Block Break
How I chose CC.
After hosting accepted students during the April 2nd and April 9th Open House, I started to reminisce about my college process. It delights me to think this was just last year.
I’m not going to lie. As a senior in high school, I did not have the slightest idea of where I wanted to attend college. Many of my classmates had romanticized the idea of college. Students applied to very prestigious universities with a major already in mind. I DIDN’T. Something was wrong with me. I wasn’t looking forward to the college process-I had no clue for what I was looking for in a college. My parents assumed that I was going to apply to the major universities in Oklahoma. Nevertheless, my teachers, friends, and college counselor recommended that I look at other schools outside of Oklahoma. While I did apply to three Oklahoma universities, I also applied to six more schools. Researching colleges was overwhelming. Did I want a school in a rural or urban location? What is your ideal student body size? Diversity? Financial aid? Majors? Campus life?
These questions opened up a lot possibilities for my future. The thought of planning my future as a 17-year-old scared me. My solution for this dilemma? Apply to a wide range of schools to insure that come decision time, I would have many options. I applied to the medical research university, the religious-affiliated university, the engineering university, the pre-law school; a few schools in the South, Southwest, North, Northeast, the West; schools with predominantly right or left political views; and of course, liberal art colleges. Come acceptance/rejection time, I was accepted to all nine schools. I didn’t expect that to happen, because I assumed that schools would essentially decide if I was a good match for them. There was no way that I was a “good fit” for all nine schools. I realized the most important aspect of my future necessitates an interdisciplinary and critical understanding of society. A liberal arts education would definitely fulfill the expectations of my future. To make matters more difficult, I applied to two liberal art colleges-one of course being Colorado College.
I visited both schools. First, I visited CC and knew I loved it. The other school wasn’t the right match for me. Essentially, I knew that Colorado College was going to be my home for four years.
I wasn’t aware of this at the time, but I wanted to go to a school that truly believed in a “unique intellectual adventure.” This school is unique-there are few like this. Where else are you able to submerse yourself in one class at a time? Where else are you able to be a philosopher, an educator, a theologian, a sociologist, and a feminist within a span of a year? This school is intellectual–I’ve been able to take courses that I never thought I would love or interests that I am passionate about. Without the block plan, I would never be able to experiment with different courses, start friendships with everyone in my current block (despite differing opinions), or share a common love for knowledge. Overall, it’s been an adventure. Undoubtedly.
Seriously, don’t ever apply to nine schools. CC is awesome.
When I visited CC last year. It was snowing and cold!
Gotta Love Block Breaks
Enjoying some delicious sushi with my friend Naiara
After finishing a killer block, there is nothing better than block break. Block break, for those poor souls that have never experienced one, is 4-5 days of summer vacation. There is no homework, no class, nothing but stress-free fun from noon on Wednesday until 9 a.m. on Monday.
After turning in my final paper at 11:56 on Wednesday, I ran back to my room to pack for Santa Fe. I quickly gathered my things and headed out with 3 of my friends for a celebratory end-of-the-block lunch downtown. One of the sushi restaurants has a great lunch special that we’d been wanting to try out. It didn’t disappoint. I rushed back to campus to meet the van and we started on the 5 hour drive to Santa Fe.
Lauren playing with the kids at BGC
My friend Kristin and I were leading a BreakOut trip to the Santa Fe Boys and Girls Club. BreakOut is a student-led organization that develops, organizes, and implements student-led community service projects during college breaks. Kristin and I had been working all block on organizing this trip, so it was great to finally see our plans materialize. We chose the Boys and Girls Club because we had been inspired by their mission. In Santa Fe, there is a huge disparity between the rich and poor. Poverty plagues the city as the cost of living continues to increase. Santa Fe has one of the highest middle and high school drop out rates in the nation, and gangs are ubiquitous. BGC is a positive place for kids to go after school, providing them with tools that will help them move forward in life. It supplies dinner for kids that might not otherwise have an opportunity to eat, and it shows them that they don’t need to join a gang in order to be accepted.
The group in downtown Santa Fe
BreakOut is a great way to have a fulfilling block break, giving back to the community without having to spend a lot of money. We had a fabulous group, consisting of 11 students. On Thursday and Friday we played with the kids and helped out with tutoring and reading workshops. On Saturday, we hung out in Santa Fe, enjoying the mercados and art scene downtown. Driving at a leisurely pace, we got back late Saturday night, so that we could enjoy a good night’s rest in our own beds and have all of Sunday to relax before a hectic block 4.
Check out the links below to learn more about the Santa Fe Boys and Girls Club.
Santa Fe Boys and Girls Club; Reality from the Barrio; Reality from the Barrio Video
Block Break
My friends and I decided to stay at Colorado College for the Block Break, in pursuit of some rest and relaxation. With the Block Break winding to a close, I’m definitely feeling relaxed… but perhaps not so rested. Knowing that there is no school tomorrow is has proven to be the make or break point when deciding whether to watch that next movie at 3:00 AM (and the movie always wins).
Despite some very cold weather, there’s been some really nice sunny days. I can’t help comparing it to Canada, where cold and wet and dark are all married to each other and it feels like the sun only comes out once winter is gone. When I talk to my parents back home they always tell me that #1 it is raining, #2 is is dark and/or cold and #3 I should be very grateful to be in Colorado!
I think the highlight of my Block Break was going to Denver with a group of friends — we took the free shuttle from Colorado College down to the Frex station, and caught the Frex commuter bus for $9. Two hours later, we were in Denver enjoying a delicious lunch at a Parisian creperie (see the picture below). Even though I really like the food at CC (it is a massive improvement on the cafeteria at my old boarding school, where you could have deep fried your hat with the oil wrung out from the “lasagna”), it is nice to have a change every once in a while. I’m glad that there’s a big city nearby to Colorado Springs. After our French lunch, we hit the 16th street mall to do some Christmas shopping, and saw all sorts of interesting buskers plying their trades, including a man doing acrobatics with the sign to his Indian restaurant.
Today is Sunday, and fourth block starts tommorow. I’m very happy that I got into the class I was waitlisted for – Introduction to Macroeconomics – though I’m sure that taking the French course I was signed up for would have been great as well. I’m a bit disappointed my break is over, but I feel good knowing that Thanksgiving is only a few days away! I’m headed to Denver again to stay with my friend Jen, and I can’t wait to experience a true American Thanksgiving. At my house in Canada Thanksgiving has never been a big holiday, especially because we are vegetarian and so never have turkey! I’m not sure if my friend has told her parents I’m vegetarian, but I’m not expecting any problems; after all, my all-time favourite food is mashed potatoes. Three days!
My friend Judy with her delicious looking Crepe
