Hey There, Brandeis Girl!

Today was AWESOME. And tiring. And exhausting. But mostly awesome.
Here, let me try to describe how I feel about Brandeis to you:

Brandeis is everything. Everything I ever looked for in life, and yet- everything else I forgot to look for too.

I hope that little description enlightened you. It certainly enlightened me.
As I made my first footsteps as a Brandesian, I was bombarded by a wave of excitement, yelling, and pure ridiculousness in the form of my overly-caffinated and under-slept Orientation Leaders, or OLs. This mob, characterized by their incessant pep and yellow t-shirts embodied Brandeis to the fullest. These hundreds of my new classmates felt so strongly about Brandeis, they wanted to welcome me and the 700 or so of the rest of my classmates with the same open arms. As a result, Orientation Week was a (mostly yellow) blur of ice breakers, changing smiles, and more ice breakers.

Classes started, and I realized that I was no longer in sleepy New Hampshire. Lecture halls filled with hundreds of students sat right alongside 20-person classes, one of which I am almost positive I am the only First Year, in my seemingly sporadic schedule. That's another thing I like about Brandeis; they call us First Years. And we have Quidditch, which I will get to later, and a castle, which I will definitely get to later. Basically I go to Hogwarts. Where my brother begins his junior-year classes at a painful 7:35 AM, none of my classes start before 11:00 AM. This is a blessing as well as a curse. I find myself surpassing my old sleep schedule by hours and getting more REM, but my day rarely ends before 6:00 PM. It is the strangest thing having a class or lecture for 1) only 50 minutes and 2) at 5:00 at night. I find myself walking into my writing seminar as my siblings are walking off the soccer field, and that has been a major adjustment to get used to.

By now, most people have heard of the movie "The Roommate". Since the horror film came out relatively close to the time I was being accepted to college, I made the conscious decision to not put myself through that psychological torture. Besides choosing Brandeis, not watching that movie potentially is the best decision I've ever made. Now approaching my actual point, I am extremely lucky to have ended up on Ren. 3. The people I live with are fantastic. Borderline psychotic, but absolutely wonderful, the residents of my floor reaffirm why I chose Brandeis; they've opened their arms wide to my neuroticism and only pulled me closer. In the month or so that I have been at Deis (I'll most likely be using that more often, it comes out in conversation easier than "Brandeis", plus i like nicknames), I have never been myself more. If you have ever read this blog, you understand how big of a deal my last statement is. If you haven't, I suggest you go back. :)

College is hard. There is a lot of reading. And by a lot I mean an incomprehensible amount. There is no humanly way I can read every piece of material at the magnitude I am being given. This is probably the first time you will see a legitimate math concept make its way onto my blog- any other time I will most likely be making things up (I should probably become a Physics major or something). The relationship my reading and I have goes a little something like this:

amt. of reading*n= n^h where n= number of classes and h= hours per class

I lied. There is no way that was legit.
But back to being Brandesian. (Can I just mention how much I love how alliteration makes its way into my daily life? I LOVE IT.) It is probably the best thing that has happened to me. Sure, the course load is alot (<-- click this, you will (probably) regret it. most likely not. or maybe.) to handle, but I'm learning and liking what I'm learning! Okay, I'm not completely satisfied with my schedule, but that's the great thing about college; you take classes and sometimes they suck but they fulfill requirements, and then you're all done with them! AND WE HAVE A CASTLE. And from my window, I can look over at Chapels Field and watch Quidditch. I'm a huge fan of this college thing.

As I am en route back to my palace, since the motion sickness is starting to set in I think I'll wrap it up here. It's somewhat unrealistic for me to try blogging daily again, but weekly is starting to look like a possibility. Then I can share the ridiculous happenings of Renfield 3 with the blogosphere, which you will most likely not understand, but hopefully appreciate anyways.

A little preface to my pictures: where this blog is not a legitimate journal, I've decided not to share personal details about my romantic life. But that's where it's awesome- I have a romantic life! And I like to take pictures of it. And I'm okay with being barf-tastic. Life is good.

"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when they discover that someone else believes in them and is willing to trust them." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

live simply.

Day 14: Holy Two Weeks Left!

Today was bright. The sun woke me up, like always and I started my morning with a sense of refreshment. I already have most of my room in boxes (as of two weeks from now I will no longer be a permanent resident of the Early household/ my brother closest to me will be moving into the room formerly known as Taylor's) and I just have a couple loads of laundry to do until I will be nearly completely living out of boxes. It's a very strange feeling- packing up your entire life. To see all my memories and belongings reduced to cardboard and duct tape, it's foreign. Exciting, but foreign.

As the day hasn't shown itself completely to me yet (it's not even 9:00 as I write this), this post will most likely be shorter than usual, so I'll load it up with some pictures! I went through my old posts and I realized it's been a while since I've strutted my camera's stuff on here. So let the fun begin!

live simply.

Day 15: Let's Start It All Over Again

Today was incredible. Quite honestly, I can't believe I let sixty days of my life slip by without even an inkling in the blogosphere. I realize that I have once again failed my mission. I tried to blog about my last days as a high school student, and essentially the last days of my childhood but I found that I got caught up in living the minutes, hours, days. Each second passed and I was actually living it, not spending my precious time (as I have come to think of it) writing about it. I laughed, I cried- I went through the menagerie of quintessential graduation emotions, and I came out on the other end. I always used to say that I felt as though I would be in high school forever. Well thank whatever thing that is swirling around the universe up there, cause I'm glad I'm no longer a student and rather an alum. In the sixty days that I have spent since I penned my last thoughts on here, I've felt myself go through this tremendous growth. I've felt myself become free from the grueling restraints of high school drama, I've swept the dusty memories of regret and pain out from the recesses of my mind, and I have picked up the shell of what high school left me as and filled it with myself again.

It's been quite some time since I've felt like me. Like actually, undoubtedly, unabashedly me. This feeling of rebirth, its unbelievable. In the past I've tried to say that I stand upon my own two feet with disregard for those who look down upon me. And you know what? I tried my best. But in all sincerity of the words, high school chews you up and spits you out like no other. I'm grateful for some of the people who have come into my life as a result of my years as a little-baby freshman, a not-so-low-on-the-totem-pole sophomore, a frantic-college-plaqued junior, and a senior with that strut in her step and that slight tear in her heart. And I'd like to say that I'm not so thankful for those who caused my teenage angst and the downward spiral of my self-esteem, but I'm thankful for those assholes too (please pardon my language, it's honestly a very fitting superlative). Without the loops I've been thrown for or the land mines that have blown up in my face, I quite frankly would not be the same person typing this post at 3:20 A.M. on a cool August morning. So thanks, assholes- thank you very much.

In the last sixty days, I've changed. Sure, I'm still the same anxiety-ridden, over-analytical, neurotic blogger that I was June 11th, but I stand on my own size 7 1/2 feet. The last sixty days have anchored me into the person that I know I can become. I know the sentence previous doesn't make sense upon first read, but if you think in the more philosophical sense of your self, you may (or may not) understand what I'm trying to convey. This grounding, this mooring to reality has made me realize how much of myself I sent packing as I walked the halls of SHS. The amount is astounding, and the description of a hollow casing? Somewhat, quite accurate. I can't say that my high school experience as a whole completely ravaged my being; Honors English IV with Mr. Mack was an honor, my A&P courses with Ms. Handy taught me so much more than just about the human body, and my 3rd blocks spent in the library made me realize that there really are wonderful, good people out there- you just have to open your eyes as well as your heart. The final chapter of my high school story exponentially outweighs the ones previous, and it lead ever so nicely into the novella of my summer. Unbeknownst to me, opening your eyes is a pretty legitimate way to make friendships, and even more astounding was the revelation about an open heart. This summer, while it's not yet over, has been one for the books. And by books I mean the Sarah Dessen kind. This summer (or That Summer, hehe) has been one of many firsts. The first time I was assigned a summer reading book since I was in grade school, the first time I had to choose my own classes sincerely on my own, the first time I had to be a grown up about money and real-world stuff, and the first time that I jumped and someone caught me. Now, I've learned my lesson; kissing and telling is a rookie mistake. But I will say that if I had known that all the trials and tribulations of yesteryears would lead to this incredible person, I would have sucked it up with a smile. I will also say that I so desperately wish this blog was a personal journal, if for only a few minutes, so I could gush and be mushy and such. In all honesty, I am the happiest I have been in a very, very long time. I never believed the cliche "waking up with a smile and falling asleep the same way" but folks, my cheeks are surely getting a workout. The timing could not have been more horrible and perfect. Summer is almost over, but I am just getting started.

"In all things nature, there is something of the marvelous." -Aristotle

live simply.

Day 11: Graduation Season

Today was sad. Besides not passing my last math competency again, I kept finding myself in the middle of these "a ha" moments as Ms. Handy would call them. Like during 1960's when you turn to your tablemate and you realize we're thinking the same thing as we laugh to each other about that crazy man Terry Dostie, or when people will help me organize the yearbook table and help sell them immediately without being asked, or when we're in Physics and someone slides their calculator or formula sheet (with revised "formulas" on it) over to you because you forgot yours that day. Its these tiny, seemingly irrelevant moments that honestly are the most relevant and the most wonderful parts of my fleeting days at SHS. Cheers to the end of the last week of regular classes, '11. Cheers to the beginning of the end.

Obviously this post is late, as I got home late last night. After having what felt like a therapy session with my favorite Physics teacher, I hopped in the car and was off to watch one of my best friends graduate. One of the first I became friends with when I moved to Rollinsford just over 6 years ago, E and I have since stayed close even though we haven't lived across the street from each other in ages. Congrats, E! See you at mine in 11 (10) days!

Now I'm off to coach my last practice of my high school career. All of these lasts keep making me forget that I have so many first on the way, but that's a post for another day (rhyme!). I'll post my endeavors of Day 10 later tonight- I have such a busy day ahead of me. Hopefully tears will not be included.

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

live simply.

Day 12: Oh Thursday...

Today was classic. Thursdays are always the finest days of the week. And by finest I mean the best. And by the best I mean not the best.

This post tonight, unfortunately is about to end. I'm exhausted. I came home from school today sunburnt and frankly burnt out, which translated into a five-hour nap. I'm about to go back to sleep after I finish up a little math, and hopefully I'll have the energy for a legitimate and awesome post tomorrow night!

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John R. Wooden

live simply.

Day 13: Canucks in Four?

Today was great. Minus the math class, minus the phone dying, and minus the sunburn. Otherwise, it really was great! L came and got me from school after first block and we spent a few ours catching up on R&R. We took a dip in the frigid ocean, laxed a little and scored some candy on our walk into town. After I scarfed down my bag of taffy, we laxed a bit more, people watched, and I unknowingly scorched my shoulders and back. A few hours later and my backside was a bright lobster red when I woke up from a nap and I headed to my final Stu.Co. banquet. I can't believe everything is ending, just like that. I watched as the seniors before me took their final steps, but how different it is to actually be taking those steps on my own.

Short post tonight- tried homeworking while the Bruins were on... multitasking fail. Besides the homework, I can't lay on my back quite yet; perfect conditions for a quality all-nighter. I'm really going to miss high school.

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." - Robert J. Collier

live simply. 

Day 14: Sobfest '11 (almost)

Today was rough. Incompetent in math, unresponsive in 1960's, and barely lucid in third block, today was difficult to say the least. That all lead up to a stroll down memory lane in physics and a near cryfest as I pored over the writings of my classmates' yearbook signings. On a lighter note, CK lead the softball team to a victory and on Saturday to the championship, and I couldn't be more proud. Congratulations, girls!

But, of everything I could have done, nothing, and I truly mean nothing could have prepared me for this. It's early in the countdown and I already feel pressed for time. I feel not regret, but sadness for all the wasted moments over the last four years; moments I should have been spending with the wonderful people who now fill my life as our time at SHS dwindles to a close. I am so incredibly thankful for all the coincidences and mishaps, because in all they've lead me towards these really amazing people, and I am so sorry that I didn't see it before. I spent far too much time worrying about the wrong things and the wrong people cause you see, they've been there for me all along. In and out of my life with little fanfare, I should have had the biggest parade for them all. Tonight I cross off yet another day and I can't keep the tears from welling up (somewhat due to allergies but mostly because of my newfound fondness for high school). I never, ever imagined feeling upset about graduating, but the time has come and surprise- I'm a wreck. We'll see how tomorrow goes, Senior Skip Day and I may end up bawling my eyes out on the beach. Surf's up.

"There is no remedy for love but to love more." -Henry David Thoreau

live simply. 

Day 15: The Countdown Begins (and starts over)

Today was the beginning of the end. Fifteen days left until June 21st. Fifteen days until my life as a student at Somersworth High School is over forever. So I'm taking up this blog to mark the final moments of my senior spring. If you've even visited this blog once, you know that I haven't been keeping up on here really at all lately. It happens. Life happens. Sometimes it's better to live it than write about it or take pictures of it and although usually I vote for the composing and photographing, lately I've been about the breathing and laughing (well, mostly breathing and a little laughing, and a lot of crying).

Senior spring. Countless movies and books have described this year and these moments to me, but Sarah Dessen and Lizzie McGuire couldn't prepare me for these emotions. Sure, you can talk all you want, but until you are getting ready for your own senior banquet, compiling (and crying over) pictures for your own senior slideshow, and practicing a poem you're going to read at your baccalaureate- you won't quite know how it feels. Weird. Basically, it's weird. You've been doing the same thing with the same people in the same place, and all of a sudden you're not going to anymore. You're not only graduating from high school, you're graduating from childhood, and from everything that you once knew about life. Life, as you knew it, is over. And it's probably one of the most terrifying, exhilarating, freakin' awesome/terrible feelings. You know you are going to radically change nearly every aspect of your environment and surroundings, yet you don't know how. You know where you are going, but not in what capacity. You know you will be doing new things, but not what kind, and you know you will meet fantastic new people, but not who those people are. Basically, it's weird.

I'm going to wrap up this post here- I'll pick up where I left off tomorrow when we are down to fourteen days!

"Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize." - Elizabeth Harrison

live simply.

Day Fifty-Two/ No Idea Anymore: Help.

Today was great, until I let myself get in my own way. Judgmental, far too inquisitive. Overly analytic, unable to process. These things that I so often push to the back of my mind ambled to center stage tonight. If you know anything about me, you'd know that my heart, as always, rests on my sleeve. It's not a new development, if anything it's old news. The fact that I can't hide my emotions well (basically at all) is also something that is not a recent discovery. Today I let my demons get the best of me. I let them tell me that loneliness is here to stay; that the dog days, in reality, are not over. That people come and go, but mostly go. And you know what? John Mayer is perfectly lonely. Florence and the Machine sent the dogs running. Noah and the Whale see blue skies on the horizon. There's not a reason out there to keep me from believing that I'll be happy. But you know those nights where everything just sucks? Everything seems to suck equally and suck a lot? That was tonight. Life does suck sometimes. That's when you accept it and move on. People will come and go. The ones really worth it, the ones worth going the distance and worth the extra cent or two are the ones who will stay regardless of everything else. Sometimes it takes a really crappy evening to help you realize that the people in your life, the ones that stayed, are the ones that aren't going to abandon you. They'll carry you, even through the nights where everything sucks. Cause you know why? You're worth it. You're worth going the distance, spending the postage, taking the time. Life may suck, but if you find the ones that are worth it and think that you're worth it too, life sucks that much less. Here's to you who let me be me, crazy and all. You're worth every penny, mile, and second. 

"L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N." - Noah and the Whale

live simply.

Day 51/ 104: The Dog Days Are Over

And I'm back! Logging back into the blogosphere feels great. I've been away for far too long, I've really missed it! I'm sure you all have missed me as well :-)

Looking back, I realize I didn't quite explain about the trip that I took to Washington, D.C. I'd do it right now but I'm feeling more lazy and less nostalgic than is ideal for writing up the best possible account of my unbelievable trip. If any of you NYLC-ers ever find yourself sifting through my posts, I would like to tell you that you guys honestly made my life so much greater. You're all some of the brightest people I have come across in my eighteen years, thank you so much for such a fantastic experience. I'm not on the best terms with all of you (you obviously know who you are) but I can't imagine a more incredible group of people and I really am happy I got to know you all.

Enough of the blubbering. Time to blog.
The last time I blogged was at the end of March. As we near the close of April, I have to say that my life is not significantly different. I have all the same friends, plus or minus a few (I'll explain the plus later!), I'm still working at the same job, my classes are nearly all the same, and I'm still rockin' the same curls I always am except for a set of new bangs (shocking, I know!). At this moment in time, this very minute, at 11:29 PM (eastern time for the rest of you folks), I am happy. Over the last month or two, I've been up and down. If you know me even in the slightest, you know that I wear my heart on my sleeve. Due to this minor displacement of a major organ, I find myself riding a roller coaster of emotion more often than others. Nothing crazy- I keep my hands and feet in the car at all times and the bar across my lap securely fastened but I still find myself closing my eyes and wishing the ride was over already. Being thrown for a loop, or two, or six can really make you realize how wonderful it is to have your feet flat on the ground. And that's exactly what I've come to realize. It's better to roll with the punches instead of being punched, cause more often than not you'll end up more than just a nice shiner. So with my feet flat on the ground, I look to the sky with a smile.

Life is good. It really truly is, and lately I've been so guilty of not realizing it. All of my human rights are intact, I'm in relatively good health, and Brandeis is waiting for me. So what do I have to worry about? Nothing. Well, not necessarily nothing, I should probably still do homework and go to school and be on time for work and those I love that I do so, but in the grand scheme of things (such a cliche, sorry Mr. Mack!), I'm good. There is nothing, positively nothing in my life that is so poisonous or terrible that I couldn't say life is good. Obviously there are the occasional bumps in the road that may take longer to get over that normal but that's why life is so great. There has to be a storm to appreciate the calm. You may find yourself in a spell of bad luck and/or hopelessness. But guess what. It always gets better, cause it has to. As I told a friend long before I blogged, the universe doesn't leave itself in chaos for long. What seems like a never-ending hurricane of terribleness WILL end. Scientifically, hurricanes run out of steam once too far away from a water source. In a philosophical sense, as long as you believe that you will be happy, you just will. All it takes is a smile and the belief that life is good. Cause it really is! There are so many beautiful things and opportunities out there waiting for you, it's just up to you to find them.

Now for a lil' Brandeis Life update. I found a roomate!! She's awesome, and if I get a guitar this summer like planned, we'll be jammin' in our room with her beta fish Leopold. Self-titled "Dream Team", we're checking out duvet covers, lamps, and miscellaneous awesome things for our room in (hopefully) Massell quad next year! I'm PRETTY excited if you can't tell.

That about wraps up the month of April. A few more things happened but most of them were super personal matters that in all truth I'm leaving behind in the months of March and April. Nothing super drastic, just not exactly blog material, at least for this blog.

I'll post pictures of my April endeavors in a later post, I don't trust my uploader tonight (some things never change). I wish I could keep writing but seeing as how my April break officially ended seven minutes ago, I think I'll grab my copy of The Naked Roomate (it's by Harlan Cohen and an awesome going-off-to-college book, check it out!), snuggle up with some tea and take a breather. The dog days are officially over, ladies and gents. Welcome to the good life.

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change." - Buddha

live simply.

Day 50/75: Get It Right.

Today was incredible. Before I start, I'd like to set a few things straight. First, I have failed. This blog was to test my dedication to something beyond my everyday life, and I didn't follow through. Instead, life brought me new challenges and new dedications so I am instead rearranging the parameters encompassing my "experience". The bar may be lowered, but it doesn't mean that I will be anything along the lines of a cheat. Instead, writing once a week will give me a chance to breathe, to gather my stories and thoughts into a single novella of sorts. Everyone goes through different changes and things in their life that causes them to reevaluate where on the horizon their sights have been set, I'm no different. Not anticipating my course load, or even aspects of my daily life changing from the mundane activities of yesterday was a classic, rookie mistake. Now that I've hit the refresh button on my to-do list, it's time to blog.

Not a whole lot happened in the month of March. The first week was enveloped by math, physics, and psychology. The second week brought state championships for both our basketball and hockey guys. The third, which I had intended on elaborating on in this post brought a rush of emotions, sleep deprived nights, and a new family. NYLC was possibly one of the best things that could have happened to me. I gained so much knowledge and love from people who were strangers one day, and my sisters and brothers the next. I left Washington D.C with a head full of ideas and a heart full of love. This past Sunday afternoon, my newfound family was scattered across the country, each taking a piece of my heart with them as I ventured back to snowy New Hampshire. I'll elaborate more on the trip itself in future posts, but as I am pressed for time, I must press on. The National Young Leaders Conference brought so many new people into my life for which I'm indescribably happy to have met, but as planes fly and and cars drive, life goes on. So I'm floating along, catching up on sleep and make up work, failing tests and missing meetings, frequently napping and always missing the people who made my week in DC so colorful and wonderful. Enough of that, I'll fry my laptop with the tears that are threatening to leave my tearducts.

I know this post isn't nearly as long as my previous apologetic blogpost, but honestly? Life has dealt me a hand that is a little trickier than I anticipated. Sure, I'm still happy (for the most part, and a lot more lately) but school is school with a little bit of a kick now. Getting back into the swing of things is pretty tough, especially when you miss extensive periods of time in high school. If you're out for a week, it's almost like you're out for a year and when you return, everything seems foreign and distant. Assimilation hasn't quite taken place yet, but I'm slowly easing myself back into the familiar doldrums of Somersworth High School. You just have to take the cards dealt to you. Sometimes, you're lucky enough for a full house, and others, you draw 'till you find that winning combination. Go Fish.

"Moving on, is a simple thing. What it leaves behind is hard." - Dave Mustaine

live simply. 

Day 48: But Really, Day 62

Today was hard. I'm not going to lie and say that I remember everything I felt fourteen days ago, so I'm just going to talk about the last two weeks. Honestly? They've been rough. Here's an apologetic, novelistic, grovelsome post to make up for them.

Valentine's Day kicked off my week of doom. The lovey-dovey in the air reminded me of how I was without a valentine for yet another year. I pinky-promised with a friend that we'd be each other's, but fourth block rolled around, and no carnation from my not-so-valentine. Tuesday and Wednesday I was off to a reluctant late start due to my closest brother, further driving a wedge between my reputation and my peers, as well as shortening my fuse. Thursday brought misery with a side of failure as my grades tanked in math and physics. Quiz grades, teachers making me feel stupid, and classmates who are just shy of brilliant combine with "Why don't I get this?!"s and "What the HELL, another 60???"s to create a perfect storm of depression and hopelessness. Add a yearbook that is no where near finished, friends who aren't so friendly, a personal life that happens to be ravaged by another, a brother who is chronically late, a lack of a car, bad weather, raging allergies, slippery hallways, make-up work, and a cloud over a usually sunny disposition and this recipe has gone terribly, terribly wrong. Friday wasn't much better, work drama consumed my evening and as I struggled to grasp with the fact that minimum wage truly sucks, I longed for my bed. Saturday brought more promise, and it made up for the week from hell. I went with L to go see M's band play. If you know me, you most likely know a great deal about M and I, and how these days we are more or less (a lot less) than friends. Nevertheless (ha ha, pun intended), L and I had a great time. I got to see S, which is always great, I talked to M's mother, a few of the band member's parents, and exchanged friendly words with my old best friend. I guess sometimes time really does heal even the worst scars. Sunday I ventured to UNH to visit a different M with S and that was so fun! We sat around with two of S and M's fellow graduates in a hallway in M's dorm for a few hours just making conversation and making each other laugh. After some much needed girl talk in the dining hall, I returned to my comfy bed, only to leave it for B's birthday party. Truthfully? Not a whole lot needs to be said about that. It was... interesting. Not bad, just not quite as jolly as any of us expected. Monday brought awkwardness with my non-valentine, as did Tuesday and Wednesday. Plans always fall through, and I spent most of this February break working, sleeping, and planning my college packing list. I don't think you'll find anyone more excited and ready to leave home. Right now. The rest of the week consisted of the aforementioned excitement. I did however get a snazzy new pair of running sneakers! Also, to compensate for my lack of motivation and the fact that I am becoming a regular recluse, I am posting more than three pictures of my various (and few) adventures this vacation. Seeing as it is 10:30 this morning and I have to work at 3, I'm going to predict a lack of anything worth blogging about later this evening and make this novel count towards today's. Because I am trying to make up for my suckish behavior in the blogosphere the last two or so weeks (it was happening before that as well, I know, I know), I'm posting some old writings I had lying around below. Oh! Also, I sent in my enrollment deposit to Brandeis, and I'm braving the sleet and ice to send my enrollment form in today! I am officially a Brandesian. I signed up for an overnight earlier this morning too. And my internet history consists of various Brandeis links, with some Facebook thrown in there. I'm so excited! And I'm really proud of everyone in my class who is taking that next step with me. We may not act like we like my fellow Toppers sometimes, but in the end we're all 2011ers. We did this together whether we like it or not, and that will always tie us together in the unique way that it does with graduating classes. Alright, enough of that academia crap. On to the musings.

First things first- my college packing list. So far, of course:

Britta water pitcher, bathrobe, shower caddy, throw rug, water filter waterbottle, reading light, iHome, desk lamp, extra-long twin sheets, egg crate mattress pad, comforter/pillows, mini fridge

tupperware, BULK SNACKIES (nom nom nom), corkboard/dry erase board, pop-up laundry hampers, extension cords/power strips, mini tool kit (basic screws, nails, hammer, tape, hooks, screwdriver), frames, micro-cassette recorder (lectures), extra hangers, electric tea kettle, iron/mini ironing board, two full-length mirrors, removable wall decals :), curling iron, yoga pants, stock up on hair stuff, misc hair things

Anyone else have anything to add? I'm looking to expand my list before July so that I can buy things on a regular basis, instead of in bulk. Cause that's craziness.

Here's the supplement I wrote for my Brandeis application:

At first glance, Brandeis University is like other colleges and universities that I have looked at. It is not the smallest school I have seen, nor the largest. It is not the most or least expensive, and it doesn’t have the biggest or smallest campus of the schools I have visited. Of all the schools that I have licked my stamps and sealed my envelopes for, I am most excited to send this application. Four years is a long time to be away from home, but from the very first step I took on campus, I felt like I was walking into a familiar memory. As I sat in the Admissions building waiting for my campus tour, I was approached by a sophomore guy. Normally, being approached by a stranger creates unsettling feelings, but instead his big welcoming grin was reassuring. We chatted for a bit about campus and dorm life until I asked him why he chose Brandeis. His answer was simple; the people. As he went on to describe the community-like feel of the university and how he felt like he had found a second family, something inside of me clicked. Of all the students that I had asked why they chose the school they chose to go to, I had never gotten that answer, which I realized was the answer I was looking for. Brandeis University isn’t just another research university focused on the liberal arts; Brandeis feels like home.

And here's my college essay itself:

Trees and Tattoos
Last June I had a dream that changed my life. I was on my way to a tattoo salon with a small peace sign in mind. After sitting in the chair and explaining what I wanted, the tiny symbol of peace began to take form just below my hairline and above the base of my neck. Each stroke of the gun was deliberate and strangely gentle, and before I knew it the tattoo was done. Odd, I thought, it took longer than I had expected. Skeptically I stood up and looked back into the mirror. To my surprise, a giant peace sign had overtaken my back. I gazed at the ink as it swirled and danced as if it were on fire. When I could find my words again, I cried out to the faceless tattoo man that it was too big and it wasn’t what I wanted but he replied earnestly “Sorry, I couldn’t help but to feel as though this tattoo was meant to be this big.” Shocked, amazed, and a little angry, I contemplated having the man remove the tattoo right on the spot. As I thought about it, I looked a little longer into the mirror. The tattoo was breathtaking. The longer I looked at the reflection, the more vivid and alive it became; miraculously morphing into a portrait of the globe. I stood there in the middle of the tattoo shop in pure awe as the art on my back changed from this sign of peace into our world. The tattoo wasn’t what I wanted, but the faceless man insisted I keep it, saying that I would appreciate it one day.
Today was the day I began to appreciate my “dream-tattoo”. Over the last year and a half, I have become very passionate about the environment and what we can do as individuals to preserve its beauty and resources. I have realized that the search for a renewable energy source that could replace crude oil has been placed on the back burner as issues like the slowly recovering economy and the war overseas are continuously featured on the front pages of our newspapers. Even though environmental issues are currently overshadowed in the media, I work to shed light on them in my everyday life. From helping to facilitate our new school-wide paper and aluminum recycling program, to carpooling, to enlightening others about the dangers of littering, I hope I am beginning to develop into a solution to the problem. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., I wish to become the “thermostat that transforms a society rather than a thermometer that records its temperament”.
Throughout the rest of my dream, I battled with myself trying to decide whether to remove the mistake as I first thought of it, or to keep the gift the man had given me. I woke up realizing two things; even though I am only one, I carry the world on my back, and I also carry with me peace. I realized that the world may not be the seven continents, but instead my immediate world. Through the experience of college, I will gain the necessary means to transform my daily surroundings into the world in its entirety. The dream I had last June opened my eyes to an old passion and a new purpose. It is my job to do my part to take care of the world, and my part is through using the tools I have gained thus far in my life to further my education, gather more tools, and appreciate and conserve the beauty that is our world. The faceless man was right.


Now for pictures! Usually I post these at the beginning of my posts, as you know if you even read just one of my posts, but since this is extra long for all the apologies, they're at the end today.

"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." - Edmund Hillary

live simply.