My last blog was titled “Time Flies”, but it literally seems impossible that I’m already 1/8^th done with my college experience!

I was kind of MIA last week during finals, but I’m here to leave an update before I completely go into vacation mode.  

So, that being said- I survived my first round of college final exams!!

Unlike my roommate who had her finals conveniently spread out through the week, I faced a week leading up to two days of hell: two papers due on Thursday, and two finals on Friday.  Despite having everything crammed together in two days, I actually felt like I had a good mix of final papers and exams: half and half. 

Luckily I was able to get my first paper for my English 101 class done and out of the way by Tuesday.  I actually really enjoyed writing that paper because the professor gave us a lot of freedom in picking our topic.  Going with our class theme of “Writing about Public Health” I chose to write our 7-10 page final paper about the orphan crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa caused by the AIDS epidemic affecting the area.  I was able to draw on personal experience from the time I spent working in an AIDS orphanage in Kenya two summers ago, as well as the work I’ve been doing for the international NGO Flying Kites that houses vulnerable children in Kenya.  Despite the crunch to get everything done I was actually pretty pleased with the outcome of this one, and I definitely think it’s something I might continue research on in the future. 

Once that was done I had to battle through another final paper for my First Year Seminar class—that is after I read the 500-plus pages of Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky.  As unexpectedly challenging as this seminar was, by the end of the semester it became one of my favorite classes.  My specific seminar centered on the philosophy of Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche—something I knew absolutely nothing about before this fall.  Now that it’s over I’m really glad I explored this topic, because it’s something that I definitely wouldn’t have gotten into otherwise. 

 My finals week ended on Friday with my final exams for both my American Political Systems and Elementary Arabic classes.  Needless to say, I was able to finally take a deep breath when I was finished. 

Now that I’m home I am fully enjoying doing absolutely nothing for the first time in a while.  Our Christmas tree is up, and it’s great to catch up with friends from high school, but I’m already looking forward to getting back to Wheaton in January!        

This semester has been so busy it’s hard to believe Thanksgiving break is only a couple days away!  I’m anxiously looking forward to break but I certainly have plenty to keep me busy until then. 

I actually just got back from a group study session for my first year seminar class.  It’s a small class so it’s really easy to get everyone together to study.  We were preparing for an exam coming up before break and tonight we actually video chatted our professor to ask him questions that we came across.  It’s really great that Wheaton professors make themselves so accessible for any help that you need. 

On another note I just finished my first full week on Wheaton’s indoor track team.  It has definitely been a challenge adjusting to college athletics but I’m glad I was able to make that adjustment in the fall while running cross country.  It took some time, but I’ve definitely come to find that although participating in a varsity sport takes up a good amount of time it also helps me manage my free time a lot better.  Plus I really enjoy having a group of friends that all have something in common.     

On top of starting track I have to start studying for finals as well!!  It’s hard to believe that when we come back from Thanksgiving we only have two more weeks until my first semester at college is over!

More after break!

Hey guys!

I’m a new blogger, so let me start by introducing myself…

I’m a freshman here at Wheaton, so I’m only a couple months into my college experience.  I remember a little too vividly how crazy the college search/ admissions process can be, so hopefully I can provide some insight into a freshman experience.  God knows it’s easy for all those college brochures to start looking the same by the time May 1st comes around—I hope this helps.

Anyway, I’m from Portsmouth, Rhode Island, about an hour away from Wheaton.  On campus I’m a member of both the cross country and indoor/ outdoor track and field teams.  Aside from that in my spare time (which is never much!) I am part of Wheaton’s Model United Nations group as well as participating in sports game management for my work study job. 

I’m on course to be an international relations major, but I’m also interested in sociology, studio art, and writing.  For my first semester here I’m taking a great mix of classes: a FYS (First Year Seminar) on the theories of Marx and Nietzsche, Writing about Public Health, Political Science 101, and Elementary Arabic.  It’s been an adjustment from high school, but I think I’m finally used to the college academic workload.  On that note, Sunday is a big homework-doing day here, so I’d better get back to that.  I have to leave time to meet with my FYS class later tonight to watch “Apocalypse Now”, because we’re discussing it in class on Tuesday.

Back to work!

More later…   

-Savannah