My Roommate

Meet Legolas, my roommate in Lyons Hall. Typically all the housing on campus is not co-ed, but for me the Res Life staff made an exception. This is a picture of Legolas on move-in day. He was so excited for orientation, but also a little nervous about meeting new people. I had to convince him not to be so stiff.

By Halloween Legolas was coming out of his shell. Halloween is a four day event here, and requires four different costumes. Here Legolas is wearing the top hat that was part of my costume- I was a circus conductor. He went as an elf from Lord of the Rings.

Legolas and I decorated our room for Christmas (and he decorated himself). He got really into the holiday spirit. Every here decorates their door and a lot of people had Christmas trees. It really brightened the mood during finals week before everyone left for break. Of course, Legolas cheers me up no matter what season it is.

After break Legolas came back as a whole new man. He got really tight with my friends Derek (above) and Devin (below). He also took up skiing and is pretty smooth. I don't know how he does it with a quiver full of arrows.

Legolas is really excited for the spring time when he can run around barefoot and be a jolly elf in the forest. I picked this flower for him and he wore it all week. He's really in touch with his feminine side, which is one of the reasons why we're such great roommates.

Today Legolas was feeling some Middle-Eastern vibes. He keeps up on current events and is really passionate about the education and liberation of women in Arab nations. He shows his support by not only being a fashion icon, but also being the first one to welcome me home every night and tell me how proud he is. I can't wait to live with him again in Linnehan on North Campus next year. He really is one of a kind.

The Basics

So here's a little information about me:
I'm from a small town in southern New Hampshire. There's not much to do when I go home, but there are some people that I love very much.
I'm double majoring in English and Religious Studies. I am fascinated by the potential of words and the power of faith on a global scale.
I am a coordinator for a program called Family Friends through MOVE (Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts)  - We go to a temporary homeless shelter every week and play with the kids that live there. I love being able to get off campus and see another side of Burlington.
I am an auxiliary editor for the Onion River Review, SMC's literary journal, and this year I am having one of my poems published. You should 'like' us on facebook!
I have a work study in the library as the assistant to the Director of Interlibrary Loans. It's a great job because I'm getting experience and references for my resume. My work is really interesting and I know every nook and cranny of the Library.
I'm planning a study abroad during my junior year to Istanbul, Turkey, where I will study Islam as well as expose myself to an incredibly rich culture. I can't even express how much I am looking forward to my semester abroad.
I read the news every day.
My heroes are Anne Frank, Sylvia Plath, Amelia Earhart, Shabana Basij-Rasikh, and Hedda Gabler.
I am definitely a dog person and my goal in the next three years is to figure out how I can sneak one into my dorm.

While waiting for the bus. . .

From left to right: Myself, Devin, and Marlee- the two people I love most here. We're living together on North Campus next semester and we're going to have the time of our lives.

Tweeting, loud and clear.

I'm now on Twitter! Follow me?

It's only Wednesday

Greetings readers, and welcome to my blog! The purpose of this page is to offer insights into my life as a Saint Michael's student to people who may be interested in joining the ranks of our noble academic league. I've been here for almost seven months now . . . and do I consider myself a Purple Knight? Mumkin ("perhaps," in Arabic). Maybe not so much in the armor, but I can certainly say I've felt engaged on campus this week. Here are some of the things I've done that make me feel like I'm in the right place, and it's only Wednesday:

1. Appointments with the Research Librarians
This is a tool that was recently added to our Library's website- we have the ability to search for a librarian by specialty and schedule a one-on-one appointment just to help with research. Now that spring break is over, it's crunch time for term papers/housing assignments/fall registration . . . it's all rather stressful. I have major papers due in British Literature II, Old Testament, and Anthropology, all due at the end of the semester which is quickly approaching. Meeting with the librarians not only helped me access resources, but also made me take the time out to do research that I might have otherwise put off. This is yet another tool available on campus to help us succeed (I promise I'm not just promoting the library- it's really great!)

2. Recommendations from Professors and Employers
Early this week I landed a job working in Technical Services at a college library near my house for the summer. Not only does it have the ideal schedule, but it also is in a field that I love. The woman who interviewed me told me that I had received "glowing" recommendations from all my references, which included my professor from last semester and current English advisor as well as my boss in Interlibrary Loans. One of the best things about Saint Mike's size is that our professors really get to know us, even after one semester, at a level where they can give a genuine personal recommendation on our behalf. I've had the opportunity already to form these valuable relationships, and to gain experience at a work study job that is completely relevant to a career that I might pursue after graduation (not to mention, I made my resume for this job at a workshop through Career Services!).

3. Open classes and Dialogue
One of my main interests is in studying Islam and finding opportunities for dialogue between Western culture and the Middle East. On Monday I attended an open Peace and Justice seminar which hosted Professor Saleem Ali, a native of Pakistan and a member of the Environmental Studies Department at UVM, who came to talk to us about Peace-building and Islam. His talk offered a basic foundation for the sources of extremism and how he believes the Muslim community, alongside the rest of the world, needs to overcome them. After hearing his perspective I feel not only more informed, but also more encouraged that through education and dialogue peace is possible.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my first post. It's no longer Wednesday, but Thursday, and I must head to bed. As I figure out this blogging conundrum, I hope that you'll bear with me and ask questions that can help me help you make this ever-so-important decision to step into the Saint Mike's suit of armor . . . or t-shirt. If I were you I'd go for the bumper sticker.