The Tides are Changing

     While "the tides are changing" is a fairly cliché metaphor in this case it is actually as much of a fact as it is a metaphor. As the summer season fades to fall the earth's axis changes it's rotation thus causing a change in the behavior of the ocean as well. While these events are happening outside of our atmosphere there are just as significant changes occurring within.
     A hoard of five-year olds are responsible for many parent's tears as they trot off to kindergarten, awkward and acne-faced fourteen-year olds are hesitant as they take their first steps through the doors of high school, and then there are the nineteen-year olds eager to get back to the fantasy world of college and unprepared for what is notoriously known as the "Sophomore Slump." It's a term I've heard as often as "the freshman 15," and quite frankly I find it just as terrifying. Many would argue that since I am able to recognize the common ailment that occurs in second-year college students then I should be able to avoid it. While I hope that is the case I've come to realize that my fear in that silly term resides less in the fact that I will fall slave to it and more in the fact that those words connote an air of uncertainty that rings true for the year that lies ahead. "Sophomore Slump" lacks all specifics. It could refer to your academic work, your social life, or even something as mundane as your eating habits. I have no idea what it means, and that is the very nature of uncertainty.
     I can't deny that I am eagerly awaiting this Friday morning when Lauren and I will bored US Airways flight 950 and begin our journey to Skidmore; but I am also feeling sadness in the fact that I must say goodbye to my mother as well as fear that I will be unable to embrace this uncertainty that is a very crucial part of not just the college experience, but life in general. Only so many pills and self-help books can help you until eventually you must face life and all it's scariness, challenges, and successes head-on. That's my goal for this year...instead of backing down from life I am going to immerse myself in it and rock it :) I hope you all can do the same. Oh and in case you didn't figure it out, THE BLOG IS BACK FROM SUMMER VACATION!
Love always,
Emmeline

"Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch Changes"

Taylor and I on "Funday"!

One week and one day. One is my lucky number, but all these one's are a little bittersweet right now. I am extremely excited to go back to Colorado; I can't wait for the beautiful mountains, my mom and dad and family, Keegan, Connor, Bo, and Jill, and all my amazing friends! It will be nice to have my own room again, and a kitchen counter to sit on, but I am going to miss college a lot. I remember getting ready to move-in to my dorm and I was very concerned about whether or not I was going to be able to accept Saratoga as my second home, and now I am sitting here worried about if I will be able to smoothly transition back to my first home. It's going to be very hard to leave...I am going to miss my roommates like crazy, and it has officially been one month since Taylor and I officially became a couple and saying goodbye is going to be hard. Going home is really a catch-22. That being said Freshman year is a almost finished and while I still often feel like a little kid, I'm also starting to feel like an adult too. Wish me luck on my finals, and I'm excited to see you all!
Love always,
Emmeline

Past, Present, and Future

      It's April 2nd today which means that I have a total of six weekends left at Skidmore until it's officially summertime. It's strange to think that in a short time I will have finished my first year of college. Senior year of high school and freshman year of college are two of those big events in life that you will never forget and for me it's all about to be over. It feels like it was yesterday when my mom had to pull over at a drugstore on the way to graduation so that I could get waterproof mascara, and I clearly remember my first night at Skidmore anxiously introducing myself to every person I saw. Don't misunderstand me, I am thrilled for the vast amount of memorable events that lay ahead, but sometimes I do wish I could go back for a moment and appreciate the things that I was too blind to notice at the time. My mom told me that I can't rehash the past or stress about the future. She said I need to focus on right now so I am working on it. Yesterday was a great memory, my future is bright, but for now I am going to live in the moment.
Love always, Emmeline

Sunshine and Spring

I am sitting in Florida at the moment and it is absolutely beautiful. It has been in the high seventies/low eighties all week making it the perfect temperature to lay by the pool and get a suntan. I have been soaking up all the vitamin D that I can before I have to go home. Yesterday, I went to Seaworld to pet stingrays and see the sharks. It was a bittersweet experience. I will always find Seaworld as a fun place to visit, but as of late their parks have become less focused on education/conservation and more on spectacle. The dolphin show was the most dissapointing...the dolphins were about 5% percent of the show where as the other 95% was trainers and dancers in hideous wetsuit costumes doing acrobatic tricks. I am writing a letter to Seaworld expressing my dissapointment over their programming. I hope all of you are experiencing a little bit of the springtime warmth, and watch out for Leperchauns tomorrow!
Love always, Emmeline

Dreaming of Warmer Days

Saratoga Chowder Fest Was Quite A Hit!

The sun is out today which is a pleasant reminder of how the low temperatures will soon begin to rise. Spring Break is in one week, and I am ecstatic to meet my mom, dad, and Lauren in Orlando! I am praying that the weather will stay warm there so that I can comfortably lounge around by the pool. School has been going well, but it gets a tad overwhelming sometimes. I am really enjoying my English class about media and its effect on society, and neuroscience is another class that's always interesting. I have been giving many tours these past few weeks which has been fun! There is something abiut interacting with families that I find quite comforting especially since I am surrounded by college students for the majority of my day. I'm hopefully going to make it to the mall this afternoon so that Gab and I can pet the bunny at the pet store, and tomorrow I am going to our Lacrosse game against Western Conneticut so I am definitely excited it's the weekend! I hope you are all well.
Love always, Emmeline

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

The weather was finally starting to warm up this past week. The temperature was slowly rising and the sun was out often, but today all hell broke loose and in came a blizzard. Classes were cancelled at 1pm, but my Calculus teacher still decided to hold class and I had to still give my 3pm prospective student tour. I am exhausted! That being said, it is finally Friday! I am so happy to have a break after the tough week I had. I hope all is well on the homefront, and I am very excited to have some time to hopefully give many of you calls!

Love always, Emmeline

Check This Out

I've been really busy, but check this link out! I was quoted on the Skidmore Website!
http://cms.skidmore.edu/news/news.cfm?passID=2629