2007-2008: Holly Black

Living the old life

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas!  We had dinner at home and it was delicious.  I never realized how happy a home cooked meal could make me until now.  Don't get me wrong, Sodexho is pretty decent--but it's not my mom's cooking.

While I'm home, I decided to work a little bit at the grocery store that pretty much became my home during high school.  There are many new faces there, but also many of the same people that I worked with.  Everyone keeps asking if I like school and if I regret going there.  Did they think I was going to hate it all along?  I think so.  However, I smile and reply, "No.  It's a blast."

My dog has been following me around as if he is attached to my hip.  We played out in the snow a few nights ago.  I threw snow balls and he tried to catch them--but they disintegrated as soon as he caught them.  My parents told me that he doesn't act the same when I'm not here.

That's about it for now.  I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the holiday season.  I'm spending a few days in Maryland, so hopefully the snow storm will hold out so my flight isn't delayed on Wednesday.

Happy New Year!

Until next time,
Holly

Home for the holidays

Hi everyone,

Finals week was quite interesting.  After the cadre left for home, there was nothing left to do other than to sit in the room and occupy ourselves.  Not having a schedule other than to go take final exams was quite boring.  I was supposed to leave on Sunday afternoon, but I was snowed in until Monday morning.

Today my final grades were posted online and I was very pleased.  It's so weird to think that my first semester of college is done and over with.

It's time for Christmas.  I cannot wait to see the rest of my relatives and enjoy the winter weather.  I wish all the blog readers a happy holiday season!

Until next time,
Holly

Out of the gutter

Hi all,

Ironically, the Cadet Colonel gave us the privilege to walk at ease outside as soon as I made my last post!  Turns out, walking in gutter has become such a habit that I feel like a magnet is pulling me over to the right side of the road all the time.  I'm sure that'll pass, but this privilege makes it easier to get around, especially with the cold setting in.

Along with our new privilege, the Cadet Colonel discussed next semester's training.  Current sophomores will be playing the role of platoon sergeants and first sergeants and the freshmen will be playing the role of fire team leaders and squad leaders.  This is to develop our leadership skills and have this year's cadre staff evaluate us on our abilities.

As part of our training following rookie basic, the freshmen are now marching themselves.  Each time we line up on the wall, our platoon sergeant asks who wants to march the company.  It's weird to think that just a few months ago most of us didn't know our left from our right.  Now, most of us can call cadence pretty well in formation.

Tuesday's Mil Lab was a lot of fun, but I ended up pretty sore.  The 4 Naval platoons had a PT competition consisting of 10 minutes at 4 different stations:  push-ups, sit-ups, running the track, and pull-ups.  It was a lot of fun and I got a good workout.

Today was the last day of Tuesday/Thursday classes.  This week has been filled with exams, presentations, and passing in papers.  I'm glad that I've gotten 90% of my work done though.  I still have to complete my statistics project this weekend.  Before we know it, finals will be here!

This weekend is one of Norwich's LCW (Leadership Challenge Weekends).  I volunteered to help out with that following my other volunteer job downtown tomorrow afternoon.  It should be a lot of fun to introduce the lifestyle up here to interested high school students.   

9 days and counting.

Until next time,
Holly

Driving the semester home

Greetings from a very snowy Vermont!

As winter has officially set in, there is a pretty decent amount of snow on the ground up here and the forecast predicts snow for the next week.  It sure is pretty, but walking in the gutter with snow on the ground is not fun.

All of last week and this week involved me sitting at my desk writing papers.  I only have 1 paper left to write, as well as my statistics project.  I'm determined to have everything I need to get done by Sunday so I can begin studying for my 3 exams.  I'm happy I don't have exams in every class because I can leave a few days earlier than most.

That's about it for now.  I apologize for such a boring update, but these last few weeks before break are purely academic weeks.

I can't wait for Christmas.  I'm going home in 12 days.

Until next time,
Holly