I am back on the hill and Junior year (eek!) is in full swing! Due to construction delays on the new science center, classes began yesterday. However, I have been on campus since August 23rd preparing for the incoming class of 2012 and all of the returning residents in Hilleboe Kittlesby Hall.
I have 52 sophomore and junior residents, 20 males and 32 females, split between the 1st and 3rd floor of Hilleboe Hall. After a week of intense training, preparation, and staff development we welcomed the new residents for another year on the hill. After spending the summer as a glorified camp counselor, it was difficult to shake the feeling that I am simply a camp counselor for big kids now. The role of Resident Assistant is slightly less intense. My basic duties include planning educational and social events for my corridor residents monthly, being on call and patrolling the corridors about once every two weeks (we have a large staff in Hill-Kitt) and generally being a resource for my residents about campus programs. The perks of the job are amazing– I have met some wonderful new people both on staff and as residents, as well as I live in a single that is the size of a double. However, they do warn us as resident’s life staff that we will be living in a fish bowl with everyone on campus knowing who we are and the choices that we make. So don’t rent out my room just yet Mom and Dad– some weekends away might be in order this year.
As much as I might like to take the weekend off this semester, I am not sure that my classes would allow me to. I will most likely remember this term as the semester that I decided my career path in ecology or the semester that I quit Biology and became an Interpretive Dance Major. I am taking Ecological Principles, Limnology, Nature and the American Landscape, and Statistics for Science. At the moment, Ecology and Limnology are tied as my favorite classes, of perhaps all time (this could have a little something to do with the fact that they are in the new science center and I am planning on living in the atrium after graduation). Limnology is a small seminar style class with 11 students. While the lab work will be daily (but outside! 
), in class time will be spent presenting scientific papers, learning about the different aspects of limnology, lectures, and I am guessing a few class breakfasts. I am presenting one of Uncle Steve’s papers for discussion in November.
Nature and the American Landscape is a cross disciplinary Environmental Studies course that focuses on the way that our cultural norms influence the ways in which we transform and interact with the natural landscape. It is taught by a professor in the Art History Department who has a much different way of interpreting landscapes and discussing them in a social context then I am familiar with being a science major. The subject is fascinating to me although I have a feeling that it will be my most frustrating class this term.
‘Tis also the season for co-curricular activites. Yesterday I was recruited for the women’s rugby team, which I am not exactly sure is a compliment. I am planning on going to the interest meeting which will allow me to calculate the possible medical bill for the season– then we will see if I am still interested. I will also be joining a select group of Biology majors on Thursday mornings for Discussions in Ecology (yes– the acronym is DIE). The purpose of this group is to hone our skills in scientific paper discussion. I also have Biology Club meetings.
Perhaps my favorite co-curricular activity this semester is Pet Therapy with the Northfield Long Term Care Facility. As the program director I affectionately refer to the program as “Short Hairs for Blue Hairs.” I am in charge of coordination between faculty and staff with dogs, student volunteers with transportation, and the Care Facility. The purpose of the program is to provide long term and terminally ill patients with the weekly opportunity to positively interact with an animal while staying at the Long Term Care Facility. Subconciously I think that I took on the project for my own personal pet therapy.
This post has become rather lengthy so I will have to save my favorite resident stories and the Jesse James Days saga for another day. I miss all of you who are abroad (Amanda, Chelsea, Katherine and Sonja) and all of the family (Mom, Dad, Becky, Brad, Nana, Grandpa, Uncle Steve, Aunt Susan, Paul and Emily) and all of the neighbors! Have a good week!
