Rikki Feightner

Looking Beyond

   

 

     A few weeks ago, I received exciting news- my rated slot for the Air Force had been approved, and as only a Junior at College, I knew my job once I would be commissioned into the Air Force; Air Battle Manager.  The description (given here by the Air Force official website- they say it better than I do-) is as follows;

            "During lightning-fast air combat, every decision makes an impact. And the officers making all of those decisions — right down to choosing the right aircraft for the mission — are the Air Battle Managers (ABM). They use strategy, experience and an intimate knowledge of all aircraft, weapons and surveillance to ensure success. By controlling the battle space and establishing "big picture" situational awareness, ABMs plan and execute the entire theater air operation. Their expertise is also often called upon in an advisory role by other allied military forces."

    While I’m wonderfully excited for this, and feel a certain peace of mind that I at least know my job, I have to be completely honest that it disheartens me a little that my new job won’t have much to do with Chinese, my main love in the field of education. That being said, I’m determined to keep up my language ability post-graduation and do my very best as a new ABM.

    But looking a little closer into the future, specifically for when I –am- in China, I’ve started to go a little deeper with my thinking. Namely; what can I get out of my study abroad experience other than –things-? I’ve bought souvenirs (though trust me, I’m sure to buy plenty more), and have visited the tourist-y places, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s so much –more- to Study Abroad then I’ve been getting.  I was sitting with a friend the other day, elbows-deep in an essay, all the while chatting idly with him about my up-and-coming adventure. My friend, Will, already having been for his semester abroad, smiled coyly and asked, “So… what kind of photography projects are you going to do while you’re there?” I stopped, blinking, my fingers coming to a stop atop the keyboard. “Photography project..” I mused aloud. I hadn’t even thought of such a thing.

    But it was a fantastic suggestion…. Why not do a little soul-searching while I was there? Some independent research, or simply a personal expression project? Excited, I stopped with the essay (bad idea… I had to resume it that night!) and immediately started brainstorming about all the things I could do. It occurred to me suddenly that while I’d be in Kunming, and even Shanghai… my only job would be to study. No uniforms, no formations, no Corps. and Club and Air Force projects to attend to… my schedule would be comparatively free.

    It’s a revelation I’ve been thinking about it all week. Even if being an ABM has nothing to do with Mandarin, I’m excited to do it. And during my semester abroad... well, my 6 months abroad, I’m going to go on a mission to find myself. Answer some of life’s existential questions. And it starts with the lessons of perseverance and self that I learned here on the hill.

Speaking of which... I have some inspections to go run. Happy Friday, everyone!

 

Respectfully,

Rikki Feightner, Band Co. ‘15

Tips for Travel Abroad (Especially in China)

    Make copies of important things, such as your flight itineraries, Passport, ID, destination (in English and the destination language, if they’re different). Then make copies of the copies. Stuff one set in every bag you have; this might seem paranoid but I can promise you, if you lose these and have no scans, you’re in for a bad time.

    Don’t take anything that’s irreplaceable/you would be devastated without. (That being said, I’m REALLY debating whether or not to take my Ring.) Things get lost… it just happens sometimes. This goes for clothes, etc., too. China in particular is known for being rough on clothes due to soap/water quality/pollution, so leave that white whatever at home.

    Invest in a luggage scale. Even if you’re a light packer. Quick story; every time I’ve been to Asia, I’ve gone with Joe. Joe is a notoriously light packer and I am ALWAYS the one pushing the 50lb limit on my bags, which in the past meant that I was also the one un- and re-packing my stuff at the airport (embarrassing). Don’t be like me (in this regard). The scale is around $10 on Amazon and is hand-held. Easy!

    Don’t pack frivolously, but that goes the other way, too. Especially if it’s your first trip abroad, you’ll want to take one or two small items that will remind you of home, even if it’s just some pictures on your computer.

    When you pack, pack smart, pack light. What do I mean by this? Before you travel, lay everything you’re taking out on the floor. Then give it a critical look-over… save space by stuffing socks into shoes, collapse boxes and, if you’re really adamant about minimizing, re-bottle your toiletries (if you’re not just going to buy them at your destination anyway) and roll your shirts. Works wonders. Also, bring an extra backpack/duffle for extra space; after buying souvenirs and the like, you’ll probably need it.

    NEVER, NEVER, EVER exchange money at the Kiosk in the airport. You’re getting ripped off. And it’s wise to call and let your Bank know about a week beforehand that you’re traveling abroad… my Bank appreciated knowing that the soon-to-be charges on my card from China were, in fact, me.

    When you pack your carry-ons, resist the urge to just hop on your form of transportation with nothing else than a phone. Having been delayed overnight MORE than once, I’ve learned the hard way that you should ALWAYS stash a few things in your carry-on that will make the difference if you’re in transit for more than a day- a change of clothes, chargers, food, cash, mini-toiletries, etc. I remember being stuck in JFK once for a cancelled flight after the heinous 14-hour flight from Beijing… no change of clothes, no food, phone dead, and debit card lost. It was enough to make me never forget to stuff a few extra things in my little rolling suitcase, though, and that has made all the difference.

    Last but not least, don’t forget to take an open mind! Yes, it sounds cheesy…. But you’re not just studying abroad to change the scenery. You’re experiencing a whole new part of the world… a new culture, new people, and possibly even a new language! Step outside your comfort zone, and you’ll grow in ways you never thought possible. You’re the traveler. YOU make the trip as fun/awful as it’s going to be... so make it awesome.

Happy Travels,

Rikki Feightner

Band Co. '15

[Study Abroad] Loading.....

Eight inches of snow last night, but classes cancelled today? Nah! I don't want to hear your whining, Southern US.

Today I finish the last of my application through Duke to study abroad this summer in Beijing… I’ve applied to two separate programs already and if I get accepted to both, I’m be able to choose between Beijing or a new destination- Shanghai. The program I normally go abroad with (Project GO-funded University of Mississippi or ‘Ole Miss’) is the one that’s moved to Shanghai, and my preferred option, but given that I’ve already studied abroad in their program twice, I figured I’d play it safe and apply to another program- just in case.

Regardless of where I study abroad for the summer, however, I’m lucky enough and absolutely excited to have the opportunity to study abroad in China for the Fall ’14 semester (beginning of Sr. year). And while it’s a little upsetting that this year I experienced my last Norwich “Shark Attack”, my last Thanksgiving and Holiday dinners with the Band, there’s plenty that I won’t miss (the biting cold, the 5am wake-ups, the endless overlay of Corps and Club and Academic responsibilities….) that will make the upcoming semester in China well worth the wait.

I’m currently in the process of applying to study abroad in Kunming, one of the major cities in Yunnan province. Yunnan lies on the Southwestern border of China, and serves as China’s ambassador hub to other SE Asian countries such as Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, and others. The province is also the home of some of China’s natural wonders such as the Stone Forrest, and (a refreshing change) one of the least polluted areas in all of China. During the program stay, we’ll be learning Tai Chi and Buddhist Meditation techniques, taking a two-week Field Study on the Mekong River that will lead us into other countries, and learning local culture, such as dance and cooking with the diversity that is the trademark of Yunnan province. (Yunnan is home to most of China’s 56 minority ethnic group, which will make practicing my Mandarin hard, but help with my ear for dialects.)

It’s exciting and admittedly, a little scary to think that I’ll be in a foreign country for 6 months. But, as always, I’ll be in the company of my friend Joe, and I’m no longer the inexperienced traveler. In fact, I’m looking at the travel as a challenge and have been planning and preparing for the journey. I’ve watching a lot of blogs and browsed a few travel-savvy websites, reading and learning from the experiences of others.

No matter how the trip goes, I know I’ll come out of things with an improved language ability and more worldly mindset. My next post in a few days with cover some of my most valuable (and most reccomended) travel tips.

See you then!

Sincerely,

Rikki Feightner,

Band Co. '15

Grand Return to Blogging

Now that I’m over this incredible head cold, it’s time to make a (long overdue) comeback!

Hope everyone has had a wonderful 2014 thus far… mine’s been pretty wonderful, and hopefully, in the days to come, I’ll be able to recount a little bit of that and then delve back into Winter at Norwich. (And had the opportunity to take plenty f pictures with my NEW Nikon D3200 camera.. as you'll see in the photo at the end of this post.)

Last week was a rough one… I had, as fore-mentioned, a wicked bad sinus infection, which left me unbalanced and with a constant headache. I’m not too pleased to say that I slept from 11am until 8pm on Monday, did homework until Midnight, and then slept for another full seven hours! It was a huge amount of sleep, but desperately needed. I fortunately was able to make up this morning for missing last week’s PT by going to the gym… it’s been far too long and even just after a week of not working out, I feel rather out-of-shape. I’m planning on increasing my exercise intensity and staying away from sweet until Spring Break (and probably until Jr. Ring weekend) because it’s a measurable goal that still gives me ample time to work on it.

The likely reason for the Sinus infection, other than a simple lack of sleep, was the cold ‘snap’ that we experienced a week or two ago… now THAT was the way I think of a Norwich Winter! The entire week, the warmest it got at any point was around 8 degrees, with lows in the negative 20s. Yikes! I’ve found, however, that past negative 5 or so, it all tends to feel the same, windchill notwithstanding.

It’s warmed up considerably, though (by Vermont standards), and even though February always seems to be one of the longest months at the Wick, there’s a variety of activities planned that should make the time between now and Break (or the Ring…) go by pleasantly fast.

First of all, there’s Junior Ring tryons, which if I’m not mistaken are tomorrow. The thought of getting my rings and actually trying them on seems too unreal to be possible… that being said, though, I’m terribly excited. I’m just waiting for my summer pay from studying Chinese this summer to come in from the Air Force, and then I can continue just *dreaming* about the Ring and not worry about paying for it.

Later on in the month, there’s the Annual Snowball, which this year has been replaced by a far more ambitious- and if I can say so- far better planned event. The “Snowball” has now become the “#Snowstorm” (hash tag and all…) which seems to cater less towards a formal event and more towards an EDM (Electronic Dance Music) crowd, with Neon paint and Blacklight volleyball included. It seems to be well planned-out, and the tickets are relatively cheap ($10), so I’ll definitely grab a white T-Shirt and check it out during Winter Carnival (Valentine’s) weekend.

The only other trend that I should mention is my re-commitment to studying- I decided at last semester’s conclusion that I wanted to shoot for a higher GPA in the Spring and so I’ve been cutting out the distractions (bit by bit) and hitting the books more often. That being said, my Asian Politics homework is calling… see you all soon!

 

Respectfully,

Rikki Feightner,

Band Co. ‘15

Halloween at Norwich

Halloween is here!(And Samhain as well!)

And Norwich is doing its best to celebrate, though it’s not quite the same without the Corps in costume. (And were we provided the chance, I KNOW that it’d be a sight to see!) The chow hall had Pumpkin carving and “Halloween Cupcake” decorating stations, and a themed bake-sale to boot. Work, of course, outdid itself with a full Halloween lunch.

The “no costumes during the duty day” rule doesn’t, however, stop students (especially the corps) from slipping into festive clothing following dinner and simply walking around campus to showcase their attire. It’s quite common, in fact, and I imagine that this weekend, we’ll see costumes aplenty in an uncharacteristic display of joviality by the Corps.

Also uncharacteristically, I’m somewhat out of things to say. It’s been a long, meeting-filled week. But the good news comes in the form of tomorrow being Friday, and a nice, long weekend just (literally) over the horizon. My plans for it? Relax, read, and sleep. Sounds lame, but by the time Junior year rolls around, you learn the value of a good “chill weekend”.

And chill is –exactly- what I plan to do. Have a good one, everybody!

Respectfully,

Rikki Feightner,

Band Co. ‘15

Regimental Ball

Regimental Ball is something for the Corps, by the Corps, and though I’m in favor of keeping friendships and lifestyles harmonious between the Corps and Civilian lifestyles, I enjoy, every once in a while, getting the Regiment together for a big event. And though true, not everyone from the Corps attends Regi Ball, it’s a blast.

My “date”, my boyfriend, Winston, flew up from California to see me. When you’re a freshman, having a date up for Regi Ball, despite the Saturday morning inspection, despite still waking up early, and despite the midnight accountability formations, is one of the most exciting moments of all of October. Admittedly, as an upperclassman, once you have the freedom to leave potentially every weekend, and your “date” can come up pretty much at will, the idea loses a lot of its glimmer. But for someone who only gets to see her significant other once in a few months, it’s just as exciting, and driving to the airport gave me just as many butterflies.

The weekend was a lot of fun; the Ball (and preparation for it) took up most of my Saturday, but Sunday, after the fact, was where the real fun came in. Winston and I, along with a few of the Band Corporals, headed into Montpelier for some browsing, exploring, and a few well-deserved Crepes at the Skinny Pancake. (If you’ve never been and are considering going, I’d recommend the Heartbreaker crepe… it’s heavenly.) Not only was it fun in the form of good food, but it was an excellent way to showcase some of the best things about Vermont, especially since Winston’s from SoCal.

Vermont is, yes, cold and sparsely populated, but the people that live here are, on the average, incredibly artsy and creative; just take a stroll around Burlington to confirm that. A lot of “homegrown”, a lot of “handmade”, and a lot of fresh air.

It was a pretty great weekend.

 

Respectfully,

Rikki Feightner

Band Co. ‘15

 

Fall Academics

Speaking as a Junior and a third-year Cadet at Norwich, academics in the fall are sort of sneaky. What exactly, do you ask, do I mean by “sneaky”? Well, remember that call you promised you’d take notes for every day and read ahead on the weekends? Yeah… not as easy in application as in theory. One week transitions into the next, and if you’re not careful and staying on top of your stuff, soon that “due in three weeks” essay on the Crimean War is due… tomorrow. At 8am. (Whoops… Look who’s not sleeping tonight!) This, sadly, isn’t even a dramatized example. It’s happened to me before, and if you’re not careful and continuous with your studies, it’ll happen to you, too. Or at least, it’s likely. So, from a student with a bit of experience doing things the right- and wrong- way, here’s a few tips to keep yourself on track (and much happier!);

• First off, notice that I said “tips” and not “tips and tricks” or even “tricks”. There’s a reason for this; there is no, I repeat, no way to “shortcut” your way through Academics. Sure, you can bust out a paper last-minute, or fake your way by on a power-point if you’re a master at improv, but in the end, all you’re doing is improving your improv skills. It pays, and you’ll truly feel better, if you just own up and do the reading, or the homework. After all, it’s what you’re here for, right?

• The mentality of “I have enough time for hanging out/chilling AND homework” is NOT the way to go. I’m not saying don’t have a social life; I certainly do, but hanging out with friends and doing non-academic stuff, then starting on homework around 11… to finish around 3am… every night… is NOT good or productive. I admittedly am guilty of this. But if you can put off Game of Thrones until the weekend, your grades will benefit from it. Trust me.

• Along with the second point, especially at Norwich, getting a good night’s sleep is key. Joe Babitsky will firmly back me up on this. In Corps in particular, your schedule, whether freshman or senior, is going to be regimented to some extent, and that regiment goes with the presupposition that you sleep during the night. Trying to consistently burn the midnight oil and then napping for three, four hours during the day is ultimately going to cause you more stress than it’s worth.

• Take care of your body in your spare time. This means keeping a good eating/workout schedule, mostly as an upperclassman, where things are less scheduled for you. But no worries; here, more than most colleges, people who are skilled in proper diets and armed with workout plans can be found virtually everywhere- just ask.

• Make lists! Seriously, if you have to plan out everything from “Study for Bio 5-6:30pm” to “Call Jessica  2:30-2:40pm”, then do it. List-making can be extremely productive for getting things on paper that you might otherwise forget if you’re just keeping it in your head. If you’re not a fan of paper, Google Lists can also be productive.

• Reward yourself! Make study/fitness goals, and when you reach them, have a day of relaxation, or get yourself a gift. Positive re-enforcement is a great motivator.

Keep to these tips, and keep on track! Best of luck, guys.

 

Respectfully,

Rikki Feightner

Band Co. ‘15

Midsemester Break

Midsemester Break is, for many students, the first real time during the fall that we’re able to get off of campus (unless you live in Vermont/Boston, etc….) and got do something for the weekend. I, being the adventurous type, decided to go off and see my cousin, Kristen. To give a bit of background, Kristen is my cousin, exactly (almost to the hour) two weeks older than me. Nearly the same hair color(hers is a bit lighter), same Major(though I added Chinese), same year in school(both academic Seniors). Growing up, even though we didn’t see each other very often, we were inseparable. There were four of us girls, but Kristen and I just always seemed to “get” each other. And the weekend of Midsemester Break was the first that I was able to actually spend some quality time with her, just the two of us, no outside family, and relax. It was strange, but wonderful to not only see my cousin for the first time in a few years’ time, but also to experience (albeit briefly) what it’s like to go to a “normal” college.

Kristen goes to school at the University of Kentucky, which, for everything I saw, is nearly the opposite of Norwich. It’s big, warm, full of civilian students (all with very distinct fashion sense), has a not only active but thriving Greek life, and, did I mention, cultural diversity/artsy majors/local flavor abound. Oh, and it’s the top of “the South”.  Right from the beginning, I elicited a couple of laughs from Kristen by rubbernecking at students when we drove by, honestly un-used to all the different styles of dress. It was pretty typical, and though I felt a little naïve, I know that I’m just being honest in say that I was fascinated; for all our love of the military, most Norwich kids are secretly (or not so secretly!) a little jealous of the freedom of expression that comes when you only wear your uniform once a week- or not at all.

My second shock came in waiting for Kristen to finish her last class for Friday (I had flown up the night before). I was minding my own in a little café-type setting when my ears picked up the familiar strains of someone practicing Chinese vocabulary words. I looked up to see two students, both of non-Asian heritage, early practicing the words. And no one was giving them funny looks. That, for the record, is not a naturally occurring thing at Norwich. Soon enough, they were joined by four or five more students, also not of Asian heritage, and the group began to converse in nearly flawless Mandarin; to the point where about 30% of the conversation flew right over my head.

I’m not saying that I regret studying a foreign language here; in fact, this is my school and the language is my calling. But since we’re in the first real year of having Chinese as a major, compared to UK’s thriving and well-established Chinese major, I have to be truthful in saying that it got me pretty depressed, sinking further into my seat and sipping Mocha, turning up the music through my headphones to drown them out. The thought followed me through the course of the night, ad Kristen, being a spookily good reader of body language, finally cornered my in the car after dinner, asking what was wrong. I admitted, a little hesitantly, that I felt a little envious of the “normal” college experience. And I did. It was easy to be content at Norwich, but here, with the life I –could- be living…. UK is far cheaper than Norwich, and bigger, -and- they have AFROTC… Kristen listened to me and, after a few minutes, pulled the car over and turned to me, smiling gently. “Rikki… listen.” She said. “UK is amazing, and yes, it has a lot of, let’s say, “attractive differences” over Norwich. But the environment, the friendships, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the brotherhood you’ll be a part of when you leave…. That, you’ll never find anywhere else. And it’s worth more than some cool clothes and a few parties.”

 

I felt pretty chagrined. In a few sentences, Kristen had, as always, laid things out perfectly with her precise, pointed logic. And I grinned back, realizing that though we’ve led very different lifestyles, Kristen and I are very alike; and we’re both right where we belong.

Very Respectfully,

Rikki Feightner

Band Co. '15

 

(The picture is a treat; something I drew while at art class with Kristen. What can I say; I love to doodle.)

Fall for the Corps.

Fall is a time of year to recap everything you did last year; what worked, what didn't and what you could probably be doing better this time 'round.

Fall brings new faces and new adventures to be had, whether you are a Rook, Growing Sophomore, Ring-Dazzled Junior, or Graduation-bound Senior (and even beyond!).

Fall is a time to renew workout commitments and realize that hey, beach season is only eight months away. And there's nothing but snow here in the winter... time to get up to the gym.

Fall brings Air Force POC contracting and earning their new uniforms, wearing that fabric with pride that a summer of struggle and sweat earned you. And hey, you can roll your sleeves.

Fall is the time that familiar, timeless Norwich music swells forth from the new Sabine Field, where Alumni will soon walk on a new place with old feet.

Fall brings bills, and textbooks, and homework. Sleeping in late or just late nights in the library. But also a few well-deserved Saturday morning snoozes for upperclassmen. And the watchful eyes of Rooks taking in "civi Sunday" at the chow hall.

Fall is the time of "remember whens" and recounting of Rookdom adventures over a bonfire, caught between a fondness for the Corps and a wonder and what will come after.

Fall brings meetings and presentations and a slow building tension that will end with exam week and for some, a few good (exensive) nights at the Rustic.

Fall is the time for worship, and recollection, and reflection. For little flags on the UP and slow marching and buglers at night.

Fall for the Corps comes, and goes, and outlasts all of us.

Norwich Forever.

Respectfully,

Rikki Feightner,

Band Co. '15

Quick Recap of China

(WAY overdue from the summer. But thought I'd leave this here.)

Well. Right now, we’re about five hours away from America as I write this. Slightly different scenario on the plane here than it was last summer. I’m next to a lady from Hebei province, traveling through Beijing to her job to Detroit. It’s not only her first time flying, but she speaks no English and this is her first time going to America. I’ve been translating everything for her as best I can and chatting with her about her life, my life; small talk. But it seems to really calm her nerves. And as someone who was in approximately her same situation last summer, even though I don’t understand –everything-, I can tell that she appreciates the effort.

What a summer it’s been. If I could do it again, I would in a heartbeat. And probably take the time to sit down and write more blogs, too.

I learned more about my limits than I ever had this summer. Out of Norwich for exactly two days, and it was off to Field Training for 28 days, where I was trained and prepared to enter the POC (Professional Officer Corps; the upperclassman group of Air Force Cadets) this coming fall. Field Training was incredibly intense, but I loved the overall experience and made some really good friends. And then, exactly 13 hours to pack yet again, and it was back to China, back to Minzu University, Beijing. Round 2.

The feeling of stepping into a place on the other side of the world and having it suddenly feel like home is beyond words. I walked up and down the halls and relived the previous summer for the first several days; remembering old friends, old faces, old jokes. Relishing the feeling of being back. The only summer camps I really ever went to as a kid were military oriented, and so… in a weird kind of way, Beijing last year was really my first summer-camp type experience. And it blew my mind. Really, it shaped my outlook on life, made me who I am today. And it took being in a totally foreign place to find what I loved the most about home. Funny how things work out that way.

I had one of my best friends there (besides Joe). Trung Nguyen and several other Norwich cadets joined in on this summer’s program and gladly put Norwich on the map for everybody else there. Being the biggest group of students from any one college, we sort of made a name for ourselves by just how closely we worked together and how obnoxiously proud we were of our school. In the words of our friend and classmate Phil Carr; “When I met you guys, being that you were from a Corps School, I figured you were all going to be clique-y and sort of stuck up. But you proved me wrong. Very wrong. I have a lot of respect for Norwich now.” A lot of kids on the hill will gripe and complain about our school, how we don’t like it, how this and that could be better, but get us away from the hill and get more than one of us together, and you can be guaranteed to know where we’re from. Don’t worry; we’ll tell you.

I had a lot of adventures this summer, but to be fair, I studied harder than I ever have in my life. (Minus some senior-itis the last week, I’ll admit.) We’re talking about 6-7 hours of interviewing, researching, translating, homework, review and preview. Every day. This may have been easier, granted, if I hadn’t skipped two levels. Yes, last year I was first-level in the program. And this year, I was third-level. And let me tell you, the first day was –rough-. Like, doubting everything I ever learned about Chinese rough. I walked in with a first-year vocabulary.Basically, I could speak Chinese, but I still had the internal wordbank of a six year old. (Probably less, to be realistic.) I walked in to third year, and they started talking about the current state of the Chinese economy.

I felt like I was in an ocean of words, and I was drowning. I couldn’t understand any of what they were saying. I almost went to second year right then and there. But I remembered my friend Will from last year, cheering me on. And I knew that I could either go back to second year, which would be very doable, or continue to do third year, which would be a fight right up to the bitter end. And in the end, I chose third year. And it was indeed a bitter struggle. But I stuck with it, sometimes grimly, and my Chinese exploded in learning progress.

There are the disadvantages, of course. While I’m a huge fan of the food in China (note that I don’t say Chinese food; our perception and their reality of this is very, very different!), it can get old sometimes, and occasionally I’d just like some cheese or a Deli-style sandwich. Or unsweetened tea. Good lord. That’s practically all I like to drink in America and it’s non-existent other than the hot-tea-at-a-restaurant form. (First world, problems, I know.) I’m also looking forward to being back In America because I have this magical ability now to order food, ask for directions and express my opinions without having to ask how to say things, stumbling over my words, or paraphrasing for lack of vocabulary and sounding… dumb. That, I won’t miss.

But despite the ups and downs, the culture shock second time 'round and the reverse shock that's sure to sink in these next few days, I'm ready and excited for the year. I'm home!

Respectfully,

Rikki Feightner

Band Co. '15