Eagle's Eye View...a Boston College Student Blog on Education

Dining Bucks

2011-05-10T23:56:00.003-04:00

If you're worried about running out of dining bucks at Boston College, DON'T. I'm serious. If you don't have an oven in your room you will receive a mandatory meal plan of $2200 per semester. You will also receive $125 flex dollars that you can use for things like the vending machine, concessions at games, and treats at the Chocolate Bar. This money rolls over to second semester if not used up in the first. In addition it gets carried over from spring to fall.

However, this is not true for dining bucks. Although they do roll over to second semester, they get completely erased after spring semester. This means that if you do not use all of it then you're essentially giving your money back to the school. Sounds silly, right? Some people run out of money. Here's what all of this means:

*boys and athletes tend to run low on their money. However, this is just a generalization. Some people snack a lot and some people eat bigger meals. If you do run out of money you can ask just about anyone around you in line to pay for your meal. Most people will say yes.

*If you start to realize that you have way too much money, you can do one of the following:
a. start buying more expensive meals (I bought myself lobster tonight!)
b. start eating more
c. buy meals for people that don't have dining plans (people with ovens in their dorm rooms, professors, grad students)
d. buy meals for prospective students and their families
e. if it's the end of the semester, buy things in bulk! (today I bought about 10 bags of chips to waste money...I will bring them home to my family for summer bbq's)
f. donate to charity! (many clubs sit in the dining halls and ask you to donate some of your bucks to their service trip, etc.)

I know it's awkward to end on "h," but I'm pretty sure I have exhausted all of the options. So, don't worry. Whether you have too much money or not enough money, you will be fine.

Questions about meal plans or anything else? Please email me: cornisab@bc.edu

:) Abby Sue

Campus School

2011-04-30T14:50:00.003-04:00

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...

2011-04-28T22:06:00.004-04:00

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...

2011-04-27T20:25:00.004-04:00

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

2011-04-26T13:01:00.002-04:00

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

2011-04-10T21:03:00.007-04:00

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:

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.
I'm a human development and English double major and I'm minoring in Organizational Studies.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

2011-04-10T15:09:00.004-04:00

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

2011-04-08T11:00:00.004-04:00

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

2011-04-04T11:17:00.003-04:00

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

I'm New at This!

2011-03-27T17:16:00.007-04:00

Hey everyone! My name is Abby Cornish (I often go by Abby Sue) and this is my first time blogging for the Student Admission Program (SAP) at Boston College. I know what you're thinking..it's almost April and she's just blogging now? Well, I just recently started volunteering for SAP a month ago and thought I would give this a shot!

(my roomate is on the left, our friend on the right, and I'm in the middle!)

A little about myself: I'm a freshman in Lynch. I came into the school as a Secondary Education and English double major, but just changed my majors to Human Development and English with a minor in Organizational Studies (in CSOM). I live on Newton campus, which is about a 7 minute bus ride ("the Newton Bus"). I am from a town about half an hour north of Portland, Maine. Crazy, right? People actually living in Maine seems like such a myth to everyone else here. I was really involved in high school, with a few things being that I played basketball and was a Class Officer. I have tried to get involved at BC, too. I am currently a Big Sister to a ten year-old girl at the West End House, which is on the green line. I also do OM (office management) in the SAP volunteer office. I have applied to a few more things on campus that will start next year and I'm waiting to hear back, (wish me luck!)

I really enjoy everything BC has to offer. My friends and I try to make it to most of the sporting events, concerts, musical group performances, lectures, etc. In fact, this weekend there was so much to do that I don't think I even spent more than an hour in the dorm, aside from sleeping of course. There is definitely something for everyone here, whether you know what that is for you or not yet. I'm still finding things that interest me that I never thought would and I've already been here for a year!

I'd love for everyone to follow my blog and please feel free to email me with any questions at cornisab@bc.edu

:) Abby Sue

A New Interest!

2011-03-16T13:33:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

I know it's been a while since I last blogged! College life can get so crazy sometimes and before you know it it's spring break! Anyway, I wanted to share a little bit about a great experience I had recently. I told my mom, who works in the elementary school that I went to many years ago, that I wanted to observe and help out in the preschool classroom for students with autism. She talked to the principal, and arranged for me to go in on the Friday of spring break. As soon as I stepped through the door that morning I was greeted by eight smiling faces and a few tiny waving hands. The teacher announced, "Kids! Let’s sing hello to our new friend Erica!" and seconds later I was serenaded by the innocent voices of three, four, and five year olds. Over the course of the next few hours, I was able to talk with the teachers and aids, observe the strategies they used, and of course play with the kids. I learned so much and had an absolute blast.

Now you're probably thinking, how does this have anything to do with BC? Let me explain. During course registration at the end of last semester, as I realized that there was a time conflict with two classes that I wanted to take, I found myself frantically searching for the last class to complete my spring semester schedule. I had heard about people taking Working With Students With Special Needs as freshmen, so I set up a meeting with my advisor and found out that it is a required course for Elementary Ed majors. After about 37508924 log-ins on BC UIS (the ancient course registration system) I was able to secure a spot in Professor Ricciato's 1:30 pm section of the class.

My initial thoughts going into the class were that it was probably going to be interesting, and that I might be able to apply some of what I learned to my volunteer work. I volunteer in a program called Creative Kids in the Campus School, where I sing, dance, play instruments and most of all laugh with my buddy, a girl close to my age who has severe special needs. It always brightens up my Fridays and is the perfect way to start the weekend! Back to the class. I honestly had no intentions of teaching in a special education classroom, for I knew that it required a ton of patience and creativity. I didn't think that I had that in me, and figured general education would be the way to go. Needless to say, by the end of the first week I found myself pulling out my phone to call my mom, bubbling with excitement about how much I loved what we were studying. This without a doubt has something to do with my professor as well. Professor Ricciato is the director of the Campus School, and does a fabulous job integrating presentations by psychologists, speech pathologists, and other special needs personnel, as well as his own experiences with students, into the curriculum.

The point I'm trying to make here is that you never know what you're going to become passionate about here at BC. You might not know what you love, or you might be like me, and have something in mind only to have it shift direction after taking a specific class. Keep your mind open, because there are so many possibilities here, and when you find something that you really love, it's an amazing feeling.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to e-mail me at e.paglierani@gmail.com! Ta-ta for now!

~Erica

Spring Break

2011-03-15T22:17:00.003-04:00

Hello again,

I just got back from my first college spring break: a rite of passage of sorts. I traveled to Ireland with the University Chorale of Boston College. We are a group of about 160 singers who rehearse twice a week for three hours total and perform three times each semester. Every spring break, members of the group have the opportunity to travel abroad. This year we went to Galway, Killarney, and Dublin, Ireland. I had the time of my life! The trip was filled with breathtaking sightseeing, meeting and hanging out with tons of people who I did not even know existed prior to the trip, and singing of course. My absolute favorite part was the opportunity to meet everyone. I made so many great friends who I would probably not have met if I did not go on the trip and now we are continuing to hang out now back at BC. I cannot wait for next year's trip no matter where we go! Please let me know if you have any questions about Chorale, any music group on campus, Lynch School, or BC in general.

~Jessica

shapirjk@bc.edu

Just Checking In

2011-03-05T13:58:00.003-05:00

Hey guys!
So today is the first real day of Spring Break (woooohoooo!!!!). I am so excited and I thought I would take a little time out to tell you what my plans are for this week. One of the main pillars of Boston College is "Men and Women for others." Boston College students are encouraged to do their best to share their time and effort with people who are less fortunate. Although it is not required, many students take this pillar to heart and one example of this is the Appalachia Voulenteers Group. Every year around 600 students dedicate their spring break to help out the people of the Appalchian region. I never thought I would go on an alternative spring break trip in college but here I am. I will be heading off to Hurely VA soon and I am very excited. I'll check back in after the trip and share my experience.

Talk to you soon, Nicole

F.Y.P.D.S.

2011-02-28T15:29:00.004-05:00

Hi, my name is Jessica Shapiro and I am a freshman honors student in the Lynch School of Education. I am majoring in Elementary Education and Psychology and minoring in History. I live on Upper Campus in the honors dorm (Medeiros) and I am from Santa Monica, California (right outside LA). I want my blog posts to be a more personal view of BC and Lynch so please e-mail me (shapirjk@bc.edu) if there are any topics or issues you think I should address.

There are three majors in the Lynch School of Education: Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Applied Psychology and Human Development. The First-Year Professional Development Seminar is a required 1-credit course (no homework!) for all Lynch freshmen, regardless of major. Groups of 10-15 students meet once a week for an hour with two upperclassmen Lynch students and a faculty or graduate student advisor. Fall semester this course focused a lot on the transition to college and this small-group format was a great forum in which to ask questions about Lynch, BC, or life. I absolutely love my FYPDS group - we are a fairly close-knit group especially considering that we only see each other for an hour a week. My graduate student advisor is one of the best people I have met on the BC campus. He went to Lynch as an undergrad and now works in the Dean's Office so he knows everything there is to know about Lynch. He has also been an RA for three years so he has a lot of general knowledge about the university as a whole. Plus, the upperclassmen advisors are going through exactly what we will be going through later on in our undergraduate careers. It is great for us freshmen to be able to pick their brains about housing, academics, service, and extracurricular activities.

I also love the other 12 freshmen in my group (11 girls and 1 boy). We have become a sort of family - we trust each other with personal issues and "secrets" conveyed through what are called anonymous "yellow bag" statements. Every week we each write a question/concern/comment on a yellow sheet of paper about BC in general or the topic of that week's session and we start the following week's session by addressing these questions and comments. This is a great way for us to develop trust and also get our questions answered.

This semester the course is worth 2 credits so there has been outside readings and videos to watch before each session but they are actually really interesting and foster great discussions. The peer advisors and group leaders do a great job of connecting the readings and videos to hands-on activities we complete in our weekly meetings. So far we have discussed topics such as the value of service, diversity, respect, and world issues. Each week we come prepared with the thoughts of the authors and filmmakers and build on them with our own opinions. This class almost serves as a continuation of orientation and I think it is another thing that makes the Lynch School such a fantastic place to call "home".

Please e-mail me with any questions you have about anything related to FYPDS, the Lynch School, or Boston College as a whole. I look forward to writing again soon.

~Jessica

shapirjk@bc.edu

Hey World

2011-02-28T09:58:00.005-05:00

Hey everyone, welcome to my new blog.

My name is Nicole and I am currently a freshmen at Boston College. I am an Elementary Education Major in the Lynch School of Education. Basically, I love it here at BC. The Lynch school is amazing; there is no place else I would rather be. One of my favorite things about BC is the people. From the faculty to the custodial staff, the people here really care about you and want you to succeed. I am going to keep this post short as an introduction and I kind of have to get back to homework but I will try and update often.

Thanks for reading,
Nicole

Getting My Feet Wet

2010-10-24T14:27:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! My name is Joanna and I am currently a junior in the Lynch School with a major in human development and a minor in psychology. I am currently trying to decide whether I am most interested in school counseling or mental health counseling. To get some hands on experience, I spent last year volunteering at Mass General Hospital in Boston and I am currently volunteering at a local high school, Mount Alvernia High School that is located in Newton, MA (just five minutes from campus!)

While at Mass General I worked along side the Child Life Specialist in the pediatric oncology ward. This was one of the most life changing and rewarding experiences I have ever been a part of. My typical day consisted of visiting multiple patients within the Outpatient unit. I traveled from room to room with both the Child Life Specialist and a team of doctors and psychologists. My favorite part of the day was the one on one time that I spent with the children. We would spend the day doing anything from playing board games, to making jewelry, to painting pictures for the playroom. I acted as a companion to these children and was changed by the ways in which such simple actions of mine put the biggest smiles on their faces.

In order to get a better feel for what it is like to work in a school setting, I am currently volunteering at Mount Alvernia High School, and all girls, private, Catholic high school. I spend my time in the guidance office preparing the senior’s files to be sent to colleges, help the younger students become organized and pick their classes, and help those in charge get organize for events. I especially like the one on one time that I get to spend with the girls and it has been very easy to get to know each of them based on the small size of the school!

While I am still in the process of exploring different options, my volunteer work has helped me gain a better sense of aspects of jobs that I will seek out and the aspects of certain jobs that I will try to avoid! I know that I want to work with people one day, specifically children and teens. Boston College has provided me with the resources I need to get involved around the community and these experiences will surely benefit me in the future!

Why Hello There!

2010-10-14T11:37:00.008-04:00

Hi everyone! Just thought I'd introduce myself, since this is my first time blogging for SAP. My name is Erica Paglierani and I'm a freshman in the Lynch School of Education here at BC! I hail from Stoneham, MA (about 20-30 minutes away from campus), and I'm planning on majoring in Elementary Education and Human Development (although I'm not 100% sure)!

As for housing, I live in a double in Keyes North on Newton Campus, and while I was worried about taking the bus (I'm one of those people that tends to run a bit late...), I've found that it's had a really positive effect on me. It's taught me to manage my time better than I ever could've in high school, and I always run into friends on the way to class in the morning!

Another great aspect of Reslife here at BC is that once you officially decide to become a student, you fill out a survey with information like when you typically go to sleep and whether you like to study in a quiet atmosphere or with music on. Then, BC takes your answers and matches you up with other students who have similar preferences. However, before sending you a random roommate assignment at the end of the summer, Reslife allows you to see your potential matches online, and even talk to them to figure out if you might be interested in rooming together! For me, this process could not have worked out better. Because I was an only child, I was extra anxious about sharing a space with someone else, let alone someone I barely knew.

I worked up some courage and decided to send a Facebook message to one of the girls who Reslife said might be a good roommate for me. She responded, and once we got to talking, we found out that we really were pretty similar. We decided to meet up in Boston (she's from Cape Cod, so it wasn't too far of a drive for either of us), and had a super fun day of shopping and people-watching! We requested each other as roommates that night, and I don't regret it one bit. Sharing the space hasn't been a problem, and to top it all off, Annie and I are now best friends! Here's a picture of us at convocation (Annie's on the left, and I'm on the right):

Well, I'm off to go finish some lit homework before lunch! Next time I'll write about my classes and the clubs I'm involved in! :) If you have any questions at all, feel free to email me at e.paglierani@gmail.com!

~Erica

Appalachia

2010-03-24T00:27:00.009-04:00

Hello again!

Although I've only been back on campus for a couple of weeks, it feels like Spring Break was forever ago. The weather is finally starting to warm up here in Boston and the whole campus has been very energetic lately!

A few weeks ago, I spent spring break in Sewee, SC with thirteen other BC students through the Appalachia Volunteers program. Even though very few of us knew each other beforehand, we bonded quickly and had an amazing week! Initially, I was dreading the eighteen hour bus ride that brought us to our destination, but it passed by much faster than I expected and we all chatted/slept/watched movies the whole way there.

From the first moments we arrived at our site, I was struck by the kindness with which all of the community members treated our group. During our first afternoon, they introduced us to the unique problems that face their area and informed us of the tasks that we would do over the course of the week. Our projects included painting several houses, clearing out a cemetery, and reorganizing an elementary school classroom.

It was clear that the leaders of the organization hoped that our experience would help us understand the realities of life in the poverty-stricken region while also allowing us to see the benefits of living in their culture. All of the BC students on the trip were inspired by the people's motivation to improve the quality of life for all people in their community and the kindness with which they treated each other.

After working each day, the trip leaders prepared a reflection for the group, urging us to consider our past life experiences, the difficult things we witnessed on the trip, and the ways in which we hope to carry this experience with us in the future. Returning back to BC, all of us were refreshed and changed by our week in SC. Although I am no longer in the Appalachian region, I have carried the lessons I learned over the week back to campus and will definitely go on an Appalachia trip again next year!

If you have any questions about Appalachia or other programs offered here at BC, email me at eatonaa@bc.edu!

~Annelise

Freshman Year & 4Boston!

2010-02-24T22:39:00.004-05:00

Hello! My name is Annelise and I am a freshman in the Lynch School from Manchester, MA. I'm a Human Development major and I am planning to add a second major, but I'm not sure if it will be English or Communications! I'm living on Upper Campus in Fitzpatrick, which is a lot of fun!

Some of the first things I noticed during my first semester were how active the campus is, how involved all of the students are, and how much school spirit there is at BC! My favorite memories of my first weekends here on campus were definitely the football games, which really made the students feel connected to the school and were a great way of meeting new people! The picture above is of my friends and I at one of the first football games!

During the first few weeks of school, Student Activities Day was held on the Dustbowl so that students could learn about different groups to get involved with on campus and in the city. I was amazed by all of the options and found myself signing up for way more things than I could actually commit to, but it was fun just learning about all of the activities!

My favorite group that I am a part of at BC is called 4Boston. Within 4Boston there are numerous different placements where students volunteer for 4 hours each week, ranging from hospitals to after-school programs. On top of the volunteering, all of the students at a specific placement meet weekly for reflections on their placement, social justice, and life at BC in general. On top of exposing college students to various social issues, it is a great way to meet people and the weekly volunteering is a lot of fun.

My placement is called SKD and it is an after-school program located in Roxbury. When the weather is nice out, we start off the afternoon by playing outside with the kids, who range in age from about 5 to 13. They love it when the tutors join in on their tag games and by the time we head inside to work on their homework, I am always very sweaty from all that running around! I have been working with two fifth grade girls this year, and although it can be difficult to help them gain confidence in their academic ability, I have truly had a blast working with both of them. Through our many conversations about their school, their siblings, and their weekends, they have given me a window into their lives and I am excited to see them progress over the next few years. In speaking with friends of mine who volunteer at different placements, it seems as though everybody has a very rewarding time with 4Boston, regardless of where they are working.

Everybody is excited around campus this week because Spring Break starts in just a few days! I am off to South Carolina with the Appalachia Volunteers and I will be sure to update about it once I get back!

If you have any questions about freshman year at BC, email me at eatonaa@bc.edu!

~Annelise

The Life of a Student Teacher

2009-10-08T18:31:00.003-04:00

Hi! My name is Katie and I am a Senior in the Lynch School of Education. This semester I am completing my full-time student teaching. Education students complete 3 pre-practicums where we work in three different classrooms over three semesters during our Sophomore and Junior year. I was able to get a feel for which grade I want to work with and what kind of teaching environment is a good fit for me.

Currently, I am working in a first grade classroom in a suburb of Boston. I teach 5 full days a week and take one class for this whole semester. My classroom and students are great! There are only 16 students so I have been able to get to know them well and it differentiate my lessons. So far this semester I have been able to teach all of the science (we are learning about solids, liquids, and gases now), two reading groups, and half of the math and social studies lessons. It has truly been a great learning experience for me.

Last week I was able to accompany my class on their field trip to the New England Aquarium. I was considered one of the chaperones and had a small group of children to take around. It was a great opportunity to connect with children on a more individual level and provide deep learning instruction. We nick-named our group the Electric Eels and got to see sharks, octopus, and penguins. We had a great time on the trip!

Yesterday, I was the substitute teacher in a third grade classroom. It was amazing to see the difference in the children's ability to do independent work and listen to instruction. While my 3rd grade class was out for recess I went back to my 1st grade classroom. The kids were excited to see me and I realized how much I had missed being with them during the day. I was glad to be back in my classroom today but subbing yesterday made me think about whether I want to teach in the primary grades or not.

Stay tuned for a blog about my take-over weeks!

Summer Greetings!

2009-07-22T11:03:00.005-04:00

Hi everyone! My name is Lisa and I'm a rising senior in the Lynch School. It's been a fantastic summer here at Boston College working for the Student Admissions Program! I feel so lucky to have hosted so many eager high school students and their parents and I hope that I've truly helped families in their college search.

I'm having so much fun living off-campus with my friends! Since I have four years of on-campus housing, I chose to do something a little different this summer and sublet in one of my friend's houses off campus (that means that I am taking the place of another student who lived in that house for only part of the year). ResLife at BC not only facilitates on-campus placements for students, but assists students with finding off-campus housing as well.

Last week I went to dinner at Papa Razzi and I had a delicious dinner of chicken with garlic and broccoli, finished off with an amazing piece of tiramisu! Boston boasts amazing restaurants, from family-owned Italian eateries in the North End (like La Famiglia Giorgio and the famous Mike's Pastry), to delicious restaurants on Newbury Street (think Sonsie), and excellent options across the river in Harvard Square (my favorite is the Bombay Club).

I also had the opportunity to visit a friend in Concord and had the chance to walk across the Old North Bridge, the site of the first battle in the Revolutionary War and the "shot heard 'round the world". Many know about the Freedom Trail, a deeply historic walking trail of Boston indicated by a red brick path throughout the city. However, there is also so much history in the greater Boston area. For example, many students visit Salem (site of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials) each year for Halloween. Often, Resident Assistants will plan trips for their residents during which they visit historical sites, shopping malls and outlets, and other destinations such as Six Flags New England. Although many fun things to do are located within the reach of the MBTA (Boston's public transportation system), these programs offer transportation (and often less expensive group rates too!) to places that are not necessarily accessible by public transportation.

Thanks for reading my blog, and I'm looking forward to writing again! Hope you're all having a great summer! =)

The Semester of Lasts

2009-02-25T16:50:00.009-05:00

As Spring Break approaches, I'm just 5 days away from laying on a beach in 80 degree heat, a nice change to bitter winds we've been experiencing here in Chestnut Hill for the last few days. On the lips of almost every Senior walking this campus, however, is that fearful phrase "this is the last...insert activity here." Ie: "this is the last first day of school," "this is the last time I'll go outside at 5am in nothing but a T-shirt to build a snowman in the mods," or my personal favorite "this is the last time I'll have to send myself a rose on valentines day to make myself feel better," (false). Anyways, as I've been surround by all these supposed last times, I've decided to adopt the why not philosophy so that I get to take advantage of all these lasts!

Most recently I participated in a 35 year old tradition at BC called Middle march. Having not been since my freshman year, when the theme was Saturday Night Live. I was a SNL Spice Girl, and to the left is a picture of my friend dressed up like Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek from Jeopardy. Needless to say I set my eyes on the prize, aka a highly coveted ticket to this dance. Involving quite a complicated process, Middlemarch is the biggest and the best costume party of the year, Halloween ain't got nothin' on this tradition. First you must go at 11pm on the designated day to Conte Forum (our basketball and hockey stadium) to hear the theme announcement, usually hidden in some kind of weird YouTube-esque video made by the O'Connell House managers. This year's theme is BOARD GAMES. On your way out of the stadium you get a special sheet complete with a secret copy-proof seal with the scavenger hunt. Made up of 15-20 questions that go along with the theme (such as what was the newest addition to the game Operation...answer, brain freeze) as well as questions about the managers of the OCH, the mansion/student union on Upper Campus where the dance is held. So then you have a week to complete the scavenger hunt questions, THEN you are entered into a lottery of everyone who got the answers correct, and SHOULD you win, you get to buy tickets, but ONLY if you are quick enough to get one of 300 tickets when 200 students have the option to buy two! Luckily my "why not" philosophy has worked out and this is "the last time I will be going to Middlemarch." I'm super excited, but now comes the complicated process of figuring out a costume: Miss Peacock, a Snake or Ladder, Candyland...the possibilities are endless.

Another fantastic tradition organized by the Senior Week Committee is the 100 DAYS Dance. All Seniors get the chance to buy tickets and celebrate 100 days until Graduation. It was held at the Roxy, a club in the Theatre District in Downtown Boston, and BC rented it out, so it was basically a gigantic Dance Party with the entire Senior class; aka amazing! They bused us there and back on big yellow school buses, so no need to navigate the streets of Boston in high heels. Everyone I talked to absolutely loved it; there is nothing like dancing to bring people together. The only downside is my foot got into a fight with someone else's stiletto and let's just say they won and my foot is mighty bruised.

Although this blog makes it look like all we do at BC is dance, there are lots of other fun traditions that I'll be back to share with you soon. In fact, I'll even post a picture from a new tradition, storming the court after we beat DUKE in Men's Basketball; Tyrese Rice is in the Background!

One more time with feeling

2009-01-26T16:33:00.004-05:00

Well here I am back at Boston College for one last and final semester. As scary and sad as it is to say that I will be leaving this place in 4 short months, I am super excited for all that is to come this semester.

We're about two weeks into classes, and I'm settling into the new courses I have for this semester. I'm taking two courses for my Human Development major, Personality Theories and Adult Psychology, and then two electives.

One is called Humor in the English department, with famed BC Professor and Poe Expert, Paul Lewis. We spend the first half of the semester looking at what makes humor, and the second half as a writing workshop, where we get to create our own humorous skit, play, parody or video. I love the class already, our first assignment was to collect 5 jokes from our friends, and then spend class telling jokes, AND we get credit for this, totally awesome!

My other class is called Capstone: Decisions for Life. BC has these great courses called Cornerstones (which you take in your freshman year) and Capstones (which you take in your senior year) and they are meant to welcome you to your BC experience and then close it out as you prepare to leave and reflect back on your four years of college. As a freshman I took Courage to Know, which is a Cornerstone, we read a bunch of different books and talked about how the themes in those stories resonated with our experiences in college so far. It was a fantastic class to welcome me into BC, and was a fifteen student seminar style course with a Professor and two Senior Mentors. I actually was a Senior Mentor for the same Professor I had last semester. However, now onto the class I am actually taking, my Capstone. My Professor, John Boylan I have decided is absolutely crazy but so incredibly fantastic, already on the first day he told the whole class how much he loved us! Basically what we are going to be doing this semester is reflecting back on our four years here at BC, and how the lessons we have learned from our various experiences can help us as we go forward and make life decisions.

So those are my academic musings for this post, but I will be back again soon to talk about all those things occupying my time outside of the classroom.

Greetings from Chestnut Hill

2008-11-09T11:56:00.012-05:00

Hello Everyone! My name is Katie Kelley and I'm a senior in the Lynch School of Education, where I am a human development and psychology double major. I'm originally from Oregon, but I grew up in the Netherlands.

As a Human Development major, I'm not going into the field of teaching, but I do intend to work in an educational setting. Many Human Development majors go to work in counseling or human resources jobs. I've really enjoyed my two majors here at BC. Psychology is in the College of Arts & Sciences and gives me a look into the more scientific side of people, whereas Human Development offers the practical application of psychology to the field of Education.

This was a very exciting weekend at BC sports-wise: Notre Dame was here for both Hockey and Football. Last year our Hockey team beat Notre Dame in the National Championship, but sadly this weekend we did not relive that glory. We did beat them in Football last night though, for the 7th time in a row! It was a great game! Before coming to BC, I had never seen a football game before in my life, but now I'm on ESPN.com all the time and I actually watched the draft last year. Matt Ryan, our quarterback last year, is kind of a big deal; he got drafted 3rd! He now plays for the Atlanta Falcons, so I'm actually a bit of a Falcons fan now!

Football at BC is amazing though. Freshman year, at Orientation, you get your Superfan Shirt, which is this obnoxious gold colored shirt, with Boston College, Superfan and a little fighting Eagle on the front. Then each class has their own saying on the back; they're a little cheesy, but great anyways! The seniors this year are "Talons of Fury...Get Ready", juniors are "Eagles Take Action", sophomores are "For Here All Are One" and the Freshmen are "On the Hunt for Excellence." Anyways last night's game was phenomenal; we beat Notre Dame 17-0 and at the end of the game the entire student section, which is just a sea of gold, stayed for like 25 minutes after everyone else was gone, singing along with the marching band. They play some great hits, like "Sweet Caroline", "Build me up Buttercup" and of course "Shipping up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys.

Outside of the classroom I'm involved in several different things on campus, which I will discuss over the next couple months in this blog. Right now I am preparing for a retreat called 48 Hours. 48 Hours is a retreat offered to freshmen at the end of first semester and the beginning of second semester that gives you a chance to step away from BC for the weekend, hear stories from Senior Leaders about their transition into college about several different themes like "The Challenge of Academics" and "Friends and Relationships." I went on the retreat my freshman year and it was a great chance to stop for a weekend and get a break from the fast pace of the college campus and really look at the decisions and the experiences I was having and whether or not they were living up to my expectations of college. So I am leading this along with 9 other Seniors next weekend.

I'm super excited and I'll be sure to report back after the retreat and talk about some other exciting BC happenings!

Chalkboard Introductions

2008-10-02T17:40:00.008-04:00

Hello, hello. I'm Nick Grasso, a senior in the Lynch School of Education. I am originally from East Haven, CT. I am majoring in English and elementary education. This semester I am actually taking very few classes at BC because I am student teaching. Above is a picture of the classroom I am working in all set up for the first day of school back in September.

The teacher education program at Boston College strongly connects theory with practice. Education classes taught at BC all include some field based assignments. These assignments give you the opportunity to try and test the theories you are reading about and discussing in class with students in "real" classrooms. You complete three pre-practicum experiences, where you work one day a week in a school for a semester. The program culminates in a full-practicum experience in which you work in a school every day for a full semester.

So I spend every day this semester teaching 22 5th graders at a Boston Public School in Brighton along with a veteran teacher. I've mainly been teaching math every day. We are doing a social studies unit on the election and have just started a reader's theater unit with a play called, Revenge of the Nerd. The student's love sharing their acting skills and even give up recess time to rehearse!

Although teaching has been a lot of fun, the challenges of urban education are both exciting and daunting. My 5th graders have a lot of energy, but it takes a lot of work to focus that energy on learning.

I look forward to blogging this semester about my experiences in the classroom. Feel free to post any questions about the School of Education or about my teaching, I'll be happy to answer them.

Welcome!

2008-09-24T00:55:00.001-04:00

Thank you for visiting the Boston College Student Admission Program blogs! This blog is maintained by undergraduates in the Lynch School of Education who are studying or interested in studying for a degree in education.

If you are a prospective student who is interested in applying to BC's education program, look no further! Here we try to give you a window into the life of Boston College students, who will be posting about what daily life is like on the Heights. Bookmark this page and keep coming back for more; this blog will be updated regularly by one of many of our Student Admission Program volunteers! We all have stories to share that we hope will help you determine if BC is right for you.

These blogs can be as interactive as you make them. Want to hear about a certain aspect of college life? Curious as to how we survive without home-cooked meals and laundry done for us? Ask and you shall receive. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to post them! We'll respond in our next entry as soon as we can.

Thank you so much for stopping in! If you'd like to hear more about BC, visit the official site of Boston College! You can also learn more about visiting campus and our tours and infamous Eagle Eye sessions at the SAP webpage! We'd love to have you!

Good luck!

Sam Lipscomb
SAP Technology Coordinator '08-'09
Boston College A&S '10
lipscoms@bc.edu