Way More Than 110 Things to Do!

To echo Janna's post a bit, allow me to indulge some 4th Year nostalgia as well. Every fall, the Fourth Year Class Council compiles a list of “UVa Must-Sees” to distribute to all graduating 4th years. My friends and I have been working hard to complete all of the tasks on our list of “110 Things to do Before Graduation” but I still have a few more to check off before I can walk the Lawn this May. For the rest of the semester, I’ll keep you guys updated on my adventures, but I’ll start by re-capping a few of the things-to-do that I’ve already done.

“Check out final Fridays at the UVa art museum”- On the last Friday of every month, the UVa art museum opens its doors to students and community members for a special viewing of its current collection. There’s always free food and drinks and the artwork is fantastic. It’s a great way to wind down on a Friday afternoon; after all, you’ve got to save some energy for the weekend!

“Celebrate TJs birthday, try to see the purple shadows”- Everyone loves a good birthday party, but especially in honor of our founder, Thomas Jefferson. On April 13th, the community comes together to celebrate Mr. Jefferson’s birthday on the Lawn, and Founders Day events have been some of my fondest UVa memories. And if you can manage to stay up all night, you may even catch a glimpse of the Purple Shadows (one of our many secret societies) processing down the Lawn to place a wreath at the Jefferson statue.

“Visit Edgar Allen Poe’s Room” – Though he was only a UVa student for a brief period of time, we still herald Edgar Allen Poe as one of our favorite alumni. His room, 13 West Range, is still preserved with original furniture and stands as a monument to the brilliant writer. There’s nothing more inspiring than walking to class along the same route once walked by Poe, though I’d steer clear of the area on Halloween.

First Year Seminar

A new semester is an exciting time. Classes are different. Weather is different. Activities are different. This semester, I am serving as a facilitator for First Year Seminar (FYS), a series of seminars designed to help first-years make the most of their time at UVa. After getting adjusted to college life in their first semester, FYS aims to provide the tools and advice to make the remaining 7 semesters as enjoyable, rewarding, and gratifying as possible. FYS is a completely voluntary program but students who participate walk away from it with so much. First, the groups (10-15 first-years) are led by 3 facilitators who are upperclassmen that are some of the most amazing students you will meet at UVa. We serve as an incredible resource for the first-years during and after the program for any questions regarding classes, majors, activities, life and such. Secondly, each week (5 total) we discuss a different topic ranging from identity awareness and personal accountability to building relationships at UVa whether it be with faculty or even other students. The program ends with a panel of fourth-years who share their highs and lows as well as some tips and tricks to make the best of your time at UVa. FYS meets in the football stadium's, Scott Stadium, suite boxes which truly makes this a unique experience as the only people allowed in these are those who shell out thousands of dollars for tickets or students who are interviewing for jobs. To top it off, those students who come to all 5 sessions receive a free t-shirt as a keepsake of their experience! Watch our recruiting video "Party in the FYS" to learn more about FYS:



Thus, FYS is another way that UVa works to ensure that first-year students are able to take advantage of the many opportunities that it has to offer.

Fourth Year Fun

I am in my last year at this University and life is getting bittersweet. On the one hand I'm ready to graduate and move on to other pastures (greener or not) but on the other hand I am beginning to understand that there are only a few weeks left of my college life. There is so much offered at this University (for free, many times!!) and there is not enough time to do it all. I do want to share, however, a few of my favorite things to do here that everyone should partake in before graduation. You will no doubt get the "__ Things to do Before You Graduate" but sometimes they miss out so just to highlight some things:

1. Go to a concert. They host symphonies, percussion ensembles, jazz groups, singing groups, visiting artists, and so much more! The tickets are many times free for students and the highest prices I've seen/paid has been $15 for really rare concerts but they rarely cost that much. The location is unbeatable: Old Cabell Hall! And the musical programs are a great opportunity to learn about famous composers. They are sometimes also accompanied by a one hour lecture on the artist, group, or instrument(s) hosted earlier in the week. Living in an age where almost everything is accessible on the Internet, we sometimes forget the joy of being in a concert hall and enjoying some Bach or Mendelssohn. Don't take this for granted because if you go to a concert hall in DC or Boston, you will pay upwards of $50 per person to hear the same piece.

2. Listen to a lecture. Yes, I know, you have class lectures. This is not what I am talking about. The real gem of a large university (or any university) is that they attract great speakers, from international diplomats to famous anthropologists to published authors. Unless you know these people personally, there is no place else where you can listen to them live, for free, and with time to ask questions. Have you met the ambassador from Bangladesh? What about the prime minister of Norway? Any famous, published authors? Well, neither have I, not until I heard of them coming to UVa to describe their work and decided to attend their lecture in the Rotunda Dome Room. Don't miss your chance to be in the company of some great men and women!

3. Watch a movie. Do you remember when movie tickets cost $3? Neither do I. The lowest price I remember is $5 for a child. Now, if you go to Newcomb, you can catch some of the newest releases for $3! Sure, you can get it from the RedBox at Harris Teeter for $1 in 6 months but do you really want to wait that long? And hear people talking about it? And, God forbid, have someone spoil the ending for you? There you go, right into the Newcomb basement where a full-size auditorium awaits your presense.

4. Take a walk. Yes, you've been to the Rotunda. And the Lawn. Good job! You're a regular tourist now. Here's a question: have you been in the small garden in the medical complex? What about the grassy spot behind that strange looking arch across Emmet St from Newcomb? And where's that elusive Aschool, again? Unless you take the time to explore the Grounds, you won't know how much space there is and how many cool little corners there are. Enjoy your life here! It's not just about classes. It's also about seeing things, learning of new places, exploring the land. Awaken that spirit inside and discover something new for yourself!

That's all for now. Go find some things to do for yourself that you enjoy, even if no one else wants to join you on your endeavor to see more of the place you call home for four years.

Need a Ride Home? Take Home Ride!

If you live in major metropolitan area in Virginia and go to UVa (or VTech or Radford or JMU) you have a great opportunity: Home Ride! What is this "ride," you ask? Well, it's run by a private company that serves students by providing busses to take them home for the weekend (or winter break). They route the busses to Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, or Richmond. The cost is different depending on the destination and starting point but I've taken this service many times and not only is it reliable (read: comes on time), the passengers are mostly students and there are no stops on the way so the trip to Northern Virginia takes only 2 hours.

Home Ride of Virginia, Inc. 

Is it costly? Well, maybe. But isn't home worth it? I know that as a first year student you don't have a car and not everyone knows an upperclassman with a private vehicle. You could also take Amtrak, I suppose, which I've done but it might not be as convenient for you if your hometown is in Hampton Roads. And do you really want your parents driving all the way to Charlottesville to come get you just to drive back again?

Consider this great service next time you are going home if you live in the state. And if you don't, see if maybe you can catch the train from Union Station in DC to your house (because, you know, the NoVA drop off location is at a Metro stop).

Good luck on finals, everyone!  

Happy holidays!

Every Hoo down in Hooville...

It’s here, it’s here! Today marks the LAST day of classes for the semester. But perhaps even more exciting is that in just a few short hours thousands of students, faculty, and community members will gather on the Lawn for one of my favorite UVa traditions: Lighting of the Lawn! Lighting of the Lawn is an annual event consisting of two hours building up to the flipping of the switch that illuminates the pavilions, lawn rooms and Rotunda, spreading festive holiday cheer. The lights remain lit every night until Christmas, helping to brighten the spirits of students drudging to and from the library as they study for final exams. While everyone waits to see the lawn lit up, hot chocolate and cookies are enjoyed, acappella groups perform, and the traditional holiday poem is read by prominent University figures. Just writing about this is making me even more excited to head over to the Lawn! Happy HOOlidays everyone!!

we come from old virginia...

I love football season – though, admittedly, that love may not be a characteristic that too many fellow cavaliers share with me (especially after this past season).  Most prospective students who possess the same affinity to the sport will take one look at this year’s 3-9 record and see it as reason enough to write UVa off.  However, as a devoted fan of the team and an ardent believer in the potential of our football program, let me just say that it would be a mistake to base such a decision on mere statistics; it is the entire experience of a gameday in Charlottesville that really showcases what we, as a university, and as a student body, have to offer.

Whether it be on the lawn, at Alumni Hall, or by the AFC, tailgating is an indisputably important tradition before every football game here at UVa; few things can compare to the sheer high-spirited nature of true wahoo fans during those hours preceding kick-off.

As game time draws near, and the crowds file into Scott Stadium, the level of enthusiasm can literally be felt all around.  Guys in ties, girls in pearls, and the sea of orange that epitomize our student section as well as the Hill are undoubtedly one of the first things that opposing fans comment on… and let me just say that there are few times when you feel prouder to be a student at the University than during those moments when students from others school stare in awe at juxtaposition between how we dress and carry ourselves at a game, and how they choose to behave. 

Even during bleak football seasons such as the one that we have just endured, all these other factors make it so that we, as cavaliers, can keep our heads held high.  Any true Virginia fan will say that a mixture of pure, unadulterated optimism, interspersed with humbled pride in our school will inevitably bring us back week after week, season after season.  And if those aren’t reasons enough to convince you, just wait until you sing your first Good Ole Song after a touchdown – there’s no turning back after that.

I Feel Like a Kid Again

Through all the stresses and activities of college life, there is a mandatory need to get away from it all every once in a while to stay sane. My weekly escape has been to volunteer at Wesley Community Day Care Center.

The Day Care program is one of 19 volunteer programs run through Madison House, our one stop shop for volunteering in the community. Wesley is one of 7 local daycares where students can volunteer. I volunteer about 2 hours a week in the Transition Room, playing with kids ages 1-2. The most rewarding aspect about the experience is having the two hours to spend with youngsters to just unwind from the stresses as a college student where you’re balancing classes with outside activities, all on top of making sure you figure out what you want to do with your life! These two hours are precious as the kids come up with interesting conversations and never seem to lose energy. Just the other day, I was having a "conversation" with a kid in the playground around a certain tree. He told me that he wanted to buy a chainsaw with the money that he has saved up so far to cut down the tree. Therefore, I ask him how much money he had saved up and he told me $2. I said he might need to save up a couple more dollars before he could buy one and then he tells me that he doesn't want to cut it down anymore: he wants to climb it!

If there is anything that I have gained from my time at the daycare, it is that kids do say the darnest things.

Picture from Madison House's Flickr