wac-tastic

[wac-tastic]

Welcome, Admitted Students! Now, Why WAC?

This past Saturday, April 13th, Washington College’s campus was full of new people and lots of excitement. War on the Shore, a lax game against our rival school, Salisbury, was held as well as Admitted Students Day! Admitted students who have already enrolled or are still deciding were all able to come check out our little piece of the Eastern Shore we call home. 

As a student employee with admissions - a George’s General (haha it’s clever because George Washington is the namesake of our school … that, and who doesn't love alliteration!) - the festivities for me started on Thursday night, talking on the phone with admitted students who were attending and had any questions. After giving some campus tours Friday between classes, I hosted two girls overnight in my dorm. We made popsicles, talked about school, and hung out with my friends here on campus! Saturday we were all up early, and I worked the open house, getting to talk to so many different students about all the reasons I love this place! 

To all WC admitted students: 

Whether you’re still trying to make the college decision - I completely understand where you are, I was there last year! - or you’re already excited to join the ranks of us shore-men, this is what you should know ...

1. WC specific, if I could say one thing about why I’m glad I chose here, it would be about the people. Everyone is so friendly and, most of all, the relationships formed with professors is incredible. I attended a professional development workshop in the career center this evening and at one point we talked about how much of an advantage it is to be at a small, liberal arts institution where professors really get to know and care about students individually. When it comes to grad school applications and recommendations in the future, it will be an incredible asset, but even now, little things like having a professor send me information about an internship she thought I’d be interested in (exciting post coming soon!) and checking in if I’m late to a lecture to make sure I’m not over working myself and everything is okay outside of the classroom, means so much! 

2. Overall, the stressful college application side of things is over - the ball is in your court now: these decisions are yours! There are of course many factors that go into play so it isn’t a light decision, but something I heard from many people close to me that I didn’t believe in the moment is that everything happens for a reason. It’s crazy that exactly a year ago, I was attending the Admitted Students Days open house, and this past weekend I was dancing around with Gus the Goose and taking students on tours of the dorms I’ve already made so many memories in. Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to, and I wish everyone the best of luck!

[wac-tastic]

The honoring of George Washington himself - via coffee

Java George (haha we love a good pun) is the amazing coffee shop here at WC where we can get everything from breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and bagels, to ice cream, soda, snacks, candy, and - most importantly! - morning caffeine. I’ve met countless professors and peers at java to talk about classwork. 

This semester, my friends Melissa, Emma, Alaina, and I (the “stats sisters”) all have statistics 8:30 on MWFs. After class and before Melissa and I jaunt over to the academic center for our job in admissions, we get breakfast at java and break out studying mode. 

Enjoy these adorable pictures from this morning’s start to the day! 

[wac-tastic]

magical march

Spring Break recap! 

Spring break was March 9th to 17th and occurred at the end of my brief appendectomy-related medical leave. It was a great chance for me to get caught up on some of the school work I missed - admittedly not the most thrilling way to spend spring break - though there was still time for fun too!

I was home for my mom’s birthday and put together these fun, tropical-inspired decorations for a cute family gathering to celebrate! 

While home, I was also present for my baby cousin’s bday! Little Miss Harley here, pro-grocery shopper with that bad a$$ Minnie Mouse cart, turned two, and I loved getting to spend time with her!

It feels like spring break was a few hundred years ago - not a few weeks ago - but shoutout to any other March birthdays! I know so many awesome people who celebrated their bday last month :-) 

[wac-tastic]

Yes, I am alive! 

In less than two full semesters, I've managed a total of now three trips to the hospital thanks to my clumsiness and overall lack of luck. I thought that after last semester’s tea and piano incidents (see previous posts for explanation of my ridiculous injuries), I’d be in the clear. However, last month, my appendix suddenly said “haha, no! now I don’t feel well and I’m going to put your through an appendectomy mid-semester and make you go on medical leave and have to play catch up on a bunch of school work”. (Why, yes, my appendix does talk … doesn't everyone’s?) 

That being said, I now have vast experience in working with health services and receiving accommodations from professors to make up for missed classroom time and ease back into it when I’m ready. From being allowed to wear sunglasses during class when I was concussed to having the ability to leave classes when pain wasn’t manageable, WC has done a great job of making sure that I am able to make full recoveries physically and academically. 

The Office of Academic skills was great with making it easy for me to schedule my make up exams, and professors all helped me create personal revisions of the syllabus we could both agree on. Health services escorted me to the local University of Maryland hospital (conveniently like twelve feet away from the health services building) when they suspected appendicitis, and through all of my injuries checked in on me via follow up appointments and even calls home when I was off campus on medical leave. 

I’m incredibly glad that I’m 100% fully functioning and back in action now. I look forward to finishing up the rest of the semester strong and keeping you all updated as well! 

[wac-tastic]

Snow Day Vibes ❄️🌹

[wac-tastic]

Book Nerd Alert!

As a double major with one of  which being English, it’s kind of a given that I was born a book nerd, and what’s better during the cold of winter than to curl up with some hot cocoa with a good book! 

I have so many favorite books, no one has time to read that list, but I figured I’d share some of my top picks. There’s no better way to get to know someone than a book recommendation, and is there a better gift? Without further ado, here are my favorite reads for a few different genres so everyone can find something they can relate to. 

The End of Eternity by Issac Aismov - If you are into sci-fi and want the biggest mind f*ck of your life, read this book! 

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - If you like historical fiction or are looking transformative pieces on race relations, read this book!

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly - If you are into empowering female authors and are willing to take some time to get through a bit of old English for a masterpiece of science fiction, read this book! 

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom - If you’re an avid fiction reader looking for a good mushy feel-good cry and have your heart melted by the power of love and realization of the meaningfulness of small acts of kindness, read this book! 

City of the Bones by Cassandra Clare - If you are looking for a die hard fandom and new series that will drive you slowly insane in the best possible way - a way in which only books can accomplish - and you have an interest in the super natural and the messiest love octagons (no such thing as a simple love triangle with this read) - read this book to kick of one of my favorite series! 

[wac-tastic]

Happy Belated V-Day!

“Love is love is love is love is love is love” and I hope everyone had a great holiday no matter who you celebrated with. 

My friends and I all celebrated together, first attending the dinning hall’s very festive dinner complete with elegant decorations, a live jazz band, and chocolate fountain! There was NY Strip Steak, shrimp scampi, and - for any vegetarians like myself - a baked potato bar sent from heaven and some incredible veggie fried rice.

Kyle dives into the popcorn for a sweet dessert!

After dinner, it was off to the Erotic Reading at the lit house! First … here’s some lit house background: 

On campus, the Rose O’Neil Literary House - or the Lit House for short - is an English major’s dream and a comfortable place for anyone to hang out and do work. From the full kitchen stocked with a variety of teas to cozy couches and the fun, eclectic décor, the lit house isn’t just a house - it’s a home! 

One of the best aspects of the lit house is the speaker series in which authors from around the country come to do a reading of their work and speak with students. In the enclosed wrap-around porch, I’ve seen many a readings done and have had the opportunity to not only hear some of my favorite authors read their work, but also have them look over mine. An amazing program put on by the lit house and writers’ union is the first year and senior readings when students get to stand where other incredible literary figures have and read their own work. 

Last semester, I read a free verse poem I wrote about OCD during the First Year Reading. It was terrifying, gratifying, and exhilarating to stand up in front of my professors and peers and read something so personal, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences I've ever had. 

For Valentine’s Day, the writers’ union and EROS (Encouraging Respect of Sexuality) teamed up to put on an erotic reading where I had the opportunity to read again!

I got up and read a heated short fictional piece I wrote in which a young man in his early twenties goes to a dingy club where he hooks up with strangers. He’s content, until his finds the most exquisite girl he’s ever laid eyes on. It appears he’s falling in love, until it’s revealed he’s actually a serial killer, not a romantic. (Yes, everyone was shocked by that twist at the end, a reaction every writer strives for!) 

After the reading, my friends and I headed back to one of our dorms where we cozied up in PJs, devoured a ridiculous amount of popcorn, and watched Love Actually! It was one of the best Valentine’s Days I’ve ever celebrated, and I can’t wait for next year. 

Just some proof that friendship Valentine’s can be the best kind!!

[wac-tastic]

It is time …

Calling all prospective students, it’s time to apply to WAC!

Washington College’s last admissions deadline for the upcoming academic year is this Friday, the 15th, so I wanted to take some time and tell my WC story, review how I ended up in this beautiful place! 

Before I even started considering colleges, I made a general pros and cons list of what I was looking for and what would turn me away from a college. It’s crazy to think about how a year ago, I was going on tour after tour, and now I proudly support admissions here, giving tours to prospective students who are going through the decision-making process that is still fresh in my mind. 

For me, the most important part of deciding if the college you’re looking at is THE ONE, is to question Am I comfortable here? For me, that answer for WAC was and is 1000x yes. Finding a place to settle down for four years and really considering it home is an incredible feelings. 

From the farmer’s markets every Saturday morning in town and the boat house open to everyone who passes their swim test (where else can you casually borrow a paddle board for a few hours any afternoon?!) to Student Events Board guest hypnotists and magicians or “plant your own bamboo” event, I found WAC an incredibly exciting place to be. 

Additionally, as a member of the LGBT+ community, feeling safe around campus and around town was something at the top of my priorities that I found here in our small but close community on the Chester. Whatever your background or identity, there are other people you can connect with here at WAC, and you’re not only supported but encouraged to be your true self. Having that comfortable feeling while visiting the school and going through the admissions process in addition to all of the incredible opportunities (SEB, study abroad, and so much more; Chesapeake Semester, internships and externships galore!) made my decision for me to apply and enroll here. If you feel the same way, follow the link below to apply to our Regular Decision deadline! 

https://www.washcoll.edu/admissions/apply/

And best of luck through the decisions and acceptances ahead! As cheesy as it sounds, you can’t go wrong if your follow your passions and your heart …

[wac-tastic]

We Love WC Day

Why do I love WC?

Today the campus was buzzing with excitement as prospective students and their families got to know our little piece as heaven here on the Chester. So close to Valentines Day, what is a more perfect time to address some of the reasons I’m grateful to call this campus home? 

1. My friends! I’ve met so many great people whose beautiful faces I look forward to seeing every day whether it’s in the dining hall, classroom, or relaxing in the evening to a movie together.

2. The location! When it came to my college decision, I was uncertain of how small of the school WC is, but since I’ve been here, I can most confidently say it’s nothing but an advantage. The small size of the student body and it’s location next to the cutest town and some of the most beautiful wildlife and outdoor areas create such a comfortable small town, rural feel. The best part is that we get the best of both worlds since many major cities of the east coast are between an hour or two away. When we do want a big city weekend, it’s an easy jaunt for my friends and I to find ourselves in B’more, Philly, or D.C. 

3. The atmosphere! The opportunities and close relationships I've already formed here allude to the welcoming and comfortable atmosphere here on campus. Something particularly important to me as a member of the LGBT+ community is the not only safe but openly supportive atmosphere toward minorities on campus :-) 

P.S. Shout out to all of the lovely people I gave tours to and my great overnights! I hope to see some familiar faces some fall semester. 

[wac-tastic]

Why do I love WAC?

This Saturday is We Love WC Day, and the count down is on! There are so many reasons why I love Washington College and truly consider it home. 

Before diving into all of the reasons to appreciate this great place, I’m going to focus on the academics as we come to an end of this third week of our spring semester. All of my classes are fairly small which means that every student really gets to interact with the professor. The biggest lecture setting I’ve had was a class with about forty students! It means so much and makes you feel truly valued as an individual when the professor is able to call on you by name, send you an email to check in if you weren’t in class, and not only make time but genuinely want to meet outside of class for coffee and paper revisions. 

Last semester (since I didn’t get to blog as much as I wanted with my medical related slip ups) I had some particularly stimulating classroom moments that made me realize how glad I am that I’m part of this encouraging community which I thought would still be fun to share! 

Great Class of my Fall Semester: (I mean basically all of them but for the highlighting purposes of this post …) Intro to Env. Studies!!!  

So what could these materials - a spray bottle full of water, ping pong balls, and a block of wood - have to do with environmental science? 

Great question! Our professor was incredible ( WE LOVE YOU DR. BIBLE) and made the information being taught so interesting and attainable. After one of our unit tests, to clarify where aquatic photosynthesizing organisms obtain their carbon from, Dr. Bible told us all to stand up. We were the plants! She tossed the ping pong balls at us and said they represented carbon then misted us with “water vapor”. It was so chaotic and funny!! She then went on to explain in more detail the specific sources of carbon and how amazing it is that a colorless, odorless gas in the atmosphere can form something so solid and tangible as wood. The enthusiasm and humor in the illustration DEFINITELY communicated the point to all of us. I will never forget - nor underestimate - carbon related environmental processes again HAHA

Another unique aspect of this class was our labs. We met for lab in a smaller group than our “lecture” class and all of our work was so hands-on and practical, it was fairly mind-blowing to be thrown right into such real-world situations. The very first week of class, we went out in the Chester River on boats and caught and measured fish to measure and discuss species diversity! Throughout the semester, we visited storm drain ponds - climbing into ditches across from Walgreens to take water samples! - went to WC’s River and Field Campus to spend an afternoon learning and helping at the Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory - we got to hold birds in our hands and collect data for the international bird banding databases! - and even traveled to D.C. for the Smithsonian’s limited edition Narwhal Exhibit in the Museum of Natural Science - ALL HAIL THE NARWHALS! BOO CLIMATE CHANGE!! 

The lessons I learned in that class and experiences I had are ones I won’t ever forget! 

My classmates and I take notes as birds are tagged at the River and Field Campus’ bird band station. After the birds were tagged or existing tags were recorded, we got to hold the birds and do the release! 

Another great class from fall semester was my Intro to Creative Writing course, which had a particular assignment that proved quite interesting! After reading a selection of person essays for our creative nonfiction unit, we each chose an essayist to research more … and film a documentary about. 

Let me clarify one thing - I am NOT a technology person. I’m not only clumsy-clumsy, I’m detrimentally technologically-clumsy. 

It was quite the challenge understanding how to use video editing software and many hours went the process. “I want to write!” is the sentiment I repeatedly agonized to my roommate. “Not make videos!” However, IDEAWORKS, the technology hub in the basement of the library and both abundant patience and resources to help me through the assignment. I learned how to record voice overs and used the software in the OneButton Studio which was insane. I also fell in love with the work of my assigned writer, Alexander Chee, and this unit is what made me find a deep passion for creative nonfiction though I’d always considered myself a fiction writer. Though the experience was stressful at times, I’ve grown tremendously - I’m now comfortable with video editing and am in a nonfiction workshop this semester dedicating myself to personal essays! 

Link to my Alexander Chee Documentary video! Highly recommend his newest book, a collection of essays, How to Write an Autobiographical Novel. 

Hope to see a great turnout on Saturday at We Love WC open house when everyone will be showing their WAC love!

Happy Friday Junior :-)

[wac-tastic]

What to do when in Chestertown

While it’s true Washington College and the surrounding community isn’t huge city living, there is always something do to! Whether it’s strolling into town on a Saturday morning to peruse the farmers’ market with friends or shopping till dropping at the various thrift stores with the most unique finds, there is never a dull moment. Thus, get ready for Carlee’s Top Three Comprehensive Chestertown Must-Sees for visiting our close-knit community!! 

1. Evergrain! 

Evergrain is an organic bakery situated in town that has to-die-for freshly made baked goods, the best veggie sandwich I’ve ever had, and apple cider along with other hot beverages that ruin other coffee houses for me. It’s a family friendly atmosphere that my friends and I often go to after brunch on Saturdays. It is so relaxing to spread out at one of the long tables, spending time with friends and enjoying delicious food while getting some homework done.  

2. The Book Plate 

This next stop is a book lover’s paradise. Also a great place to relax and do work on occasion, The Book Plate is the coziest shop, full of more and more books around every corner. If I don’ t have afternoon classes, it wouldn’t be a surprise to find me chatting with the owner in between reading amongst the stacks and spending quality time with the world’s sweetest cat!

3. Twigs and Tea Cups 

Right across the street from the book plate, Twigs and Tea Cups has everything one could ask for. From beautiful pieces of jewelry and pottery to joke books, clothes, fine soaps, and knick-knacks for kids, the small shops and it’s two sweet shop cats can keep you entertained endlessly. I even did a lot of my Christmas shopping there this year! 

Enjoy the artistic glamour shot below of KiKi from The Book Plate! She loves attention as much as I love books and is as photogenic as they come. Make sure you stop by and give her a nice scratch between the ears the next time you’re in the area!!

[wac-tastic]

I’M BACK

Winter Break

Hello, all, and welcome back to wac-tastic! Classes have been in session for two weeks now and there is already so much going on. As great as it is to be back on campus, I wanted to fill you in on all of the fun that’s happened over the last several weeks. 

During finals week, my lovely roommate turned 19 and a few days later, just after break was officially underway I turned 18! FINALLY LEGAL!! While still at WC, Melissa and I were able to celebrate our bdays together, complete with streamers, balloons, friends, books (we’re both literature lovers and we’re proud), fuzzy socks (Melissa’s love for fuzzy socks is unlike any other, and you should all head over to her blog to get all the details!), and, most importantly, a super-duper magical-tastical happy birthday song and dance moment complete with the microphone that’s casually in my closet (even though I can’t sing).

The BEST part of my break was that as soon as the festivities were through on campus, I headed toward home - Baltimore - and straight to the airport to pick up Quinlyn, one of the most important people in my life, my other half, my soulmate, my sister, the gem I couldn't live without … you get the point. Q and I met in preschool and she moved to Arizona when we were six, so we’ve grown up mailing letters to each other, spending summers together, and flying to each other’s respective cities on occasion for important birthdays. It meant so much to spend time with Q - we even went to NYC, one of our favorite places! 

Meet Q! Rocking it in Rockefeller Center 

Though Q couldn’t stay too long, we made the trip memorable by celebrating our everlasting relationship and me FINALLY BEING EIGHTEEN by getting matching tattoos!!! Our first tattoos each!

Why I - someone with low pain tolerance - thought getting a tattoo would be easy is still beyond me, but it means more than words can describe since it’s associated with someone so special! 

Holiday festivities for me included baking and playing a lot of scrabble with my mom (who won. every. single. game.), spending time with my entire family, having many a movie nights, AND EATING SO MUCH HOMECOOKED FOOD. I painted my bedroom all by myself (which clumsy people should attempt with caution) and fell into an enjoyable habit of picking my little brother up from school and jamming out to music together in the car. 

What says happy holidays more than this little nugget letting me force her into adorable and cozy dog PJs that have candy canes all over them?!

Aiden, my awesome brother going strong in his first year of high school, representing his school pride with me. Go Friars and Shoremen!

My incredible group of friends here at school have a group chat over text and Snap Chat, so we all kept in touch very well though it was sad not to see their beautiful faces in person everyday. I did get to see a few of my school friends over break as well as catch up with people from high school. 

This is Julia! One of the sweetest people I’ve ever met (and one who looks like the breathtaking Princess Rapunzel when her hair is down), Julia and I met at the beginning of last semester in our peer mentor group and had two classes together. We live nearby one another at home which - unfortunately for my patient friend - led to her teaching me the art of ice skating!! (Yes, everyone is shocked I made it through uninjured) 

All in all, it was a jam-packed, very exciting and relaxing break from the perfect craziness of college life. Best part of winter break in college compared to high school? It’s very long AND there’s no homework!!! 

Family Reunion! My close group of WAC friends and I gathered in Café Sado, a local sushi shop that makes even this vegetarian very happy, on our first night back to catch up after break and, of course, bask in each other’s presence. 

I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been looking forward to coming back though, because the connections I’ve already made on campus from friends to professors and all of the opportunities and unforgettable moments in between make this amazing place truly feel like another home I came to miss while I was away. 

[wac-tastic]

A day on the town

What kind of things are there to do on the weekends in an area surrounded by corn fields? Trust me, there are plenty! 

When deciding what college to go to it is important to consider the town/city and environment surrounding the school as well as the environment of the school. You’ll be living there for at least four years, so wherever you end up, you want to make sure that it’s somewhere you’ll be comfortable. 

What’s great about WAC and Chestertown is the strong sense of community in the town and school. I have friends with the Student Environmental Alliance (SEA!) who are part of FRN - Food Recovery Network - where they take excess food from the dinning hall to a local church to distribute to community members, which benefits individuals in the area as well as the environment! There are also parties to go to on the weekends, but no pressure to be some where you don’t want to be. Personally, my favorite Friday nights are the ones spent in the literary house watching movies or playing board games on the rug and, of course, drinking tea. 

Edits and collages of mine and Melissa’s *candid* photo shoot in the literary house!

This past weekend was an example of one jam packed with activities! Friday, my roommate Melissa - @adventuresofabusybee - and I played Scrabble in the lit house … and ran around taking fun *somewhat candids* as well. We then met up with others in the nest, a game room people often congregate in on weekend nights where there was a rousing game of fuse ball, Poole, and (more my speed) french-fry eating from Martha’s! The evening wasn’t over yet, though. After our fried food and milkshake intake of the week, we headed back to the dorm for movie night! 

Above is a super artsy shot of my milkshake from Sunday afternoon in Annapolis!

Suggested adorable romance: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before 

Suggested action-packed comedy: The Spy Who Dumped Me

Saturday morning a small group of us made our way down to the weekly farmers market in the middle of town. We bought some pastries and vegetables, then walked to our favorite stores. We had breakfast at Evergrain, a to-die-for organic, fresh bakery and coffee shop. We also popped into Twigs and Teacups, an adorable boutique, The Book Plate, a book lover’s paradise, and the all natural food store, for more yummy goodies! There are also several thrift shops throughout town that have some of the best finds. 

After our in-town adventure, we took a trip to Kent County’s Humane Society where we got to give the sweetest dog, Sophie, some extra love! After dinner that night, we saw a production in Tawes Theatre on campus in Gibson. Melissa, another friend, and I all headed back to our room for sparkling apple cider and a really cringe-worthy romcom we found on Netflix, and ended up going to our friend’s home in Annapolis for the night to get a break from school. Sunday we got to sleep in, had an AMAZING homemade breakfast (Emma’s mom is the best!!!), and then walked around downtown Annapolis stopping for lunch at a cool diner and spending a few hours doing school work in a coffee house. 

Below, Emma and Alaina spend time with Sophie, our adorable human society friend!

Needless to say, come Sunday night, I was out cold after all of our adventuring. 

[wac-tastic]

The sporting event of the century …

Town-Ball 

Today, with as I have been returning to blogging, wanted to dive back into things with a fun little highlight of WAC activities. I was studying in the lit house a few Fridays ago in the afternoon and got an email about town ball starting in a half hour on the green. 

What’s town ball? Could I randomly show and see what was happening? Did I have to be part of a club? If I’m sports-challenged, is going to a sporting event really a good idea? What came first, the chicken or the egg? What is the meaning of human existence? 

If these are questions (most of these questions) are where your mind automatically goes, then you’re in for a treat as I’ve accumulated some answers!

Town-ball is the precursor to baseball, so it’s like baseball but with less rules. When batting, there are no strikes so you just keep swinging until you hit it. If you think you’re going to get out, you can start a game of tag and just run until everyone is tired of chasing you. I heard a story of a professor who played once and ran all the way to his office and locked the door! 

Going out on a whim, I rewarded myself for the several hours of lit house studies and showed up at the green. It turned out to be an amazing opportunity to meet new people and have some fun! And, despite my lack of coordination, there were people of all skill levels who turned out and encouraged and laughed with one another. 

I can’t wait until the next town-ball game!

Fellow blogger Julia Fuchs aims to hit out of the park! Be sure to check out Julia’s blog @thegoldengoosewac 

[wac-tastic]

It’s a whole new world …

What does independence really mean? To me, independence is learning how to be self-sustaining. You grow to understand what makes you feel whole and do whatever you can to obtain more of that. You learn the importance of prioritizing yourself and your well-being, since you won’t have mom leaning over your shoulder telling you to finish you vegetables with dinner anymore. You adjust to making your own decisions. 

One of the many decisions that should be taken into account is self-care. Eating right. Remembering to take medications you are prescribed. Exercising. Good sleeping habits. Learning to balance studying, work and fun, and figuring out how to make the most of free time. a

The biggest difference between living at home and moving to college is having to take responsibility for all of those things now. Parents aren’t setting curfews and boundaries, and a prince isn’t coming to sweep you off of your feet and advise you to either go to the library or go to the Student Events Board function that sounds really cool. 

If you aren’t getting all of the Aladdin references at this point, I’m officially disappointed. 

One of my close childhood friends and I -- both first year college students on opposite sides of the country -- were recently talking about the transition to living on campus and having such increased control over our lives, from whether or not to eat breakfast (pro tip: eat breakfast) to whether it would be wiser to deposit income into checking or savings. My friend repeatedly said that there is no wrong way to do college. 

I’m going to say that again for the people in the back, THERE’S NO WRONG WAY TO DO COLLEGE. 

Yes, this huge gaining of independence can be overwhelming at times, but - just like flying a magic carpet - once you get the hang of it, the whole college independence thing will be a breeze! 

[wac-tastic]

Starting College: A trick? Or a treat?

Happy Halloween my lovely ghouls, goblins, and ghosts! If my recent ER tales weren’t spooky enough for you, let’s talk about something really daunting … starting college!! DUN DUN DUN 

As a first-year here at WAC, I’ve actually found it very easy to adjust to classes and take advantage of all the numerous opportunities available to us. However, if I were to pick one thing that can be a bit scary about embarking on this new journey, I would say that the spookiest part starting college is realizing you must start … ADULTING

Adulting: (n. or v.) the art of taking over all of those little things your parents always did for you that didn’t have to think about until now. Examples of adulting phenomenon include things such as laundry and getting food and … those independent ER trips ;-) 

Luckily, every first year is in that same boat, so there are a lot of us all figuring things out together. RAs and peer mentors are also great resources for navigating increased responsibilities, such as making the most free time. Counseling services is also always available, even if you just want to talk to someone about making this huge transition. And best of all, home is just a phone call away! I love facetiming my little brother and catching my mom up on the awesome boat ride we took as part of my environmental lab for the week … and asking her for the occasional bit of adulting advice. 

All in all, I’d definitely argue that starting college is a treat, hands down, due to all of the awesome experiences you get to cultivate on your own two feet! 

[wac-tastic]

Super Scary Halloween Stories

The infamous tea and unfortunate piano incidents...

Alas, it has been too long since I’ve posted. But it is not without reason! All within the span of two weeks I visited the Chestertown hospital twice, which now officially makes me clumsy to a detriment as well as a living testament that if something happens at school there is plenty of support and care to be had. So in honor of Halloween, let’ s review the terrifyingly SPOOKY month I’ve had.

Story time #1:

Evidently I drink my tea way too hot to be considered safe. Fresh out of the microwave, there was steam rising from my mug as I (attempted) to settle down and watch something on Hulu before falling asleep. One thing led to another and BOOM - first, second, and third degree burns covered a whole section of my torso. Solution: I live in Minta Martin and we were able to walk to the ER in less than 5 minutes. Lesson to be learned: don’t heat tea for more than 2 minutes then try to hold the mug while climbing up into bed. 

Story time #2:

Practicing away on a grand piano, I was playing my little heart out when my sheet music fell (or a ghost knocked it over). I tried to pick it up, and BOOM - my head forcibly connected with the piano. Flash forward a week to dizziness, confusion, nausea, severe headaches, sensitivity to light and sounds, and a problem with knowing what day of the week it is and where I am supposed to be, all of which led to me being sent from health services to the hospital for a take 2. Solution: I was placed on medical leave for the concussion and got x-rays and a CT scan to check for facial fractures. Lesson to be learned: NEVER avoid health services even if you think your injury is stupid, unless you want to slowly go stir crazy lying in a dark room for over a week without any access to technology. Seek medical attention when you sustain a head injury! 

Basically, I recommend sticking to my new mottos of “just don’t fall” and “if you’re questioning whether or not you should go to health services, GO TO HEALTH SERVICES”. Everyone at health services and the hospital are so nice and helpful, and my professors and WC have been very understanding and supportive. 

While I hope history doesn’t repeat itself, if you’re a WC student and fall upon some bad luck, don’t feel bad and spend a month repeatedly apologizing to everyone (in my experience, that annoys people). Just know that WAC will have your back!

Me “primitive blogging” in my stubborn state of concussion recovery. Shoutout to my lovely roommate who I don’t deserve for making sure I had food, covering our windows with blankets to block out light, and typing up concussed Carlee’s messy blogging notes!