Hello, readers, and Happy Thanksgiving! It’s been far too long since my last post, so I figured I’d check in with a brief update for the holiday. I am comfortably situated in my hometown of Rochester, NY, with classes set to resume on Monday, December 2nd. It seems impossible to believe, but final exams for Fall 2019 are fast approaching! Only two class weeks remain in the semester, and I have no doubt that they will fly by, as this entire semester has been a blur.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’d like to take a moment and reflect on some of the great opportunities I’ve had at Holy Cross thus far during my sophomore year. As is perhaps evident in my lack of updates during recent weeks, I’ve found this semester to be infinitely more busy than my first year on the Hill —something I would not have thought possible. That said, however, I am enjoying myself immensely. So, without further ado, here are a few of the experiences and opportunities from this semester for which I am most grateful:
- Prior to enrollment for Spring 2020 (which went very well, actually), I was able to make multiple adjustments to my academic plan. In addition to being a Psychology major, I have added the Sociology major, as well as the German minor. I’ve decided not to study abroad during junior year, so I plan on using the flexibility in my schedule to pursue these three areas of study. In fact, next semester, I will once again be taking at least one class in each of these fields. Although I took some great classes in order to fulfill various common requirements, I will admit that it feels great to finally focus on classes that, for me, possess the most inherent interest.
- Over the past couple weeks, my radio broadcasting career has resumed! As mentioned in one of my posts from last year, I am a member of WCHC 88.1 Sports, which broadcasts a variety of sporting events for Holy Cross Athletics. My expertise lies in basketball alone, and I serve as a broadcaster for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. My most recent broadcast was as the play-by-play announcer for women’s basketball team’s 68-42 victory over Merrimack on Saturday, November 23. I’ve had a blast as a sportscaster thus far this year! A lot of work goes into preparing for each broadcast; as I tell most of my friends, it’s quite comparable to studying for a test. I’m looking forward to continuing broadcasting, particularly next semester!
- Every Tuesday evening, I’ve had the opportunity to visit Nativity School of Worcester – an independent, Jesuit middle school in the City of Worcester. There, I’ve served as a one-on-one tutor for a student named François. François is, without a doubt, the coolest middle schooler that I have met in my life. During evening study, we work together to make sure all of his homework is finished by the time he leaves. I’ve much enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside such a bright, motivated student, and I’m glad I picked the right SPUD!
- I was recently accepted into Spring Break Immersion Program (SBIP) for Spring 2020! Per my own choice, I will be assigned to a site in the Appalachian Region (not sure where yet, but stay tuned!) I’ve never been on an immersion trip before, so I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to experience something new.
There have been so many great opportunities that I’ve had in just three months on campus that it is simply impossible to list them all. These are, however, a few of the highlights that have stood out. Naturally, I am also grateful for the opportunity to visit home, albeit for only a few days. I’m confident that I’ll return to Worcester freshly energized and ready to finish the semester strong (and, quite likely, with multiple pumpkin pies). Be sure to check back soon for updates from the Hill!
