Getting Back into the Swing of Things!

It's already been a week into the second semester! I'm happy to be back into the swing of things. It was really nice to reunite with my roommates and all of my friends that live in my resident hall as well as finding some familiar faces in my classes.
After having a little trouble the first week with classes, I have finally gotten in all of the classes that I like and I think it's going to be a great semester. In a couple days, I have to start deciding who I want to room with next year or if I want to apply to become a Resident Assistant.
The weather is really cold and my friends and I have been cautious of slipping and falling on the way to the dining hall and classes.
Next week is the recruitment meeting for The Stylus so a couple friends and I will be attending and continue writing articles again. On top of that, I'm helping Amanda Seef, the Editor-in-Chief of The Stylus and the rest of the members of the Society of Professional Journalists plan a journalism conference scheduled to be held in March!
Now that I'm all stocked up on food, settled into my classes and work and eager to go to the gym daily (in the frigid weather) - I think I'm definitely ready for the second semester to be in full swing.

Home stretch of the first semester!

My roommates and I were commenting the other day about how fast this semester has gone. We have two more weeks of classes and then finals week. Thanksgiving break was a nice break from all the hectic tests my professors decided to give me right before break. It was nice to see family after a month or two of not being home.

So much has happened over the semester though. The Keith Anderson and Kellie Pickler concert was very memorable. Working for The Stylus paid off because I got the opportunity to interview them! Halloween was a blast - I dressed up like a cowgirl all weekend long! Time definitely flies in college. I'm meeting with a group of students in one of my classes for a presentation soon, so until then - hope the college search is going well!

The Freshman Nerves

On move-in day, I was very surprised to see how small my suite room was, but the move-in crew was very accommodating and once I finally organized everything, I quickly adjusted and it started feeling like home. My suitemates and other freshman in my hall made me feel very welcome and made the goodbye to my grandma and mom so much easier.
Before I came to college, I was also very worried about gaining the "freshman 15" (which I refuse to do), but there is a gym open to all students free of charge and the food in the dining halls has been rated number one in the SUNY system for the past five years. the food staff is very friendly and the popular dining hall, Harrison features many healthy foods.
In addition, before I started my classes I was a little nervous because my course load included Human Evolution, Intro to Philosophy, Movement and Self Awareness (I didn't realize this was a dance class until the first day of classes!), Protest and Public Opinion, Fundamentals of Media and Academic Planning Seminar. In my Human Evolution class, there is a woman who is deaf and Brockport is very accommodating for people with any kind of learning disability. Most of my classes are general education classes, but I am getting a taste of journalism through my Fundamentals of Media and Protest and Public Opinion classes. In addition, the Academic Planning Seminar is very important for freshmen because it's a class that gets students acclimated to the college. The class has students in it with similar majors to mine and if I ever need help with any of my journalism classes, I have a whole class of students to get help from. Also, my advisor of the class is the chair of the communications department, which is good if I ever need help with anything journalism related and I will eventually turn to her for recommendations when I am job hunting or applying for a scholarship.
There are many opportunities to get involved with activities on campus. Although I didn't know it before I came here, Brockport is known, especially by the students and professors, for advertising campus activities all over campus including on sidewalks (with chalk, of course). As I walk out of my residence hall, I look down to see a plethora of different groups promoting meetings to join clubs, advertising sororities and fraternities or selling tickets for the upcoming concert.
The local movie theater hosts midnight movies (that Brockport students get into for $1!) and Zonies, a restaurant on Main Street has the best (and most fattening!) calzones. Although I don't participate in any of the Division 3 sports teams, club sports or intramural sports, they are fun to watch (and Brockport students get in free).
Although the Brockport Web site is very easy to navigate, you can't tell by looking at a website where the best place for you to attend college would be. I believe its crucial to attend an open house to experience the campus. During my college search, I knew I wanted to wake up every morning and walk to my classes on a beautiful, welcoming campus (and I do!). Take a campus visit, try the food, introduce yourself to as many people as you can, check out the dorms and clean out your mom's wallet at the college book store. Try not to get too overwhelmed with the college search - you WILL find the perfect college for you!

Introduction

Hey! I'm Hailey and I'm from Painted Post, New York, a small town about two hours south of Brockport. I live with my grandparents, my 16-year-old sister Whitney and my 3-year-old brother Ryland. I spend my free time hanging out with friends, scrapbooking, reading and writing.

During my four years at Corning-Painted Post West High School, I was on the newspaper and yearbook staff; played the clarinet, trombone, mellophone and french horn in marching band, concert band and pep band; and actively participated in Class Council, Student Council, lacrosse and softball. I also had an internship with my hometown's local newspaper, The Leader which finalized my decision to become a journalist.

Honestly, I became interested in Brockport accidently. I attended a campus visit at Brockport as a last resort and fell absolutely in love with the school while I was here. My tour guide, Brynn, really showed me what campus life and academics was like, but I was still unsure about coming here because it wasn't my first choice college.

It's been less than a month since I've been here and I have adjusted very well; I really love Brockport and wouldn't have chosen any other college. I live in a suite in Benedict Hall and I love my roommates and other students in the hall; everyone is a big family and I'm right at home. There are so many activities to pursue on campus as well. I already have a work study job in a computer lab which I really enjoy and I just started writing for The Stylus, the student-run newspaper that recently received the fifth place "Best of Show" award at the Associated College Press National College Newspaper Midwinter Convention. In addition to Brockport's beautiful campus, I decided to attend college at Brockport because of their excellent academic reputation. I can understand and learn from all of my professors and they are very willing to teach students the best way they learn. Also, the class size of all of my classes is 40 students or less, so I'm not just another number in the classroom.

I am very excited about getting involved in more activities and making the most of my experience at Brockport and hope you enjoy reading about my first year!