I’m sure I am not the only one who has ever had a rough day… but I may be the only one who skips down the hall regardless of their internal emotions. People often ask me how I am able to be the “Happiest Sad Person they have seen”. As much as they do not believe me, I have my bad days as well! I am pretty good at covering them up but once in a while I get teary eyed and change from my “happy go lucky” personality to “on the edge” (no not the edge of glory- although I do love that song).

The good part is that I know WHO and WHERE to go when I need help. We all have days where we are on cloud nine and unfortunately these days typically tend to be followed by “Not so thrilling” days.

The best part about being in residence is that there is ALWAYS somebody to talk to. Between the RAs and other members of residence, you are bound to find at least one open ear (If not, come knock on my door)! Staff and Faculty (Including Guidance Counselors) will also listen to your troubles.

When I am having a flustered day, I find the most comfort in…

Calling my mommy

• She is usually pretty good at finding the magical rainbow in my thunderstorm
• Mom’s listen regardless of how silly your complaint may be
  • If you prefer talking to your dad, a sibling or a friend that works too

Distracting myself

• Playing a game of cards or watching a video with friends can really lift your spirits
• I personally find baking soothing because it focuses my attention on measuring rather than “the past” or the “concerning issue”
• Crafts or other creative outlets are very good distraction techniques
• Listening to UPBEAT music (And possibly dancing around your room)

Going for a walk

• Exercise releases endorphins and endorphins make you happy

Leaving the situation

• When emotions are still up in the air or on the hot plate, it is best just to leave the situation so that you don’t dwell or get too preoccupied with the issue

Sleep

• A lot of the time I find myself more emotional because I am lacking sleep
• After a long nap you are usually able to see the bigger picture and realize how “small” or “insignificant” your problem is

Don’t personalize things

• It’s hard to realize that not EVERYTHING is as a result of your actions
• Don’t let others tell you when you are right or wrong

Treat yourself

• Some people enjoy comfort food, while others enjoy pampering
• Having a treat once in a while is alright as long as you don’t begin to associate certain negative events with “rewards”

So although sometimes it feels like things aren’t looking “up”, I assure you that someday they will. Even if it isn’t tomorrow, or the next day with persistence we can change our mood, emotions and life situations.

As I post this post (Yes, usually the posts that I post reflect what is going on in my life) I am my vibrant self but when I wrote this post last night, I was having a less-than-perfect day!

❤ Molly

This past weekend my parents were away on vacation so I was unable to go home. After being at Brescia for two weeks, I felt like I too needed a getaway. My only problem was that I am on a tight budget (as a student) and could not fly to NYC (Retail Therapy) for the weekend. Instead I opted to visit my sister Emma, who lives in London (Ontario unfortunately)  and is in her third year of Health Sciences and Rehabilitation at UWO Main.

What a treat it was to cook for her! As a food and nutrition student, I definitely miss being a chef and baker. As well, we went and saw “I don’t know how she does it”. Right now that very same question is pondering in my head ONLY about myself! Am I going to be able to juggle more than six hours of class and homework? I sure hope so! Back to the movie…I thought it was excellent. It had just the right balance between practicality and humour. Sarah Jessica Parker isn’t necessarily my favourite actress, but she definitely did a great job in this role!

After the movie we returned home to study! Then again…Emma and I both agree that you need to take breaks as you study! We took advantage of these by grocery shopping, walking to starbucks and having a mini “photoshoot” around campus. It was so much fun to have a “buddy” for everything that I was doing! If you aren’t as lucky as I am, you could partake in these activities with a friend instead!

Although Emma is just down the Brescia hill (About a 5 minute walk), it was a nice break from residence. Sometimes you just need a bit of “sister bonding time”.

How was your weekend? Did you do anything exciting or fun? Try walking around your home campus (Or neighbourhood if you are not in school) and finding those intricate locations and scenery!

Cue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGLZqDXau98

I thought this title was appropriate because….

1. It is pouring outside! Walking from Brescia to the Natural Science Building (which is about 1.5 km) is not very fun when it is raining outside! Thank goodness for my polka dot rain boots, my nifty umbrella and my trustworthy trench coat! I made it to class and home safely without melting (After all, I am sweet enough to be made out of sugar! and am now sitting (Before Business Class) with a HUGE cup of tea to warm me up.
2. There are no boys at Brescia so how could it be raining men? I just thought it was a little bit ironic! Although… ever since Brescia has allowed guests to visit rooms, there have been a selection (and crowd) of boys. It is funny seeing everyone’s friends swarm each others boyfriends to meet friends who are boys!
   

   The Weather Girls! I wish that I had had this umbrella :)

3. BUCSC (Brescia University College Student Council) Campaigning (For the Election on September 28^th to 29^th) started today. I recently decided that I am going to run for First Year Residence Representative. As everyone has done, I established a colour scheme.My campaign theme is “Tie-Dye”. In case you were wondering how this relates to “It’s Raining Men”, Tie-Dye was big in the late 1970s and the song “It’s Raining Men” was developed in the early 1980s. The two go hand in hand in my opinion! There are so many girls running for Student Council so it is neat to see a variety of posters around Ursuline Hall and the St. James Building. From Health Eating to Environmental issues, everyone is campaigning their own viewpoints.

That’s all for now! Be sure to check out the blog later this week because I am planning on updating you on BUCSC and filling you in on other events that have been taking place!

❤ Molly

 

It’s hard to believe that move-ins were two weeks ago! From a residence standpoint, everyone seems to be settling in to their new home…and nothing makes that transition speed up quicker than the first full week of classes.

My own reading list has gotten a whole lot longer in a matter of days and I quickly found myself back at my usual table in the Beryl Ivey Library silent section catching up. Luckily, there are resources to help relieve reading and researching stress. The best part? Many of these resources are available through the Brescia Library…which for me is right next door!

This year, the library has rolled out new initiatives like the Clever Researcher booth, which is basically office hours featuring the librarians! The booth is every Monday from 2:30-3:30 in the loud side of the library and every Wednesday from 1:30-2:30 in the St. James Living Room. It is a great opportunity to get research questions answered or just an excuse to get to know the staff that work in the Beryl Ivey Library.

The Clever Researcher also has a blog answering some of the most frequently asked student questions…it’s always my first stop for research questions.

Other initiatives like the University Students Toolkit and the many links available on the library web page are also a great resource.

Don’t take it from me, go explore the Brescia’s Library- just don’t take my spot!

Christine

Most of us can remember exactly what we were doing ten years ago. I remember sitting in Ms. Wilson’s grade three English class as I listened fearfully to the P.A. system. With every word that I heard, more “worry” crept up my spine. We hid in the corner of our room underneath desks and chairs, unsure of what was going to happen next. Was the world coming to an end? I remember having no idea why someone would ever want to destroy such complex and beautiful buildings.

That day, I may not have understood exactly how horrific the jolt in history was, but I remember feeling sorry and guilty for those who died without reason.

While ten years have passed, they have been slow and mournful. I can only imagine the emotions that are arising in some peoples’ minds today. I know that I am not alone in the dread I still possess because of the lasting impact of the foreign attack. I can only hope that the world is a safer place today because of the progression of society and the world peace that we have established to date.

So although it has been ten years, I am proud to say that I still recognize those who fought for peace on the day of September 11^th 2001. Even though I am not in New York City standing in the original footprints of the Twin Towers that have been transformed into massive reflecting pools and waterfalls, I am going to take five minutes out of my day to stand in silence and remember all of the victims as a whole.

May thoughts be with those who lost loved ones in the detrimental disaster! Whether you had a family member or friend working in one of the World Trade Centers, or you knew someone who died of too much smoke inhalation, please know that I am still thinking about their brave contribution to society. I cannot express the gratitude and appreciation I have towards the survivors and helpers of September 11^th.

I hope all of your can donate a few moments of your time to stand in silence as well while praying, hoping, wishing or even just thinking about what September 11th 2001 means to you.

Sincerely, Molly

Over the past week, I’ve had the privilege of participating in the Orientation Week program for a second time. From move-ins to opening ceremonies to being woken up far too early by cheering sophs ready to raise money for Shinerama Day…O-Week 2011 has surely been full of excitement.

To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from my second O-Week experience. After all, I wasn’t donning a frosh shirt, going to all the events or meeting the person I would be living with for the next 8 months. Nor was I helping with move-ins, cheering my heart out or wearing outrageously awesome shiny gold tights.

As a member of the Residence Life Staff Team, I had a birds eye view on this year’s O-Week, and what I saw was nothing short of amazing.

The nervous, quiet girls I greeted as they moved in have bloomed into laughing, dancing, cheering frosh whose purple pride is already off the charts.

The frosh have truly “Redefined their Reality” in their new “Western Dimension” this past week, and it has been a pleasure to watch them do so.

-Christine

If you think moving into residence is enough to keep you occupied, try moving into residence AND attending O-Week! My oh my! I am so sorry that four days and seven hours have past since I posted last. What can I say! Brescia has made me BUSY as a BEE (Get it, the mascot is a Bee!!)

It’s almost impossible to remember everything that I have participated in because I have had so many first adventures. This being said, O-Week has definitely been a memorable event!

To date I have…

-       Gone mini putting in a glow in the dark facility

-       Rock climbed and completed multiple high rope courses

(My arms are still sore)

-       Bowled (And lost!!)

-       Cheered until I lost my voice (B R E S C I A  - That’s the way

we spell our name)

-       Been hypnotized and embarrassed (I am now known around

campus as “The girl who got hypnotized and made the show”

- Every person walk by asks me if I am “That” girl!!)

-       Attended the opening Mustang Football game (Where we won

86-20)

-       Tie-dyed a T-shirt (First time! WOOT, WOOT)

-       Played a BIG game of twister (Tied for first)

-       Enjoyed a party (Where they served Mocktails and Ice

Cream Sundaes)

-       Decorated the walls of my new residence room (And kept

my room clean)

-       Shopped at the Convent Garden (A Fantastic Market)

-       Found other Foodies (You know what I mean if you are a

food and nutrition student)

-       Heard cheers at the opening ceremony (The event surpassed

my expectations by far)

-       Walked all the way to the hospital instead of Elgin (Getting

lost is just so much fun)

-       Wait for it… Felt home sick! (Yes Mom, you were right, I did

miss you!)

-       Participated in Faculty Day (Where I had a chance to ask

my professors questions)

-       Toured Western’s main campus

-       Gone for a run (At 6:00 a.m.)

-       Wandered the streets (With Sophs) of Downtown London

-       Eaten at the cafeteria

And last, but definitely not least, met the best girls that I have ever met. Don’t get me wrong I still have a close knit group of “Home” friends, but the girls on my floor at Brescia are what you could call “Perfect”. It is so nice to meet people with the same interests as me. My floor is academic which means that quiet time starts earlier (9:00 p.m.) and we are all in similar programs. Most of us are food junkies so we all miss cooking and grocery shopping.

Brescia might be far from main campus and although the hill really is as tiring as it looks to walk up, it already feels like home. Don’t ever let someone tell you that Brescia is “different” because it is all girls. The girls are definitely normal and to be honest, boys love the idea of an all girls campus!

I plan on updating you more (On my next post) and going into further details of some of the events (Hypnotist, Faculty Day, Decorating your room, Homesickness and of course ,finding your way around London).

For now, just know that O-Week will be (or maybe is already) the best week of your life. From the people you meet, to the events you participate in, you really can’t get bored. To each it means something different, but to all,  it is a really great bonding experience. Some days I feel so tired that I don’t want to go out, but I just have to remind myself that once I am out I will have a great time.

I guess what I am getting at is that sometimes you only have ONE chance. I will never be a Frosh again so I need to make the most out of my opportunities and chances. So what if I embarrass myself? You are your own worst critic. Chances are, nobody else is paying quite as much attention to you as you think.

❤ Molly