Today was awesome because I got to go shopping, which is always fun.
There's nothing like a cute sweater or coat to make you forget that you're a college student and have work to do when you get home. =p
Last week was pretty eventful because I got to go to the Metropolitan Opera house last Tuesday and to the 92nd Street Y on Wednesday for my Arts Seminar class.
The Met Opera was absolutely amazing! There's a beautiful fountain right in front of the operahouse. The architecture of the building is just breathtaking. It's even more beautiful on the inside and I felt like I was going to see Jennifer Lopez pop in at any moment and say hello to my class. There were so many people there and they were all dressed to the nines.
My class was there to see the Mozart opera Don Giovanni. The opera is three and a half hours long including intermission. It's definitely very long, but definitely worth seeing. The singing was amazing and the plot was dramatic. I found myself just entranced by it all. I was incredibly exhausted at the end of the night because I had been at school all day, but I'm so glad I got the opportunity to do this. How many people can say they've been to an opera?! It was just a great experience.
The next night, my class went to the 92nd Street Y to attend a reading by Israeli writer, Amos Oz. He read an excerpt from his book, Scenes from Village Life. It sounds like an interesting book, and I will hopefully will get a chance to read it soon. The best part of the night was the Q&A session in which Oz answered questions on a variety of topics. As he was answering the questions, I felt myself and everybody around me lean forward just a little because his words were filled with so much wisdom. This is a a man who is just brimming with ideas, thoughts, and information. I like people who make me think, and Amos Oz really made me think. It was another great night.
I've gotten in the habit of watching a couple of movies on the weekends to distract myself from school work. Yesterday, I watched writer/director John Hughes' movie The Breakfast Club, which I've wanted to watch for a few years now but never got around to it. It is such an awesome movie!!! It was made in 1985, which feels like the Ice Age to all of us, but watching this movie made me realize that teenagers in the eighties were just like teenagers today. They had the same dreams, the same fears, and they laughed at the same things. If you haven't seen the movie, you should definitely go and watch it! It will make you cry, laugh, and think.
Happy Halloween and have a great week everybody!!
S.
P.S. I can't believe it actually snowed this past weekend!
P.P.S. As I was writing this post, Bruno Mars' song "It Will Rain" came on the radio. Such a good song and such an awesome singer! =)
Monday, October 31, 2011
More Laundry, Tests! And Halloween
This week, I have truly come to appreciate the beauty of milk. I dunno why, it’s not like I drank it a lot at home. But now I drink milk like a fiend. Other random things in my week: I need to join a bajillion clubs and do internships. I feel uninvolved! And I also feel very frazzled. Seriously. Even my hair looks frazzled. My bed is frazzled. My room is a frazzling mess. Why, might you ask, am I so very frazzled? Well, let’s just say that me and studying for tests do not go well together! Especially when I’m in the dorm, where it’s too easy to be social. If I had a roommate I’m pretty sure I would flunk out of college because I’d always be distracted by talking to them or their friends as well as my own and I’d never get anything done. I literally have to hide myself from being drawn into social interaction. But luckily my tests are over and I will no longer be socially deprived! (Except now I’m worried about what I’ll be like during finals. AHHH WHY ARE YOU SO HARD COLLEGE!!!!!)
I feel like the stuff you always hear about from college students is happening now. For example, I am running out of food. But spaghetti can last forever! (Although I am incredibly tired of it by now. I miss home food! I should cook some…but it involves more planning and effort than I am ready to exert.) And do college students perpetually have laundry to do? Because it sure feels like I do. Luckily I don’t mind…yet.
Oh and Happy Halloween! Upstate, it actually felt like Halloween, because I actually went trick or treating to people’s houses (and they gave out goody bags…and big candy bars! Oh, what I’m missing out on today!) but in the city I’m not quite sure what to do…can I go trick or treating to stores? I don’t even have a costume….other than a nerd one. Which is unoriginal and lame. But then again, I’ve consistently been Harry or Hermione for several years, sooo I don’t mind. Anyway, I’m sad to miss out on so much free candy.
On another note, why is it so cold? I need to invest in sweaters. Thrift shopping, here I come!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Good Morning
A lot has happened since I last posted. I don't have midterms this semester. I'm not exactly sure how that happened, but I'm not complaining. I actually haven't missed one class all semester. I like to think its because I'm investing in self-discipline, or maybe its because I really enjoy my classes this semester. Psychology of Human Sexuality, Victims of the Holocaust, Statistics 113, and Seminar 3 are all classes I look forward to.
I actually thoroughly enjoy Stat 113. It's weird. I'm usually not at all into math classes, but this class is more about logic and critical thinking than anything else.
Now that the semester is half over its got me thinking about winter break. I've decided against taking a winter class and am instead going to give myself a break. Well, if you can call working 40 hours per week a break. But it will be nice to just be able to go to work for a month and not be responsible for tests or assignments or classes.
One last thing: I love this weather. It's nice and cool and crisp and the leaves are starting to turn color. When I'm at work I can leave the ambulance window open, turn on the heat, and enjoy the breeze. I have to say, I really like living and working in the city (and going to school here, which is why I live and work here), especially during the fall.
Michael.
Public Policy?
My midterms are finally over after three weeks as is the beginning-of-the-semester chaos. As the semester wears on, I usually become more accustomed to it and adjust gradually. Everyone reacts to a new schedule/way of life differently and I tend to adapt slowly I guess.
In addition to classes and my research assistantship for the Roosevelt House, I added five hours of volunteer work a week about a month ago - not just because I love it but because one of my classes requires it. In Hunger in America, we are expected to deal with the hungry in very personal and real ways. I observe interactions at a senior center and give out food at a food pantry every week. Both locations are in the South Bronx and I have become surprisingly close to the people I have met in those places; to those who come to socialize and get food and to the staff. I think I am just more receptive to what one can gain from volunteer work than before and perhaps, what one gain from not being afraid to be attached to people. My heart is actually in it now.
And the funny thing is, both my volunteer and research work are intimately related. Both have inextricable ties to 1930s America and the time of the Great Depression. As I look at pictures of FDR and others who tackled the problem of hunger, I am also creating a visual memory of the present day hungry. Public policy is something I am becoming increasingly interested in as well as public outreach. The pictures I am selecting for a future exhibition at the Roosevelt House will be used, after all, in a public outreach effort. Every day I find myself being more and more drawn to Wall Street. I think I will have to visit this weekend...
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Study Abroad in Argentina
If you're thinking about study abroad in the Winter, here are some reasons why you should study abroad in Argentina:
1. It fulfills the Foreign Language Requirement.
2. Going south of the equator means an extra month of summer.
3. The Opportunities Fund will pay for the bulk of it.
4. You will get to try new things.
5. You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain.
1. It fulfills the Foreign Language Requirement.
2. Going south of the equator means an extra month of summer.
3. The Opportunities Fund will pay for the bulk of it.
4. You will get to try new things.
5. You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain.
Midterm Mania
It's been a shamefully long time since I posted. I'm going to blame it on midterms - since that is what most of the recent posts have been about, you guys know it's not just me!
Part of what makes midterm season so difficult is not just the tests themselves - it's the other assignments that come with them. This is the time when classes also require a midterm paper, or some part of your final paper, or perhaps both.
Last night was my 20th century German history midterm. I think it went okay, but don't hold me to that - I'll let you know in a week or so. Right afterward, however, I headed over to the Macaulay building for the 10-year anniversary celebration in honor of Bill and Linda Macaulay. I was one of the presenters - I had been asked to speak about "my first" study abroad experience ("A Decade of Firsts" was the theme for the evening. I was nervous but I've gotten pretty used to speaking about that publicly because I often talk about it at prospective student events, so it went really smoothly. My presentation is actually one of the ones that Bill Macaulay came to see, which was pretty cool. My parents got to come as well - my Mom had never even seen Macaualy, so it was nice for her to get to see our gorgeous brownstone (all prospective students should make a point to visit!).
It was a really fun evening overall. But for now, back to the midterm mania - next up, Political Philosophy on Monday morning.
ttfn
Kaitlyn
kt.ohagan@gmail.com
Part of what makes midterm season so difficult is not just the tests themselves - it's the other assignments that come with them. This is the time when classes also require a midterm paper, or some part of your final paper, or perhaps both.
Last night was my 20th century German history midterm. I think it went okay, but don't hold me to that - I'll let you know in a week or so. Right afterward, however, I headed over to the Macaulay building for the 10-year anniversary celebration in honor of Bill and Linda Macaulay. I was one of the presenters - I had been asked to speak about "my first" study abroad experience ("A Decade of Firsts" was the theme for the evening. I was nervous but I've gotten pretty used to speaking about that publicly because I often talk about it at prospective student events, so it went really smoothly. My presentation is actually one of the ones that Bill Macaulay came to see, which was pretty cool. My parents got to come as well - my Mom had never even seen Macaualy, so it was nice for her to get to see our gorgeous brownstone (all prospective students should make a point to visit!).
It was a really fun evening overall. But for now, back to the midterm mania - next up, Political Philosophy on Monday morning.
ttfn
Kaitlyn
kt.ohagan@gmail.com
A Decade of Firsts
Last night I attended the Macaulay Decade of Firsts event celebrating the 10th anniversary of our beloved Macaulay program. A group of beautifully dressed students in the beautiful Macaulay building with 100+ beautiful guests. The attendance list included Bill Macaulay, Dean Kirschner, and the Chancellor. Now I hear about the beauty of networking, ALOT. It's always nice to know people that have connections, don't get me wrong. But as academically motivated students, I feel like we focus so much on getting to know people for their connections, than we do on actually getting to know people. Yes, it would be great to meet Bill Macaulay, but I want to know about his life, his success story, his personality. By meeting a bunch of wonderful Macaulay students coming from all different walks of CUNY, its an eyeopener to the wonders that is the Macaulay Honors program and helps you realize the validity of the program we represent. Each person I met last night had a sense of humor, a compelling intelligence and most importantly a love for life. So no, I didn't run into a future me, or made a high class career connection, but I had a really good time with some really great people.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Midterms, MOMA and Macaulay Common Event!
The passage of this week marks a major milestone in my college career: I finished my first ever round of midterms and survived! Fortunately, my Macaulay Seminar professor unconsciously incorporated a study break by planning a class venture to the MOMA in the middle of the week. Upon entering the museum, my classmates and I became aware of the fact that bookbags were prohibited within the museum. After waiting on line for what felt like hours to check my bag and parting with my beloved Mac Book Pro, we finally entered the museum. It was well worth the wait. Prior to this year, I was never an art enthusiast and rarely ventured out to New York's cultural institutions. I thoroughly enjoyed observing and interpreting modern art, as well as discussing various works with my friends. Best of all, the visit was entirely free of charge!
On Wednesday evening, I attended an extremely informative Internship Workshop at the Roosevelt House. The guest speakers were successful in the business world and had valuable insight on the topics of networking and internships. My Macaulay classmates and I learned about the value of professional and social networking sites such as Linked-In, as well as the script to have when networking with a person. According to Ira Giff, no person can ever obtain enough networking contacts. Mr. Giff is a successful man who liberally accepts requests on networking sites, an approach that is the antithesis of his wife's approach. It is important to read into job and internship descriptions, as well as examine exactly what a position entails by speaking to current employees. Moreover, employers search for motivated students that take the initiative under minimal supervision. Overall, attending a common event with other Macaulay students in different years and from different campuses was a rewarding and memorable experience.
On Wednesday evening, I attended an extremely informative Internship Workshop at the Roosevelt House. The guest speakers were successful in the business world and had valuable insight on the topics of networking and internships. My Macaulay classmates and I learned about the value of professional and social networking sites such as Linked-In, as well as the script to have when networking with a person. According to Ira Giff, no person can ever obtain enough networking contacts. Mr. Giff is a successful man who liberally accepts requests on networking sites, an approach that is the antithesis of his wife's approach. It is important to read into job and internship descriptions, as well as examine exactly what a position entails by speaking to current employees. Moreover, employers search for motivated students that take the initiative under minimal supervision. Overall, attending a common event with other Macaulay students in different years and from different campuses was a rewarding and memorable experience.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Food, Meet the Artist, and More Food
One of the best things about NYC is the food. Just about every week my friend and I take one night to try something new. So far I've tried, Thai food, Chipotle, Pax pasta, just to name a few. The Pax, make your own pasta bowl was one of the best because I learned a couple of new recipes. Alfredo Fettuccine and Penne with Vodka sauce were two of the dishes that I recreated at home. I love trying out new foods and I love it even more when I can recreate them for myself.
Last week I also had the pleasure of attending Natasha Marin's "Courting Risk:Blackout", one of the Meet the Artist series. When I walked into the room, students were sitting around in a circle and there was an adorable baby crawling around. She played a video which was about a mother breastfeeding her child. It took me a couple of seconds to realize how the baby and her outfit were the same as the video and that she was reenacting her performance in front of us. Pretty soon, we became a part of her performance. She silently motioned for a student to write down everything that was happening. To another, she placed a blindfold over his eyes. She asked my friend to kneel and hold an incense stick. Then she gave me an index card, where I had to fill in the blanks. The card read: My name is ____ Red. My father's name is ______Red. My mother's name is _____Red. My people are known for ____and_____. Remember me.
Then her assistant pulled me over to help paint a sheet of white paper that was spread out. The whole atmosphere was captivating. It was one thing to be a passive viewer, it was another to take a part in the work of art. I was soon painting in a trance as another girl read a poem over and over again, each time replacing a word with the word "Red". Then the poem ended and three of us, myself included, read our index cards. After the performance ended and we discussed what we had just experienced. I thought that Marin's idea to include her audience was brilliant, it was refreshing and completely different from simply entering a museum and looking at a work of art. She even said that because she was silently requesting students to do certain things, we were less inclined to say no. As a result she made us participate and we had fun doing so.
http://www.mikokuro.com/
Last week I also had the pleasure of attending Natasha Marin's "Courting Risk:Blackout", one of the Meet the Artist series. When I walked into the room, students were sitting around in a circle and there was an adorable baby crawling around. She played a video which was about a mother breastfeeding her child. It took me a couple of seconds to realize how the baby and her outfit were the same as the video and that she was reenacting her performance in front of us. Pretty soon, we became a part of her performance. She silently motioned for a student to write down everything that was happening. To another, she placed a blindfold over his eyes. She asked my friend to kneel and hold an incense stick. Then she gave me an index card, where I had to fill in the blanks. The card read: My name is ____ Red. My father's name is ______Red. My mother's name is _____Red. My people are known for ____and_____. Remember me.
Then her assistant pulled me over to help paint a sheet of white paper that was spread out. The whole atmosphere was captivating. It was one thing to be a passive viewer, it was another to take a part in the work of art. I was soon painting in a trance as another girl read a poem over and over again, each time replacing a word with the word "Red". Then the poem ended and three of us, myself included, read our index cards. After the performance ended and we discussed what we had just experienced. I thought that Marin's idea to include her audience was brilliant, it was refreshing and completely different from simply entering a museum and looking at a work of art. She even said that because she was silently requesting students to do certain things, we were less inclined to say no. As a result she made us participate and we had fun doing so.
http://www.mikokuro.com/
Midterms, 5th Ave, Dance, and Symphony
Hey everybody.
Last week was very long and exhausting, but exciting nonetheless because something interesting always seems to sneak into my life every week. (which is great because what is life without unexpected cool things dropping into our laps?)
On Monday night, I attended a "Meet the Artist" event at the Macaulay building. The event featured contemporary choreographer, Miguel Gutierrez. He talked about his life, his dance career, and self-expression through dance. He is definitely one of the most interesting and innovative people I've ever met. He seeks to explore a variety of subjects in his work. His passion for dance was palpable in the air as he danced for us. It was definitely a great night.
Check out his website: http://www.miguelgutierrez.org/
On Monday, I also took my first Political Science test. I was nervous, but I thought the test was fair.
If any of you ever want to take a Political Science class, take Poli Sci 110 with Professor Polsky. He's a great professor. He is knowledgeable, lectures well, and gives a fair amount of work.
My week was also consumed doing chemistry homework and studying for the chemistry test that I took this past Friday. It's definitely not an easy class, but I've discovered that no college class is easy. They all require work and focus.
On Wednesday night, my Arts Seminar class went to listen to the Hunter Symphony.
It was definitely an interesting experience because I really haven't been exposed to classical music before. I've been able to learn more about the history of music because my professor is a pianist. He likes to incorporate music into his lessons so I've been able to learn a lot about the history of music. The class definitely has given a greater appreciation for music by composers like Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach.
Thursday was all about studying for chemistry.
Since chemistry is my only class on Fridays, I was able to go out and enjoy NYC after my chemistry test. I went to Fifth Avenue and checked out Uniqlo, Juicy Couture, and H&M. I also went to Rockefeller Center and admired Atlas' muscles. =p
It was great to just be out and enjoy this city. I grew up in Brooklyn, and as a kid, I never really got to go to Manhattan a lot. Going to college here has really allowed to finally get to know this awesome borough. Brooklyn will always be number one in my heart because of its hominess and familiarity, but Manhattan has really captured my heart these past two months.
I'm just grateful that I have this opportunity to be a part of Macaulay and enjoy this beautiful city. <3
S.
Last week was very long and exhausting, but exciting nonetheless because something interesting always seems to sneak into my life every week. (which is great because what is life without unexpected cool things dropping into our laps?)
On Monday night, I attended a "Meet the Artist" event at the Macaulay building. The event featured contemporary choreographer, Miguel Gutierrez. He talked about his life, his dance career, and self-expression through dance. He is definitely one of the most interesting and innovative people I've ever met. He seeks to explore a variety of subjects in his work. His passion for dance was palpable in the air as he danced for us. It was definitely a great night.
Check out his website: http://www.miguelgutierrez.org/
On Monday, I also took my first Political Science test. I was nervous, but I thought the test was fair.
If any of you ever want to take a Political Science class, take Poli Sci 110 with Professor Polsky. He's a great professor. He is knowledgeable, lectures well, and gives a fair amount of work.
My week was also consumed doing chemistry homework and studying for the chemistry test that I took this past Friday. It's definitely not an easy class, but I've discovered that no college class is easy. They all require work and focus.
On Wednesday night, my Arts Seminar class went to listen to the Hunter Symphony.
It was definitely an interesting experience because I really haven't been exposed to classical music before. I've been able to learn more about the history of music because my professor is a pianist. He likes to incorporate music into his lessons so I've been able to learn a lot about the history of music. The class definitely has given a greater appreciation for music by composers like Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach.
Thursday was all about studying for chemistry.
Since chemistry is my only class on Fridays, I was able to go out and enjoy NYC after my chemistry test. I went to Fifth Avenue and checked out Uniqlo, Juicy Couture, and H&M. I also went to Rockefeller Center and admired Atlas' muscles. =p
It was great to just be out and enjoy this city. I grew up in Brooklyn, and as a kid, I never really got to go to Manhattan a lot. Going to college here has really allowed to finally get to know this awesome borough. Brooklyn will always be number one in my heart because of its hominess and familiarity, but Manhattan has really captured my heart these past two months.
I'm just grateful that I have this opportunity to be a part of Macaulay and enjoy this beautiful city. <3
S.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
MediaMania
I can't believe its already Wednesday.
I spent the weekend at New York Comic Con with some friends. This was my second NY Comic Con and my fourth geek convention. I didn't dress up and I didn't speak to any of the special guests, but a good time was had by all. I left with a few books and a ton of awesome stuff to pin around my dorm room.
This afternoon in between my MHC seminar and writing this blog entry, I attended my first Department Meeting in my Major (Media Studies). It figures that I would declare a major and then a month later they would change it. Although I am grandfathered in to the 24 credit Media Studies Major, the discussion to count Media 180 and MEDP 150 and 160 for major credit actually makes me closer to completing the new 36 credit program. I am also very excited about the new program concentrations. I want to get an Emerging Media Concentration but will have to take a few classes before deciding on either the Web Production (exactly what it sounds like) or Interactive Production (robots, video games, virtual reality etc.) tracks. The page discussing the Media Major and its concentrations can be found here: http://brie.hunter.cuny.edu/?page_id=5722.
My life is exhausting, but its pretty darn good ^_^
I spent the weekend at New York Comic Con with some friends. This was my second NY Comic Con and my fourth geek convention. I didn't dress up and I didn't speak to any of the special guests, but a good time was had by all. I left with a few books and a ton of awesome stuff to pin around my dorm room.
This weekend I also attended the first Macaulay Honors College Quidditch Team Meeting. See http://www.facebook.com/groups/214840801916215/ for information. GO INSERT_NAME_HERE!!! How could I not be anything less than totally pumped about the opportunity to get in shape and be very, very geeky at the same time.
It almost goes without saying I didn't get much sleep between the 14th and the 16th.
I have yet to recover that sleep. I stayed up rather late and woke up far too early the last two days in order to work on a paper for my Children's Literature Class. It's on Grimm's Fairy Tale "Rapunzel" and David Trinidad's poem of the same name and worth 20% of my course grade. It scares me how much there is to analyze in what seems like two short pieces of writing. I regret not starting earlier, but will hope for the best.
This afternoon in between my MHC seminar and writing this blog entry, I attended my first Department Meeting in my Major (Media Studies). It figures that I would declare a major and then a month later they would change it. Although I am grandfathered in to the 24 credit Media Studies Major, the discussion to count Media 180 and MEDP 150 and 160 for major credit actually makes me closer to completing the new 36 credit program. I am also very excited about the new program concentrations. I want to get an Emerging Media Concentration but will have to take a few classes before deciding on either the Web Production (exactly what it sounds like) or Interactive Production (robots, video games, virtual reality etc.) tracks. The page discussing the Media Major and its concentrations can be found here: http://brie.hunter.cuny.edu/?page_id=5722.
I also have to go to my Religion of Early Europe and Media and the Digital Age classes tonight from 5:35 to 8:00. I regret my decision to take so many evening classes this semester. It serves me right for deluding myself into thinking that I'd EVER get the chance to sleep in.
My life is exhausting, but its pretty darn good ^_^
New Opportunities
One of my friends from high school works in film; he actually dropped out of high school to take this on full-time if you can believe it! He's actually pretty successful and only just barely 18, and I'm very proud of him. This weekend he asked me if I wanted to help out on a film he's working on as a production assistant. So I get to work on this movie basically whenever I want to, and it's a really great way to meet people, an awesome thing to put on my resume, and most importantly, a really great way to see what else is out there.
Lately I've been feeling like there is no life outside of pre-med, and it's really refreshing to see that there are other things to do in this world. I don't really see myself getting into film, but it's actually a lot of fun to be involved in something new. Where else would these opportunities just be dropped in your lap besides New York?
Lately I've been feeling like there is no life outside of pre-med, and it's really refreshing to see that there are other things to do in this world. I don't really see myself getting into film, but it's actually a lot of fun to be involved in something new. Where else would these opportunities just be dropped in your lap besides New York?
Sunday, October 16, 2011
It's been a while since I've updated, mostly because I was finishing up my application to study abroad next semester and trying to study for midterms. Midterm season is always very stressful! This weekend I went to the second Bronze Age Colloquium of this semester and heard about excavations in the southwestern Peloponnese. Professor Cosmopoulos, the director of the dig, spoke about last summer's finds. One of my classmates was actually on the dig, so it was great to see what he was working on.
Today was pretty dissapointg. I wanted to spend the day studying but I ended up slacking and procrastinating so I kind of feel an all-nighter creeping around the corner. I can't wait until midterms are over!!! I hate leaving things for last minute.
I also recently started a new internship that I'll talk about in my next post, so that is taking up quite a bit of my time.
Hope my next post is about how great I feel after taking all those midterms.
xoxo
Today was pretty dissapointg. I wanted to spend the day studying but I ended up slacking and procrastinating so I kind of feel an all-nighter creeping around the corner. I can't wait until midterms are over!!! I hate leaving things for last minute.
I also recently started a new internship that I'll talk about in my next post, so that is taking up quite a bit of my time.
Hope my next post is about how great I feel after taking all those midterms.
xoxo
Green Beans and Peas, A Paper, Some Shows, And A Too-Clean Room
Hello all,
I've just pulled my first all nighter in college...but it wasn't even to study! That means that at 6:45 AM this morning I was a dazed college student staring at a screen, dead tired, and thinking about watermelon (I dunno, I've been having dreams about watermelon too. I guess it's a sign I really need to eat some?) I also learned that when procrastinating, facebook can actually become very boring once you've been on enough times in hopes that some new notification will distract you from writing a paper. The hateful paper in question was for international relations. I took this class out of interest...but political science is not my thing, although I do find it interesting. I'm going to stick with nursing.
Other than stressing over this paper, what have I done all week? I cleaned my room...several times...youtube and I have become very good friends...I've done laundry...floor hopped...thought about my paper...thought some more about it (did you know only the draft was due today? I have to revise it for final submission next week. AHHH TOO MUCH ANXIETY!)...I made to do lists...I watched some hulu shows (anyone reading this should totally watch New Girl. It's hilarious. For guys and girls. I love it! Also, I do like Hart of Dixie, which, yeah, it looks cutesy and lame and utterly predictable, but it's nice to watch, alright? I find it entertaining)...I thought about going to Uniqlo because I heard they had awesome sales, but missed out on it to do homework instead...oh wait! I do have some semblance of a life! I totally went to Union Square (I love that we live walking distance from there. That was a major factor in my decision to dorm. I'm only kind of kidding. The Barnes and Noble is so amazing! I could live there!) and checked out Trader Joe's. I attempted to buy something until I noticed the line, at which point I left without buying the spinach tortellini. It was sad. But then I sauteed green beans and peas, which, let me tell you, was quite the experience. Why have I never done such before? It's so simple, fun, and seems healthy! I think I'm going to make a lot of vegetables from now on. Anyway, that's all I've got to say for now...perhaps by next week I'll be slightly more exciting.
I've just pulled my first all nighter in college...but it wasn't even to study! That means that at 6:45 AM this morning I was a dazed college student staring at a screen, dead tired, and thinking about watermelon (I dunno, I've been having dreams about watermelon too. I guess it's a sign I really need to eat some?) I also learned that when procrastinating, facebook can actually become very boring once you've been on enough times in hopes that some new notification will distract you from writing a paper. The hateful paper in question was for international relations. I took this class out of interest...but political science is not my thing, although I do find it interesting. I'm going to stick with nursing.
Other than stressing over this paper, what have I done all week? I cleaned my room...several times...youtube and I have become very good friends...I've done laundry...floor hopped...thought about my paper...thought some more about it (did you know only the draft was due today? I have to revise it for final submission next week. AHHH TOO MUCH ANXIETY!)...I made to do lists...I watched some hulu shows (anyone reading this should totally watch New Girl. It's hilarious. For guys and girls. I love it! Also, I do like Hart of Dixie, which, yeah, it looks cutesy and lame and utterly predictable, but it's nice to watch, alright? I find it entertaining)...I thought about going to Uniqlo because I heard they had awesome sales, but missed out on it to do homework instead...oh wait! I do have some semblance of a life! I totally went to Union Square (I love that we live walking distance from there. That was a major factor in my decision to dorm. I'm only kind of kidding. The Barnes and Noble is so amazing! I could live there!) and checked out Trader Joe's. I attempted to buy something until I noticed the line, at which point I left without buying the spinach tortellini. It was sad. But then I sauteed green beans and peas, which, let me tell you, was quite the experience. Why have I never done such before? It's so simple, fun, and seems healthy! I think I'm going to make a lot of vegetables from now on. Anyway, that's all I've got to say for now...perhaps by next week I'll be slightly more exciting.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
The Other Side of NYC
There has been so much going on that I haven't had a chance to describe the other side to living in the city and this is made up mostly of weird experiences. Therefore, I am going to reminisce on all the weird things that have happened since the beginning of the semester because they are quite strange yet funny.
One of the first things that I noticed about the city is the danger of taxi cabs. The drivers are quite eager to reach their destination in a timely manner, even if means running a couple of lights. The first time, my friend and I were about to cross the street as the stoplight was on yellow and the taxi cab was a good distance away. However, the yellow light instead of telling the cab to slow down, the taxi accelerated and forced us to jump backwards. It was a good lesson to learn and the second time, I was prepared. It was late at night when I was returning to the dorms with another friend after a bio lecture. I saw the light on yellow but I peered out to see whether there were any cars. Coincidentally, there was a taxi approaching quickly, and I took a step back. My friend did not. I yanked her out of the way just as the taxi came. Afterwards we laughed at ourselves, but we both learned a valuable lesson: Watch out for those yellow taxis!
One of the first things that I noticed about the city is the danger of taxi cabs. The drivers are quite eager to reach their destination in a timely manner, even if means running a couple of lights. The first time, my friend and I were about to cross the street as the stoplight was on yellow and the taxi cab was a good distance away. However, the yellow light instead of telling the cab to slow down, the taxi accelerated and forced us to jump backwards. It was a good lesson to learn and the second time, I was prepared. It was late at night when I was returning to the dorms with another friend after a bio lecture. I saw the light on yellow but I peered out to see whether there were any cars. Coincidentally, there was a taxi approaching quickly, and I took a step back. My friend did not. I yanked her out of the way just as the taxi came. Afterwards we laughed at ourselves, but we both learned a valuable lesson: Watch out for those yellow taxis!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Bloomingdale's, Occupy Wall Street, and French
As you can see from the title of this post, I've had an assortment of experiences this week.
When I first started classes this year, I was definitely not looking forward to the 6 hour break that I would have every Tuesday. I thought those hours would be the most torturous of the week. Well, it turns out that I was wrong. Tuesday has now become my most fulfilling day of the week. Those 6 hours allow for homework completion, hanging out with friends, and exploring NYC. This past Tuesday, I didn't have a lot of work to do, so I was able to spend a lot of time outside, enjoying the great weather. I went outside to take a photo for Macaulay Snapshot Day and I ended up in Central Park. I took a few pictures, but none of the pictures seemed right. As I began to walk down Fifth Avenue, I stumbled upon a huge crowd of people chanting and walking up Fifth Avenue. I immediately recognized them as the Occupy Wall Street protestors. This was my first time seeing the protestors in person and I was transfixed by their words and their signs. I thought that I would never see the protestors because they had been downtown for awhile. Later that day, I found out that the protestors were in the Upper East Side to protest in front of the homes of a number of CEO's.
I began to snap pictures and take videos of the protestors as they walked to and then up Park Avenue. I followed them for about an hour and was amazed at the number of protestors and their enthusiasm for the movement. Everybody on the sidewalk literally stopped what they were doing and started snapping pictures. It was great to just be there and see people try to make their lives better.
Later that day, I went into Bloomingdale's for the first time in my life. The various designer clothes and accessories were beautiful. But while there, I was reminded of the protestors and how they couldn't afford most of the things sold at Bloomingdale's. It was crazy to imagine that people protesting because they needed jobs and people shopping for a designer handbag were in the same city at the exact same time.
On Wednesday, my Art in NYC Seminar professor took my class to see a chamber music master class with the Bordeaux Quartet at Hunter's Lang Recital Hall. The Bordeaux Quartet is made up of four French musicians. They took some time off from their world tour to come to Hunter to give some constructive criticism to Hunter music students. After the students played for the Quartet, each member of the Quartet gave some constructive criticism to them. The members of the quartet spoke a mix of French and English to the students. A translator was on hand to translate the French for the students and audience. I found that I didn't even mind that I didn't understand what they were saying. The French language is so beautiful that it is itself like a piece of music. The French musicians had such passion for music and gave valuable pieces of advice to the Hunter music students. It was just fascinating to watch them and listen to them talk about what they love.
I have a confession to make. I had never eaten sushi until this past Wednesday when my friend taught me how to eat sushi with chopsticks. I definitely enjoyed eating it! College really does expose you to new things.
I have two midterms coming up next week so let's see how those go!
ttyl,
S.
When I first started classes this year, I was definitely not looking forward to the 6 hour break that I would have every Tuesday. I thought those hours would be the most torturous of the week. Well, it turns out that I was wrong. Tuesday has now become my most fulfilling day of the week. Those 6 hours allow for homework completion, hanging out with friends, and exploring NYC. This past Tuesday, I didn't have a lot of work to do, so I was able to spend a lot of time outside, enjoying the great weather. I went outside to take a photo for Macaulay Snapshot Day and I ended up in Central Park. I took a few pictures, but none of the pictures seemed right. As I began to walk down Fifth Avenue, I stumbled upon a huge crowd of people chanting and walking up Fifth Avenue. I immediately recognized them as the Occupy Wall Street protestors. This was my first time seeing the protestors in person and I was transfixed by their words and their signs. I thought that I would never see the protestors because they had been downtown for awhile. Later that day, I found out that the protestors were in the Upper East Side to protest in front of the homes of a number of CEO's.
I began to snap pictures and take videos of the protestors as they walked to and then up Park Avenue. I followed them for about an hour and was amazed at the number of protestors and their enthusiasm for the movement. Everybody on the sidewalk literally stopped what they were doing and started snapping pictures. It was great to just be there and see people try to make their lives better.
 | ||||
| The photograph I chose for Macaulay Snapshot Day. |
Later that day, I went into Bloomingdale's for the first time in my life. The various designer clothes and accessories were beautiful. But while there, I was reminded of the protestors and how they couldn't afford most of the things sold at Bloomingdale's. It was crazy to imagine that people protesting because they needed jobs and people shopping for a designer handbag were in the same city at the exact same time.
On Wednesday, my Art in NYC Seminar professor took my class to see a chamber music master class with the Bordeaux Quartet at Hunter's Lang Recital Hall. The Bordeaux Quartet is made up of four French musicians. They took some time off from their world tour to come to Hunter to give some constructive criticism to Hunter music students. After the students played for the Quartet, each member of the Quartet gave some constructive criticism to them. The members of the quartet spoke a mix of French and English to the students. A translator was on hand to translate the French for the students and audience. I found that I didn't even mind that I didn't understand what they were saying. The French language is so beautiful that it is itself like a piece of music. The French musicians had such passion for music and gave valuable pieces of advice to the Hunter music students. It was just fascinating to watch them and listen to them talk about what they love.
I have a confession to make. I had never eaten sushi until this past Wednesday when my friend taught me how to eat sushi with chopsticks. I definitely enjoyed eating it! College really does expose you to new things.
I have two midterms coming up next week so let's see how those go!
ttyl,
S.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
A Week of Firsts
This past week marked a major milestone for me as I attended “The Threepenny Opera” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Howard Gilman Opera House for my Arts in NYC seminar. I am a devoted rap and hip-hop fan, and so initially responded to news of this mandatory excursion to the opera with aversion. The fact that “The Threepenny Opera” was entirely in German served to exacerbate the situation. To make matters worse, I was separated from my friends because odd and even numbered seats were at opposite ends of the theatre. However, this proved to be conducive to my appreciation of this new and unprecedented opportunity. My seat was directly next to that of my seminar’s IFT Fiona, who also happens to be an English major at the CUNY Graduate Center. We discussed the plot of the opera during intermission and I learned about the experiences of a graduate student under the stress of writing a dissertation. This is merely my first month of college, and Macaulay has already broadened my horizons. Never did I envision myself attending the opera and discussing the plot with someone on the verge of receiving their graduate degree, yet there I was. One important lesson I’ve learned is to open myself to new experiences. After all, if you had stopped me one week ago while the vibrant snare and bass of the latest rap track ran through my headphones to tell me that I would enjoy an opera, I would have laughed and been on my way. When the opportunity to leave early arose, many of my peers seized the opportunity. Much to my surprise, I willingly chose to stay. Just make sure not to tell anyone about my newfound love.
Another exciting aspect of this week was the inaugural Macaulay Scholars Council meeting. Here we were introduced to the Administrative Staff of the Macaulay Honors College. Meetings are held at the Macaulay Building, a brownstone with awe-inspiring architecture. Being a member of the Macaulay Scholars Council contributes to my sense of school identity and will allow me to get more involved in the daily aspects of college that impact my educational experience both inside and outside of the classroom. Once again, I’ve opened myself to being more involved in leadership activities that have thus far been engaging and self-improving. College is truly proving to make me try things I never saw myself doing before.
My first ever college midterms are coming up, and I hope to survive long enough to write another post!
You are my Sunshine
I think I've finally gotten used to my schedule. I am not as stressed out and burnt out as I had originally thought, and I am doing better in most of my classes than I had originally thought. Not that I'm saying I'm looking forward to the slew of five midterms coming up in 2 weeks, but I know and have more faith in myself that I will study and get through it very well. The beautiful weather sure is making me feel very confident that I can accomplish anything just about now.
It was really mind boggling and pretty relaxing to have two 4day weekends in a row. Of course, I had hoped to get as much studying done as possible during these weekends, but, as expected, I only did the bare minimum. In a way, I am disappointed in myself, but I am not surprised that my mind refused to do much over the mini breaks. At least I planned to procrastinate during the weekend, because now I have the perfect window and amount of time to really strap in and study for my tests. Thats the best part about those 4 day weekends- I might not get much done, but they are so relaxing that I am primed and ready to do busy work throughout my school week.
Yesterday, the last day off from the four day weekend, I ended up watching the Columbus Day Parade. It was a refreshing change to my schedule, and reminded me how I miss my days of high school marching band. While I was reminiscing about my marching band days, I dutifully carried out my role as a parade spectator and waved to the various marchers and police officers coming by. At first, when I waved, the police officers would wave back ecstatically, even trying to start up small talk with me while they walked by. I was pretty excited by this, because I was not the only spectator around, and I felt quite appreciative of the fact that the marchers were taking the time to say a few words to me. After a while ( I think this was after Bloomberg walked by), I realized the marchers weren't exactly talking to me, but to the two sisters (nuns) next to me, dressed in their white saree-like habits (like the one Mother Theresa wore). It was sort of surreal to see the Missionaries of Charity in New York, because I had originally associated them with working in the slums of Calcutta. After talking to them for a little bit, I learned they were waiting to talk to an Indian consulate official ( the Indian Consulate was on the same block that I was spectating on) about visas for India. I was extremely fascinated and awed by how they worked not only in the visible poverty of Calcutta, but also tried to help with the noticeable but often invisible poverty within our city.
The internet at the dorms has gotten better, but it is still not up to par considering that there is such as thing called "tech fees". However, the freebie t-shirts and planners that Hunter decided to give away today slightly glossed over this ever present and unsolved internet debacle. And of course, the gorgeous weather these past few days and for the days to come is pure happiness, no matter what life decides to throw at me.
Other than reading for classes and writing up lab reports, I'll be attending sessions with various admissions reps and deans with a few dental schools. I want to gain as much information and exposure to as many dental schools as possible before I really start my apps and studying for the DAT this winter and next semester.
It was really mind boggling and pretty relaxing to have two 4day weekends in a row. Of course, I had hoped to get as much studying done as possible during these weekends, but, as expected, I only did the bare minimum. In a way, I am disappointed in myself, but I am not surprised that my mind refused to do much over the mini breaks. At least I planned to procrastinate during the weekend, because now I have the perfect window and amount of time to really strap in and study for my tests. Thats the best part about those 4 day weekends- I might not get much done, but they are so relaxing that I am primed and ready to do busy work throughout my school week.
Yesterday, the last day off from the four day weekend, I ended up watching the Columbus Day Parade. It was a refreshing change to my schedule, and reminded me how I miss my days of high school marching band. While I was reminiscing about my marching band days, I dutifully carried out my role as a parade spectator and waved to the various marchers and police officers coming by. At first, when I waved, the police officers would wave back ecstatically, even trying to start up small talk with me while they walked by. I was pretty excited by this, because I was not the only spectator around, and I felt quite appreciative of the fact that the marchers were taking the time to say a few words to me. After a while ( I think this was after Bloomberg walked by), I realized the marchers weren't exactly talking to me, but to the two sisters (nuns) next to me, dressed in their white saree-like habits (like the one Mother Theresa wore). It was sort of surreal to see the Missionaries of Charity in New York, because I had originally associated them with working in the slums of Calcutta. After talking to them for a little bit, I learned they were waiting to talk to an Indian consulate official ( the Indian Consulate was on the same block that I was spectating on) about visas for India. I was extremely fascinated and awed by how they worked not only in the visible poverty of Calcutta, but also tried to help with the noticeable but often invisible poverty within our city.
The internet at the dorms has gotten better, but it is still not up to par considering that there is such as thing called "tech fees". However, the freebie t-shirts and planners that Hunter decided to give away today slightly glossed over this ever present and unsolved internet debacle. And of course, the gorgeous weather these past few days and for the days to come is pure happiness, no matter what life decides to throw at me.
Other than reading for classes and writing up lab reports, I'll be attending sessions with various admissions reps and deans with a few dental schools. I want to gain as much information and exposure to as many dental schools as possible before I really start my apps and studying for the DAT this winter and next semester.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Zen?
I think the biggest realization about Junior Year is that it really doesn't feel as different as I thought it would. By contrast, it's actually the easiest year thus far, not by workload, but because I've gotten to the point of understanding my learning style and my maximum work load.
While the sophomores are all being existential about their future and freaking out about the MCATs, LSATs, or GREs, the Juniors are by contrast are holding up pretty well. I think that's probably one of those realizations you have in the moment (or at least it seems that way for me and my friends), but stressing won't really get you anywhere. In the end, you really do just procrastinate as much as always, but as long as you get yourself together in the end and keep up with things, it's all good. Classes and MCAT prepping can be tackled at the same time, as long as you give yourself plenty of time to make up for procrastination (read: extra 3 months), and internships, study abroad, work, and a social life are still fulfilling and fun.
That's the probably the most important thing I've learned throughout college: everything is achievable as long as you always enjoy what you're doing and have your goals in mind.
While the sophomores are all being existential about their future and freaking out about the MCATs, LSATs, or GREs, the Juniors are by contrast are holding up pretty well. I think that's probably one of those realizations you have in the moment (or at least it seems that way for me and my friends), but stressing won't really get you anywhere. In the end, you really do just procrastinate as much as always, but as long as you get yourself together in the end and keep up with things, it's all good. Classes and MCAT prepping can be tackled at the same time, as long as you give yourself plenty of time to make up for procrastination (read: extra 3 months), and internships, study abroad, work, and a social life are still fulfilling and fun.
That's the probably the most important thing I've learned throughout college: everything is achievable as long as you always enjoy what you're doing and have your goals in mind.
A Well Deserved Weekend!
This has been our second long weekend in a row, and I must say, it was much needed. Last Thursday was our first exam in Bio 100, which means that I was stressed out with studying and preparing for well over a week leading up to the test. And I haven't taken a Biology class since my freshman year of high school, so I hadn't the slightest clue what to expect! I really have no idea how I might have done, but it was definitely very challenging, and left me absolutely exhausted at the end of it all.
One of the greatest things about living in New York is how close I am to home still. There is really nothing better than being able to hop on the M66 (right outside of Hunter!) and going home after a really stressful day. Don't get me wrong, I love living in the dorms, but there's nothing like a home cooked meal, the love of your parents, and the comfort of your own bed. As much as it would be kind of cool to live far away from home, experiencing a totally different place, I find that going home really grounds me.
One of the greatest things about living in New York is how close I am to home still. There is really nothing better than being able to hop on the M66 (right outside of Hunter!) and going home after a really stressful day. Don't get me wrong, I love living in the dorms, but there's nothing like a home cooked meal, the love of your parents, and the comfort of your own bed. As much as it would be kind of cool to live far away from home, experiencing a totally different place, I find that going home really grounds me.
Nightmares: Fairytales
This weekend was a milestone for me. I was flooded with schoolwork and that bio test. However, it was all worth it because on Sunday, I went with a group of my friends to a haunted house attraction called Nightmares: Fairytales. We went with our student ID's, received a significant discount and the lines weren't long. The inside was dark, and Rapunzel was there to place blindfolds over our eyes. We grabbed her hair and marched in line to complete darkness. All I felt was my friend in front of me. People were whispering all around, and at one point, someone grabbed my legs. Eventually the blindfold came off and I was facing the candy house from Hansel and Gretal. The journey began there and we walked through different fairytale scenes. Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, Little Red Riding Hood, and Pinocchio were just a couple. The Pinocchio scene was quite scary; the room had been decorated with wooden figures that all repeated the phrase "I want to be a real boy". Well.....turns out one of them was real and he jumped out, definitely getting a scream out of me. This event was not only terrifying, it was also quite a performance. The props were elaborate and they explored the fairytales in a completely new way.
The second part to this attraction was something called "The Experiment". Allegedly, this was an experiment conducted by the Hayden Institution on the psychology of fear. I was extremely intrigued when they asked for a consent. We had to do what they told us, but we could leave whenever we wanted. The experiment measured the reactions of people to certain events. For example, one of the experimenters took out a "street" rat, and immediately three people walked out of the stage. Among these experiments, someone was asked to dance in public, as an example of stage fright. Finally, we were told to cover our faces because they were going to throw a bucket of "chilled feces" which turned out to be just water. This study was intense, but I found it quite interesting how the researchers invoked fear in the audience.
Overall, one of the best things about living in NYC is the variety of events that take place, and this was one event is definitely worth a look.
The second part to this attraction was something called "The Experiment". Allegedly, this was an experiment conducted by the Hayden Institution on the psychology of fear. I was extremely intrigued when they asked for a consent. We had to do what they told us, but we could leave whenever we wanted. The experiment measured the reactions of people to certain events. For example, one of the experimenters took out a "street" rat, and immediately three people walked out of the stage. Among these experiments, someone was asked to dance in public, as an example of stage fright. Finally, we were told to cover our faces because they were going to throw a bucket of "chilled feces" which turned out to be just water. This study was intense, but I found it quite interesting how the researchers invoked fear in the audience.
Overall, one of the best things about living in NYC is the variety of events that take place, and this was one event is definitely worth a look.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Hi, everybody! =)
I can't believe I'm already writing my third post. I've really enjoyed writing these blog posts. They're a lot of fun.
Gosh, I really needed this four day weekend. I had my first Biology test yesterday and I, along with a bunch of my fellow Macaulay Hunter students, have basically been freaking out the past week about this test. I'm just glad that I can say that I'm done with the test, and I don't have to think about it anymore. It felt good to just walk out of that lecture hall yesterday and know that my TV was waiting for me at home.
When I got home on Wednesday, I logged onto Facebook and found out that Steve Jobs had died. (It's funny how a lot of us get our news through Facebook sometimes.) I knew that he had been sick for awhile, but it was still shocking. He was a truly amazing individual, and it's because of his innovative genius that all of us Macaulay students get our shiny MacBook Pros when we start college. The MacBook Pro is definitely a great tool and has become my best friend when I write my papers.
So thank you, Steve Jobs. You will be missed. =)
Fall has come upon us and New Yorkers have definitely been showing off their style with chunky sweaters, classic trench coats, and cool boots. I get inspired by what I see other people wearing because it's always cool to see how other people wear a certain piece and add their own twist to it.
I'm looking forward to spending a little "mommy and me" time with my mom and doing some shopping with her this weekend. It's good to get out of the house and contribute to the economy as well. =)
I don't have too much homework this weekend so I going to catch up on some reading, watch some crime dramas (by the way, "Blue Bloods" is an awesome show!), and enjoy the nice weather.
Enjoy the weekend, everybody. =)
I can't believe I'm already writing my third post. I've really enjoyed writing these blog posts. They're a lot of fun.
Gosh, I really needed this four day weekend. I had my first Biology test yesterday and I, along with a bunch of my fellow Macaulay Hunter students, have basically been freaking out the past week about this test. I'm just glad that I can say that I'm done with the test, and I don't have to think about it anymore. It felt good to just walk out of that lecture hall yesterday and know that my TV was waiting for me at home.
When I got home on Wednesday, I logged onto Facebook and found out that Steve Jobs had died. (It's funny how a lot of us get our news through Facebook sometimes.) I knew that he had been sick for awhile, but it was still shocking. He was a truly amazing individual, and it's because of his innovative genius that all of us Macaulay students get our shiny MacBook Pros when we start college. The MacBook Pro is definitely a great tool and has become my best friend when I write my papers.
So thank you, Steve Jobs. You will be missed. =)
Fall has come upon us and New Yorkers have definitely been showing off their style with chunky sweaters, classic trench coats, and cool boots. I get inspired by what I see other people wearing because it's always cool to see how other people wear a certain piece and add their own twist to it.
I'm looking forward to spending a little "mommy and me" time with my mom and doing some shopping with her this weekend. It's good to get out of the house and contribute to the economy as well. =)
I don't have too much homework this weekend so I going to catch up on some reading, watch some crime dramas (by the way, "Blue Bloods" is an awesome show!), and enjoy the nice weather.
Enjoy the weekend, everybody. =)
Friday, October 7, 2011
College Lyfe!
Hey y'all,
(I am not from Texas or anything. Just sayin'. I am from New York. I just enjoy the word "y'all," that's all.)
I realize I'm a bit late with my first blog, but better late than never, right?
Anyway, I’m Amirah! I'm lucky enough to be a part of the Macaulay-Hunter group as a freshie this year. A bit about me: I’m majoring in indecision and I was born in June…I have a strange fondness for Colin Firth, persimmons and cucumbers. I think vacuuming is painful, as is washing dishes. I can’t cut in a straight line, and I love the color green. My hair has been described as happy. When I’m not amusing the world with my renowned cheesy jokes, you can usually find me reading Entertainment Weekly cover to cover or singing Bollywood songs too loudly.
So, college. The reason I signed up to be a part of the MacBlog is because when I was applying to Macaulay-Hunter, I read this blog a lot. And I thought the kids who blogged here were super-cool. And it helped me in my decision-making process more (just kidding, I heard about Macaulay my junior year and was completely awed by it). If you're a prospective student reading this, yay! Come to Macaulay! Even though it's not well known outside of the city (I'm from Dutchess County and the people there were like, wow your school is the most obscure thing I've heard of so I'm going to ignore it and pretend you just go to Hunter. And it was like, hey! Macaulay is a top school! People just don't know it yet! In 10 years when all the Macaulay kids are owning the world and then people know about it, I'm going to be a total snob...like, yeah, I went to that school! It's going to be great. But I digress.)
Right, so college. Again. College is fun. I think I say this because my workload hasn't been significant enough to freak me out yet, but the social aspect is fun. There are so so so many diverse people at Hunter. I've met so many other Guyanese people, which is crazayyy because all my life I've known very few at school. We're practically a majority of a minority at Brookdale! Dorming is also loads of fun...it's kind of like one big sleepover, except we have our own rooms. But we walk around in our jammies all the time and cook together sometimes, and I'll sometimes run down the hall to borrow milk or cereal or sugar or a pan from someone. I love it!
Well, I'm off to return my DVDs to the library ($3 per day when your DVDs are late?! Clearly I don't know the city library system!) and perhaps walk a bit. A lot of my friends who go to other colleges where they live on campus can't quite comprehend the idea that we have to walk to the train every day and from it to get to our dorms...but I like it. Exercise is good! JK I'm totally going to take that statement back in the winter when it's freezing. Another cool thing that came to mind about our Macaulay-Hunter living situation: we dorm, live at college etc, but then we go home on weekends. Most of the students are from NY, so we just head home if we're homesick or if we've run out of food we take the train to get some home-cooked shiz! Living without a meal plan is alright, I suppose because most of us (maybe most of us? some of us? a bunch of us? Ok, well I do!) get food from home every week or so, but if we feel like cooking we'll cook. Sometimes we actually do have to cook. But all's good.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Macaulay Hunter Community?
One of the most common questions I get asked by prospective students is about the Macaulay community - the fact that Macaulay doesn't consist of your nontraditional campus can be scary (even if that's what you're looking for!). I recently got an email from a prospective student and got asked this question again, so I thought I'd just write a blog post for future referencing purposes.
I'm from Brooklyn, born and raised, so I feel very at home in New York City. Those of us from the New York City-area do make up the majority of Macaulay, but there are plenty of students from out of state as well. So essentially, most Macaulay students come into college having some kind of community in the city, be it people they went to high school with who are also attending college in the city or simply their family.
Starting to form a new Hunter/Macaulay community however, is not easy - at least not as easy as it probably would be in an enclosed campus. It is not forced upon you. Hunter is a commuter school, so people don't necessarily spend much time at the 68th street campus hanging out. All of the dorm rooms are singles, so you aren't forced to interact with your floor mates. And besides the four seminars, you may never see your Macaulay peers in class (though you probably will in other honors classes and you can certainly end up in the same regular Hunter classes).
However, one of the great things Hunter at Macaulay students do have is the dorm. Despite the fact that rooms are singles, the dorm is the hub of student life for many Macaulay students - there are lots of floor events, special trips, and dorm-wide events to help foster community. But things often happen more naturally just because there are communal kitchens, an awesome game room, etc. and Macaulay students do make up the majority of students at the dorm. There's also an honors lounge at Hunter where many Macaulay/Hunter students hang out.
In terms of Macaulay community, that's a bit harder, because we are spread across 7 campuses. But if you're willing to put in the effort (and the travel time) you can create a pretty strong Macaulay community as well - besides the many academic/intellectual events held at the Macaulay building, we do try to have a few "fun" Macaulay events each semester as well.
In the end, forging a community at Hunter/Macaulay may not work for you. The upside is, you have the entire city of New York at your disposal for creating your own community, even if it doesn't have a tangible location. This is the route I have taken. I certainly know many of my peers in Macaulay Hunter, and say hi or chat with my floor mates on occasion, but my group of friends, my "community" is a mix of people I know from high school, people I've worked with, my best friend who goes to Macaulay Baruch, and the people they've introduced me to.
In sum, the "community" you're going to find at Macaulay/Hunter/NYC is actually one you create. In a city this big, (with many other colleges besides Macaulay!) it's impossible not to find people you like and get along with. But if you definitely want a community closer to "home" - a community at Hunter - it's pretty easy to find! You just have to put yourself out there.
There are advantages and disadvantages to the "forced" community that many enclosed campuses create. Choose a school based on what you think will be best for you. But keep in mind that in the real world, no one is going to tell you who your "community" of friends/support should be. You're going to have to find it, create it, maintain it on your own.
I'm a firm believer that college is what you make of it. If you do end up going to Macaulay, or another school with a similar student life situation, try to make sure you spend more time taking advantage of the opportunities offered to you rather than disparaging those things you are missing out on. (And this actually applies to everything - not just student life.) If having something specific is really important to you, make it happen for yourself!
ttfn
Kaitlyn (kt.ohagan@gmail.com)
I'm from Brooklyn, born and raised, so I feel very at home in New York City. Those of us from the New York City-area do make up the majority of Macaulay, but there are plenty of students from out of state as well. So essentially, most Macaulay students come into college having some kind of community in the city, be it people they went to high school with who are also attending college in the city or simply their family.
Starting to form a new Hunter/Macaulay community however, is not easy - at least not as easy as it probably would be in an enclosed campus. It is not forced upon you. Hunter is a commuter school, so people don't necessarily spend much time at the 68th street campus hanging out. All of the dorm rooms are singles, so you aren't forced to interact with your floor mates. And besides the four seminars, you may never see your Macaulay peers in class (though you probably will in other honors classes and you can certainly end up in the same regular Hunter classes).
However, one of the great things Hunter at Macaulay students do have is the dorm. Despite the fact that rooms are singles, the dorm is the hub of student life for many Macaulay students - there are lots of floor events, special trips, and dorm-wide events to help foster community. But things often happen more naturally just because there are communal kitchens, an awesome game room, etc. and Macaulay students do make up the majority of students at the dorm. There's also an honors lounge at Hunter where many Macaulay/Hunter students hang out.
In terms of Macaulay community, that's a bit harder, because we are spread across 7 campuses. But if you're willing to put in the effort (and the travel time) you can create a pretty strong Macaulay community as well - besides the many academic/intellectual events held at the Macaulay building, we do try to have a few "fun" Macaulay events each semester as well.
In the end, forging a community at Hunter/Macaulay may not work for you. The upside is, you have the entire city of New York at your disposal for creating your own community, even if it doesn't have a tangible location. This is the route I have taken. I certainly know many of my peers in Macaulay Hunter, and say hi or chat with my floor mates on occasion, but my group of friends, my "community" is a mix of people I know from high school, people I've worked with, my best friend who goes to Macaulay Baruch, and the people they've introduced me to.
In sum, the "community" you're going to find at Macaulay/Hunter/NYC is actually one you create. In a city this big, (with many other colleges besides Macaulay!) it's impossible not to find people you like and get along with. But if you definitely want a community closer to "home" - a community at Hunter - it's pretty easy to find! You just have to put yourself out there.
There are advantages and disadvantages to the "forced" community that many enclosed campuses create. Choose a school based on what you think will be best for you. But keep in mind that in the real world, no one is going to tell you who your "community" of friends/support should be. You're going to have to find it, create it, maintain it on your own.
I'm a firm believer that college is what you make of it. If you do end up going to Macaulay, or another school with a similar student life situation, try to make sure you spend more time taking advantage of the opportunities offered to you rather than disparaging those things you are missing out on. (And this actually applies to everything - not just student life.) If having something specific is really important to you, make it happen for yourself!
ttfn
Kaitlyn (kt.ohagan@gmail.com)
Occupy Wall Street
By now, I'm sure you've all (finally) heard about Occupy Wall Street, which is now in its third week. I know plenty of people who simply outright support the movement without having thought about it, and I think a lot of that has to do with OWS's own guerilla media campaign. (If you state, broadly, that you oppose capitalism and greed, post videos of police beatings, and tweet/facebook post about how the press is ignoring you, then I think a lot of people will sympathize with/support you without really thinking critically.)
It's not that I think this movement is all bad. If nothing else, I think it's important to have a left-wing activist response to the Tea Party, if only to show that liberals and progressives have as much passion for their ideas as conservatives and the religious right. And I think it's damn impressive to sustain and grow your movement for the better part of a month. I also think that there are legitimate grievances to be had with the financial sector of this country. (Satirized perfectly by this Onion article.) But I think that, just as liberals (myself included) critique the Tea Party and point out their hypocrisy, we need to critique OWS as well and not simply applaud their actions because we agree with (some of) their ideology.
Some things to consider:
- Even as they're protesting capitalism and corporations, how are they continuously benefitting from those entities? How many of them are wearing clothing, sleeping in sleeping bags, using cell phones, etc, that were made in sweatshops? [And please, spare the argument that it's impossible to buy ethically made clothing. All it takes is research. As a last resort, one can learn to knit, go buy yarn from Maine raised sheep, and knit a sweater.] Who farmed their food? They are posting to the internet - where is their internet coming from? Did they buy unbleached, recycled paperboard for their protest signs? Have they even thought about these things? Or, like many other forms of privilege, are they completely unaware that they are benefitting from the system they protest against, and at the expense of others?
- While I do not condone police brutality, and the NYPD's response to the protests has been shameful, I also do not condone provoking police brutality by marching without permits. Especially if not everyone is aware that the marches are occurring without permits. If you're going to break the law, it's imperative to make sure that every single participant knows that what they are doing is illegal, and that a confrontation with the police might result. It's absolutely fine if one is made aware of this and participates anyway, but everyone should be aware regardless.
- What is the end goal of OWS? I know that this question is redundant at this point, but I'm not sure that question has been answered. What sort of change are they aiming to effect?
These are just some of my thoughts after mulling over the issue for three weeks. Feel free to comment and start a discussion. I guess my issue is, I don't see much actual discussion going on at all. I've either been hearing "Yeah, fight the man, f*** the cops, we're oppressed!" or "These people are all stupid and won't accomplish anything - liberals hippies commies etc." Neither of these scripts are productive. If college has taught me anything it's to engage in actual dialogue and analysis!
- Katharine
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Waiting on Rhodes
As I write I'm waiting to get a call about my Rhodes application, which is due at midnight. The whole process has been such a whirlwind... and apparently in the whirlwind I made a mistake on my application form which is hopefully being straightened out now. Our new MHC Hunter director is being super helpful tonight in dealing with the Rhodes committee, which is great. Other than that... just a few glitches to fix, a couple recommenders who haven't yet uploaded their letters but theoretically will before 11:59, and a submit button to press and wham - I'll be a Rhodes candidate.
The Rhodes application process is unlike pretty much any application I've worked on before; I encourage anyone even kind of sort of thinking they might do it to start thinking about it far in advance, NOT in September like I did. There's been a ton of heat and pressure, and having six different people reading your essay and making sometimes not-so-nice comments about it can be tough, not to mention scrounging up and keeping track of 7 recommenders. But at the end of the day, it's still at least a chance to get an amazing opportunity, to have all kinds of doors open for you and to spend a couple years at Oxford.
For me the most beneficial, and one of the most stressful, aspects has been the forced introspection. I jumped on the Rhodes application because I'd realized it was time to face my nagging doubts about graduate school rather than plowing ahead with my applications, and even if this doesn't come through I think it was a good choice. Figuring out what I would do with the chance to study at Oxford has made me give a lot more credit to alternative ideas that I've mostly ignored while working in neuroscience, generating a lot of food for thought as I move foreword.
Still no call yet... oh well, hopefully soon. Right now I'm just looking foreword to having this all over and done with, spending the weekend with my boyfriend at his upcoming synthetic biology competition (yes, we are that nerdy) and finally getting to focus on my classes and lab work.
Happy Birthday NYPL!
Today I went to the New York Public Library's centennial exhibition. The public library opened 100 years ago and since then has expanded its collection and preserved its historical and cultural significance. The exhibition, which is free to all, is organized into four thematic divisions: Observation, Contemplation, Society and Creativity. The exhibition documents the way information has been recorded over time, starting from Sumerian cuneifom tablets from the 3rd millenium BCE. and finishing with modern digital material. There were original manuscripts from many books, personal journals from authors, scrolls, centuries-old maps, and even disturbing material such as a copy of Mein Kampf and a Ku Klux Klan costume. Essentially, the exhibit is a tribute to the legacy of the NYPL. I really enjoyed it, and recommend it to anybody interested in history, literature and culture.
And if you haven't ever been to the NYPL, (shame on you) I suggest to get over there as soon as possible! You can do research and have coffee on 5th avenue and feel like you are in Hogwarts at the same time!
Anyway, this post is a bit early because the Opportunities Fund is due this week, as well as a bunch of scholarship applications and papers so I wanted to make sure to post this before I go on a mini-hiatus!!
xoxo
And if you haven't ever been to the NYPL, (shame on you) I suggest to get over there as soon as possible! You can do research and have coffee on 5th avenue and feel like you are in Hogwarts at the same time!
Anyway, this post is a bit early because the Opportunities Fund is due this week, as well as a bunch of scholarship applications and papers so I wanted to make sure to post this before I go on a mini-hiatus!!
xoxo
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The Calm Before the Storm
Rather than spend my 5-day weekend parting it up, I spent my Friday night making flashcards for studying German history, and went to bed early on Saturday so I wouldn't be tired for work on Sunday (I did enjoy a mini-Buffy marathon with my BFF on Wednesday night. It's awesome that Netflix has the entire series on Watch Instantly!).
Thanks to my diligence however, I'm in pretty good shape right now. However, midterms start around the middle of the month and run all the way until the end (I have a two or three part midterm for almost all of my classes!). So I'm enjoying my day off today (we're on a Friday class schedule, and I have no Friday classes!) with the knowledge that soon things will be getting very hectic!
One of the things I'm working on that I'm actually very excited about is my creative project for Imagining the End of the World - my best friend and I are going to make a short zombie film! We're working on writing the script now and it's already been alot of fun. It's always great when you can take a break from schoolwork by doing FUN schoolwork. I'm also enjoying the book I'm reading for the class - Watchmen! I actually though I wouldn't like reading a graphic novel, but it's really beautiful and so far a captivating story.
Back to scriptwriting in Starbucks!
ttfn
Kaitlyn (kt.ohagan@gmail.com)
Thanks to my diligence however, I'm in pretty good shape right now. However, midterms start around the middle of the month and run all the way until the end (I have a two or three part midterm for almost all of my classes!). So I'm enjoying my day off today (we're on a Friday class schedule, and I have no Friday classes!) with the knowledge that soon things will be getting very hectic!
One of the things I'm working on that I'm actually very excited about is my creative project for Imagining the End of the World - my best friend and I are going to make a short zombie film! We're working on writing the script now and it's already been alot of fun. It's always great when you can take a break from schoolwork by doing FUN schoolwork. I'm also enjoying the book I'm reading for the class - Watchmen! I actually though I wouldn't like reading a graphic novel, but it's really beautiful and so far a captivating story.
Back to scriptwriting in Starbucks!
ttfn
Kaitlyn (kt.ohagan@gmail.com)
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Opportunities Fund
The Opportunities Fund is a glorious thing for Macaulay students. A sum of $7500 at our disposal for academic needs. The only thing standing in our way is the application which is why I have been MIA lately. The application requires several documents: justification statement, budget breakdown, course syllabus, brochure, and a liability waiver. I'm applying to the Spanish Language in Argentina study abroad program that takes place over the winter break. It's an immerse program that has classes from Monday to Friday and teacher assistants that take you out to speak with the locals. This program is so popular that over 10 people from Macaulay are applying this year alone! The hardest thing about the application is starting it. Once you get an idea of what you need to do, it's smooth sailing. Of course you can use the fund for graduate school applications and research reimbursements, but I highly encourage using it for study abroad. I think going outside the US to learn is more worthwhile because you become familiar with another culture, learn a new language, taste new foods, and learn to be independent. Go ahead and apply for the political science program in India, or the business classes in Beijing. Step outside your comfort zone and try something new!
P.S. I am really enjoying the level of activity on this blog. Keep it up!
P.S. I am really enjoying the level of activity on this blog. Keep it up!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Art and stomach aches
Last weekend, I went to the New York City Bronze Age Colloquium at the New York Institute of Fine Arts. The guest speaker was Ms. Stephanie Lynn Budin, who got her Ph.D. in Archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania. The title of her lecture was "Images of Women and Child from the Bronze Age." Images of women and children during the bronze age (4th-2nd millennium BCE) are now referred to as the Kourotrophic tradition. Her research showed that there was a profound collection of kourotrophic iconography in Egypt, but a small proliferation of this motif on mainland Greece and almost no examples of these mother-child images in Minoan (Cretan) art. Budin explored the reasons behind this lack of portrayal of something so basic and realistic in the ancient world, claiming that the absence of kourotrophism was due to the fact that showing a mother with a child would not be an indicator of social status; women of the ancient world were more preoccupied with associating with high-status groups rather than with children. I do think it is fascinating that so few images of a mother and child exist in ancient art, but I'm not entirely convinced that, as Budin suggests, it has anything to do with social status, especially since Minoan art usually portrayed images from every day life.
The next colloquium will be held on October 14th at the New York Institute of Fine Arts at 6:30 pm, in case anybody is interested. The event is organized by a faculty member from the classics department, and anybody interested should go show their support!
I hope you are all enjoying your five day weekend!! (Unfortunately, I got food poisoning from the Moe's on 1st avenue by the dorms...so I haven't been enjoying myself too much...)
xoxo
The next colloquium will be held on October 14th at the New York Institute of Fine Arts at 6:30 pm, in case anybody is interested. The event is organized by a faculty member from the classics department, and anybody interested should go show their support!
I hope you are all enjoying your five day weekend!! (Unfortunately, I got food poisoning from the Moe's on 1st avenue by the dorms...so I haven't been enjoying myself too much...)
xoxo
Untitled
This 5 day weekend has been great. For the first time since I got back to school I was bored. A few nights ago I sat in bed and I looked up at the ceiling and I looked up at the ceiling and I said to myself "I'm bored." It was great.
I've been continuing to work my 40 hour weeks. I can usually squeeze in a lot of homework and studying time on the ambulance. That's worked out well so far, and my two schedules have integrated perfectly. Besides all of the work, I've been out with friends a lot more lately, which has been great.
Once I get a little more settled I'm going to start heading down into the village again. Once the weather gets a little colder. The setting will be perfect.
I have to wake up at 4:30AM most days for work. On my 2 days off I can sleep late, and on the 2 days I have class I can sleep until 8AM. They say the early bird gets the worm. It's safe to say I'm getting the worm.
That's all I have.
Michael.
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