It is that time of the year again when everyone is getting ready for the end of the current semester while simultaneously preparing for the beginning of next semester – the cycle of work never ends! Student organizations, especially, are wrapping up their activities and electing new officers to plan for next year.
As I’ve shared in previous entries, I have been involved with Women in Business all year – I’ve attended weekly meetings to plan for speaker events, speaker dinners and career-planning events. My involvement in Women in Business has been very beneficial to me this year, because it gave me, a first year aspiring business major, insight into life as a student at the Robins School of Business. It also helped give me an idea of life after Richmond – life in the real business world. Through Women in Business’s speaker events, I also had the opportunity to explore the different career choices in the business world. I met women specialized in marketing, finance, banking, insurance and even law. Now, I have a better idea of the next three years in the business school.
 I also have decided what areas of business I would like to focus on and what I would like to do upon graduation, for I just submitted my major declaration form! Usually students at UR don’t declare their major until second semester sophomore year, but I wanted to start taking upper level classes. It’s an exciting feeling to finally know what direction I’m heading in throughout the next three years!
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Ladies and gentlemen, I am thrilled to announce my finalized summer plans! I was recently notified that I have been accepted into the summer study abroad program in Cordoba, Argentina. Additionally, the Latin American and Iberian Studies (LAIS) department offered me a generous scholarship to help alleviate the program cost. I cannot wait to spend my summer exploring a whole new culture all the while earning credit towards my LAIS degree!
               Through the program, I will take classes on Latin American/Argentine culture and Spanish-American literature at Blas Pascal University during the week and explore different parts of the country on the weekends. Weekend excursions include visits to small historic towns of Alta Gracia and Villa General Belgrano in Argentina’s Cordoba Province with other UR students in the program. We will also venture on hikes and horseback outings to explore natural wonders such as Valle de la Luna and Talampaya National Park. Then, we will spend the last five days of the program in the nation’s historic capital of Buenos Aires.
               In addition to exploring the country through excursions, I will have the once in a lifetime chance to personally get to know the Argentine people and culture. I will be staying with an Argentine host family during my four weeks in Cordoba. Through home-stay, I will experience family customs and enjoy home-cooked meals. I will also be partnered with a student from Blas Pascal who will show me how the average Argentinean college student lives.
               Sharing my summer plans with you has only made me more excited for my Argentina adventure. All this to show that the University offers amazing summer opportunities in addition to everything else, so you should definitely scope them out when you’re here!
I have just returned from nine blissful days of spring break, only to be welcomed by dreary rain. However, spring flowers are starting to bloom and little tufts of green are popping out of the ground, so campus will be gorgeous soon!
The week leading up to spring break was quite miserable, to say the least. I had a midterm in every class, two papers and a presentation due. Â All this to say, spring break was very much needed and came just in time.
Now that I am back on campus, I am focused on finishing up my year! I am very proud to say that I have successfully survived three quarters of my first year of college! Only five more weeks of classes and one week of finals until I am completely done; it’s unbelievable!
Besides schoolwork, there are tons of activities planned for the rest of the semester. This week’s highlights include St. Patrick’s Day, my birthday, and a class of 2012 celebration! Of course, the school will go all out for St. Patrick’s Day like it does for every other holiday, so I will definitely keep you updated. Also, I am turning the big 1-9 on Thursday, and to celebrate that, I will continue my search for delicious eats by trying out a new restaurant. And to end the first week back, the Richmond and Westhampton class of 2012 will throw a luau on the Westhampton Green to celebrate our survival of freshman year. I will be taking pictures, so keep an eye out for updates on this week’s festivities!
