Katrina Black '18

December 3, 2015December 8, 2015

Miracle on College Street

Hello and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

As you can see (or rather read), the holiday time is very special to me. It is true that during the holidays, everyone just develops this really sweet and rich holiday spirit, especially here at Holy Cross.

This week alone, there have been over five holiday events. Kimball dining hall is looking beautiful with decorations as are residence halls. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

3rd floor residents were really excited to decorate the hall after our floor meeting.

They covered their doors in wrapping paper and put up decorations everywhere.

My apologies that pictures do not do it justice.

One of my favorite Holy Cross holiday events is the annual tree lighting in front of Okane Hall. People from the Worcester community, as well as faculty and students gather in front of the hall to sing carols, drink hot cider and cocoa, and watch numerous holiday performances. My a cappella group is singing again this year and I am incredibly excited.

Our Wheeler RA Staff also decided to make a Christmas card! Though I can’t show the final product, here are some fun before pictures!

Fellow 3rd floor RA Michelle on the right and 5th floor RA Meghan in the 2nd left-square picture.

Also, living on the Hill means you get to really show your Winter fashion (AKA, my favorite fashion).

So, the blog take-away is: Holy Cross does the holidays RIGHT — they’ll be numerous events and people to rally that great holiday spirit. Holy Cross will become my second home and everyone knows there’s no place like home for the holidays.

November 21, 2015November 21, 2015

F is for FRIENDS and FAITH

This week has been rough.

Hello, everyone! Please excuse my greeting-less first sentence, but I thought I should preface this blog so that you now what’s ahead. With everything’s that happened in the media these past weeks, I find it appropriate to make this blog post about finding and restoring faith on campus.

I myself was having a very hard time dealing with what was happening in the media. I felt upset and confused and hurt and uneasy. But I forgot something about the Holy Cross community:

It is so incredibly supportive.

I’ll tell you why:

1) Friends – these are the people to lean on.

My a cappella group “Fools on the Hill.” Our Co-Founders’ 10th year anniversary happened to land on our Thursday 10pm Cool Beans performance. We serenaded them with “Shut up and Dance” and “Valerie.”

My resident’s friends decorated her door for her birthday

2) Faith – there are so many places on campus to restore or explore your faith. This Wednesday, there was an Inter-faith Prayer Vigil held in the Mary Chapel. We prayed about recent world events, lit candles, and passed peace to one another.

A sign from the Retreat Center a Protestant Retreat was held at.

My friends taking pictures at the beautiful Retreat Center.

3) Food – grab a bite with friends at Crossroads, head up to Cool Beans, or simply find a table at Kimball.

It’s nearly impossible to sit at Kimball without the table fully filling up. Here’s a prime example.

4) Fun – make time for yourself. Take breaks, meet up with friends, go for a walk, knit a scarf — do whatever it takes to calm yourself!

Flyers I made for my hall's "Clueless" program! — Flyers I made for my hall’s “Clueless” program!

RA Lucca and I on Halloween Duty. We were Team Rocket from Pokemon.

One of Holy Cross' female a cappella groups "Off the Record." — One of Holy Cross’ female a cappella groups “Off the Record.”

So, the blog take-away is: Holy Cross = friends, faith, food, fun. Holy Cross will support you. Holy Cross will surprise you. Holy Cross will serve you as a place of comfort. You will love it.

November 2, 2015

How to Deal with Stress

Hello, all!

My apologies for not blogging for a full month. Turns out October was pretty busy.

However, I am back and ready to share. The topic for this post? Stress.

We all know it. We all have endured it. So the question is, how do we deal with it? My answer is…that I don’t have the answer. I don’t think anyone does, really. What I do know is that stress can be overwhelming, but with the right friends and the right strategies, it can be reduced.

As we know, I am involved in a lot here on the Hill. That becomes very stressful. There are many events I’m required to attend, many people I’m supposed to know, and multiple things I’m required to do (like homework)! Most of the time, I’m on the go and most of the time that works for me. The operative phrase here being “most of the time.”

Those times when being on a constant shuffle doesn’t work for me are times when strategies come in handy. For example, these past months I have felt kind of shaken. I had a whole new schedule and all new responsibilities and suddenly I had no idea what to do. I felt like I didn’t have enough for work or I didn’t spend enough time with my residents; it felt like everything was just piling up.

But Holy Cross is an amazing place. An amazing place means amazing people. Amazing people means amazing understanding and guidance. In other words, it’s going to be okay.

Holy Cross is rigorous — like, way rigorous. It is challenging and demanding, but guess what? Professors, advisers, and faculty members know this. So when searching for help or guidance or understanding, just head straight to your professor at the end of class or ask to meet with someone in the counselor’s department. There are so many people here on the Hill to help out.

Holy Cross offers a lot — like, a lot a lot. So perhaps too many things fall onto the plate at once. Remember what I said about amazing people? Yes, half of them are the faculty, but the other half are friends. I’ve found that the people here on campus are some of the best people I’ve ever met. People I’m not even that close to are still concerned for my well-being or my classes or my activities. Don’t believe me? Just come to an admissions tour or in the later future, Accepted Students Day. You’ll see!

Holy Cross is an amazing place. This has already been said, but it never hurts to say the truth twice. Though stress is unavoidable, I always know that it will pass when I have such a great support system here on campus. So yes, I’m stressed, but I’ve been blessed with some of the best.

So, the blog take-away is: Holy Cross will keep me busy and on my toes, but that won’t be a problem when I realize how many wonderful people surround me. In the words of High School Musical (which are very important words), we’re all in this together.

September 21, 2015September 21, 2015

Week Update

Hello from the Hill!

Homework has increased once again and for some reason that usually means extracurricular activities increase simultaneously. My a cappella group, my Praise and Worship service team, and my RA Staff have all had events this past week. As a result, I did not blog last week.

I know — so not cool. However, I am back and excited to share last week with you.

1) Chateau de Wheeler. This event is a Wheeler (the oldest first-year dorm) tradition. All the residents venture out onto “Wheeler Beach” and enjoy an evening of fresh tunes, festivities, fun, and food. Who knows why it’s French (and why pasta is usually served)? Not I. All I know is that Chateau Round Two was even better than the first time. Below is the beautiful Wheeler staff and an overly excited Katrina.

2) Michelle and My First Hall Event – Hall events or programs are little dorm events, which are just opportunities for residents to spend more time together to relax or discuss relevant issues. Michelle and I decided to have some Fondue Fun and allow our residents to learn more about themselves and each other by taking a little “color” personality quiz.

3) Friends – It’s always important to make time for your friends. Living in Wheeler as a sophomore (or junior/senior) can be a bit difficult, because most of your friends live across campus. However, meeting up at Hogan Center or Kimball is essential because friends keep you grounded, no? My roommate and I met up with one of our “far-away friends” for off-campus dinner and henna.

4) Campus Life – After a while, all the work might get to you. So make sure you take breaks to eat, relax, and have fun. Good thing Holy Cross gives one the means to do all of those things.

It was a pretty day + I liked my romper = asking my roommate to take a picture.

Me asking my roommate to take a picture as well = this.

My roommate + fellow RA Lucca = impromptu photoshoot?

Glasses + a week of work = pretending to be Harry Potter while folding laundry?

So, the blog take-away is: Holy Cross has got it going on. Work may be constant and the temperature may drop to 47 degrees on the 4th week of school (literally, this morning, 47 degrees), but nothing will be able to compare to the great friends and company I’ll have here on the Hill.

September 5, 2015September 5, 2015

Round Two

Hello, everyone! Summer is over and school has begun. Also, my title is a pun.

Please excuse my rhyming, but I’m just that excited to be back on the Hill. My title is a pun because I actually returned two weeks earlier than most sophomores for RA Training. Also, my roommate from last year, Madeleine, and I are ready for round two in Wheeler! Madeleine is actually running around right now (that’s how excited she is). Here she is below.

Also, living in Wheeler again–wheels go round, round two, bam. Okay, no more puns. Let’s talk about sophomore year.

Sophomore year has already proven to be quite hard. It seems that classes are more difficult and professors have higher expectations and the whole atmosphere just feels different.

However, that does not mean I am not looking forward to this year. In fact, challenge accepted. I feel that once you live here at Holy Cross, once you become so immersed in the culture and the organizations here, you honestly feel like you can do mostly anything — and I really believe you can.

Here on the Hill there is so much support. For example, RA Training. Training was, without a doubt, one of the most exciting (and nerve-wracking) experiences of my life. We had extremely busy days, but they were filled with so much fun and friendliness that it rarely felt draining. Here’s the lovely, fantastic Wheeler staff below.

The whole theme was Harry Potter — it was interesting for me. I know nothing about that whole series, so it was really cool to see how into it people were. Robes were worn and spells were cast — that’s all I’ll say about that (there’s Wheeler staff below with wands). Furthermore, the importance of our jobs were really emphasized, something I really appreciated.

Though it is a job, we are really supposed to serve as resources for the students overall. I honestly love getting to know others and helping them, so I am super enthusiastic for this year.

That’s all for right now. I actually have to do rounds for duty with one of our senior RAs Derek — he says hi.

So, the blog-take away is: All years on the Hill are great years on the Hill. You can go ’round anywhere, and you’ll always love it.

April 30, 2015

Baltimore

Hi, guys.

This blog post will definitely have a different feel from my others. As many know, hundreds of thousands of people have reacted to the death of Freddie Gray in numerous ways. For Baltimore, many (but not all) reacted with violence, rioting, and looting.

Situations were so intense that the National Guard had to step in and a curfew was declared in the city. However, the pleas that “Black Lives Matter” still rightly-so resounded across the world, across the Holy Cross campus.

This afternoon, a prayer was held by the campus ministry leaders and chaplains outside of Hogan. It was a simple program, one that got directly to the point. We stood there, students and faculty, praying and hoping for justice. We wanted justice not only in Baltimore, but everywhere.

Here is a section from the Invitation to Pledge we all read aloud:

“WE pledge to examine our own biases and positions of privilege through self-reflection, and earnestly work to resolve them.

WE pledge to live by compassion and be consciously inclusive of all individuals.

WE pledge to affirm the value of diversity.

WE pledge to promote understanding, inclusion, and mutual respect, and thus build community within all races, ethnicities, and cultures.

WE pledge to transform our institutions into authentically anti-racist and anti-oppressive communities of action.

WE pledge to advocate for justice, demand equal opportunity for all and so help create a beloved community for everyone to share.”

I have the program and pictures attached below. The photos do not accurately display how many people were gathered today.

April 28, 2015

Organization Thank Yous

Hey, guys!

Well, it’s happening. My first year here at Holy Cross is slowly, but surely coming to an end.

Projects, presentations, and papers are all due this upcoming week. Everyone is undergoing a period of pressure right now, attempting to stay steadfast until finals. However, once Friday arrives, Spring Weekend begins! That’s why the anticipation for Spring Weekend is so great — something to look forward to.

Sadly, Spring Weekend is not here yet (nor is Jessie J). But Fools on the Hill and CASA are! I wanted to make a thank you post for the organizations I am a part of before the year ends. Both Fools and CASA have been so amazing to be a part of and I am so grateful to be a member of such fantastic organizations.

CASA has given me so many laughs and memories this past year. I began the year as a timid, CASA first-year intern, and now I am ending the year as an imminent CASA Co-Publicist.

My parents are both Jamaican and I grew up in a Caribbean church and community, so joining CASA really eased some my fear of not fitting in at Holy Cross. During set-up for our first campus event, another CASA member and I went off campus to get true, authentic African and Caribbean food. Needless to say, I was overjoyed. We returned with patties, samosas, fried rice, and so much more.

In terms of Fools, I had never been in an a cappella group before Holy Cross, but I am so glad I joined one. Fools has truly helped me adjust to campus. It provided me with comfort during stressful weeks and when I needed to smile, it reminded me that I have hilarious, musically-inclined friends.

Our Fools Senior Show is this Thursday, when we will sing many songs from this past year.

Here are some examples of our 2014/2015 songs:

Ain’t It Fun by Paramore

Fallin’ by Alicia Keys

Blackbird by the Beatles

Stay with Me by Sam Smith

& a Beyonce Medley

Thank you, CASA and Fools, for making my first year on the Hill a great one!

So, the blog take-away is: Holy Cross has a myriad of incredible organizations. These groups will not only be fun to join, but will also make Holy Cross feel more like home.

Below: An assortment of Fools Pictures and CASA Culture Night Pictures (shout out to my fellow decorations committee folks)!

April 16, 2015April 28, 2015

The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music … and Springtime!

Hey, guys!

Looking back at my posts, I realize I totally forgot one amazing thing about Holy Cross — how beautiful it is in the Spring!

Words cannot express how gorgeous it is, but I’ll try. Of course, right now nothing is in full bloom, but it’s sure getting there and it’s surely beautiful.

I mean, the way the sun hits the building Fenwick, the green grass after green grass, and the happy music dancing its way out of dorm windows are just a few examples of how great Spring is here on the Hill.

Honestly, it feels like all students were hibernating during the winter. I don’t remember the last time I saw someone sitting outside on a bench, (perhaps because all the benches were covered in snow)? Also, no one was eating lunch outside, but now that’s all I see. Students lounging on the Hoval grass or sitting on blankets outside of Kimball. It’s glorious!

Another great thing about Spring is Spring Weekend, including the Spring Concert. Spring Weekend is a weekend in May full of festivities. There’s a fair on Easy Street (the street on the right side of Hogan) with all sorts of fun: food, bouncy houses, water games, did I mention food?

Being a first year, I have not experienced the weekend yet, but I’m super excited — especially for the concert. Can you guess who it is? Wait a minute, let me take you there…

Do you get it yet? That was a “Bang, Bang” reference. “Bang, Bang,” the current pop song? The first verse is sung by…Jessie J, our Spring Concert artist this year!

The funny thing about the Spring concert is there is always a list of possible artists given out before the actual one is revealed. Everyone always has different guesses and this year, everyone I knew was convinced it would be Akon. But, alas, the price tag was on Jessie J. Ha. That was another reference. Corny jokes/puns are my specialty.

Tonight, Fools will be doing a Mash-Up of Jessie J’s “Price Tag” and Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop” in honor of the concert. Sadly, a lot of our members are sick. It’s like there’s been a domino effect of the flu. Okay, okay. I’m done with the jokes.

So, the blog take-away is: Though I remember reading Katrina’s blog posts about Holy Cross winters, one even entitled “Frozen on the Hill,” I know that Spring will eventually come to this masterpiece of a school. Sorry, had to get one more in. 🙂

Below: 1) Me appreciating the Spring Weather (so excited)!!! 2) My roommate and my shadow enjoying the sunshine on the Hoval grass with some other Holy Cross students. 3) I found a ladybug in the bathroom — Spring has truly sprung! 4) Our Jessie J poster!

April 11, 2015

Lots to Do

Hey, guys!

So today’s blog post is going to be about, well, a lot of things. This week has been quite interesting up here on the Hill. It was as if every event was happening at the same time. In order to organize my thoughts, I’m just going to give you a list of the many happenings here on campus.

1. Dr. Seuss. Our Dr. Seuss celebration! Today we honored the great author Dr. Seuss, one of my favorite authors (“Greens Eggs and Ham,” “Cat in the Hat,” “Horton Hears A Who,” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” anyone)? They had a small display in one of our campus buildings, passing out Swedish fish and assorted fruit made to look like elements from some of Dr. Seuss’ tales.

2. Friendliness. That is something so salient here at Holy Cross. On my way to my last Friday class, I passed four friends. It felt almost surreal saying hi that many times, but that’s how it is here. You will often bump into people you know. Then, after class, I overheard a student giving a confused-looking father and son directions. Holy Cross, everybody.

3. Windows. You’re probably wondering what this one will be about. Well, here at Holy Cross, we like to advertise events on the large Hogan 1 windows. It’s a very intensive process, because one has to write everything backwards. Thankfully, I had my friend Michelle there to help me. Basically, she did the bottom, better half of the window. All I can say is: tears were shed.

4. HUNGER GAMES. That’s right. You heard me. Have you ever dreamed of being a part of the Hunger Games? That dream is becoming a reality here in Wheeler. The entire dorm will be participating in a District 12 version of Assassin. It’s a widely popular event on the campus. Only one will survive. May the odds be ever in your favor?

So, the blog take-away is: Holy Cross has amazing events, as well as amazing students. Also, the Hunger Games. Need I say anything else?

Pictures below: 1) The assorted Dr. Seuss items. 2) Cat in the Hat treats (made of strawberries and bananas). 3) Swedish Fish in memory of “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” 4) Dr. Seuss FOOD! 5) Cat in the Hat Cookies! 5) Our CASA Culture Night window, feat. fellow First-Year CASA Intern Linda.

March 19, 2015March 19, 2015

Teen Vogue Weekend

This past weekend I travelled to New York City for a weekend at the Teen Vogue Headquarters. I was accepted into the three-day seminar event called Fashion University, held at the World Trade Center (Condé Nast). It was an incredible experience, one I will always cherish and remember.

That’s another great thing about Holy Cross. It’s only about 2-3 hours away from New York City. It’s totally possible for you and your friends to plan a weekend getaway to the “City That Never Sleeps.”

At the seminars, I met fashion icons such as Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell, Rebecca Minkoff, Adam Selman, and so many more. However, the person I truly wanted to meet was Erika Bearman.

Erika Bearman is the Senior Vice President of Global Communications for Oscar de la Renta. Oscar is and will forever be my favorite fashion designer, may he rest in peace.

So, as you can imagine, I was more than excited to meet her. Moreover, I had recently found out that Erika was actually a graduate of, wait for it…HOLY CROSS.

That’s right. My favorite designer’s PRGirl was a graduate of this very college — I couldn’t wait. However, that morning there was a marathon happening in the city and I arrived late. As I got out of the car, I saw girls toting Oscar de la Renta gift-bags as they left the building. I had missed Erika Bearman.

I returned to my car an hour later and we prepared to enter the perennial NYC traffic. Then, something amazing happened. My sister told me to look out the window and there, on the street, was Erika Bearman.

Of course, I hopped out of the car and went up to her. She was so incredibly kind. She told me she missed Holy Cross and that she remembered how wonderful it is. We talked for a couple more minutes and she agreed to take a selfie with me (I rarely take selfies, so please excuse my super excited, non-filtered face).

So, the blog take-away is: Holy Cross students go on to do GREAT things in the world and throughout it all, they remain kind and humble.

Below are some pictures of my weekend at Teen Vogue Fashion University & my selfie with Erika. 🙂

From top to bottom: 1) A beautiful Cinderella-inspired Zac Posen dress. 2) Teen Vogue Editors and Lady Gaga’s stylist, Brandon Maxwell. 3) The aforementioned group utilizing a “selfie-stick.” 4) A rare Katrina selfie! 5) A list of the editors and speakers. 6) Teen Vogue was affiliated with the new live-action Cinderella and so they had a whole room dedicated to the movie. 7) The glass slipper from the movie! 8) My incredible view from the 63rd floor. 8) Gorgeous Edie Parker purses. I love the blue purse that resembles ice in the middle. 9) Second rare Katrina selfie with Erika Bearman.