Five Weeks In

    Hello, all! This post is long overdue, but in case you missed it, I’m abroad! I am in London to be exact, and to be even more specific, in a borough I could never afford if I were renting and not in student housing - so thank goodness for student housing. Walking to class gets a lot more interesting when you pass Aston Martins, Bentleys, and the occasional Rolls Royce. I won’t bore you with all of the details of my adjustment period... Suffice to say grocery stores are organized very differently in the U.K., but that was just another excuse to buy candy and snacks because I kept “accidentally” finding that aisle. The adjustment period was a little rough, but I blame that more on the jet lag and being tired for a week straight than anything else. Also, everyone tells you about jet lag for your sleep schedule - no one warns you that your stomach gets jet-lagged, too! But enough about that - here are some of the highlights of my five weeks.

1. The London Eye

Yes, it’s “touristy,” but the view is amazing! Definitely worth doing even if only for the pictures, but it’s also cool to get a feel for where things are in London - there are screens that identify the buildings you see from the windows.

2. Discount Theatre Tickets

I went to the TKTS stand in Leicester Square, and got same-day second-row seats to see Evita for easily half the price of what I would’ve paid booking in advance. For someone who loves going to shows, it’s a fun experience on short notice that can be repeated over and over without blowing the budget. Just a heads up: the line is significantly longer on the weekends, so that part requires a little bit of planning. 

3. Going to a Another Country

I was lucky enough to go to Brussels with my European business class and visit the European Union government buildings. I don’t believe most of them are open to the public, but there is plenty to do in Brussels - particularly for the chocolate and waffle lovers of the world. If you want a bird’s eye view of Brussels, take the tram to the Atomium, futuristic former exhibition site. Flights (and some trains) between countries in Europe are extremely reasonably priced - so why not go? I also really appreciated the experience of visiting a place that did not have English as its official language... I paid a lot more attention to everything and really felt like I got to experience a new culture.

The Grand Place in Brussels has survived for centuries, even through numerous attacks and occupations. 

3.1 - Traveling, continued 

My program does not have a large amount of free time, but I still found time to go to Switzerland to visit a family friend! We hiked (most of) a mountain, had some really good food, and (of course) had some chocolate. Something that was new for me - we walked across a bridge over the Rhine River, just for ice cream! The idea of borders is very different in Europe, but not in a bad way.

The view from the top!

I was a big fan of all of the Swiss cows.

The town in Germany that we visited

Dark chocolate ice cream!

     Unsurprisingly, London is very different from Burlington, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. There are aspects of Burlington that I miss, but there are parts of London that are also amazing. I love living in close proximity to so many different activities; if I am sitting bored, then I just have not made enough effort to find something to do, because there is always something. In continuing my habits from Burlington, I have already found a local bakery and some fancy ice cream places - I also have a list of top hot chocolate places that I hope to visit. 

     Future posts will hopefully be more frequent and more detailed, but for now, this is just a brief update into what I've been doing here across the pond. Cheers!

Laura

P.S. My apologies if the formatting is off and there is a white background on parts of this post - I have never had this happen before and cannot figure out how it happened. 

SMC in Spring

The semester ends in a week and a half, but Saint Mike's has finally thawed out and is in SPRING mode. The daffodils are blooming, people are out on blankets (except for the occasional rainy day), and I had Ben and Jerry's four times last week. Once we hit April, we really get busy and do not really stop until the semester does, because there is way too much to do - academic and otherwise. Here are some things I've done both around campus and in Burlington that you should definitely make time for:

1. Dunkin' at the View
If you did not know, there is a Dunkin' Donuts just a short walk past the new residence hall - time to put all of those $5 gift cards you have gotten at random events to good use. Get a coffee, iced if you prefer, and head on over to the View! The mountains are beautiful, and if you turn around, Saint Mike's doesn't look too bad, either.

The View is great in all seasons.

If you're thrown off by the different perspective, from left to right, that is the Chapel, Hoehl, and the suites.

2. Ben and Jerry's 

Now I am not saying you have to try for four times in one week - although only one of those was actually in Burlington - but you have to make it there at least once. The store is finally open again, and you know you've been craving a fresh waffle cone.

You know you're friends when you both get the same flavor - first time having Truffle Kerfuffle!
(Picture Credits to Emily Kopacz)

3. The Comedian
Every spring, Saint Mike's has a comedian come to campus, and they're always hilarious but relevant. This spring, Jessica Williams, formerly of The Daily Show, was our guest, and she had some great jokes while also keeping it real with the social commentary. 

Yes, Jessica Williams is wearing a Lion King shirt.

4. Explore past Church Street
Our freezing temperatures might stop you from wandering far off of Church Street during the winter - everyone does it at some point - but if you did not want to brave the cold, now is the time to explore! You know I love coffee shops, and there are some great ones only a few blocks away. New Moon Cafe is right off Church Street in an old chandelier factory (or so I have been told) and they have smoothies and sandwiches on top of some great espresso drinks. If you are a coffee connoisseur, try Onyx Tonics, a self-labeled "coffee-tasting bar" where blend selections change regularly and you can try coffee sourced from all over the world. 

Onyx Tonics is a great place for foreign coffee blends.

I had to go with my classic maple latte at New Moon!

5. Sunset at the Waterfront
You have to be a strong person to hit the waterfront in winter, as it is significantly colder by the water. But whether you made it there or not, nothing beats a spring (or summer!) sunset over Lake Champlain. 

In case you were wondering, you can make it to the lake and back to the bus station in ten minutes.

6. Sunset at SMC 
The lake is a great view, but Saint Mike's has its own charms, and without fail when there is a great sunset that is what you will see on Instagram. So if you're feeling trapped in the library until that term paper is done, take a break around 8pm and head outside for a few minutes. You won't regret it.

Wandering around trying to find a place to study has its perks - like this view.

7. P DAY
"Preparation Day" at Saint Mike's is the last Saturday before finals, and it means free food, great music, and lots of other fun activities. Your Purple Knight status is questionable if you do not at least make it outside for a free cone from Ben and Jerry's; Skinny Pancake and many other local places are also there, too. There are plenty of days for doing homework in the library, but P Day only happens once a year, so don't miss out

Post-ice cream and pre-food coma!

As I am one of the many people caught up in end-of-semester work, this might be my last blog post of the semester - and my last one in Vermont until 2018! I will be studying abroad in the fall, but I will still be blogging (if a bit less frequently), so stay tuned starting in September for posts from LONDON!!

Enjoy your summer,

Laura

Did you like my pictures? Check out my Instagram at @lauralinsanity.

Free Cone Day!

If you live in the Burlington area (or are just extremely dedicated to your ice cream), then you'll know that yesterday was Ben and Jerry's FREE CONE DAY - the greatest day on Church Street. Period. If you go to Saint Mike's, you have to make the trek and wait in the line at least once during your four years; more is better, obviously. As a lover of ice cream, I was very sad to not make it last year, but I finally got there yesterday! The line was long and the air was cold, but it was definitely worth it.

The line was long when we got there and even longer when we left - we waited about forty minutes.

Both a symbol of Ben and Jerry's social mission and a prop to direct the line, this cone was doing double duty.

In case you don't know, Ben and Jerry's supports a variety of social justice issues, particularly climate change. They took advantage of their most popular event to advocate for change. Organizations like the Peace and Justice Center and the Lake Champlain Land Trust were tabling - in a strategic move, the line went right past them. 

Ben and Jerry's takes Free Cone Day seriously - even though the shop on Church Street is under renovation (we're all very upset about it), Ben and Jerry's had a social justice themed block party and brought the ice cream anyway. And before you start to think they only had the most basic flavors, I can tell you that even if the entire flavor list was not on offer, more than half was - including non-dairy. Free Cone Day is no joke. 

Ben and Jerry's continues to be climate-conscious by having a Tesla as their company car.

If you do decide to go next year, some things to keep in mind: the line will be long (at least half an hour), there will be lots of children, and if we have another winter like this one, there may even be snow on the ground in some places. But that doesn't stop us from keeping up tradition. Free Cone Day is always worth it. 

Those are the smiles of some really cold, really happy people.

I can't promise my next post will be as... sweet, but stay tuned for more tales from the 802! 
Laura

Did my post make you crave Ben and Jerry's? Find a store near you.
Like my photos? Follow me on Instagram: @lauralinsanity

What's My Wednesday? A Day in My Life

As you've (hopefully) noticed, all of my blog posts are on Wednesdays, so I thought I'd tell you a bit about what a Wednesday usually looks like for me. My schedule varies from day to day, but Wednesdays are usually pretty set in stone - as much as anything is in college.

9am (Really 9:05) - Every day, my amazing friend Emily waits patiently for me to finally get out of bed and shower so we can go to breakfast. Usually, by 9:05 we are on our way, by 9:08 my hair is frozen, and by 9:10 we are finally eating. Sorry, Em! My typical breakfast is eggs and potatoes, with strawberries if I'm lucky and iced coffee if I have time to make some. On the very rare day that we eat earlier, I spoil myself and have an omelette. 

9:45-10:50am - My first class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays is Principles of Microeconomics with Professor Walsh. 9:45 is a solid time to start your day -there's a 9:45 class on every day of the week, so it's a good way to get a routine set. If you're like me, you'll also have plenty of time to sleep in and still get a good breakfast. Curious about my classes? Check out my course schedule.

11am - Homework time at Einstein's! My goal this semester was to spend more time studying in places other than my room, to change things up a bit and keep me focused. Although I get less work done because I'm hanging out with friends, I have enough time to be slightly productive and still catch up on my friends' lives. A quick snack is also always welcome, and there is nowhere better than Einstein's for that. 

Einstein's has much more than bagels and coffee - try the sweet potato fries!

12:45pm - Lunch in Alliot can be hit or miss for me, as I am not really a lunch person in general. But I always find something to suit my mood, and on a really lucky day we have smoothies, which always make lunch worth it.

1:30-2:35pm - My only other Wednesday class is Effects of Climate Change with Professor Hope. Although science is far from my strong point, Professor Hope does a great job connecting concepts to current events, as well as expanding more on topics the class is more curious about. The class I was dreading has become one of the most entertaining and informative hours of my week. 

3pm - There is a 2:43 bus into Burlington that I can just make after class, so every Wednesday I go to Scout and Company in Winooski to do homework for a few hours. A Masala Chai or a Maple Cappuccino are my top choices; they also have some very creative ice cream flavors if you're feeling adventurous. When the weather's nice, I skip the bus and walk back, as it's only about a mile. 

Above: my first maple cappuccino with some awesome cacti
Below left: Scout's back counter and menu
Below right: A Single of Scout's storemade ice cream

5:30pm - Time for dinner and more conversations with friends. I work Monday through Wednesday nights, but on Wednesdays I have more time to chat because work starts an hour later. I rarely get everything from one station in Alliot, so dinner can mean a fairly eclectic plate sometimes. One of my favorite meals is getting shrimp and vegetables stir-fried, then putting that on pasta. As for dessert, everything is better with ice cream.

7-9pm - I am an attached tutor for an Economics class, which means I am assigned to a specific professor's sections in order to keep pace with their schedule. I have scheduled group hours once a week, and drop-in hours once a week as well. Drop-ins are on Wednesday nights, so I either spend some time helping other students with Economics or working on my own Economics homework. Not a bad deal either way, as helping students also helps me remember the material I've learned. My assigned tutoring room is in the Academic Enrichment Commons, which is one of the best study spots and resources in the library, in my opinion.

Durick Library, in all its winter glory

The AEC, where I work!

9:15pm - Although sometimes a night just has to be sacrificed to a homework assignment, I try to give myself at least an hour of downtime at the end of the day. Since my schedule can get so busy, having time to just be is equally as important as having assignments done and readings read. Depending on the day, you might find me watching This is Us or Superior Donuts, my new favorite shows, or just reading a book. A cup of tea is often necessary at this point. 

11pm - Time for bed! I've learned that I am just not my best if I have under seven hours of sleep - eight or nine is really better. While this may seem silly for college, going to sleep around the same time helps my body prep for the next day and leaves me more refreshed than if I had ten hours of sleep one night and six the next.

In case you don't follow VT weather: we still have snow, and it is still cold.

I hope you liked hearing about my typical day - reach out if you have any questions! I am not sure what my next post will be, but hopefully temperatures will warm up so I can share some proper spring pictures.

Until next time, 
Laura

Burlington on a Budget

Burlington, Church Street especially, is known for its food, from fine French dining at Leunig's to fresh pasta at Pascolo. But fear not - if you're really strapped for cash or just want something to try, there are plenty of options for you, too. 

1. Tastings
There are always free samples on Church Street - you just have to keep your eyes open. Lake Champlain Chocolates almost always has chocolate or fudge samples out. Besides chocolate, you can also grab a cup of amazing dark hot chocolate, or some really good ice cream if you're up for a snack. In the mood for something savory? Saratoga Olive Oil also lets you try literally every product in their store, which ranges from infused olive oils and balsamics to different types of salt. It's polite to buy something after trying all of those things, of course, but once you've tried them, if you're anything like me you'll wind up walking out with at least one bottle. 

2. Leunig's Petit Bijou
This is my new favorite place - everything is really good and very affordable. If you want a snack, I recommend the scones or the beignets, but they also have salads and other dishes that work as full meals. There is no seating as it is just an outdoor stand, but unlike Leunig's itself, nothing they serve requires a full set of silverware and a cloth napkin for your lap. 

If you know me, you know I love scones - 10/10 would recommend this maple one. 

3. Sweetwaters
I will always recommend Sweetwaters to anyone who asks for food recommendations, but it really is delicious and accommodates a variety of tastes, diets, and budgets. They even have a gluten-free menu - not just a gluten-free hamburger bun option. One of my favorite things to do when I go there with a group is to only buy appetizers (and dessert of course) and then split the check. We get to try a lot of dishes, there's plenty of food, and the bill for each person is much smaller than if we'd ordered an appetizer, entree, and dessert individually. Throwing a salad into the mix boosts the number of vegetarian dishes on the table, and everyone is happy. 

Molten Chocolate Cake and Maple Crème Brûlée - yum!

These are only a few of the places I have been to recently, but there are plenty of budget-friendly menus on Church Street, including Asiana Noodle Shop and b.good. Whatever you're in the mood for, Burlington has. 

Until next time, 
Laura

SMC in the Snow

In case you missed it, we've been getting quite a bit of snow lately, and it's not set to stop any time soon. We may not be on Maine's level (three feet in two days!) by any means, but compared to last winter, we're definitely up there. For those of you not on campus, I thought I would do a photo montage today so that all you're missing is the cold. 

From our first snowstorm in December

February has really been the month of snow!

Last week I trekked out to the View - my fingers were numb, but it was worth it.

Facing away from the View isn't too bad a sight either.

SMC sunsets are pretty great, if I do say so myself.

Here's hoping the snow keeps coming - I know the skiers appreciate it, and I don't really mind, either!

Laura

Winter Adventures

You're in Vermont, February has just begun, the temperatures are dropping, and you don't ski. Now what? First of all, don't panic! While we may be outside less than we are in September, Saint Mike's does not go underground for the winter, and neither does Burlington. There are still plenty of things to do - you may just need to wear more clothes while doing them. As I said in my last post, a hockey game can be fun, but in case they are away the week you're looking for something to do, here are a few more options. 

In case you missed it - we are officially in snow season!

1. Adventure Sports Program 
If you don't ski but still want to get in some outdoor exercise, sign up for the Adventure Sports listserv or stop by their office (basement of Alumni Hall). We offer snowshoe hikes, ice-climbing excursions, and - if you're truly adverse to venturing outside - paddlesports practice in the pool. Adventure Sports programs usually cost between $5 and $15, and equipment is always included. If you don't mind some physical activity, check them out!

2. Burlington Winter Lights 
Church Street decorates for Christmas, but starting in February, Church Street lights up for the winter! This weekend is the official Winter Lights event, with the lights going on this Friday and other events happening Saturday, but the lights stay on past that. Another cool feature is that different stores on Church Street will sponsor ice carvings, which will also go out at that time. Even if you cannot make it down this weekend, the lights are worth the busride. While you're there, warm up with something from Leunig's Petit Bijou, which opened New Year's weekend and has quick kiosk service with excellent food.

Winter Lights - 2016

3. Coffee Shops 
You may or may not know this, but Burlington falls into that rare category of places where Starbucks and local coffee shops can coexist peacefully. I am still finding new places to visit and each offers something different. As you may know from previous posts, Uncommon Grounds is where I discovered my beloved maple latte. Last weekend's town excursion included my first visit to Muddy Waters, which takes a "zen" environment to another level. This weekend, I hope to make it to New Moon Cafe, which I am told has good breakfast. That's only three places; there are quite a few more that I hope to visit before I graduate. Whether you want a different place to do homework for a few hours or you just really need that caffeine fix, take your pick - they will all be good. 

A glimpse of the Muddy Waters aesthetic 

Latte art will always be classic.

Burlington has a lot to offer during the winter, and so does Saint Mike's! Take my short list and run with it; there are other sports to watch, places to visit, and restaurants to try. These are what I would recommend doing, but don't be afraid to go out and just explore - I found a free local cheese tasting that way just last week. 
Laura

Ice Hockey

My apologies for the delayed post - contrary to what some may think, "syllabus week" comes with a large amount of work attached to it. However, I still found time for some fun. This past Friday, I finally went to an ice hockey game. And I don't mean a Saint Mike's game specifically - I had never been to a hockey game before last week. Ever. In New Jersey, if your family isn't made up of hockey people, you will rarely encounter the sport. But I finally went to one, and it was definitely worth it. 

We play at local Cairns Arena, which is in South Burlington.

Saint Mike's may not be a major sports school like Penn State or Syracuse, but that doesn't mean we lack team spirit. Hockey and basketball probably get the highest attendance, but every sport has their group of fans. Except the football team. (See what I did there?)

For someone new to the sport, a college hockey game is the perfect place to learn. You get a good view without paying an arm and a leg - our home games are free - and (or so I have been informed) there is much less fighting than in an AHL game, which makes it easier to follow what's happening on the ice. If you go with friends patient enough to answer all your questions, you can definitely get at least a basic grasp on the game within two periods. 

Even though we lost, it was still a fun experience. I don't usually attend a lot of sports events, but I'm glad I went to this game and I will probably go to more. True to our northern location, Saint Mike's seems to bond best at cold events, and hockey is no exception. 

I'm keeping this post short, because while I may grasp the basics of hockey, I am certainly not a sportswriter. Stay tuned for more adventures to come!

Laura

Want to attend a hockey game yourself? Click here for the men's hockey page and here for the women's. 

A Cappella Season

For most college students, the last week of classes for the semester is a time of stress, exhaustion, and anticipation to go home - my congrats if only the last of those three applies to you. But at SMC, approximately Thursday of that week through Sunday of finals week is also home to a wonderful part of campus... a cappella concerts! We have four lovely groups that call Saint Mike's home - each of them with their own style and their own concert. I thought I would give you a rundown of who's who in the SMC a cappella world. 

McCarthy Recital Hall - where all the magic happens

In order of their concerts...

Sleepless Knights (@thesleeplessknights)
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this concert - I was actually at a food/movie night with one of my classes! But I did make one Sleepless Knights performance this semester; they did a collaborative concert with UConn's a cappella group Extreme Measures. That was a dynamic experience. 

Sleepless Knights is one of our two mixed a cappella groups on campus. Some things you can always count on: their duets will always be perfectly in sync, and their harmonies will never miss a beat. 

Mike Check (@mikechecksmc)
You know a Mike Check concert is coming when they start singing everywhere. What better self- advertising is there than singing your way around campus? From an SMC dorm life perspective, few things are as cool as being able to push up your window and hear live music from the quad below. 

Our all-men a cappella group, Mike Check is always unpredictable, always entertaining, and always a good show. Case in point: among the features of their concert this year were a poetry slam, a Christmas medley, and some very unique dance moves. 

My two favorite songs from their concert: "Oh Shenandoah," because the harmonies are beautiful, and "God Only Knows," because I'm a Beach Boys person (and the harmonies are wonderful). 

Of course, I do have to give a shout-out to my fellow POW alum, Owen Freeman. Awesome job with "Wagon Wheel!"

Acabellas (@acabellas_smc)
The Acabellas are our beautiful ladies' acapella group! They do an awesome job at showcasing everyone's voices by having an eclectic variety of songs, from Sia's "Chandelier" to Ed Sheeran's "I See Fire" (from the 2013 Hobbit movie). My favorite song from this semester's concert? "Telescope," by Hayden Panettiere. To add another genre, a classic Acabellas song is Ingrid Michaelson's "The Chain." The Acabellas cover a lot of musical styles, and they cover them all well.

I must confess that I pay a little more attention to the Acabellas, because my wonderful friend and floormate Meghan is a proud member. For that reason, I can say that although the Acabellas do not have a beatboxer like the previous two groups, you would never notice - they are always in time and their singing is purely enchanting.

Soulful Harmony
Soulful Harmony is the other mixed a cappella group at Saint Mike's. For some reason, McCarthy was not as packed for Soulful Harmony - I have absolutely no idea why. With a smooth 50s-60s vibe, that 2pm concert the Sunday of finals week was a moment of calm before the week became chaotic. 

As the name might suggest, the group's best feature is their pitch perfect (see what I did there?) harmonies that stayed perfectly in tune the entire concert through a number of chord progressions. My favorite song of theirs, for that and other reasons, was James Taylor's "That Lonesome Road." 

Soulful Harmony had a slightly shorter concert than the other three groups - but considering their performance time slot was during finals week and not before, that's not exactly a bad thing. Especially if you consider quality over quantity.

Snowy campus pictures make good section breaks.

As you could tell, I give rather high reviews. I love a cappella music, and as someone who has sung in groups and played instruments, I have a lot of respect for what these singers do. They work extremely hard, and it shows; the least I can do is watch them perform and rave about them afterwards. 

This will most likely be my last post until classes resume in January - tragic, I know. I may post about break, I may not; we'll see. But regardless, enjoy the holidays, however you choose to spend them, and may your year end on a high note.*

Laura

*Couldn't help one last music reference!

Why a Double Major is Worth It

At any Saint Mike's admissions event, they will tell you that a double major is entirely doable - and it is! You may want to think twice (or even three times) about some combinations, but I definitely recommend considering it as the College's academic requirementst really make it an option. The planning is the most complicated part, and there's plenty of people who can help with that. At least in my experience, my two majors complement each other very well, and I feel like I learn more in each discipline because of what I have learned in the other.

I declared an Economics minor last semester; I officially became an International Relations and Economics double major in September. When I started at Saint Mike's, I knew what type of classes I wanted to take but had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do afterwards. I'm still not entirely sure, but supplementing International Relations with Economics (and vice versa) is getting me closer, even if only because I periodically learn what I do not want to spend my life doing.

Being a double major will mean that your class schedule is more defined, as the number of required courses goes up. But course requirements can overlap, especially in my case as International Relations includes several departments outside political science. Topics will be repeated, but from different perspectives, which really helps define your interests. This intersection also means concepts are covered more in depth, which has made me much more interested in the material. That really enriches the learning experience - if you like that sort of thing, and I do!

Really, the benefits of being a double major come down to the classes you take, and the professors. The two disciplines can stay as separate or as interconnected as you want; likewise, what you discuss with professors can be strictly class-based or can pull in what you've learned from other subjects. Personally, I feel like I have made much better connections with my professors this semester - that may be a natural consequence of having spent more time on campus, but at least part of it is because I am more informed about what I'm studying, and have more specific interests this time around.

If you are willing to push yourself for that extra experience, and there is another subject calling to you, maybe it's time to have a conversation with a professor or two.

Good luck with exams; December break is almost here!

Laura 

Picture credit: http://www.eubulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/TRADE-MAP.jpg

How, Exactly, Does One Network?

This past Friday I had the amazing experience of going to the College's Career Symposium. Although we host one every year, this was the first time I attended. Read on to learn what the Symposium is, what I got out of it, and why you should go next time!

Upon arriving at the keynote address, everyone receives a program with panel descriptions and alumni bios.

What is it?
The Career Symposium is an amazing event that essentially brings our alumni network together with current students in order to educate them on directions a major can take them, what a particular career entails, and learn how to network with a wonderful group of people. 

How does it work?
Registration is in advance; dress is business attire. There is a keynote speaker - this year's, Chris Eldridge '12, spoke about his personal career path and the basics of networking a crowd. Following the keynote, there are a variety of panels hosted by alumni for two hours - each panel is an hour long, so I had the opportunity to attend two of them. After that, there is a networking reception, which places all the alumni and current students in attendance in the same room. For alumni, it looked like a spontaneous reunion; for current students, this is the opportunity to really talk to panelists you want to know more about after hearing them speak, or seek out others whose careers you're curious about. 

Do I have to be a senior business major?
Absolutely not! Although the majority of students seemed to be business majors, the panel variety makes the event welcoming to a wide spectrum of interests. Although this is a networking event, networking is not just limited to the job search. Internships, connections for future employment, career-specific advice - all of these apply to a Purple Knight at any point in his or her college career. As you can see from the panel selection, there is a wide range of choice. Also, a panel's title does not mean that every panelist has the correlating major. If you were wondering, I went to the Government and Business panels - and every Business panelist had a different major.

To be honest, when I walked into the keynote speech, I was extremely nervous. Speaking with new people is not my strong suit; neither is answering the loaded question of "What do you want to do?". But even if speaking with people made me nervous, the environment as a whole made me more comfortable to leave my comfort zone, so to speak. Regardless of a shared major or the lack thereof, every person was chosen for the symposium because of the many areas they could offer advice in; there was no "wrong" person to speak with. Everyone truly was there to help you; if they weren't, they would not have come to the symposium in the first place. 

What I Learned:
My biggest takeaway from this event? Your career path is a process, not a single destination. Staying in the same job your entire career can be perfect for some people, but if it's not, that does not mean you are a failure; you just haven't found the optimal combination of your interests yet. I also learned about networking, and about myself in general - the more people I spoke with, the more specific my list of key "about-me" points became.

Networking can be extremely daunting, but remember - conversation is easiest with people you have something in common with. Don't go for the biggest name if you are not at all interested in what he or she does; several "less important" (all connections are important, for what they have to offer and as people), but more genuine contacts will be much more interesting and beneficial.

In Sum:
I would wholeheartedly recommend every Saint Mike's student attend the Symposium. Even if there isn't a panel that is specifically your field of study, a panelist or two may be. Likewise, if you're not in the job market just yet, the experience itself can still be extremely rewarding. I walked out of the reception feeling better about myself, and more confident about what I have to offer. And that's what really matters, isn't it?

Laura

Questions about the panels I went to, people I spoke with, or any other part of the Symposium and the SMC life? Comment below, or shoot me an email!

Purple, Gold, and Green

As you know, Saint Mike's colors are purple and gold. But did you also know how green our campus is? I'm not just talking trees - and technically those are red and gold right now - but also in terms of energy consumption and environmental consciousness. 

A few things you might be interested to know about:

1. Geothermal Energy
As a Phonathon student caller, I mention this a lot when people ask what we're doing to stay up-to-date with energy consumption (which comes up more than you might think). Our two newest buildings on campus, the Dion Student Center and Residence Hall IV (still waiting on a name), both use geothermal energy, which is much more efficient in terms of our heating and cooling systems.

2. Waste Not, Want Not
Saint Mike's is very conscious of our consumption patterns. We have recycling bins in all the buildings, which is fairly standard, and we have composted in Alliot for quite awhile. But because of the new Vermont law, we can now be proud to say that all of our campus is composting! Additionally, 100% of our copy paper (don't forget SMC students have free printing!) comes from recycled paper.

3. No Bottled Water 
Thanks to a student-led campaign in 2012, our campus is bottled-water free - we do not sell it, and bottle-filling stations all over campus make carrying your own bottle (Nalgenes and Camelbaks are currently on trend) ridiculously simple.

Rather than a picture of a waterbottle, this is my favorite tree on campus.

Founders Society may be a way for students to get involved with alumni and prospective students, but the meetings also go a long way in educating us about various parts of campus, from the Career Symposium to Athletics, to our Permaculture Farm - which I visited for the first time last week.

Before last week, I knew of the permaculture site but had never been there; I didn't even know where exactly it was on campus. I was very surprised to learn we have a fully functioning small farm on campus, complete with a young orchard. Although there is a program coordinator for the farm (who spoke with us at our meeting), the majority of the work put into our gardening - we also have an organic garden - comes from students. These are usually volunteers, but a good amount of hours are also put in by different classes and groups as well. 

As someone not involved in the farm, my favorite perk is our farmstand, held weekly outside Alliot. Although it just ended for the season, during the growing season expect to see a wide variety of flowers, tomatoes, leafy greens, and other produce that are much fresher than in a grocery store. If you're interested in learning more about the permaculture site, contact Kristyn Achilich, the program coordinator. 

There's nothing there right now - but this is where the farmstand is when it's open!

There are many more aspects of campus that promote sustainability and student involvement in the environment - these are just a few. Ask around, and I'm sure anyone could easily give you a few more ideas!
Laura

This isn't SMC - but a plane window view of Vermont is always worth sharing.