2007-2008: Holly Black

Daylight after 1700

Hi everyone,

It's currently 1731 (5:31PM) and it is still daylight outside.  That is a good sign that spring is coming!  Of course, it's Vermont and it will still be cold & snowy for a while--but it's still a morale booster!

I received an interesting comment on my last blog about why I joined the Corps as a nursing student.  To be completely honest, I would never come to Norwich as a civilian student.  I respect the civilian students here and am friends with many of them, but I would not like being on the outside of the Corps.  Also, I have always wanted to join the military and believe that living the military lifestyle is something that I need to get used to.  The Corps provides for that - preparation can never begin too early.

There are not too many upperclassmen nursing students, however, it can be done.  Academics will always come first so many students miss Corps activities for clinicals, but that's a part of time management.  Priority tasks get done first.

This week went by very quickly.  I had the room to myself this weekend because my roommates were on leave for school activities.  I'll be gone next weekend for the EMS Conference.  I can't wait!  I'm really excited to learn new things and see how different EMS units work from different schools.

Thursday night was the pinning ceremony for Maroon & Gold Key.  I probably mentioned it earlier, but M&G Key is a club on campus that provides campus tours, overnights for prospective students, and runs the open houses.  As an active member, you gain points.  If you earn enough points, you get a gold key uniform pin to wear.  We had ice cream & other desserts.  It was nice.

I just finished my psychology paper which was a relief, but I have an English paper right around the corner to write.  I also need to start studying for the First Responder certification test because it'll be soon after we return from spring break.

This weekend was Winter Carnival.  They had a movie marathon, games, a SnoBall (dance), ice skating, etc.  There is always something to do on campus.  It makes time go by faster.  Speaking of which, mid-semester grades are due next week!  The semester is going fast.  Soon enough, it'll be summer vacation.

That's about it.  I'm having an overnight prospective student stay with me tomorrow.

5 days until the EMS Conference!
12 days until Spring break!

Until next time,
Holly

Just another day

Hi everyone,

Thanks to my parents, I have my computer back & it didn't take long at all.  I got a comment on my last post that not having a computer would free me to analyze things in my own way.  That's not true at all.  I'm not allowed to pass in handwritten assignments to any of my professors, especially English, so I had to borrow my roommates' computers/go to the library several times.  Also, as a rook--your computer is your key to the outside world.  I use my computer daily to check the weather and read up on current events.

The weekend went by pretty fast.  I did volunteer work downtown on Friday afternoon.  Yesterday, I gave a campus tour and then went to the hockey game with my company.  It was a violent game--a fight actually broke out on the ice.  After that, I went to chow and watched a movie on deck.  For a Saturday night, we went to bed early.  I enjoyed that.

I have 2 big papers to write this week among other things, so my hands will be full.  Today I have my First Responder class, so I won't be back until chow tonight.  I enjoy the class and I know I'll benefit from it, but it takes up all of my "down day" here.  However, it keeps me in a routine so I get everything done.

Well, that's about it.  It's really cold but sunny out today.  I will have more to update next time, this week just wasn't too eventful except for the computer ordeal.

We're less than 3 weeks away to Spring break!

Until next time,
Holly

Busted computer

Hi everyone,

I posted yesterday, but I felt it necessary to make a short one today.  I have a tip for incoming rooks:  If your cadre tell you to use your Dog River rock as a bookend on your shelf, either don't do that or watch where it is in relation to your computer.  My rock came crashing down on my laptop last night and cracked the screen.  I spent $45.88 sending it home for repairs this morning.

Needless to say, I'm really upset about it.  I'm using my roommate's computer right now.  I feel lost without it.  After all, a computer is the only source of entertainment for a freshman in the Corps.

Until next time,
Holly

All attention all: It's -3 degrees outside!

Formation was cancelled this morning because it was -3 degrees.  Following PT, the temperature had dropped to -10 degrees.  Indeed, it is cold here.  We're also expecting a foot of snow tonight.  Polypro shirts and pants underneath your uniform is essential as a freshman because we can't wear ACU fleeces and such like the upperclassmen.  We could wear our Gortex jackets, but our company decided that they're a huge pain to put on.  Also, wearing all of the buttons buttoned and the zipper up to your nose is uncomfortable.  The only thing that was seriously cold today when I was outside was my face!

I joined the Advanced Team for Military Arnis with the NROTC department.  For anyone who hasn't heard of it, Arnis is a martial art.  The professor added bits and pieces from different studies, techniques, etc.  All together, it's Military Arnis.  Anyway, I started that on Saturday morning and I learned a lot of different techniques and we started working with canes and boxing gloves.  I really enjoyed it and look forward to more training!

Last Friday evening was the Navy Dining-In in Milano Ballroom.  It was a great time and I got to spend time talking with many of the kids in my Naval platoon who I don't regularly talk to outside of PT and Mil Lab.  We had a good meal, a few laughs, the disgusting grog, and skits from the different class years.

Being a fire team leader this leadership rotation is much different than the last.  I honestly haven't done anything.  During the 1st rotation, the fire team leaders reported accountability to the squad leaders.  The squad leaders have been given a bigger role and as I said, I haven't done anything.

Our Platoon Sergeant said we were very motivating over the weekend, so he gave us a couple of company privileges.  I was happy because we haven't gotten any company-level privileges since October!  PT on Saturday morning was funny because Platoon Sergeant said we were having too much fun doing squad sit-ups.  Overall, it was a good PT session.

Sunday was Battle for the UP.  The whole school built forts and had a huge snowball fight.  I didn't get to participate because of my First Responder class, but I got to watch a lot of the action.  My rook buddies had a great time.

Mil Lab was interesting today.  We got an anti-terrorism briefing from a Marine Sergeant.  Whether we think we're vulnerable or not, people need to take care of themselves in any given situation.

--16 days until the EMS Conference
--24 days until Spring Break
--65 days until Junior Ring Ceremony

Until next time,
Holly 

Oh, oh! Boston you're my home..

Last night was the Superbowl and there was a party at the Wise Campus Center.  They played the game on the large projector screen in the rook dining area.  Needless to say, I was very upset!  I have always been and will always be a Patriots fan--but what happened in that game???  At this point, I don't even want to talk about it.  There is always next year and I don't want to hear about the Patriots until next season.

Anyway, back at Norwich University--things are going pretty well.  We just started our 2nd leadership rotation.  We were introduced to our new corporal this morning and I'm a fire team leader for my squad.  I'll keep you all posted on how that goes.

From February 29th-March 2nd I will be attending the National Collegiate EMS Conference in Philadelphia.  I'm excited about it.  There will be many workshops about EMS systems, including administration--which will help me in my position as Executive Secretary for NUEMS here on campus.  It will be a chance to get away from here as well because February is the longest month here with no breaks or anything in between.  Like I said before, Norwich is a day to day experience that needs encouragement.  Encouragement, particularly for rooks, is having something to look forward to.

I had the first Navy PT test of the semester.  I was happy because I improved on both my push-ups and sit-ups.  The run is still my weak spot, but I will continue to work on it.

Mr. Abare is hosting an academic excellence dinner that I was invited to.  That was a morale booster for all the work I put in last semester.  Hopefully I will be just as successful, if not more, this semester.

Now that I think of it, last week really flew by.  So much more happened, but I can't remember.  I think that's a good sign.

I want to say hello to my parents who just celebrated their anniversary.  I miss you both & can't wait to get home to see you!

Until next time,
Holly