Here I am, sitting at my computer, recovering from a night of "Zombie tag" and a day of studying, napping, studying and more napping. As my Dad just told me over the phone, "Boy, college life is tough."
Honestly, I entered my College Orientation two weeks ago at Kalamzoo College, in Kalamazoo, Michigan with little to no adjustment. I was not abashed by living in a dorm with 200 strangers, sharing a bathroom with potentially dirty people, or meeting big and scary new professors. In fact, I glorified these facts. I earnestly missed school over the summer, so much that I embraced my two week Driver's Ed (shh, don't tell anyone that i'm a dork).
In terms of my academic load, my french class seems a wee bit on the easy side (but with K-College's trimester system, they're going to bump me up next quarter), my History of German and Central Europe class kicked my butt with a fast 87 page read for the first night, and my First-Year seminar has me reading play a week, and writing a paper a week. I am only slighted surprised by recieving a C on that first paper, but I jokingly (but with seriousness in mind) informed my professor that it would not happen again.
I joined three active clubs, the choir, auditioned for Hamlet, and started in with Ultimate Frisbee, but somehow these activites, along with my classwork, just doesn't add up to the daily hours I clocked-in at Mercersburg. I'm thinking..."What will I do with all this free time?" However, two days ago actually, I had a mini epiphany. I do not have to do anything. I don't need to rack up a resume of extra-curriculars; I don't need to impress anyone(although, if you had asked me while at Mercersburg, I would have assured you that I did everything for me and no one else). I can do things that I'd truthfully want to do, and choose when I want to do them.
To form a bit of a conclusion of this jumble of relaxed excitement, I am perfectly okay with getting full nights of sleep, studying and shooting for that 4.0, and trying new activites like Kung Fu and Swing Dancing Club. Mercersburg has prepared me so well that I forget that others may feel homesick or rushed and busy. I'm just working hard and having fun.
Katie
PS- "Zombie Tag" is a late night event created by the CGC, the Childish Games Commission. Students run at full speed through the Fine Arts Building while the'Zombies' walk with arms outstreched, screaming "BRAAAINS" trying to tag a new troupe of Zombies. No brains were eaten, I promise.
PPS- I truly am learning Kung Fu.
Hi readers!
Its hard to believe its the second week of school! Between taking the maximum amount of courses, sports, and school activities it feels like ive been here for a while already. Its easy to get caught up in school once it starts. During this summer, i had so much fun and was so comfortable at home that i thought it would be very hard to come back to boarding school again. I also had one year of experience under my belt (so to speak) and had therefore lost the initial excitement and nervousness of not knowing what was going on that i had my first year. The problem was, I thought i knew exactly what was it was going to be like, and the prospect didn't excite me as it had before. Nevertheless, i boarded the plane and came to school. Once here, ive found that my predictions have come true (for the most part), but not in the way i expected them to. Instead of having less fun and comfort, I see my friends every single day, I have a roommate to talk to, and a whole academic support system behind me (math center, writing center, teachers available all day, etc). It was a lot easier than i expected getting used to not being around my family and coming to the cooler PA climate from super hot Texas. Also, with the many new students that have arrived, all grades in Mercersburg are a little less predictable than i factored in. The sports programs keep me busy in the afternoons along with homework at night... at times such as today when i have a game in the late afternoon, i start my homework a little early. Thank god for half-days on Wednesdays! As captain of the JV volleyball team i can say that the team is excited and nervous about our first game today. Wish us luck!
Armine
After just a week at the school where I will be studying for my gap year, I am loving it. I am at Oswestry School, near the border with Wales, but just inside England and about an hour by train from Manchester and Birmingham.
When the opportunity to take another year in boarding school before going to college, I decided to apply for the English-Speaking Unions scholarship for a postsecondary year of study across the pond. I've always been young for my year in the states and loved travelling to Britain. Just this past Spring I had the opportunity to travel to London with Jim Applebaum, Laurie Mufson, and a group of Mercersburg students from all years for an arts-focused spring break.
So when I got the scholarship I deferred from Columbia University and committed myself to a year of study at a British boarding school of the program's choosing. Fortunately, a classmate of mine, Julia Thorne, put of her studies at McGill University for a year to do the same. There are also two of Mercersburg's own spending their first semester of college at the University of London through New York University.
After a few days with Catherine Kernaghan (Class of 2007 and ESU Scholar as well) and Julia near Winchester I departed for Oswestry, in Shropshire. The moment I arrived on campus it became clear to me that I had made the right decision to take this gap year. All of the students (from age 7 to 17, from Hong Kong to Hungary, from boarding to day) are all extremely friendly and keen to accept newcomers into their ranks. In its 600th year (and no, that is not a typo: the school was founded in 1407), Oswestry is also home to varied, fun, and engaging faculty.
Here I will be studying English Literature (for which my preparation under the guidance of Mr. Kearney will surely be more than sufficient), European History (for which the work from my lower-middler year with Mrs. Howley will be invaluable, and two courses that I've not yet experienced: Geography and Critical Thinking. There is also talk of the addition of a section for advanced Spanish, the realization of which depends on the interest of students. Things have certainly gotten off to a quick start here: already I've made the football (the correct term for soccer) team and played in a tournament in which Sir Alex Ferguson was the guest of honor.
I've been through a day of leadership training (which involved many of the outdoor activities acquainted with Mercersburg's inbound and prefect-training programs), numerous and typically ill-fated games of pool, vigorous athletic training sessions, and a lively weekend in the dorm. The food on-campus isn't that great, but I must say that the free laundry service does put to shame the washer and dryer on third floor Fowle Hall by which I spent many a Sunday afternoon. So many of these and other things remind me of my previous academic home in Pennsylvania and make me envious of my younger brother, Joey, who has just started his first year there. He will have so much put in front of him in the way of opportunities and experiences in a school that is always evolving.
With a full academic year ahead of me (with only a return to the states in December), I plan on making the most of it. Plans are already made to attend professional football and rugby matches with friends. Other arrangements are being made to meet up with the Mercersburg students in the country and on the continent (several of whom are on SYA programs in Spain, France, and Italy). In addition to that, I will hopefully be able to see my former adopted family at Mercersburg (Mr. Applebuam and Ms. Mufson) if and when they bring over another group of lucky students come spring break.
Whatever happens, I have the highest of hopes and expectations. The only thing that I'm upset about is the fact that I will miss the Blue Storm games, Stony Batter productions, dance concerts, and other events to which I had been looking forward in my first year as a Mercersburg alum!
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