Cyber Diem Project

My friends/main characters in my Cyber Diem Project

From left to right: Ariel, Lawren, Carly, Samantha

As of today, I have 11 days until I return to my hometown in New Hampshire for the summer. The past month I have been immensely busy with projects and finals in all of my classes. Tonight, my project I'm most proud of will be showing in Rosen Auditorium at 7pm as part of the Cyber Diem Project.

The Cyber Diem Project is the final for my Visual Anthropology class. Basically, everyone in my class (all five of us) were asked to create a 24 minute documentary, each minute roughly acting as an hour of a day. We have been watching documentaries from every time period this semester and have a good understanding of what goes into making one. This endeavor was easier said than done.

My documentary was about my four best friends at Lasell. After days and weeks in the library, it became a coming of age story about them, documenting their struggles and worries about their futures. The most beautiful part about my movie was that our friendship was portrayed so well. I'm very excited to be part of this project and think it's great for students across campus to come and watch what their fellow students have accomplished.

The Cyber Diem Projects will be showing tonight at 7pm in Rosen. There will be free pizza and drinks!

The Most 'Foreign' Activity Offered at Lasell

This year, between homework, club meetings, activities and friends, I have been quietly working on something that I hope will change my view on the world for the rest of my life... I have been filling out paperwork, renewing my passport and applying for an Italian visa because I'm studying abroad in Florence, Italy next semester!
My family has rich Italian and Irish backgrounds and it has always been my dream to visit both places. At the beginning of this school year I knew I wanted to study abroad and Lasell made it so easy! There were various meetings and that helped me decide which program best fit me. I chose to travel through AIFS and they have been a huge help. Constant conversing through e-mail with my admissions officer has kept me up to date on everything I need to do and have done.
Two days ago I got my official acceptance letter and it was that moment when the excitement really sunk in. Studying abroad is such an amazing opportunity, one that I am so glad I am taking advantage of. I think it is extremely important for American students to travel and gain a better understanding of countries other than our own. I am taking one communications class, various elementary Italian language courses and a number of art and photography classes.
The cost to travel right now is absolutely horrendous, though through the Lasell College study abroad program traveling to another country and studying there is no more than your yearly tuition. Thankfully, this means all of my financial aid also carries over! The only money my family and I have worry about is for my flight and spending money.
To experience a new culture, language and way of life is something I have always wanted to do and I truly look forward to opening my mind to a new and exciting country!

Reflection Halfway Through College...

As the year slowly, but surely, comes to a close, I've recently begun to reflect on what I have done my past two years at Lasell. Realizing that I am half way through my college career is scary, but also very exciting. My whole life I've been looking towords college and had only vague dreams of what comes after... but, here I am! Successful, and almost completely finished.
I don't have many regrets about how I have conducted myself thus far in college. Though, my biggest piece of advice, to any current or prospective student would be to become involved within your school as early as possible. Becoming involved with a group or activity on campus opens you up to so many new people, challenges and adventures. The only regret I could truly say I have about the past two years is that I didn't take that advice and only became involved my second year at school.
The Office of Student Activities is a great place to start if you are searching out a club to join. Clubs on campus range from environmental awareness, like Urth, tolerence, like S.A.F.E., or even the Campus Activity Board.
Entering college is terrifying and walking in to a meeting with a club you are unsure of is also, but in the end it really is worth it. Becoming involved on campus will give you an amazing sense of belonging. As part of a club you feel needed, you have something to do with your free time, and you can even sometimes make a difference.

Seasonal Activities

Women's lacrosse players (and Boomer!) honor their senior players on "senior day."

Photo borrowed from Ariel Walkmark's facebook.

Spring is in the air and seems to be treating everone on campus well. Lasell has been buzzing with students who have been locked up all winter and just now starting to see the promise of summer.

As I stated in previous posts, I live in Rockwell (the residence building closest to the lacrosse turf) and activities and spirits have surely changed on that side of campus. On a sunny afternoon it's not uncommon to see groups of people congregating on the turf, kicking soccer balls, playing some lacrosse or just sunning and chatting with friends.

Lacrosse, baseball, and softball have all gone into full swing in the past few weeks. All of the teams have been experiencing surprisingly good turn outs at games. Each event has proved to be a great time not only to socialize but also to get a taste of school spirit.

Another trend across campus this season: The Library. With finals leaving us with two or three weeks left to tie up loose ends for projects and papers, the library has become quite the hot spot on campus. I, myself, have spent the majority of my free time there this week working on papers and even a Window's Movie Maker project for my documentary film class.

Besides the minor monsoon-like rains we have been experiencing the past week or so, it's obvious that the activities on campus have been making a smooth shift from winter to spring.

Off Campus Activities

This past year my friends and I have started taking advantage of activities off campus as well as on. As I mentioned in a past post, hiking is something we've grown to really enjoy and try to do regularly. As well as places you can reach by car, the T has been a big help in finding a remedy for a boring afternoon on campus.
Lately, a lot of great bands have been coming through The House of Blues Boston on 15 Lansdowne St. Over spring break I saw my favorite band, Bloc Party, play there and in late April Jack's Mannequin will be coming through as well. Bands and singers of all genres seem to stop in The House of Blues and most of the shows are all-ages. Getting there is extremely easy from the Woodland T stop near Lasell. Take Woodland to the Kenmore stop, walk up Brookline Ave. towords Fenway Park, take a left on to Lansdowne St and the House of Blues is right acroos from Fenway Park... How much easier could it get?
Another fun place directly off the T is Newbury Street. Take the green line to Hynes Convention Center and you're there! Great shops, boutiques and restaurants can be found here- even if you want to window shop this pricey walk will not dissappoint. At walking distance to the Prudential Center, their shopping mall and The Top of the Hub is also easily accessible.
Some more great places to visit would be The Museum of Fine Arts on the E train on the green line, or The Aquarium. The Aquarium has it's own stop on the blue line, but is also in walking distance from Government Center. Both of these places have discounts for college students and provide hours of entertainment.
Taking advantage of the T and other public transportation systems can save you a lot of cash and most definitely takes the stress out of parking in the city! So, if the college scene doesn't do it for you, you're lucky because, here at Lasell, Boston is your back yard.