Hello again! I hope everyone had a blessed and exciting week. I, for one, have definitely had quite the week- from beginning the cram for finals and wrapping up all my classes to a continued celebration of Advent as Christmas approaches.
I’m someone that can never concentrate while working in the same space for too long otherwise I’ll get too comfortable, so my nights this week were spent hopping from study spot to study spot with my friends in an attempt to tie the final bow on all my projects and papers due. There are countless spaces in Dinand Library where you can study for hours (which is my personal favorite of the many libraries on campus), and I have grown fond of the various nooks and crannies scattered around Holy Cross as well, where I can work for shorter intervals of time. Some other study strategies I’ve found to be effective are studying with friends, as they keep me accountable, and putting my phone far from reach so I am not distracted. Finally, the most important study suggestion I have is to prioritize YOU! Whether it be taking breaks to walk around and clear your mind, getting to bed earlier, setting aside time to eat, or simply remembering to “breathe in, breathe through, breathe deep, breathe out” in the words of Taylor Swift, your body will definitely thank you in the end.
On the other hand, I’ve also made sure to take the time to hang out and unwind with friends during these final few weeks, as our days together on the Hill are limited (!!). We cheered along with the rest of the community during the football games against UNH and South Dakota, sporting our best Purple Pride whether we were watching in the pouring rain or in the comforts of a dorm. I didn’t have much of an interest in football prior to coming to college, but it is safe to say that through the strong Crusader spirit of Holy Cross, “Football Marie” is in full force.
In addition, I was able to celebrate the Christmas spirit through a continued presence at Mass, occasionally serving as an altar server or greeter, Secret Santa exchanges with my friends and finally, Holy Cross’ beloved Lessons & Carols. I served as a greeter for the event, where I enthusiastically welcomed students, alumni and families to St. Joseph’s Memorial Chapel for a truly spectacular arrangement of performances by the Holy Cross College Choir, Chamber Singers and Orchestra, accompanied by readings of lessons from various faculty members. I was amazed at how so many members of the community were in attendance, and I was so proud of all the outstanding talents my friends were able to showcase. Lessons & Carols is a shining example of how the magic of Holy Cross is epitomized through the holiday season, and to say I am looking forward to next year’s Lessons & Carols would be an understatement.
That’s all I have for you this week- this will be my final entry of the semester seeing as I must focus on my finals this upcoming week, but I wanted to send out a huge THANK YOU to all who have taken the time to read my blog these past few weeks! I will be resuming my blogging schedule next semester, and I’m looking forward to sharing more experiences on the Hill with you! Best of luck to all students, and congratulations on finishing a fantastic semester at Holy Cross!
