By Emma Taylor ‘21
Hey Woodsies, it’s your senior class president here and I just wanted to congratulate you on surviving a global pandemic! I never would have thought that we would begin this semester wearing face masks, but I am just glad that we have the opportunity to attend our classes in person this fall.
While things around The Woods might look a little different, there are still so many ways to get involved, stay busy and enjoy your college experience. I have compiled a list of the Top 3 things that I love doing here on campus.
1. Hang out with friends in Le Fer
My absolute favorite thing to do is hang out with my friends in the dorm building. Although outside guests and commuter students aren’t allowed on the residential floors this semester, there are still plenty of opportunities to hang out with your on-campus friends! Whether it be a Vine or movie night, bible study, vent session or homework help, just surrounding yourself with those closest to you will positively affect your college experience!
2. Relax in the Sacred Heart Chapel
College classes can become very draining and one way that I like to combat the weight and anxiety of school is by relaxing in the Sacred Heart Chapel. Everyone contests stress differently but growing my relationship with Jesus helps me. Having a strong connection with Jesus has always been important to me and after coming to college I struggled to find a routine. Every semester I make up a schedule so that I am able to spend thirty minutes in the chapel at least three times a week. I use this time to take a step back from the pressures of college and life and step toward peace.
3. Take a walk or bike ride around campus
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is such a peaceful campus but also full of life. I love taking walks and bike rides around The Woods because I never know what interesting creature I might see next. Birds, squirrels, cats and deer are common when exploring SMWC and taking the time to enjoy looking at the horses and alpacas is also very important (you might just get lucky enough to pet them)!
The 2020-2021 academic year is going to look a lot different than it has in the past, but no one said that has to be a bad thing. As Woodsies we are resilient and no coronavirus, killer bees or masks are going to stop us from enjoying our precious time at SMWC.
A Note for the Freshman: Get involved. College is only four years and at the end of your time at SMWC you don’t want to look back and only remember sitting in your dorm room binge-watching Netflix until 3 a.m. Put yourself out there and make friends! SMWC is a campus full of diverse groups of people and you are bound to find individuals just as unique, exceptional and totally rad as you! Be yourself because authenticity trumps everything in college and you are YOU for a reason.
A Note for the Seniors: We are almost done! These past years have come and gone and while 2020 hasn’t been what we wanted it to be, it’s what we’ve got, and we are going to make the best out of it. We are so close to the finish line and while I am excited to graduate, this time is fleeting and we must experience the unique joys of SMWC while we are still students. So, stay up late with friends, go grab Chava’s at 2 a.m., go star gazing on the soccer field, walk the marble staircase and just be young … adulthood can wait nine months.
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