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M I D T E R M S

Matthew Silberstein, a student of the Class of 2018 and a superb supervisor, suggested that I write about this topic since Holy Cross does indeed give exams. Here’s the truth: we often don’t reflect on stressful times, because of the whole out of sight, out of mind thing and I guess I’d been doing that a lot on this blog when it comes to midterms.

Senior year, though, calls for a revisit to midterm seasons and the such, as this might be the last time I endure these trying times. That being said, everyone deals with assignments and exams in different ways. What seems like a chill week for me might be a hectic week for someone else. However, I’ve written this with experiences of friends and myself in mind, so it is authentic and hopefully beneficial to all:

  1. Get ahead. Cliche, maybe, but oh so true. If I took the time to get ahead in terms of studying or starting a paper and didn’t wait until the last possible second to begin studying or submit the aforementioned paper, I would be much happier. Also, I could watch that Netflix Original without all the surrounding guilt.
  2. Talk to your professors. Office Hours can seem daunting, even discouraging, but they are especially helpful. Who better to go to with your questions about the course than the person who created it? It seems obvious, but I’ve definitely forgotten this time and time again (I’m looking at you, Bio Midterm).
  3. Don’t forget to eat. To echo the sentiment from #2, this probably seems obvious, but it needs to be said. I’m the kind of person who gets a migraine if I don’t eat for a long period of time and then once I have a migraine, my desire to do any work diminishes for some unclear reason. Moral of the story, always have a snack packed. 
  4. Be a human. Maybe you’re thinking, “Okay, so this list has gotten increasingly odd” and perhaps it has, but hear me out. Finals are stressful, stress can cause unhappiness, and unhappy people sometimes get cranky. Be human during these times, because we are probably all overwhelmed. So buy your friend a coffee, don’t leave your stuff overnight on a desk in the library (or at least don’t do this every night), smile encouragingly at someone on the way to Kimball, and if your friend does get cranky, don’t hold it against them. Maybe give them that snack you packed. 

 

Michael DeSantis ’18 cradling his lengthy readings last year.

 

 

Photo from left to right: Tessie Salatas ’18 and Matt Silberstein ’18 doing work.

 

A visual of me (or rather of my foot) in real time in real midterm season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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My Week back from Break

Hi, again!

So the first week back from break is officially over. In translation, the work begins again. I have an extremely immense amount of work to do, not because of procrastination, but just because I have quite the busy schedule.

I won’t bore you with personal dilemmas, though. Instead, I’ll give a little synopsis of my week back from break.

I returned on Sunday sometime in the evening and minutes later went to my CASA Members Meeting. Joining an organization (or a sports team) here on campus is a huge commitment; you will have events on weekdays/nights, so make sure you manage your time wisely. Monday strolled around and I had classes, my a cappella rehearsal in the evening, and Campion House cookies (below: a picture of my gorgeous friends and Campion House cookies)!

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The rest of the week went by quickly. Midterms were returned, tears were shed.

Just kidding, no tears. Midterms were returned and I was pleasantly surprised with my grades. Utilizing the Office Hours of my professors truly helped and they are always eager to see you succeed.

Finally, Friday dawned, as did Holy Cross Family Weekend! This weekend was jam-packed with cool events for families and friends. Fools on the Hill (the a cappella group I’m in) sang multiple times for different events and it was really nice being supported by students and their families. Here is a picture of us singing for families at the a cappella concert in costumes – I’m the nerd on the far right!

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Other cool events included festivities in the Hoval, the small lawn area in front of Hogan Center. My friends and I played some cool games, painted pumpkins, and listened to live music. It was so nice seeing everyone’s family come out and just have a great time. Below are some pictures of the Hoval festivities and a photo of a nice Fall walk with some friends.

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All in all, it was a good week back on the Hill.

So the blog take-away is: The first week back from Fall Break may seem brutal, but Holy Cross will always do a fantastic job of making you feel right at home again. 
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The week before Fall Break

Not only is FALL my favorite season, but Holy Cross students also have a week-long Fall Break! To say I am excited is truly an understatement. Though I love campus and everything about it (honestly, it’s incredible), I am also quite excited to go home for a bit. Yet, I have heard that once home, all I’ll want is to come back to my second home here. I guess we’ll see!

I am sure you are interested in what campus is like before this short vacation. So, here is your peek of the week before Fall Break.

1. Papers/Midterms. It’s kind of like high school in that sense. You know, when teachers decide to give a million assignments before break. It’s doable, though, because this is college! You’ll have enough free time to get your work done. Hang out with friends and have fun, but remember to finish your work so you’re not cramming before break.

2. Info, info, info. There’s a lot of different activities here on campus, so you’ll be getting a ton of emails about things you can get involved with. Also, emails about shuttles are essential to read. Tomorrow, I am taking a shuttle to New York, which is very convenient for me. So, though you may get a thousand of them, you should read your emails.

3. Celebrations. People are excited to go home or to basically have a stress-free week on campus. Some of my friends are staying at Holy Cross this week, which I think could actually be very fun. Campus to yourself and you get a chance to meet some people you probably wouldn’t during a regular, busy week (like football athletes, perhaps?)

There is your overview of the week before Fall Break!

So, the blog take-away is: Though I will be sad to leave such a fantastic and unique campus, I will also have the great opportunity to go home during October. However, this means I’ve got to get my homework and papers done, study hard for my midterm(s), and make sure I stay focused until Friday. Then, and only then, can I celebrate!