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Three and a Half Years of Firsts
My impending graduation has had me reflecting back on a lot of things lately. Three and a half-ish years ago, I wrote my first blog for Juniata. Now as I write my last, I thought it would be a fun full circle moment to revisit my first ever blog, aptly named “A Year of Firsts.”
My first year of college was one of much adventure. I met my two best friends, lived with my first roommate, gained and then lost the freshman 15, discovered many new passions, tried a million new things, and started figuring out who I was.
Rereading my first blog, I see that so many parts of it were true and so much has changed since I wrote it. I pulled a few quotes that I think are especially relevant to the course of my reflection:
(more…)Thank You, Juniata
As a senior, my time as a Juniata College student is quickly coming to an end. As I prepare for my next steps in life, I wish to reflect on all that Juniata has given me.
Firstly, I have received a comprehensive, quality education. When searching for a college, I was looking for an academically focused institution. As an aspiring dentist, I wanted to go somewhere that would prepare me for professional school. Through my visits at Juniata, I felt assured that this was the right place to continue my education. I knew that I would be challenged intellectually while having opportunities to explore my own curiosities and interests. My experience has exceeded all of my expectations. The faculty members at Juniata have expressed their genuine interest in my success, which has allowed me to thrive in this educational environment. I feel confident and exceptionally prepared moving forward, and hope to find the same cohesive, supportive environment in dental school.
(more…)The Five Types of Juniata College COVID-19 Student
After having the chance to observe my fellow Juniata students for the past three years, my key finding has been that we tend to be creatures of habit. We eat at the same tables in Baker meal-to-meal, we do the same activities day-to-day, and some of us even head to the gym or to the library at the same time each day.
This year, a global pandemic has forced many of us who are habitual beings into new territory; and we’re all coping differently. With that, I introduce to you the Juniata College COVID-19 student. While some of us may share coping mechanisms, I’ve noticed that many students have gravitated, either by choice or not, to one of these five categories.
(more…)Observations of a Residential Assistant during COVID-19
I won’t lie—this semester is different from the typical college experience that we are used to.
Here on campus, I am a Residential Assistant (RA). This means that I oversee an entire floor of students in Lesher Hall where I enforce rules, but also promote community engagement. This year, the rules regarding COVID-19 seem strange but they are important. Students have to wear masks everywhere they go—to class, to the bathroom, to the shower, or simply walking across campus. There are no guests allowed in any student’s room, unless the other person is their partner. On top of that, students cannot eat inside of public spaces so that germs do not spread while they eat without a mask on.
(more…)The Pros and Cons of Having a Mega-Bed
What are the odds of getting a double-sized room to yourself? Slim to none, you’d think. But through a crazy series of events, it happened to me: I have a big room on the third floor of Lesher, and I have no roommate. I have two beds, two desks, two closets, and one me. So, I was thinking to myself in the first weeks of the semester, “How am I going to use up all this space?” And then the words of my RA came floating back to me…
“If you want to make a mega bed or whatever, I’d say you can go ahead and do that.”
And so, one night alone in my room, I decided to do it.
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