Posted on

One last time

As I was packing tonight (no, I don’t do last minute packing…okay, so I live by it), I realized that this is the last time that I’ll be home until Graduation in May. Now, I’m not a homebody (see me running off to England and threatening to stay there indefinitely last year), but it’s kind of weird when I think about it that way. The next time that I’m home, I will have a diploma from Holy Cross, my thesis will be finished, I’ll hopefully know where I’m going for graduate school, and there won’t be any of this snow on the ground.

So here I am packing up (yes, it’s nearly midnight…have to get back in the groove for the semester sometime, right?) to go back to Holy Cross for the last semester. Weird, right? It doesn’t seem so long ago that I was a freshman and had no idea what to pack for my first Worcester winter. So, here’s to one last semester on the Hill. Now that I’m done waxing nostalgic, I have a suitcase to pack and an application to finish!

Posted on

This Crazy Break

I must admit that this Christmas break is not turning out to be the relaxing break that I had in mind. As you know from my last post, I found out that my beloved pastor, Msgr. Reynolds, passed away on the first day of my break. That was pretty shocking.

We then left for Houston, where we celebrated Christmas with my mom’s family.

Getting a ticket to this Christmas dinner table is extremely coveted. My mom’s side is French, and the food literally does not stop coming until you go to the airport for your return flight home. That’s when you realize how much weight you’ve gained in the past two days and now you need an extra seat.

That proceeded as normal, except with one twist. My aunt Sue is a huge benefactor of the Houston Zoo, and she was able to arrange a special behind-the-scenes tour for us. We were able to feed giraffes and pet elephants. It was so cool. They’re magnificent creatures to see so close.

I realize that this photo isn’t of a giraffe, but I had to post it. See, this is my wonderful sister, Caitie, who recently graduated from Colgate. Anyway, in this photo, she looks like the crazy one and I love the look of “Are you sure we’re related?” that I’m giving her. Usually, it’s the reverse.

This is me feeding Diva, who is…well, a diva.

Then we came back to Atlanta, and I started to feel quite sick. I was doing a pretty good job of taking care of myself, but then New Year’s Day, I was completely gone. My parents and I started to attribute it to the fast pace of this past semester, but something was wrong. Really wrong. Then, on Monday, I woke up with blood coming out of my ear. After a rush to the doctor’s, it turns out that I contracted strep throat…in my sinuses. I’m not sure how that’s even possible, but I’m living proof that it can happen. Apparently, my body was trying to force it out…through my ear, which resulted in a ruptured ear drum, which resulted in the blood. So. Merry Christmas!

All in all, I’m glad that this happened when I was at home and not when I was about to get on a plane to go back to Holy Cross. I’m also really glad that this happened this year instead of last year (I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done if this happened when I was in England). But the most depressing thing about this sickness is that it’s affected my equilibrium, which means…no dancing for a bit. šŸ™ Oh well. Happy Christmas Break!
Posted on

More Good-Byes

Just when I thought I was finished saying goodbye, I received a phone call shortly after I arrived home. My pastor, Msgr. Reynolds, passed away this afternoon. Msgr. Reynolds was a very close friend of the family, and he was always interested in my education (between the Jesuit affiliation and my stint at Oxford, he was convinced that I’m a masochist…which I am). I told him once about my Latin class and how much we were translating, and he simply looked up and said in a thick Irish brogue, “Oh, Laard above.” He loved hearing about my Oxford stories, as well – I even brought him back a scarf from Blackfriars (a Dominican college at Oxford) since he loved that particular college so much.

This is not exactly how I wanted to start my Christmas break. Then again, I’m grateful that I’ll be able to say this good-bye. Wow. Growing up is painful.

Posted on

Good Byes

Well, I have officially finished my first semester of my senior year. It’s a strange feeling – I’ve been going non-stop for the past fifteen weeks that I haven’t really had a chance to think about everything that I’ve learned or everything that’s happened to me. That’s why I really like finals week (in a very weird way. But if you’ve been reading this blog for more than one entry, you know that I’m not normal) – it gives me a chance to reflect on everything that I’ve learned in my classes for the entire semester.

But it also gives me a chance to think about what happened personally over the past semester. Specifically, tonight was the last night that C. Dan, Courtney, and I will be on campus together. C. Dan is headed off to Rome next semester, and Courtney is going to Gauladet in D.C. It’s a really strange feeling – I’ve started to say my good-byes now, even though I was only preparing myself to do so in May (then again, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready).

What’s great about the rush of the semester is that you really don’t have time to think that this is your last fifteen weeks with some of your friends. Instead, you just take one day at a time simply because you don’t have time to think, “Wow, we only have three more weeks to have some crazy times!” Of course, that means that when that final week does happen, you can’t help but think about that.

Sorry for being so personal, but it is kind of difficult to say goodbye (especially to these two individuals who have been such an integral part of my life at Holy Cross). It’s weird to think that next semester C. Dan’s crazy personality won’t be readily available, and Courtney won’t be looking at everyone on the dance team as if we all have five heads (she truly is the only relatively normal one on the team, and her perspective is oh so appreciated!).

So, yes, I’m happy and excited for my friends, but that doesn’t make saying good-bye any easier. Of course, when I arrive back home in Georgia tomorrow at 1:50 p.m., I will have this waiting for me:

There is nothing like being pushed off your bed at 8:00 a.m. because your dog needs a comfy place to sleep.
Posted on

The All Encompassing Thesis Project

I have decided to rename my thesis “The Culmination of My Four Years at Holy Cross.” I am not kidding when I say that nearly every class I am taking this semester (well, maybe that should be in the past tense. I’m still reluctant to admit that I have only one semester left) has popped up in this thesis. For instance, my Christology course introduced me to Karl Rahner, who is now factoring heavily in the third chapter of my thesis. For my last Apocalypticism class, we had to read several articles by Mertz, who basically works eschatology within contemporary Catholicism, which is a major theme of my last chapter as well. Then there are all the other classes taken in previous years that served as a foundation somewhere along the way… This is really what a thesis should be like, though. I’m glad that I have a project upon which I’ll be able to look back in ten years and realize the value and breadth of my education at Holy Cross. Unfortunately, I have about one hundred more pages to write until I can arrive at that point.
Posted on

“Keep Reading.”

Phew. Today, I experienced the most typical Jesuit style of exam that exists. Fr. Brooks (who is Holy Cross embodied in a person) teaches my Contemporary Christology course – this course has been extremely popular with students since at least the 1980’s. It’s a hallmark of the Holy Cross Religious Studies department. Fr. Brooks constructs the class so that each student will research one contemporary theologian for an entire semester. It’s all independent work, and the weekly class meeting usually covers a general theme of Christology – suffering, the Incarnation, Jesus’ consciousness, etc. There’s no written work, and there’s no assessment prior to our exam. Our grade rests all on our final, which is a two hour examination by three to five outside professors. You are expected to know your theologian well enough that if they ask any question, you should be able to respond, “Well, my theologian would respond in such a way.” It’s a terrifying thought, really. On top of that, I researched Karl Rahner, who is a particular favorite of Fr. Brooks’. Yikes!

So 3:30 came around, and the five of us entered the examination room. As the professors fired away and made us syncretize what our theologians were saying, all five of us started to get into a rhythm. We started defending our various positions and engaged each other in debates (all in good nature, I assure you!). It was fantastic and probably one of the best experiences in my time at Holy Cross. Afterwards, Fr. Brooks treated us to an extremely nice dinner in Hogan where the debates continued – talk about a dinner table conversation! At the end, Fr. Brooks closed with the quote with which he always closed class – “Keep reading.”

This exam was, I think, one of the most enriching experiences that I’ve had at Holy Cross. It wasn’t your typical exam at all. Instead of having to know the right answer immediately, we were all allowed to think through our answers and reflect for a bit. It truly was an event in which we could articulate all that we had learned for the past semester instead of trying to cram it into one blue book. Was it intimidating that there were three other professors who were firing questions at me? Yes. But did I love it? Yes. I constantly had to think about and defend Rahner, and it made me realize exactly how much I have learned over the past semester. So, to any prospective students (or even current students at Holy Cross): enroll in Contemporary Christology. It is the best course that you will take at Holy Cross.

And now I’m off to study for Shakespeare and write my Apocalypticism paper. But I will be home in less than two weeks!
Posted on

It’s the Most Hectic 19 Days of the year…

As of today, there are 19 days left in my first semester of my senior year. Can we cue the panic music now?

Before I begin with what’s to come, let’s back up and see where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing since my last post.

Last Friday (the 19th) was Senior Ball, which was held at the DCU Center. I never knew that my classmates could look so elegant and/or dance so well!

Dancing!

Carrie, Miriam, Janet, and Tina posing

Carrie and me being total hams. Not much has changed since Freshman year.

Alyssa and me representing Kimball

Then that weekend was spent in Dinand (which is now open 24/5, which makes sleeping over in the library a possibility. Don’t tempt me!) writing my thesis and my Shakespeare paper since on Tuesday, I left for (wait for it…)

England.

Yes, although I only had a five day break, I hiked over to England for my Thanksgiving Break. For those of you who don’t know, I won a qualifier for the national ISTD championships in the Latin event. My parents decided to let me go back to compete at Nationals, provided that my mother joined me so I would return to America. I left on Tuesday right after my classes and we arrived on Wednesday morning. Mom and I spent Wednesday to Friday in London seeing some sights that Mom didn’t have a chance to see when she visited me during my year abroad. We spent Thursday in Oxford, where I had a brief and disastrous lesson with my coach, Neil, and I also saw two of my best friends from my year abroad. Then we left for Blackpool, which is the home of ballroom dance, on Saturday. I competed on Sunday, and after my lesson on Thursday, I was incredibly nervous. I ended up in the top ten for my ballroom event, which pleased me since I haven’t properly dancedĀ  a basic quickstep since about April. Then the Latin event came…

I was incredibly nervous about my Latin even since my coach was less than impressed with how I had regressed since I left England. He told me that I had about 72 hours to fix my dancing and remember everything that he taught me last year. Well, I guess that worked since I kept going on round after round. Finally, they were announcing the numbers for the final – there were seven girls who had made it. My number was high for the event (24), and the first six numbers were incredibly low (the highest one announced was 13). I was a bit devastated since I thought that I didn’t make it, but my number was the last one called. Woo hoo! I made it to the final. At that moment, I didn’t really care about how I danced; I was just excited that I made it. After dancing the final, they announced the placings. I won second place. No, it still hasn’t sunk in that I did that well. My coach thought I should’ve won, but considering the fact that I haven’t properly danced with him since July, I was excited at even making the final!

Me with my shiny trophy! It’s currently in my dorm room.

The new Latin dress that my father loves…not really.

Me with my coach, Neil.

And that was my Thanksgiving break! I made a mad dash for Heathrow yesterday, flew back to Boston, and arrived on campus at 10:00 p.m. last night. In the next 19 days, I have to finish my thesis chapter, write a Shakespeare paper, present my findings on Karl Rahner, present my thesis chapter to the English faculty, and take two finals. Although I could’ve used this weekend to get ahead on all of that work, dancing in England was totally worth it.
Posted on

Dear First Semester of Senior Year:

Please stop going by so quickly.

Love,
Colleen

Someone in my Apocalypticism Through The Ages seminar noted how we only have three more meetings left. Then Prof. Gettleman reminded the EHP students that the draft of our first chapter is due on Wednesday, December 1st…as in two weeks from now. Then Fr. Brooks told us that our final oral exam for Contemporary Christology will be on December 8th. Then I realized that the Brown competition on Sunday was my last competition with one of my teammates who will be going abroad next semester (by the way, the team did really well. Josh and I placed second in Silver Swing and fourth in Silver Cha Cha/Rumba. This means that we now have to start dancing Gold…eek.). Everything is just coming to a screeching halt. Honestly, yesterday was just August. Then I woke up this morning, and now it’s November 18th. This weekend is Senior Ball. As cliche as it sounds, I cannot believe how quickly this semester is going!
Posted on

I warned you.

Remember when I warned you all that since this is my senior year, I’m going to have a lot of reflection style entries about my years at Holy Cross? Well…I did warn you.

Today, I talked with one of my professors about my upcoming paper for my Shakespeare class (Carrie and I now refer to Mr. Shakespeare as Shakey. It’s catchy and much easier to say.). We then started talking about the nature of the liberal arts education and what he’s trying to achieve in class. See, I expressed a fear about maintaining my average for graduate schools, and he told me to stop worrying about the grades and focus more on education – that’s what the liberal arts experience is really all about. Now, that is much easier said than done, especially for someone as OCD and neurotic about grades as me, but his comment made me reflect upon my grades. The highest grades that I’ve received are in the classes where I stopped working for the grade and started working for the sheer enjoyment of learning. Yes, yes, I know how cliche this sounds, but it’s so true. I’ve been lucky enough to find professors at Holy Cross (and Oxford as well) who teach in this manner and focus not on the end result, but on the journey to get there. I think I’m going to end this “senior moment” entry now, but my talk with my professor was just really inspiring. And that, my friends, is why I love the liberal arts education.
Posted on

A Jesuit Success Story

Today, a certain organization held a recruiting information session for seniors. When I first entered Holy Cross, I only wanted to work for this organization – that was my plan. Then the Jesuits got a hold of me and the rest is history…

My Jesuit education made me reflect on why I even wanted to join this organization – did I feel a strong passion for it? Could I be a woman for others by working for them? Was this organization the best way to redistribute my talents to better society? After periods of deep reflection, I realized that the answer to all of those was no. Instead of planning out my life based upon one organization, I began to explore my personal interests – what made me tick, what resonated within me the most.

Instead of attending that organization’s recruiting fair, I skipped off to the library to work on my thesis on Julian of Norwich and Flannery O’Connor. Funny how things change.