Denver!

Hello everyone!

I am currently breathing the biggest sigh of relief since a few hours ago I received an email that I was chosen to serve then next 10 months with AmeriCorps NCCC is Denver, Colorado! I'm literally so excited I'm still jumpy.

The past few weeks have been really tough, telling people I was "still waiting" while also looking for jobs and apartments (only half-heartedly) in preparation for if I didn't get selected. It's honestly the biggest weight off my shoulders that I won't have to keep hoping for the next two weeks and instead already know what I'm going to be doing!

Also, this news comes at the perfect time. I'm currently visiting my brother at Skidmore College, which is halfway between my house and SMC, where I am heading for a bit, most importantly for ALUMNI WEEKEND this weekend. It's a chance for alumni (recent and less recent) to get together in Burlington (and for some sporting events on campus), check in, and have a good time. It'll be the perfect way to celebrate with my friends and also say goodbye for a bit.

So I just wanted to share the news. I know I'll be updating a TON more when I get started serving and such, so look forward to that!

-Christine

Transitions

Hello all,

I've been putting off writing a post about where I'm at right now for a while. Perhaps it's because I don't want to think about it or perhaps it's because I already think about it too much. Either way, time to let everyone know what's going on with me.

Camp ended a few weeks ago. It was a really fun last few weeks AND a super fun end of year party at the beach with my new friends. I'm excited to have a new group of people that I know that are in Burlington. I remember thinking in the beginning of the summer that I wasn't sure what my purpose was a camp. Each group of kids came and went so quickly, and the interactions we had with them were so different from what I was used to working at Spectrum. It wasn't until probably 3 or 4 weeks into the summer that I realized that my job, for all intents and purposes, was to have fun and play. These kids didn't need people prying into their lives, making them feel different, or trying to "help them" (unless they asked for it). They wanted a place to get outside and have fun with friends for a week. Once I realized that, working at camp was much easier.

Since then, I've been able to think back and realize the value of my job with DREAM. I gained a new experience of working at a camp and living in the woods. I also worked more in depth with children then I really ever have outside of swimming lessons and coaching. I've learned about a new organization, a new population, and new people and ideas. I don't think I really thought too much about working with DREAM when I accepted the job (other than making the decision between Camp DREAM and another camp) and was mostly trying to make sure I had a job and could stay in VT, but now I'm really glad I made that choice and I definitely came out of the season with valuable skills and experience.

So what now? Well I'm back at home working at the pool for a few more weeks. It's not ideal but it's money and it's easy and I don't really mind doing it for only a few weeks. I'm (still) waiting to hear from NCCC about placement. At this point it really seems debatable to me whether I will hear from them at all. That's the thing. There's no point (until the session starts) that applicants hear "no". We just sit around and wait until the last possible point. That way if/when we don't get randomly selected by the computer based on nothing more than luck of the draw (while other people that may be less qualified or have only been waiting for a month or so) we have passed up job options, living space opportunities, and a whole slew of other things. AND that's my rant about that...it's getting to me a little bit, clearly.

Meanwhile I'm just hanging out? I just got a new gym membership that I'm SO excited about, because I figure I'll be really bored if I don't have exercising to do. I'm continuing to look into and think about backup plans (which are seeming more and more important) but it's really hard to commit to even looking (let alone actually commit to a job or a place to live) when nothing is for sure.

So, long story short, I'm in a big limbo right now. I'm just spending my time working, working out, and driving lots of other places. I was in Mass the past few weeks hanging out with friends (saying goodbye to Megan as she heads to Alaska, seeing Josh one more time before I don't for a while since he lives in DC, hearing about where everyone is going and moving and such). This weekend I'm heading up to a friend's camp in VT, then Erick's beach house for labor day.

So that's where I'm at and (kinda) where I'm going. Hope to check in soon!

-Christine

You're Not Surprised

Hello friends,

So of course you're not surprised that I haven't updated nearly as often as I wanted to or should be. I've been working at Camp DREAM for 5 weeks now (one of orientation and 4 of actual camp). We've have 2 teen weeks and 2 weeks of 10-12 girls and boy so far. I must say, it's a challenging job but it's a ton of fun.

As a staff, we've been working really hard and have just started to really come together as a team to plan and execute a great week at camp. This past week we had an entirely Harry Potter themed week (to get pumped for the final piece of the saga of course!) complete with a potions lesson in ice cream making and a silly scavenger hunt that ended in a dance party in the woods.

This isn't to say that the job isn't without challenges. The hours are long (and technically we're on call for 24 hours a day) and I definitely still wrestle with the whole living in the woods with the bugs thing. My biggest challenge is still finding the purpose and value in my work. Of course I know it has both of those things, the challenge is to really feel that I am doing what I should be. I really feel that my mindfulness exercises from my practicum this past year are helping me examine where I am and what I should be doing.

I'm also in the middle of having a bit of a hard time with the whole future plan thing. I've been accepted to the Covenant House Faith Community and have chosen to defer this opportunity until 2012 in hopes of still getting placed with AmeriCorps NCCC. I don't regret this decision at all and I think I will be more prepared to work at Covenant House (a position more focussed on what I want to do with my life) after another experience that is slightly different. However, it's still pretty draining when every day is a continuous waiting game for what I'll be doing the next 10 months. So I'm waiting for that and trying to just take it as it comes.

Meanwhile, we're living in the midst of a heat wave here in Burlington, and it doesn't look like I'll be getting too much relief when I head home after our 3 day camp session this week. Still, I'm excited to see my family and friends for what looks like it will be a fun fiesta at my house!

So, that's it for now. Hopefully I can check in sooner rather than later. Who knows, maybe I'll have some good news to share (fingers crossed). Until then!

-Christine

What actual benefits have you had being in Honors. I feel like whenever I ask I get the general billboard answer, but I was hoping you could tell me more specifically.

I actually dropped the honors program and didn't graduate with it. However, when I was part of the program, the biggest benefit to me was being in classes that challenged me more than a non honors class might have.

What do you want to know about SMC?

Do you ever get to see cool music on or near campus? I know Burlington is a little far for a lot of bands

Burlington is an AMAZING place for music! In addition to local bands playing various locations downtown on the weekends (SMC students included), Higher Ground Music Hall is a great concert venue for a huge variety of artists. Check out their site here: http://www.highergroundmusic.com/

SMC also has a great on-campus music scene with Turtle Underground, an SMC style coffee house/open mic night, every week.

Hope this helps!

What do you want to know about SMC?

Now What?

Hello All!

It's finally here, my first post as an SMC alum. It's truly been forever since I updated everyone on the happenings of my final weeks at SMC and what I have been doing since then, and for that I am sorry. However, I hope to give a solid recap right now and prepare you all for reading about another summer of fun in Burlington.

First of all, finals week, senior week, and graduation came and went WAY too fast, but were so much fun. The weather was gorgeous, I was finished by Tuesday of finals week with my paper, and couldn't wait to start relaxing and having fun with my friends and classmates (with some packing in between).

Senior Week (a week on campus just for graduating seniors, faculty, and some awesome helpers) kicked off with a class meeting and a BBQ thrown by the president. We all received our senior week t shirts and sunglasses too! Later Thursday night we took to the bowling alley for some awesome galactic bowling. On Friday, SMC brought beer and food our way and we spent an absolutely beautiful day outside together. Saturday was a faculty reception and a nighttime boat cruise on Lake Champlain. While it was a little rainy, we made the best of it. Each night, the activities were also followed by some fun and dancing in a big tent, which was obviously awesome. Sunday was Baccalaureate, and then Graduation on Monday came and went so fast. Here's some photos of the week's events:

Before all of this fun started, the Athletics Department also hosted it's annual Block M Awards Dinner where seniors and other athletes are recognized for their accomplishments throughout the years or that year. A few friends and I were lucky enough to be named award winners! I received the Victor LeMeiux Award for Loyalty and Leadership, and you can check out all of the award winners here. Here's a photo of Natalie, Sarah, and I after the dinner:


I also remembered I never posted about P-Day (this post is struggling to stay short). How can I sum this up...awesome? The comedian was funny, the weather was AMAZING, our jerseys rocked, and I had a perfect final P-Day with my friends. I also got a tattoo the day before!!!! So crazy. Can you guess what it says? If you guessed "you risk tears if you let yourself be tamed" then you're right! It's on my ribcage and I absolutely LOVE it.


On graduation day, we all gathered later in the evening at a friend's house for some food, drinks, and celebration


After graduation (literally, a day after I got home) I headed down to Florida with 9 of my friends for a week of sun and post-grad fun at Disney, Universal, and poolside at the house we rented. It was some much needed R and R.

I then worked MDW at my old job to make some money to put away, watched my sister graduate high school (she's heading off to Clemson in the fall) and took ANOTHER trip to Florida with my family. Yes, my post-grad life has been awfully stressful :]

BUT now I'm back up here in the gorgeous Burlington, VT and have finished my week of Orientation/Training for my new summer job: Waterfront Manager at Camp DREAM in Fletcher, VT. The DREAM program works with kids from low income housing communities in VT, and Camp is a place of those kids to spend a week of their summers. The staff is really cool, young, and full of fun and exciting ideas. I'm really looking forward to the first session starting tomorrow. To keep this short, I'll hold off on all the details about camp until next week.

So, for now this is the "now what?" and the rest is to be seen. I promise to update more often now that I'm settled, check back next weekend!

-Christine

Questions about life at SMC

1. Here are a few questions I had on formspring this week about life here at SMC.

   1. Have you ever not gotten into a class you registered for?

   Yes, there have been a few times where I haven't gotten the classes I had planned on. This semester I am taking one of my back-up courses. Other semesters, I have been able to petition into classes I wasn't originally registered for. Often, the professor will save seats for people who absolutely need to take the course, or students can pick up the course during the first week of the semester if another student drops it.
   
   
   2. Can freshman get triples ?
   
   
   There is only 1 triple room in each freshman dorm, so the chances of a first-year getting placed in a triple are extremely slim. As far as I know, the triples that do exist are also only on women's halls.
   
   
   If you are placed in a triple, it won't be 3 people put into a room the size of a double. The room is larger (in fact, there are two separate rooms) and you also have your own bathroom for the 3 of you.
   
   
   Hope this helps!