so I cannot resist them here. I also love their fries, eggplant parm sandwiches, and veggie burgers. I usually get my veggie burgers with cheddar, lettuce, tomato and sriracha mayo!