I can't believe I have this opportunity at SMC

Hey all,

Where has the time gone? So much has happened since we last connected. I will only review quickly, because I want to get to my real topic.

Global Eyes Study Abroad Photo Contest - lots of amazing photos and I won first place twice!
Dustin and Abby's Show - Their senior seminar concluded with a great play by the 3rd graders
This Eye Blind Concert - awesome
Final Accepted Students Open House!
Burlington Brewery Tour for Erick's Birthday
P-Day
MLK Talent Show
Snow today?

Ok, so what I really want to talk about is the opportunity I'm going to have here at SMC as part of my degree requirements in the psychology program. There are a few options for senior majors: Independent Research for 2 semesters (working closely with a professor on a year of research); Special Topics in Psychology (learning about and doing research on a special topic, guided by a professor who specializes in this topic); and Practicum (a 2 semester internship course done for credit).

I have chosen to take Practicum Internship for my senior requirement. At first I was a little nervous, because it is a big time commitment, with about 8-10 hours outside of class time required. However, it's the best choice for me since my current interest is in Human Services. I really think Practicum will help me decide if Social Work and the like is really what I want to do with my life.

Burlington and the surrounding area is a huge place for human services to thrive, with a large poor, homeless, and mentally ill population, as well as other human services needs. Through Practicum, we are provided with a ton of amazing internship possibilities. Some of these include: residential and school settings within child, youth, and family services; adult behavioral services; DCF; juvenile rehab centers; hopital programs; women helping battered women/women's rape and crisis center; and more! In addition, we have the opportunity to find our own internship site as long as we meet the requirements.

During the meeting today I was amazed at how many people have really gained a lot from their experiences this year, and how many options there are for us. I am also so grateful to SMC for this opportunity, because some of these internships really are too good to be true, often offering jobs to interns during/after the semesters. SMC is one of the only schools on the east coast to offer this full year opportunity to students, so it's definitely going to give me a leg up after graduation. I'm excited to get started but have no idea what to pick yet. We'll just have to wait and see what happens with that.

Peace,
-Christine

What's New at SMC

Hey all,

So there's been a TON of stuff going on here on campus these past few weeks, and I was really busy this weekend. Saturday was the first of two Accepted Students Open Houses here on campus (This coming Saturday is the next one!) I was busy with the other coordinators, admissions people, and tour guides for a large majority of the day meeting students and helping out where I was needed. It was a crazy day but it was a lot of fun, and I LOVE meeting accepted students and helping them with their college decisions. Here's some photos from the day on Flikr.

Later that day I went to the a'capella show which featured all three of our SMC a'capella groups: Mike Check, the all male group, Sleepless Knights, the co-ed group, and the newly formed all female group, The A'caBellas. Right after that I went over to the Dean's List dinner for the poster presentations and then out to dinner downtown at Leunig's with Erick and his parents...delish. On Sunday a few of us spent the day looking at apartments and doing homework, so that was a good way to recover after a long Saturday.

Last night was a really great speaker event on campus: Rachel's Challenge. It is put on by the father a Rachel Scott, the first person to be killed in the Columbine High School Tragedy. The presentation was really moving and the gym was packed with students. Here's a few photos from this event on Flikr as well.

There have also been a lot of big moves academically here at SMC. We've got a new major: Environmental Studies (Environmental Science is also a major, and Environmental studies has a minor as well). Psychology is also going to be a minor now. AND we have a new language for next year: Mandarin Chinese. Check out our majors and minors list (not yet updated) for all of the other options we have already in place.

Two other big pieces of news. One, SMC is now SAT optional for all classes starting with current HS juniors. Here are two stories on that from SMC and the Burlington Free Press. ALSO, we've announced a program working with the the Albany College of Pharmacy (similar to our cooperations with UVM and Clarkson for engineering student). Check out the stories from SMC and the Burlington Free Press.

I think that's all for now. The week continues to be busy and I'll be out taking more photos this weekend as well. Check back soon!

-Christine

There's no place like home

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to check back in now that I've returned to campus after a lovely weekend at home with my family and friends. I hadn't been home since Christmas break, and even then I was only there for about 10 days (a few of those without luggage). I also hadn't seen my brother since December because I returned from training trip the day he left.

Thursday after class I got a ride down to Skidmore with a friend and spent the night with my brother there. We got dinner in their dining hall (they call it d-hall and it was delicious), did some work in the library, and then I met a ton of his friends. It was really nice to stay there and for the two of us to spend some time together, especially since he is always out with his friends once we get home.

Our mom picked us up on Friday and drove us back home. It was my sister's birthday so a few of us went to see "The Last Song". It was surprisingly good, though quite a tear jerker. After the movie we went home and colored Easter eggs. We got this really cool tye-dye Easter egg kit and they came out so pretty, I wish I had pictures. Oh and Mary Rose got her license this morning in case you were wondering...yay.

Saturday I got up at what I thought was the early time of 10:00 ish and headed with my dad to the DMV to get my big kid 21 year old license. Well, long story short there was a line out the door and we almost didn't get in, but my dad stuck it out and about 2 hours later I had a brand new horizontal facing license! Later that day I visited with some of my guy friends and we got some lunch at a great restaurant that serves all its drinks in huge mason jars. I obviously loved my giant jar of unsweetened iced tea, the key to my heart. Later that night my family and I went to dinner to celebrate the birthday's of the women in the family all together. I went right from there to go visit with my girl friends from high school for a few hours, and came home exhausted after that.

Easter Sunday we woke up, ate breakfast and candy, went to church, and headed over to my aunt's house to visit with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was a nice day and I ate WAY to much food and dessert. This morning I got up early to go to Target with my mom to get some stuff before I left. I have the family mini van up here with me now until the end of the semester (and I even got a parking space!) so that's pretty nice. It was a gorgeous day for a drive and I picked a friend up in Albany so it didn't seem nearly as long as usual.

So, here I am back at SMC. The weather is gorgeous and so I need to get my work done as soon as I can so that I can spend as much time outside as possible (SMC students LOVE being outside). I've got class registration this week too, so I'll let you know how it goes. Swim lessons are also ending, I'm giving a presentation in Italian, there's a Blogger Chat on Thursday, and this Saturday is the first of two Accepted Student Open Houses where I'll be running around doing a little of everything. If you're coming up, safe drive and I can't wait to see you here! (look for me!) and if not (or even if so) come chat it up with us on Thursday night!

Peace,
-Christine

The Value of a Liberal Arts Education

Do humans have free will?
What does the body do when heart rate increases?
What are the positions on abortion?
How do athletes set goals?
What happens in the brain when you are stressed?
How can an old pair of slippers be a metaphor in art?
How did it feel to be in a concentration camp?

Don't think these questions are related? Well I'd say you're wrong. In fact, the answers and story behind each of these questions could be found in just one semester at Saint Michael's College. You see, a Liberal Arts education allows for a broad range of topics and subject matter, and thus a huge pool of information, questions, and answers.

Do humans have free will? Well, you'll just have to enroll in Philosophy of the Human Being with Prof. L'Hote to find out. It's a 200 level philosophy course and fulfills a graduation requirement as an LSR in philosophy.

What does the body do when heart rate increases? Biology of Exercise, a great choice for those of you whom, like me, aren't too science-y, will help you find your answer this time. The course covers general biology topics in a way that is easy and fun for those of us that aren't going to be biology majors any time soon. As an added bonus, once complete you can check Lab Science of your list of LSR requirements.

What are the positions on abortion? Find out the answer to this and many other related questions while taking Christian Health Care Ethics with Dr. Mahoney. The class examines topics from abortion to euthanasia to stem cell research while also lending a hand as a 200 level religious studies LSR.

How do athletes set goals? You're more than welcome to do research on this topic in a number of psychology courses. Research Methods and Sports Psychology both make it possible for you to discover the answer to this question on your own, and both fulfill a Social Science requirement as an LSR (or a major requirements if you're a Psychology major like me!)

What happens in the brain when you are stressed? I'm sure there's a biology class that will help you answer this, but if you're not too into hard science there's also Physiological Psychology, which triples as a lab science LSR , social science LSR, and requirement for the Psychology major.

How can an old pair of slippers be a metaphor in art? The First Year Seminar "Looking at Art" will teach you all about this and about many other unique and crazy art forms. Every SMC first year is required to take a seminar, and this one tops my list of favorites, along with Fly Fishing, The Examined Life (where students write a memoir), and Off the Grid (about nonconformity).

How does it feel to be in a concentration camp? I know many history classes probably cover this point, but so does Modern Civilization, a class that looks at a huge array of material and discusses it over the semester. The book "Night" by Elie Wiesel is the one that will answer this question, but many other class materials will help students become more rounded. Additionally, after completing this class, students can check off their Culture and Civilization LSR requirement.

Not only are all of these question answerable with a Liberal Arts Education, but they will overlap more often than not. I am frequently applying concepts I have learned in science and psychology to my philosophy and sociology classes. I am applying my study abroad experience in a journalism class, and am using my knowledge of social media gained through an on-campus club to do presentations in my "Conversation Italian" class. A Liberal Arts Education is truly invaluable, and I will surely debate with anyone who says otherwise.

I see you on the street and you look so tired

Hey everyone,

I'll start off by discussing the title of this post. In case you're not familiar with the song lyric (which you're probably not because only die hard Bruce Springsteen fans...and even then sometimes only ones from New Jersey...know the song) it's from the Boss' song Jersey Girl, which is a great song. I feel it fits appropriately as a title today for a few reasons.

A. I'm exhausted, as to be expected coming into a Friday. I've been really go, go, go all week, more so than usual. I've handed in 2 papers and given a presentation in the last two days, given a tour, trained new tour guides, had a bunch of meetings, taught swim lessons, and done the usual amount of homework, so it's been crazy. Still, I've been in a much better mood than I usually am and have been feeling a lot more like myself (I didn't realize I hadn't been myself until I started being more normal again haha). Needless to say, I can't wait for class to be done tomorrow so I can take a nap and get pumped for my birthday weekend!

B. I can't wait to go home for a long weekend next weekend to good old NJ. I haven't been home for more than 10 days since I left for abroad in September, and that's taken quite a toll on me. I miss my family, my bed, my friends, and my dog. And I miss my mom's cooking, for sure. I've only seen my parents a few times since coming home from Italy so I really want to just chill with my family and my friends over the weekend.

C. The next line to the song goes "I know that job you've got leaves you so uninspired" and the lyrics were the first thing I thought of when sitting down to write this post because, frankly, I've been trying to get inspired to write something great and it hasn't been happening. I've got some vague ideas but I don't feel like I'm going to do them justice just yet. That's all.

So this weekend is looking to shape up like a really fun one. Tomorrow Erick and I are planning to go and see Alice and Wonderland together, and maybe get some dinner after too, since he's going to be really busy for most of the weekend getting re certified in Wilderness First Responder with the Wilderness program. Then tomorrow night from 9-12 the Student Association is sponsoring a night at pizza putt for free for all students. That means unlimited pizza, mini golf, soda, and laser tag, AND even some tokens for arcade games. I'm really excited so I hope a lot of my friends want to go.

Saturday a comedian is coming on campus at night, and of course we're going to get together to ring in my birthday at midnight, which is SUNDAYYYY. I'm really excited, I'm not sure if you noticed. Sunday there's also a Zumba class in the gym that I want to go try out, since I don't have a lot of time to do the class that meets every week. For anyone that doesn't know, Zumba is an exercise class with a ton of dancing and fun music, and you burn 1000 calories a class! Then Sunday night my friends and I are going to go out for dinner for my birthday, so that should be really fun. I'm looking forward to a great weekend and I'll be sure to tell you all about it and put up pictures too.

That's all I've got for now. I'm going to try to plan a course schedule for next semester now. I'll let you know how it goes :/

Peace,
-Christine

It's Irie Mon

Hey all,

So I'm back from an amazing and truly relaxing spring break in Jamaica, sitting in the suite and feeling a little scatter brained but that's ok for now. I figured I'd come share my thoughts and that way maybe I won't think quite as much while I'm trying to go to sleep (after I unpack, because typically I still haven't).

So Jamaica was a really really great time. Basically I sat on the beach, ate a lot of food, swam around, and such was life. We met some really cool people and had an unforgettable time. AND I learned to dance like the natives and to speak like them too (the title of this post basically means that it's all good and there are no worries). I think that Jamaica was the perfect place to go and try to extend my relaxed LEAP feeling from a few weeks ago. With a SUPER busy week coming up, I'm hoping I can keep that up.

This week is packed with a few papers, a presentation, meetings, swim lessons, a BLOGGER CHAT, and the normal everyday work. I'm also going to try and make a conscious effort to run every day too, because I've been feeling way too lazy and lethargic for my taste. Meanwhile I feel like I've been scrounging for good blog ideas and coming up just short. I've found a lot of other higher-ed blogs and sites that I've been checking out, but so far no inspiration for my own posts. But in case you were wondering, things on my mind include:

Getting a car
This cool new thing called the New York Times Skimmer
Nailing down a summer internship
Finding summer housing
Getting my grades up a bit
Wanting to work for Rough Guides or Travel Channel and go back to traveling
Schools where I can get my MSW and what I want to do with life

AND OF COURSE THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: MY 21ST BIRTHDAY THIS SUNDAY

Because, honestly, who isn't excited for birthdays. Mairead's birthday is on the 30th, just after mine, so make sure to send her lots of birthday cheer on her day too!

I'm sure I'll check back in before the big day, so if anyone has anything to spark inspiration in me, any burning questions in your soul, or just a comment, let me know!
camoresano@smcvt.edu

Peace,
-Christine

What's your favorite?

Hey all,

So, I thought it would be fun for today to give everyone a little insight into me and my personality. I know they say that you can learn a lot about a person from looking at their friends and their bedroom, but my room is a little messy right now due to pre-spring break packing and such. I was trying to think of another way to help everyone get to know me better and I thought, gee, I spend a lot of time on my computer don't I? SO, I think I'll share with you the things in my "favorites" menu. This is the stuff I look at all time time and need to have just a click away. Enjoy!

AOL.com - gotta check the email
Facebook - my page, the SMC page, and the SMC Class of 2014 group
SMC mail - campus email is a necessity
My Blog - quick and easy access
IGoogle - my personalized version of Google
SMC on Flikr - to see all the great pics we put up
SMC on YouTube - everyone loves a good youtube vid
Knightvision and Ecollege - SMC's very own class pages
Refworks - an AMAZING recource for paper references, thanks to the library
Twitter - obvi
TD Bank - I now have online banking and I LOVE it
Pandora - plays only music you like
The Oatmeal - the funniest
The Choice Blog - The New York Times' online education blog...great stuff
Post Secret - lovelovelove
Craigslist - for jobs, cars, and everything else
Robot Unicorn Attack - a new (very addicting) game my brother showed me (so mature)

And that's it for my favorites. So click away, I hope you find something you like!

peace,
-Christine