Campus School

Another great thing about the Lynch School is its relationship with the Campus School, which is housed right inside Campion Hall (Lynch's home on campus). The Campus School is a school for children with multiple and severe disabilities ages 3-21. They are recommended to the school by their home districts and tuition and transportation are paid for by the public school district. The Campus School offers many opportunities for Lynch School (and all) students to work with the students. If any of you are interested in special education, I highly recommend getting involved with the Campus School's many programs. I volunteer one hour a week on Friday afternoons in the Creative Kids program doing music therapy with a buddy (a Campus School student). A professional musician named Andy and a couple upperclassmen experts lead the group every week in songs and reflection afterwards. It is an absolutely amazing program and SO inspiring. I hope you all consider volunteering with the Campus School. Good luck with AP exams the next 2 weeks and email me with questions.

~Jessica

shapirjk@bc.edu

Finally Starting To Feel Like Spring...

Hi again everyone!

Just thought I'd write a quick post about something I saw on campus today.

A few nights ago, one of my best friends Kathleen and I were watching the latest episode Glee (which I loved!). During a commercial break, she looked over at me and said, "Did you see the cherry blossoms?" Confused, I gave her a funny look and said "Huh? Where?" She replied, "Near the Rat! Go out the side entrance and look for them! They're beautiful!!"

Sure enough, as I headed to class yesterday after eating my usual turkey and cheddar flatbread sandwich in the ever-popular basement of Lyons, I saw the two giant, bright, pink and white-flowered trees lining the walkway to Carney and MacElroy. Just as I was told, they were beautiful! I continued my walk to Campion, the gentle breeze blowing against my sundress and the sun shining down on my curly hair as I grabbed my sunglasses from my backpack. I think it's safe to say today was some of the best weather we've had on campus this year! I saw some students promoting their upcoming arts shows in the quad, while others I passed were working on homework on the grass next to the St. Ignatius statue, and thought of how lucky I am to go to a school with such a pretty campus!

If you have any questions at all, e-mail me at e.paglierani@gmail.com!

~Erica

Freshman Year is Wrapping Up...

It's crazy to think that I am almost done with an entire year of college. College has been something that I have anticipated for my entire life and I honestly can't believe that I have been here for months now. I have lived on my own now for about 8 months. This means I have done my own laundry for 8 months, chosen my own dinners for 8 months, decided my own exercise patterns for 8 months, etc. Without my parents' watchful eyes studying my every move I have had the freedom to do whatever I wish whenever I wish. This has been one of the biggest learning experiences of my life. I have been able to do my homework and relax at my own leisure. This means that there have been many nights I have finished my homework before dinner and many nights when I have been up until 2 or 3 am doing homework. Some of my friends don't even start their homework until 1 am! There are some weeks I don't even have any homework! In order to survive college you really need to maintain a balance of a proactive and a "go with the flow" mentality.

I was definitely more uptight before I came to college. In high school I didn't understand how some of my friends were so laid back. College has helped me relax in a positive way. However, as the end of my first year approaches I keep reminding myself about the importance of relaxation. I keep fighting off the old, psycho Abby that used to make me go crazy. I cannot even begin to tell you all how many things I have had to do in the past month or so. It is very easy to get a little stressed around this time of year because most professors have final papers/exams due (sometimes in additon to their scheduled finals) all at the same time. However, it is important to remember that everything is manageable and everyone is going through the same thing.

Everyone always asks if college is more difficult than high school academically. I'm not sure if I am able to answer this question. All I can say is some weeks are difficult and some weeks are really easy and stress-free. So, when deciding whether to come to BC or not, don't worry about it being too difficult. It's going to be tough at times but it is going to be very rewarding when you do well. Trust me, I have lived here for a year and have had a blast! Now, I am going to keep reminding myself of this very advice as I navigate my way through the end of my freshman year.

Questions or comments about living on your own, academic rigor, or anything else? Please email me: cornisab@bc.edu

:) Abby Sue

The Home Stretch

I love going to a Catholic university for many reasons; one of which is the fantastic 5-day break we just had for Easter. I am from California so it was not enough time for me to go all the way home, but my parents came out the weekend before and stayed until last Sunday. We went to Cape Cod for the weekend with one of my friends who is also from California and not going home. It was so nice to spend a weekend away from school with family and friends enjoying a new locale. Now it is time for the home stretch: 8 more days of class, 4 study days, 8 days of finals. Wish me luck as I traverse final papers, presentations, and exams. Email me with any questions: shapirjk@bc.edu.

~Jessica

The Typical Question

Whether you're just starting the college application process now or you are nearing the end of your senior year of high school, I'm sure all of you have faced the typical questions: Where are you applying?

How annoying is that question?! Well, for me it wasn't that that particular question was annoying, it was just that literally everyone was asking me the same things. I felt like I needed to provide each person with a unique answer. However, then I just found myself reciting a speech I had come to memorize out of habit. This past summer the question became: Where are you going in the fall? I answered either "BC" or "Boston College," depending on whether I thought the person I was talking to would know the abbreviation. So, when I actually got to BC I was relieved that I wouldn't have to face any of these kinds of questions again, or at least until next summer. It felt like a huge brick had been lifted off my chest (alright, this is definitely an overexaggeration...but trust me, it was a good feeling!)

I enjoyed my first month of college, but then I realized that people were asking a new question. I went home for breaks and everyone asked: How do you like BC?! Everyone was excited, knowing BC is a great college. I would answer the question, saying that I love it here. The persistent adults would ask: What's your major? How are your classes? Easier or harder than high school? How are the sports? Do you get into the city much? Is there a lot to do there? The funny ones would wink after they asked, implying that we had an inside joke about the BC party scene. This was rather comical, especially when I had never talked to the person before and wondered why they assumed all college frosh partied. I just laughed, shrugged it off, and answered their questions.

The reason I choose to write a blog on this topic is that I just had one of these experiences the other day. I was at an A Capella performance last Saturday night and the lady sitting next to me, knowing I was a freshman, went through this entire sequence of questons. Here were my answers:

1. I love BC! It's so much fun here. There's so much to do here all the time and I have met a lot of great people. I'm so glad I came here. 
2. I'm a human development and English double major and I'm minoring in Organizational Studies. 
3. My classes are definitely difficult, but also definitely not anything that someone who was accepted into BC couldn't handle. The amount of work varies depending on the class and the professor...there will always be ones harder than others. Although, I have really enjoyed all of the classes I have taken this year. Sometimes you have a class that is so good that you don't even care that there is a lot of work. Also, work comes in waves. Some weeks you are bombarded with work and others it's smooth sailing. 
4. It's hard to compare high school and college in terms of the difficulty of classes. I think that the work is more challenging this year, like it is any time you move up a level each year, but that everything is manageable if you put in the effort and focus. I mean, you definitely cannot come here thinking it's going to be a cake walk. 
5. The sports are amazing! Go to as many events as you can. I'm so glad I came to a Division 1 school because I can't get enough of the sports here. Being a BC Superfan is probably one of the most memorable things you will ever do at BC. 
6. My friends and I probably get into the city twice a month. BC's campus is a great location, though. It's only about a 20-30 minute T ride and I wouldn't want to be right in the city anyways. 
7. There is SO much to do. You'll be able to find whatever you're interested in while you're here as well as find a bunch of new things you're interested in that you never even knew about. 

People are usually satisfied with my answers. I honestly like when I'm asked about my first year because I absolutely love it here. I can't say enough good things. In fact, I don't really know many people who aren't happy here. So for now I'm actually excited about these questions I'm asked to answer. I can't wait to see what I'm asked when I go home this summer...

Questions or comments about what freshmen year is like here at BC or anything else at all?
Please email me! : cornisab@bc.edu
:) Abby Sue

Class Registration

It's that time of the semester again. Time to pick classes. This is one of the most exciting times of the semester for me, but it can also be extremely stressful - it all depends on your pick time.

Each class has 2 days of registration times with seniors going first, followed by juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Each student is given a registration time on one of those 2 days and this can make or break your class schedule for the next semester. My time last semester was fantastic: 8:30am on the first day! My time isn't too bad this semester: 4:30pm on the first day. I'm not too worried about getting the classes I want, but I picked out my ideal schedule and would absolutely love for it to work out.

As an elementary education major, I am going to start student teaching in the fall so all of my classes need to be on Monday/Wednesday/Friday and I must register for the 2 "methods" courses that go along with my pre-practicum (1-day a week student teaching). I really want certain professors for those courses so that I can learn the most I possibly can about lesson planning in elementary school. So I am all set with my list of classes (and a much longer list of back-up courses) for registration on Thursday. Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted on what classes I end up taking!

Any questions? Email shapirjk@bc.edu. Happy Spring!

~Jessica

Appa Love

Hey Guys!

I know it has been a while since my last post..but I'm back! The last time I posted I was just about to leave for spring break and it was amazing!! I went to Hurley, Virginia with the Appalachia Volunteers Group and the experience was one that I will never forget. I met some really awesome people from the community while also getting to know some cool people from BC. I loved my group and we still keep in touch today. The trip really made me think about my priorities and how lucky I am. I am so grateful to attend Boston College! It really is just an amazing place!

-Nicole


Here is some of my group on the trip back :)

Clam Chowder

Being a native Mainah (from Maine), there are many things that I like and that are important to me that might seem bizarre to other people. For example, I am obsessed with L.L. Bean (the clothing, the boots, the store..pretty much everything about it), I love lobster, I think driving in the snow is fun, I thrive in the small towns and small cities, I love the beaches and coasts, and I know I couldn't live without the extremes of all four seasons. So, when I came to college I wanted to make sure that I could keep at least something that I loved from Maine: clam chowder.

I was very excited when I found out that Stuart Dining Hall ("Stu", on Newton Campus) served clam chowder a few times a week. I usually end up getting it once or twice a week, depending on when I eat at Stu. This clam chowder is very good, and I considered it one of the best I had ever had (I know, surprising, since it's dining hall food) until I got it at The Rat one day (today!). Oh my goodness, this is probably the most delicious clam chowder I have had in a long time. Although they are both the same brand (Kettle Cuisine), the chowder at The Rat is thicker, creamier, and has more "stuff" in it. By stuff I mean potatoes and chunks of clam. I have had the chowder at Eagle's Nest for lunch and it isn't very good. It's pretty watery, which is fairly disgusting. They barely serve clam chowder at Mac, Lower, and Hillside, so those would have to be at the bottom of my list. Though, I would like it very much if they started serving it there so I could pass judgment.

So, with all that being said, here is my list of rankings:

1. The Rat (delicious!)
2. Stuart Dining Hall (gotta be loyal to my dining hall!)
3. Hillside (although I have never had it, I heard it was decent)
4. Eagle's Nest (never had it here, but I feel like it would be alright)
5. Mac & Lower (never seen either advertised so they must tie for last)

Whether you like clam chowder or not, you will definitely start getting a feel for where you like eating the most and the least the first semester of school. It's important to try different things at different places and see what each dining hall has to offer because each is unique.

http://www.bc.edu/offices/dining/

Questions or comments about clam chowder or anything else? email me! cornisab@bc.edu

:) Abby Sue