A new year, a new start to the traditions cycle. First up, Parade Night. Held on the first Friday of the first week of classes, Bryn Mawr first years rush through Pembroke Arch and the friendship poles into the welcoming crowd of sophomores throwing confetti, juniors gently throwing candy, and seniors watching and cheering from the Taylor Hall senior steps.
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In The Swing Of Things
Yesterday was Fall Frolic, which means it’s time for student clubs and activities (and academic work) to get in full swing. This was actually the first time since my first year at Bryn Mawr that I didn’t have to table for a club. In the past, I have tabled for both the Asian Students Association and for Choom Boom K-Pop Dance Club. This time, I walked by the club booths and ate the brownies served by Erdman. Signing up for a student club is an excellent way to meet new friends and explore new hobbies. Although I didn’t sign up for many new clubs because of time constraints, I couldn’t wait to see who would join clubs I was already part of. (If you missed Fall Frolic, you can join club listservs here.)
From a Senior to a First Year
Tonight was my dorm hall’s first Hall Tea. I got to know my neighbors, mostly first years, while eating ice cream. Admittedly, I don’t usually show up to all the hall teas, but I make an extra effort to attend the first one. It’s only respectful to my Hall Advisor who puts in so much work to organize these teas, and I truly am curious about what the first years on my hall are like. Ice cream was also a great lure (get it? Pokemon Go reference).
My room in Denbigh
The Last First Day
Yesterday was my first day of senior year. Not surprisingly, I knew where all my classrooms were and felt pretty set in my schedule despite it also being shopping week. I watched as my fellow Mawrters navigated the maze also known as the Park science building halls, crowded the bookstore to purchase textbooks, and compared class schedules with each other. What I most looked forward to that day was Convocation, the event where seniors dress in black gowns to parade into Goodhart and listen to motivational speeches and celebrate seniority for the first time.
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A Quick Summer Recap
As mentioned in my previous post, I spent this past summer volunteering with the Amity Foundation in China. I was accompanied by three other Bi-Co students: 2 from Bryn Mawr and 1 from Haverford. Our team got really close as friends over the course of our two-month internship volunteering at a senior community center, a child development center for autistic children, a vocational center for mentally disabled adults, and teaching English to middle school and high school students in North Western China.
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Bi-Co Chamber Music Concert
Last Tuesday night was one of the Bi-Co Music Department’s Chamber Music Concerts. A couple of my friends were performing, so I attended in support. I also enjoy chamber music, having been a clarinetist active in bands, orchestra, and chamber music prior to college.
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Physics Picnic & Cats
Last Tuesday was the Physics End of Year Picnic. Faculty and students gathered for dinner, a department photo, and friendly conversation. In an effort to get to know my department better, especially my underclassmen, I attended.
8 senior physics majors, 10 junior physics majors, and a whopping 17 sophomore physics majors!
Finals Week at the Mawr
It’s finals at Bryn Mawr. To make this moment even worse, it’s been rainy and gloomy non-stop since May Day. I actually have a pretty light finals load this semester. One of my papers was due before finals started, one of my finals was scheduled the Monday after May Day (so I couldn’t procrastinate about it), and all I have left is a Theater response and a Physics paper. I actually quite enjoy finals season because I don’t have class, so I actually have a lot more free time. But how does the rest of the Bryn Mawr community celebrate finals?
Sometimes I like to study by writing all over chalkboards.
A Rainy May Day
This year was a cold and wet May Day, but my friends and I still found ways to celebrate. May Day is hands down the biggest tradition at Bryn Mawr. In this post, I’ll describe each tradition.
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“How to Win at Checkers (Every Time)” Film Screening with ASA
Last week on April 25, the Asian Students Association hosted a screening of the film “How to Win at Checkers (Every Time).” The 2015 film by Korean American director Josh Kim is based on Thai American writer Rattawut Lapcharoensap’s acclaimed 2004 short story collection “Sightseeing,” a story about growing up in Thailand as told through the lens of a lower class boy (Oat) observing his older brother (Ek) go through the military draft and work to support the family.