It’s spring, readers! Finally, finally spring. The snow’s melting and everything is completely flooded, but I couldn’t be happier. Warm weather is my favorite thing ever.

Midterms just ended- thank god- and I’m starting new units in everything. Tomorrow in class I’ll be getting assigned new essays and such. Yayyyyyy. I’m just excited for all the Easter food that HC will inevitably have. Like, you just know that we’ll be having awesome frosted sugar cookies. It’s a staple, am I right?

So, you all know that I applied to the Summer Mellon research program. Unfortunately, I was not accepted; I didn’t have enough background in the topic, I was told, but I was encouraged to apply next year once I’ve taken more classes. While I’m honestly a little skeptical as to why they would let freshman apply if they rejected all of us because we haven’t taken enough classes, I’ll probably apply again next year and hope that two more semesters is what they’re looking for. It’s such a good opportunity to do research, and I hope that next year has a happier ending.

I’ve also started writing for the school newspaper! You can check out our website, which can be found through HC’s website, and see if my articles have been posted yet. I’ve been writing for the satire section, the Shillelagh, so it’ll be a fun time, I promise.

Whaaaaaat? You’re probably thinking. February sucks. It’s cold, wet, and winter’s been dragging on so long that I’m starting to forget what summer is like. 

You have a point. We have like five feet of snow here and I’ve just gotten used to the fact that I will always have rock salt in my shoes. It’s constantly blowing 20 knots, it gets dark out at 5, but in a remarkable turn of events, I’m adapting. I used to be the coldest person ever, but now I’ve gotten to the stage where I just cannot be bothered anymore. Aka no gloves, no hat, no ski jacket. It’s a miracle I still have all my fingers. But really, why is February so great?

It’s because school is finally back in swing. I missed HC so much over winter break– all my friends, actually having stuff to do, my dorm room, my classes and professors. Now that I’m back into things, it’s a little hectic; I have a due date every day this week, and that big Mellon application is due this Friday- yikes!! I’m a little nervous. But my NART professor from last semester– Professor Robert Green– is my mentor and he’s fantastic. He’s spent so much time helping me go over my application and has completely supported me. I’m so grateful he’s my mentor.

After I get through mid next week, I’m pretty clear before March break. I do have an Environmental Science test on my birthday, which I’m not 100% psyched about, but maybe I’ll get extra credit. That’d be amazing. But after break? It’s spring! And that means warm weather!

Here’s hoping spring comes early!

A

Dear readers, I hope you survived Thanksgiving with minimal pounds added on and no existential crisis caused by literally every single one of your relatives asking what you wanted to do with your life. (Hint: that’s what happened to me).

I’m very sorry to tell you that this isn’t over. You still have to get through this whole winter holiday season. It’s okay, don’t worry; I can help. Promise.

(Disclaimer: Do not hold me accountable for any traumatic instances, groundings, or privilege revocations due to following my advice. After all, I did try and pass off the ability to climb stairs at the pace of an Olympic athlete, because of the inordinate amount of stairs here at HC, as a valuable job skill to my aunt. It did not go over well.) 

Okay, here’s what you’ve got to do if you’re still in high school; first, tell everyone you’re coming to Holy Cross, because a) we’re awesome and b) that’ll get everyone off your back. If you’re already here and everyone’s telling you that your major (cough, English, cough) is never ever going to get you a job, just tell them about the awesome alumni network we have.

For example, I’m going to shadow an Associate Director of Marketing at The Hollywood Reporter– a huge online media mecca that deals with everything from the recent Sony leak to the Star Wars teaser clip. Don’t lie, you know you’ve watched it like four times in a row. Anyway, I’m going into NYC to their office over break in January, and I’m really looking forward to it. Publishing is something I’ve seriously thought about doing- and yes, I know I’m a freshman, thanks for asking- and goodness it’s a hard business to get into if you don’t have connections. Thankfully, I’ve got HC on my side.

So remember, just when you want to strangle someone with the Christmas tree lights, that every single kid is going through the exact same one. But you can’t boast about your muscular calves like I can.

(Seriously, it’s a marketable skill! I swear!)

My dear readers, there are very few holidays I like better than Halloween, and I can count them all on one hand. So you can imagine how excited I was this year– first Halloween in college! I’d planned on going to MIT on Friday night and doing one of those clever couples costumes with my boyfriend and then coming back Saturday night and going out with all my friends. It’d work out perfect, because many of my HC friends couldn’t go out Friday night because they had games during the day on Saturday.

Now, I’m sure you’re getting a sense that Murphy’s Law might begin to apply to this story soon. You’d be right.

The SGA- Student Government Association, I think that’s the lengthening of the acronym- runs a big yellow school bus back and forth from Boston to HC. The bus leaves at 7:00 on Saturday night, and there isn’t another one until midnight.

So imagine me getting off of the T at 6:55: it’s pouring rain at Faneuil Hall, where the HC bus picks us up, and I’m rushing towards the bus, and it begins to pull away as I get closer. I break into a sprint, almost bowl over a family of unfortunate tourists, and the bus pulls into traffic and I’m left standing on the street corner. I pull out my phone to call someone, anyone; and it’s 6:58. So this is why my mom insists on getting places 15 minutes early. 

So, folks, the moral of the story is that being in college means looking after yourself, and sometimes that’s hard. But having stand-up friends and a commuter rail train that is way more reliable than a bus is all you need. (The significant other who buys you ice cream to make you feel better is just a bonus).