Bryn Mawr College

I just asked Lisa how it's been in NYC. And then she replied that I've only been gone for 4 days.... Wow, it does not feel like it's been four days; feels like it been at least a week, or maybe even two. So much has happened in these last four days. Orientation information sessions, dorm stuff, scheduling, exploring, etc.; it's all been non-stop. I'm so tired....

While I haven't been as outgoing as I would like to be, I'm getting to know people nevertheless. It's a little more comforting to be in a diverse class (BMC's most diverse class ever in fact: http://news.brynmawr.edu/?p=3280), but I found out today how truly diverse BMC is. So today was community day in terms of orientation where we did activities to learn more about our community. In addition to having students coming from all over the U.S. as well as the world, I learned how we all came from different backgrounds, in terms of passions, interests, types of families, etc. I don't really know how to explain it but today we were given 10 minutes in our customs groups to write a poem titled "I Am From..." I wish I could type up some of the ones I heard from my classmates but as I cannot remember their poems, I will share mine instead. (Please keep in mind I only had 10 minutes to write this.)

I Am From...
Dreams of a more promising future across the Atlantic,
a past built on below-minimum wage jobs and persistence.
A home where feelings are shameful and love is unsaid,
and "When we were young and poor..." began every sentence.

I Am From...
Quiet surburbia,
where success equals money instead of self-discovery.
Cities that never sleep,
paved sidewalks, hot dog vendors, car exhaust, skyscrapers, and namebrands.

I Am From...
A family united through their Savior's blood.
A generation ever-changing, ever-growing, but never forgetting their past.
A college filled with passionate, intelligent, and virtuous women.

I loved this activity. It really gave me a chance to learn more about my classmates, their backgrounds, interests, passions, families, dreams, and values. While I knew that there were definitely some intelligent, passioned women at BMC, through this activity I saw how every woman at BMC was an intelligent, passioned, virtuous, ambitious woman. Then this was followed by a presentation on the BMC alumni network and achievements of BMC alumna. And to top it, I just finished watching Disney's Mulan with my dormmates in the common room over dinner. (A girl finding herself and discovering her true worth? Sounds like a BMC woman.) So all in all, I couldn't be more proud of being a part of the BMC nest at the moment.

Monday is Convocation and the first day of classes! Bryn Mawr College - Class of 2013!