FIELD TRIP!

This semester I'm taking a course in Public History - something that I'm interested in pursuing after graduation. EEP! With this class, we are using some of our time to actually visit museums, homesteads, historical sites, to actually look at the purpose they serve. Tuesday of last week, we made our way over to Shelburne Museum, a short 15-20 minute drive from campus. 

Shelburne Museum is an unique space offered to Vermont. It uses buildings from all over New England, expanding time and space, to display exhibits and items of the time. This was my first visit to the museum, but you can guarantee I'll be back before I leave SMC! 

Due to the season, only the Pizzagalli Center was open. It is the center for art and education on the museum campus, allowing the museum to be open year round. We stopped by to see two exhibits in the center: John Bisbee: New Blooms and Supercool Glass. These exhibits are open until late May-early June so stop by and see them for yourself!

"Pinwheels" by John Bisbee

A awesome piece of work from a local glass artist
who I didn't pick up the name - I want this in my house!
(pretty sure it's this guy)

I love being able to go out and experience any museums and the information they have within the walls. Right now I'm currently applying for jobs all across the board, including art galleries, art and history museums, anywhere! I really want to work in arts administration and seeing pieces like these are so encouraging! 

We'll be going on other field trips too - we just went to Ethan Allen homestead yesterday and checked out what information is necessary to put in an exhibit to demonstrate its point of view. 

I'll be sure to keep you posted on what other adventures we'll be having!
Katelyn :)

The Beginning of the End: The Eve of my Last Semester at Saint Michael's College

I know I have said this before, but truly this is the beginning of the end of my academic career here at Saint Michael's. Now I don't want to get all sappy (I'll leave that for May), but instead, speak to something that has made my SMC experience simply wonderful. 

As you're scrolling through this post, feel free to listen to this song (Live Like That by Sidewalk Prophets) , as it was the main song for our VITA retreat this weekend:

Being apart of VITA Team has shaped me as an individual, leader, and team member. Most recently Team members were invited back early to participate in a retreat and planning process for the semester. 

When the day got closer and closer to go back to SMC, I was apprehensive. Why did I say yes to go back early? Why do I need to leave home? What did this mean for me, physically, emotionally, spiritually? 

Once our VITA Team reached Saint Anne's Shrine on Isle La Motte, about an hour from campus, my anxieties were subdued.  The Edmundites, along with benefactors and donations, built five gorgeous cabins so that SMC retreats could be held in a specific area instead of having to be moved around every semester. 

The cabins themselves are absolutely amazing, feeling very shiny, new, and cozy. The only thing that I missed was a fireplace! It was the perfect setting for our retreat. 

It was a great opportunity to connect as a VITA Team. We don't normally have the opportunity to be all in one space together as we all run different parts: LINK, Connections, Dessert and the Divine, Taize, and Socials. Meeting before the semester was ideal because we're all so busy doing so many things that we don't get to share in our faith all together at the same time all that often. 

The Christ Candle in the center, to each of our own candles,
demonstrating that we each have the light of Christ within us.

The theme for the retreat was "Celebrating Our Stories".  We focused on how God is working in and through our lives in obvious and not so obvious ways. I learned so much about myself and my VITA community that really set the tone for this semester. It was a welcome beginning to this last semester at Saint Mike's. I was able to reflect on where I've been and where I want to be. 

Times of prayer, reflection, and discussion enabled us to see that there are many stories that we can relate to, even if the details aren't the same. We were writing squares based off of questions and Scripture passages our Campus Minister Anna had chosen for the weekend. In the end, all of our squares were combined and we were able to see how even though there are parts that are different in our stories and our lives, they all come together to create something beautiful.

Our "Patchwork Quilt"

I am so grateful that I was able to start off my semester with this beautiful opportunity and I can face the semester head-on feeling refreshed and revitalized. 

Now I am off to finish unpacking and organizing for our first day of classes tomorrow! EEP! I can't wait to see all my friends coming back from break and make more SMC memories. 

As always, sending my love to you and yours!

Katelyn :)

Library Living

My time this semester has largely been spent in the library doing research for my History thesis. On Monday, I submitted a 20 page draft of my thesis. Needless to say my brain has decided to go on sabbatical for the past few days to give me a chance to recover. 

My next task is to get a hold of more research for my final papers and presentations for my other classes. WHAT?! Crazy I know how time flies. Luckily for me, I am able to use the wonderful resources and reference librarians that work in Durick.  

How do you get a meeting with the librarians? Easy! Simply send them an e-mail or sign up for an appointment here! You can pick a date and time that works for you! You can also see which librarian has the research specialty you desire: i.e. Medieval Studies or Biology. I've worked with a few and they are definitely so helpful! They might even show you where the section of books you need - a tour of the things you'll find useful!

This is my favorite spot in the library to read articles!

Walking through the bound periodicals!

Walking through the library I stumbled across this cool piece of art!

Shout out to Mr. John Payne - he helped me find the bound periodicals I needed to give my paper another facet of research! He's going to help me with finding research for my Medieval Studies final presentation and paper and I'm super stoked! It's really great when you find someone who's interested in the same subject as you and leads you on a treasure hunt to find what you need! 

Any questions about the library or other resources at SMC? 

Sign up for our Knight Chat TONIGHT! Check out the page here :) Yours truly will be answering questions along with other bloggers from 7:30 to 9:00 PM!

Hope to see you there!

Katelyn :) 

Applying Class to Vacation: Medieval Studies in Pittsburgh

Recently I traveled to Pittsburgh over our October break to check out Carnegie Mellon University for their graduate student program. I'm debating on my options for post-graduation (WHAT NO!) and this was one of the first steps.

While I was there, I went to visit the Carnegie Mellon Museum of Art and Natural History. I can tell you that I was very impressed and could have spent hours (in fact I was there for six hours) looking at all the exhibits that were there. I'm taking this class called Castles, Cathedrals, and Cities for my Medieval Studies minor and little did I expect to see what I learned in class apply to what I had been visiting for enjoyment. 

One of the coolest things that I got to see where a bunch of portals that were cast from churches in Europe. In my Castles, Cathedrals, and Cities class we had been talking about the importance of these portals, tympanums and lintels (directly above the doorway) of cathedrals in the Middle Ages. I was awe-stuck by the sheer size of the doors and just sat to look at all the different pieces that pulled my eye. 

A cast of the Bordeaux Cathedral Portal

We also have been talking about the different kinds of armor available during the time, how it's made, who needed it, things like that. Being able to walk around in armor, ride a horse, get back up after being pushed to the ground is something that has to be taken into consideration when it is made. There are a bunch of different techniques and decorations that can be used in creating armor. 

Armor from the 16th century, Austria

Overall my trip to Pittsburgh was very informative and enabled me to learn lot. I am very glad to be back at SMC because there is no place like it on earth. 

Hope this gave you a little education on what it's like to be a Medieval Studies minor! Feel free to ask me any questions about it.

ALSO! Prospectives: check out the Knight Chat tomorrow at 7:30! Click here to sign up!

Katelyn :)

Directing Scenes - A Director in Training

Something that's been really exciting this semester is that I've signed up to take Directing. Offered every fall, it's a requirement for Theatre majors, particularly why I'm taking it. I've also had an interest in directing, but never knew how to start. This class is already showing me ways to direct and what goes into the directing process. 

During the first week of classes, we chose scenes from a hat that we would be directing for our final scene. I was privileged enough to pick Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Other plays from the class include Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple, Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Glass Menagerie, and Christopher Durang's For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls. We're focused on contemporary classics so all the names sounded really familiar to me, but I hadn't actually read any of them. 

Monday we had auditions for our scenes - we had a great turn out! Today during class we picked our casts, trying to spread out all of the men since we had 15 parts for 7 men who tried out. I luckily got the cast I wanted and I'm super excited to work with them! 

Putting together my scripts and such for my actors!

The next step in the process is to do a scene analysis - involving research and background for the characters and scene. It'll be an adventure that's for sure! It's good to know the details before the rehearsals start happening so that I can help my actors in providing them what they need to fulfill their character's goals. 

Hopefully I'll keep you guys updated as the process continues. This is one of my favorite classes this semester - I just love the variety of classes I'm taking this semester: 

- Directing with Cathy Hurst

- Castles, Cathedrals, and Cities with Terryl Kinder

- Judaism with Rabbi James Glazier

- Senior Seminar in History with Douglas Slaybaugh

They're each challenging in their own way. Already four weeks into school and I'm ready for all the semester has to offer!

Also...do you know what day it is? 

Have a great rest of the week!

Katelyn :)

It's Time to Begin Again

I'm sitting here in my Townhouse enjoying a beautiful Vermont morning preparing myself for classes this week. It's crazy to think that tomorrow will be my 'last first day of school' (until I decide whether or not I'm going to grad school). I also realized that most, if not all of my classes are with upperclassmen. 

I'm so excited to meet all the first-years and help them make their experience at Saint Mike's the best it can be! Being in a leadership position in both VITA (Campus Ministry) and Drama Club, I really want all to feel welcome and get involved! I'm working with a great group of people for both of these clubs and looking forward to a successful year ahead!

Some tips that I use whenever it's a new school year:

1) Prepare everything the night before. That way you're not rushing around in the morning frantic that you can't find a notebook and pen or that shirt you really wanted to wear that might not be unpacked yet.  

2) Show up to your classes about 5 minutes before. That way if you don't know where your classroom is you've got some time to figure out where you are!

3) Eat breakfast! This is usually a hard one for me as I was not a breakfast person until recently. My stomach was usually never awake when I had class at 8:30, but it was rumbling by the end! Alliot is open at 7:15 for breakfast!

4) Take notes. You'll get a syllabus or view it online at eCollege. Professors give you an outline for the course so you know what to expect!

5) Have fun! Get excited about learning new things, meeting your peers and professors, and being at SMC! I love getting to know a new bunch of people and studying together makes for a good time. 

Have an AWESOME first day wherever you are and I can't wait to hear some stories about your first day!
Katelyn :)

Crunch Time

If you've been following my blog, you will notice how my life has revolved around our Saint Michael's Production of Dead Man Walking. I am writing to you now to say we are finished! Crazy! Of course this is not without some technical difficulties along the way. As a stage manager you must be quick on your feet when things like these come your way. I have learned much about this process in our last week of shows with savings seats, filling in an ASM for an actor, and turning the projector on during the middle of the show (don't worry it was intermission!). 

Encouragement from Sister Helen!

A pretty full house!

All of my hard work with my great ASM team Shelby, Tina, and Lexi has paid off. I've been nominated for stage managing for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival! HOORAY! I am so honored and will make the most of this opportunity!

Congrats to Evyn and Zac, alternates Jordan and Dustin!

In other things, this week is the week of more craziness, only this time it's academic related. I'm finally able to focus on final projects and get these things out of the way!
Academics in the next two weeks:
- Rough Draft for Moliere to Modern Drama - handed in!
- Final Presentation for Deviant Women - presented!
- Final Draft for Moliere to Modern Drama
- Research Project for Stagecrafts
- Response Paper for Deviant Women
- 10-page Paper for Historian's Craft
- Presentation for Historian's Craft

Needless to say I made the smart choice to limit my social media usage. I'm using StayFocusd, an add-on for Google Chrome that will block certain websites from my view: i.e. reddit, facebook, twitter, tumblr, etc. I'm only 'allowed' 5 minutes a day and while I scramble to read messages and notifications, I know that if it's really important people who need me can get in contact with me. It's very freeing actually. 

So far so good...we'll see how the rest of the week goes! We've got the following events here at SMC:
Thursday - Spring Concert with MACKLEMORE!
Friday - Talent Show
Saturday - PDAY!
My friend Brittany is coming to visit us from Stonehill and I'm super excited! With all the work I've been doing, it'll be great to have a break but also focus on the work...fingers crossed.

Sending you some SMC love, 
Katelyn

So You're Gonna Be a Senior...

This phrase has been coming to mind more and more this week. Let me tell you why:

1. My senior friends are in the library writing theses, planning solo week for Student Teaching, and applying for jobs left and right. 
- I DON'T WANT THEM TO LEAVE!

2. My friend Katie and I went through housing a few weeks ago to get our townhouse for next year. We're in the 200s with our friends Kayley and Taylor and a few doors down from our friends Alex, Marci, Mary, and Megan! I'm so stoked!

3. I ran and was elected as the Drama Club Vice President! AHHHHH! I'm excited for next year and the possibilities and opportunities the Drama Club will have and we have a rockin' E-Board!

4. I've finished going through advising for my Fall Semester Senior Year. WHAT?! I've figured out my classes as follows:
   - History Senior Sem
   - Directing
   - Judaism 
   - Castles and Cathedrals

5. I'll also be doing my Theatre Senior Sem project over the summer for our Fall Mainstage: The Contrast. Updates to follow!


While all of this seems overwhelming, I know that there are some obstacles I've got to hurdle first. Meaning our last run of Dead Man, numerous presentations and projects, and final exams. It will be such a relief when those projects are completed!

Hope you're enjoying your Monday!
Katelyn :)

What a Week

Happy February everyone! This week has been crazy for me. A synopsis:

• Monday: Work, Class, terrible stomach pain. Thought I was going to die but slammed my system with meds and I was able to sleep through it. 
• Tuesday: Woke up feeling fine, soon the stomach pain returned, didn't go to class, slept all day. 
• Wednesday: Totally fine! Went to work and class, made cookies, had Alex dye my hair!, ran Dessert and the Divine with my friend Merrill (which went great!), had dinner, more stomach pain. 
• Thursday: A trip to the ER at 2:00 AM. What fun that was! Got an IV to help for nausea and stomach acid and was able to sleep. Felt loads better and finally left at 6:00 AM to go home. Placed on a liquid diet. Twas great. 
• Friday: I'm feeling great! I have a meeting with one of my professors which I walked to McCarthy to do and now all I want to do is nap because my stomach did not like walking the ~300 feet from my house to McCarthy. Today will be an interesting day. 

Anywho - when you're in a situation like this, MAKE SURE YOUR PROFESSORS KNOW ABOUT IT. It's also good to notify Joan Wry, the Associate Dean of the College. That way you've got all your bases covered when it comes to schoolwork. Luckily for me half of my classes were cancelled this week due to a theatre festival my professor/classmates were traveling to. It also helped because that meant we didn't have rehearsal for Dead Man Walking so I could SLEEP. So much for that. 

Hope your week is going well and that February will be a good month for you! Crazy to think that 2013 is already going by so fast! Speaking of which - what do you think about Groundhog Day? 6 more weeks of winter? or 6 weeks of spring? Vermont's temperatures have been ALL OVER THE PLACE so I'm just hoping for some stability. 

Sending my love to you and yours, 

Katelyn :)

Two Crazy Days

AND I'M BACK! 

I could go on and on how about happy I am that I am back at SMC! My room is 90% decorated and 100% unpacked! I was lucky enough to move into a townhouse with my friend Allyson and three other seniors who I am already bonding with! 

I am so in love with this semester even though it's been off to a rough start. 

Monday:
So I was supposed to be at work at 9 AM...

I set my alarm for 7:30 to be able to shower, get my contract signed and over to Financial Aid before my shift.

I woke up at 9:10. 

Made it to work by 9:30 and by gosh was there a line out the door. We updated the printing system over the break, therefore every student that wants to print from a computer must re-add the new system. 

Stayed an extra 1/2 hour to make up for my tardiness, and went to go shower and eat. Alas, I chose to make food instead of shower. I didn't have enough time between to prepare for class. 

Made it to McCarthy for Moliere to Modern Drama with Peter. I cannot express how excited I was to just see people! My friend Anthony saved me a seat and I can already tell this will be one of my favorite classes. 
           - We read aloud some Elizabethan pickup lines and insults as well as learned how to dance an Elizabethan dance. HOORAY!

Got out early enough to walk to Dunkin Donuts with Alex and Sarah before our History class and even got to pop some popcorn for our movie!
          - Yep. Our first class was a documentary on the West Memphis 3. The subject matter was a bit disturbing but viewing the journey of three men in the court system through a historical setting has opened up my mind to numerous possibilities. I'll write more on this later. 

Got home in time to shower, make dinner, and unwind from the day. 

Tuesday:
I woke up with enough time to make breakfast and run some errands before meeting with Peter to discuss stage management things. 
           - Went to get $$$, pick up my LEAP Team Application, and put money on my Knightcard. 
                    Funny story about that. I entered the office, put my stuff on the counter and asked if anything had changed for depositing money on the card. The girl behind the counter said it was normal and I told her I had been in England for the semester and half of the things I don't even recognize anymore. It was then that she saw my Cath Kidston wallet and exclaimed that she had just been to Europe and got her coffee mug that she bought from the Cath Kidston in London. I instantly went into OH MY GOD DIDN'T YOU LOVE ENGLAND mode and got so flustered by it all. In the end I awkwardly thought that she went to shake my hand (which she wasn't), so I hovered my hand (so she shook it), therefore not making it awkward for anyone. 

Talked with Peter - got some ground work for this week set up for auditions, etc. Made me feel good about starting this endeavor!

Hung out in the lib for 30+ mins before class started and filled out my LEAP Application (almost done!)

Went to Stagecrafts class with John - my inner artist is enamored with the idea of design in theatre. I can't wait to see what's in store!

After that, I went to my Deviant Women class where we talked about the Civil War raid on St. Albans (go figure) and watched The Crucible to introduce our first encounter with Deviant Women. 
           - I didn't realize how angry this movie made me. Multiple times I could not fathom the logic of the court, much less that of the common people. It makes me glad that I was not born during this time because I wouldn't be able to handle all the ill logic of the period. 

Stopped by Jake's townhouse for a nap...woke up realizing four hours later I was behind in work and starving. 

Luckily my awesome roommates had leftover pizza which was quick and easy. 

Attempted to do some work but realizing that reading before bed just sets me up to fail. So instead I'll be working on that in the morning. 


So that's the basic run down of my first few days. Wednesday will be a doozy...just look forward to a rant about that later!

Sending some SMC love to wherever you are, 
Katelyn :)