That's so SMC: 5 Unique Qualities of Student Life at Saint Mike's.

In general, Saint Mike's adheres to certain generalities of small school-ship: liberal arts, small classes, personable professors (I love when I can sneak alliteration into a blog post!!!). And on top of all these great things, I find that SMC manages to retain a significant autonomy of identity in the way students "do college" here.

1. Dinnertime? Entire first-year floor descends upon the dining hall.

In my experience, it was more of a challenge to try eating dinner alone than with the whole of my first-year floor (that's men and women--another reason why Joyce 4th was one of the cooler floors my year ;P). It may be the proximity of the dining hall to the first-year quad, or the closeness and excitement of one's first year of school, or maybe first-years at SMC just can't stand to eat without 25 of their closest friends sitting around them in close quarters. Causation aside, it's not a rare thing to see the "long tables" (10-ish people) of the dining hall jam-packed with bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first year compadres. They're easy to spot, because about four people will be eating salad or something healthy, and everyone else will have french fries on their plate no matter the main dish they've chosen. I'm kidding, sorta, but it is a heart-warming and nostalgic experience any time I do happen to glimpse this sort of thing in action.

My best friend and room mate Carlos
during an extended Alliot sit.

2. "Alliot sitting."

Ask me or any of my friends, and I guarantee we'd all agree that Alliot Sitting it a top-ten favorite hobby. The art of Alliot sitting might be pursued in any of the following ways: 

• Extended homework sessions, to which we usually commit 2.5-5 hours of sitting (sometimes across 2 meals or more); drinking coffee, snacking, and chiseling away at our schoolwork. This lasts until we feel satisfied with our accomplishments, or until our pores carry the familiar smell of dining hall and success.
• People-watching and socializing, especially on the weekends. While this bit is more popular on Saturday and Sunday brunch, it is not uncommon to spot the Procrastinon peoplewatchus during the school week as well.
• Finally, upperclassmen who live in housing with kitchens (i.e. housing that has a reduced meal plan, unless the student opts-in) might also engage in the extended alliot sit to obtain the most bang-for-buck out of one's restricted (40/semester) swipes. Often, such an upperclassmen might use the above tactics as a guise for such an escapade.

Otherwise, sometimes people just sit in Alliot for a really long time because: (1) there's always food there, and (2) you usually run into more people than you can sit down for a meal with. It's just a really great place to sit.

3. We sleep in the library.

Ideally, not in the middle of studying (but sometimes). There are some days when you've been up since 6, have had class/work/placements/internships/clubs all day, and are sitting in the library at 10pm trying to get some work done. Or, it's finals, and you've simply been in the library since the crack of dawn (or 8am). In any case, Saint Mike's kids sometimes use the Library for catnaps, and it's not a weird thing. I myself find that a post-dinner coffee and 15-20 min library snooze is a great way to perk up for study time after a full day of [insert responsibilities here]. But take caution: it's best to pursue study snoozes when accompanied by a friend/phone alarm (on vibrate!) to wake you back up, lest ye snooze til the lib hath closed.

4. We don't do it by ourselves, and we know it.

My freshman and sophomore year, I have Hida and Harvey to thank for making me breakfast every morning; I owe Dragan, Jim and Gary for driving me to and fro North and Main Campuses every day as a Junior; I couldn't do anything without the support and advice of my peers; and if not for my professors and mentors in a multiplicity of capacities at this school, I'd not have learned nearly as much as I have as a student thus far. My point is that the close relationships I, and many of my peers, make with staff, faculty, and fellow students on campus carry us throughout our college experiences; there's no denying it makes our days brighter when our eggs are ready two minutes after entering the dining hall, or when we have friendly conversation on the bus ride home to North in the evenings. If asked to describe the strong community we claim to have here, I would cite these relationships and experiences as evidence of this phenomenon in my own life.

5. More often than not, we're doing something.

Although the "involved student" stereotype falls into the paradigm of "small liberal arts school", it's a quality I love about SMC, and I feel that we put our own spin on it. In any given circle of friends, there's probably a club president or an SA representative present, and about 70% of students volunteer with MOVE in some capacity before graduating. If nothing else, we know how to take advantage of our time on campus, and since 99% of us live here, that's quite a bit of time.

If you think something should be added to this list, feel free to shoot me an email (brosbrook@mail.smcvt.edu) or hit me up on twitter (@benrosbrook). Or for those potential lib-nappers (prospective students), feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or conversations!

Thanks for reading!

6 Fun Things To Do In The Winter If You Don't Ski or Ride.

Saint Michael's is certainly a popular school for people who, at any given moment, would rather be on a snowy slope (as evident in the $65 Smugg's season pass that's subsidized for students by the Wilderness Program). But there are still many student who don't ski or ride, and winter can be fun for them too!

1. Burlington Arts and Music

The Flynn Center, Higher Ground, and tons of smaller venues in Burlington and Winooski offer music, touring Broadway musicals, plays, and entertainment all year (American Idiot will be at the Flynn in February!), for most of which one can find reduced student pricing. Otherwise, Burlington is a magnet of sorts for local, creative and delicious restaurants (like Bueno, Henry's, Flatbread, The Farmhouse...)

2. Ice Climbing (seriously)

The WP offers ice climbing excursions throughout the spring semester, and the trips are accessible for any level of climber. Also, the program will provide all the gear, guiding, and expertise of a professional guiding company, at a small cost to participants. But, let's be real, the WP is a viable option during any season.

3. Indoor Climbing at Petra Cliffs

Students can also go indoor rock climbing at the local gym, Petra Cliffs. Saint Mike's students can get a schoolyear pass for $45, also through the WP. Especially for those who like to be active in warmer temperatures, Petra is a fun way to break a sweat and stay in shape for summer climbing. Saint Mike's also has a small climbing wall in the Athletic Center (Ross/Tarrant).

4. Boston

Megabus and Amtrak offer bus and train service to Boston from Burlington every day of the week, so if you want to escape to a city for the weekend, it's a short (3h18m) and inexpensive ride away. Montreal is another option, and a little closer too (1h45m); an obvious caveat being that a passport is required for travel. While Burlington's a lively place, super urban environments are not far away.

5. Intramural Sports

Varsity sports are a huge commitment, but you can still play gym sports like basketball and volleyball in Saint Mike's intramural sports leagues. They're low-intensity and lots of fun, and winning teams get t-shirts ;p

6. MOVE 

MOVE offers volunteer opportunities all year, from weekly local programs to extended service trips. Extended service happen over winter and spring break, and following the end of the spring semester; going everywhere from Kolkata to Kentucky. The latter involves an application process, but anyone can sign up for weekly programs if there's space available.

So even if you're not a boarder/skier, Saint Mike's offers enough to keep even the least-wintry of us busy. That being said, you can learn to ski if you'd like! Subsidized lessons are offered through the WP, as well :D

Thanks for reading!

Starting off the New Year Right!

So last year, my spring semester started like this.

I'm hoping the second time around, that won't be the case. After coincidentally having spend NYE in New York City with some of the same friends from last year, I'm headed back to SMC this weekend to give the Wilderness Program's Backcountry program and AIARE training another go. I need to complete this training in order to officially become a Backcountry ski instructor in the program, so here's to hoping all my bones remain intact.

Because this would be problematic (source).

In other news, I've also decided to change my class schedule slightly. As of my last post, I had been signed up for Calc II this semester. I switched back to third-semester Spanish though, because while Calc might be useful and even enjoyable, I'm someone who has a knack for languages and haven't even taken a foreign language class since freshman year. So, while this decision doesn't explicitly relate to my Econ major, I think that taking Spanish will be fun for me, and useful in other ways.

Finally, in honor of the new year, I've decided to tack on a couple of my intended resolutions for 2014. Resolutions are pretty cliche and notoriously short-lived, but I don't see the harm in setting goals for oneself, and doing the best to see those goals through.

1. Using a language when I hear it. More often than one might think, I'll be walking down the street, hear a conversation, and think to myself, "Was that Polish?!" And, more often than not, I don't even make an attempt to figure it out. It's really easy to become shy when trying to practice another language, and I want to change that in my own life. So in 2014, I want to use my language skills whenever possible.

2. Going indoor climbing at least twice a week. As a climbing instructor, one of the more valuable certifications one can have in the program is the Single-Pitch Instructor, because that certification allows one to lead a trip independently of a superior, which makes the trip scheduling more flexible, and gives the program a stronger staff. This winter, I'm looking forward to working on the skills I need to know so that I might be able to complete that certification this summer. This is a more challenging and ambitious goal, and I'll be psyched if I'm able to attain that certification this summer.

3. Continue journaling. I've started journaling a bit this past semester and over the break, and as someone who likes to write I've found it enjoyable and therapeutic. Here's to continuing a productive habit.

4. Skiing whenever I can. I'm throwing this in for fun, I don't think it should be that hard.

Cause, like, this is where I'll be skiing (source).

So there they are, and here's to a new year! Hopefully I'll see some of your fine selves up at Jay some time.

Thanks for reading!

Plans for Next Semester

Junior year has been a big one for me, because I finally declared the major that I believe I'll graduate with (Economics). Also, it's the first year I'll be doing some serious free skiing, since I was training with the Alpine team freshman year, and last year I broke my wrist in January. As you can imagine, I've got big plans for this coming semester.

1. Jay Peak weekends

A buddy and I, both of us former ski racers, are psyched to shred the North Country this coming winter/spring. I think all of Vermont has great skiing (like Smugg's: to which SMC students get a $65 SEASONS pass), but Jay has always had a special place in my heart because: (1) the terrain is yummy, (2) they're constantly pounded with snow, and (3) it's semi-francophone, given the proximity to Canada. What a trifecta for a shredful winter.

Above--a sick ski edit (not mine) of Jay peak. From YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoDVTdijBes

2. A math-y courseload with a hint of social science

Being an econ major, I've actually forgone some of the intro courses that I need to take to finish the major. Sooo, this coming semester I'm taking Microeconomic Principles, Stats, and Calc II--a mathy group of classes for sure. But I'm also taking a Political Science class called Multicultural Theory and Practice, which will be reading and social-science heavy. A divergent courseload for sure, but an interesting one I hope!

3. Fundraising and planning for India

As I mentioned here recently, I've been selected to go on the MOVE extended service trip to Kolkata, India this May. In preparation, our group will be meeting weekly to iron out the details of travel, raise money for our partner organizations in India, and work on any other details necessary for making the trip successful. 

4. Wilderness Program: Backcountry Skiing 

This will be my first season taking people into the field as a certified Backcountry WP instructor, and I couldn't be happier! Backcountry skiing takes skill, safety and precaution, and is also a great time for more experienced skiers who want to ditch the lifts. SMC students: sign up for a trip if you're ready! And to those prospective students out there, this program is a good enough reason for deciding on SMC ;)

5. Common Ground 

I'm currently the president of Common Ground, SMC's LGBTQIA organization that works for advocacy and representation of LGBTQIA people on campus and in the community. We're hoping to bring some interesting speakers and other events to campus, and working on a campaign for housing reform to make campus more comfortable for a plurality of identities. It should be an interesting semester!

6. Tours, Blogging, and Talking to You!

Finally, as a lover of the SMC community, I'm looking forward to doing my best to represent the college through tours, this blog, and answering any questions that YOU have. My email is brosbrook@mail.smcvt.edu, or you can comment here any time. I do this because I want to be a resource for you, the reader, so feel free to contact me any time!

Thanks for reading!

Reflections on the Semester: The Importance of Taking a Deep Breath

As I'm sitting in my parents kitchen with a beautiful view of the falling snow outside, it becomes much easier to self-critique, and remember the things that I've done well, and the things that I haven't done that well.

My dad tells me all the time that school is a time when you're going to make mistakes, and all you can do is your best. Of course, one's "best" is relative, so it becomes harder to reassure oneself when Sally Knowitall consistently gets higher grades on those reading quizzes and ALL YOU WANT is that A-minus. 

The thing is, many students do so much more than school. Saint Mike's students volunteer, organize, manage, protest, meditate, mourn, and celebrate. I'm sure students everywhere do, but I speak only from my own experience. What I mean to say, then, is that to narrow one's definition of success to a series of grades on a transcript (over which students have only as much control as the effort they put in) is ludicrous, when the majority of our responsibilities lie outside academia. Is academia less than these outside experiences? Of course not, but to imply that the plurality of divergent experiences on SMC campus can be measured by an antiquated system of letter-ranking is preposterous, especially when some students are spending a majority of their time working or organizing service trips.

In light of all this, I'd argue the best thing any of us can do in a moment of calamity is to take a deep breath. To stress in the face of challenge is to accept and perpetuate one's state of anxiety. That being said, it's not an easy thing to calm oneself when one has a test in the morning and a twenty-page paper due yesterday. But all we can do is try.

This semester, I've learned that Yoda wasn't right after all. Yes, I suppose we could restrict the definition of human effort and attainment to a cut-and-dry binary of "either do, or do not," but that only bleaches any given story to one of outright success or failure. If a student learns more than they ever have about the social construction of race but gets a C in the class, how is that a failure? Moreover, how can one qualify as "intelligent" the student whose pompous nature and sturdy resolve allows them an A, by virtue of their predisposition? Neither of these stories is fully explained in the assignment of a letter grade.

In conclusion, then, I encourage my peers, prospective students, and parents to reflect on the importance of trying. More often than not, trial and error yield understanding. So why get down on ourselves for futzing that one Chem procedure, when we know for the next time around that we probably shouldn't add the water to the acid? It's all a learning process, because learning is never finite.

Thanks for reading, and here's to the close of one semester, the dawn of another, and the never-ending process of learning what "it's" all about.

Baby Picture Finals Week.

Hey there everyone!

 

The students of Saint Mike's are currently immersed in this thing called "finals week." It is during this week that we take large cumulative exams, turn in final papers/projects, and work through other stressful situations that arise from finishing a substantial amount of schoolwork.

 

It's not easy to stay stress-free during this time, but I also think there's a lot to be said in pursuing non-stress. Sometimes you just have to tell yourself that you're not stressing, that everything will get done, and that finals week have relative limited relevance in the cosmic sense. This doesn't make everyone feel calm, but it's the exact opposite of creating stress for oneself. Most likely, we'll get the grades we deserve, and besides the effort we expel there's not very much in our control.

 

In recognition of this cosmic reality, I invite everyone to reflect on a time when you weren't stressed, maybe a time when you couldn't say any words, let alone 'I hate finals week'. For me, this reflection is rooted it some photos that my uncle sent me,  pictures of my grandpa and I when I was a baby. He's since passed on and I'm no longer the fleshy small person I was, but those moments of calm that were pictured are still real and relevant.

 

 

 

 

Don't be too hard on yourselves, take a study break, and laugh with your friends when you can.

 

Happy Finals Week :D

India!

As the semester comes to a close, my time on campus has mostly been occupied with finishing finals/schoolwork, and attending to fundraising for the 2014 trip to Kolkata, India. MOVE, the service organization on campus, runs extended service trips, and SMC students have had the opportunity to travel to Kolkata for 3 weeks each spring to bring resources to the Mother Theresa homes, and also to assist in the service these organizations have already established. This year, seven  students, a student leader, and two faculty leaders will be making the trip. Every year that I've been at Saint Mike's, a close friend of mine has gone on the trip, and in that way the India trip has always existed as a part of my experience at Saint Mike's. This year, I get to go for the first time, and our first fundraiser is an international market featuring crafts from India and the Dominican Republic (another international service trip).

 

 

If you can and are willing, you should stop by the market between today and Saturday! All the funds from this market go directly to the service organizations we work with in India and D.R., so it's a good cause.

 

 

To my fellow SMC'ers: best of luck on finals!

 

Thanks for reading ;)