Over the long Labor Day weekend, my team and I played in the
University of Wyoming tournament and then spent the rest of the weekend in
Colorado, more specifically Estes Park. On Thursday, we flew into Denver and
then drove the 2 hours to Laramie, Wyoming for the tournament. And then on
Saturday night, after we were finished playing, we drove another 2.5 hours back
into Colorado (Estes Park) where our coaches had rented a gorgeous house in the
mountains that sleeps 20 people that also had its own hot tub (which our team
utilized quite frequently). To make it even better, the view from the house was
absolutely gorgeous.
view from the house
That evening while everyone was settling into the house and
deciding where they would be sleeping for the next 2 nights, the team captains
went grocery shopping since the team was responsible for cooking all three
meals the next day, which actually went really well. Our team is filled with
fantastic cooks.
eating our homemade dinner
On Sunday after we cooked breakfast, we got into our rental
cars and ventured further up the mountains to the Rocky Mountains National Park
where we climbed the Alluvial Fan Falls as well as another trial to the highest
peak (it was quite cold up there, but there wasn’t any snow). Another highlight
of the day was a trip to the famous Stanley Hotel, which was featured in the
Stephen King movie, The Shining.
Alluvial Falls
at the top!
Stanlley Hotel
That evening while we were making dinner, a few of us went
on a mini adventure around the area to see if we could spot some wildlife and
we did! We got pretty close to some elk that were in the middle of a fight! We got
as close as we could, but we were warned beforehand not to get too close for
safety reasons. We just sat there for about 20 minutes watching them fight and
of course taking in the beautiful view of the mountains behind them. It was
quite relaxing.
Unfortunately we had to leave the next morning to travel
back to DC, so that was all we had time to do, but we had a lot of fun!
This Friday (9/14 & 9/15) is GW Volleyball’s Nike
Invitational Tournament! On Friday we will be playing Princeton Friday night at
7pm and on Saturday, we will be playing New Hampshire at 10am and #21 BYU at
7pm. All games will be held at the Charles E. Smith Center, located near the
center of campus. It should be a great tournament and if you are in the DC
area, come and experience GW athletics! Remember 7pm on Friday and 10am and 7pm on Saturday!
As for our season so far, we have been busy! We have played
in the Purdue, Wyoming, and Maryland tournaments over the last few weekends. Some
of the matches have not gone the way we wanted, but we have played numerous top
ranked teams in the nation and from each match we are learning valuable lessons
and growing as a team. We have also been battling an injury-filled preseason,
with at times having 6 people out and not able to play. Every day we have been
getting better and we can’t wait for this weekend to play at our home
tournament and to continue to prepare for our A10 regular season matches!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful start to their school
year! Feel free to email me with any questions, cbgraf@gwmail.gwu.edu -Christie
Hello all, it feels like I haven’t blogged in a long time so I figured I would update you on my life for the last 2 weeks, which has consisted of volleyball and class. As I previously mentioned, on August 7, our volleyball preseason began and my life has been even busier than it was during the summer! Every day we have had practice from 9am-12pm, a workout from 12pm-1pm, another practice from 3pm-6pm, and then weights from 6-7pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. And on top of this, I am currently finishing up my last summer class, Principles and Methods of Psychology. For the last 2 weeks if I have not been in class or at volleyball, I have been either eating, sleeping, or doing homework. Once preseason is over, I will be blogging much more frequently.
Preseason has gone really well, despite my team being plagued by injuries. We have been working hard and are excited to compete this weekend at the Purdue University tournament. Next week I will update you on how the tournament goes! In addition to playing volleyball, my team and I have also have had some fun team events, such as a ropes course (pictures to come) a Nationals game last night, and team dinners every single night.
2012 GW Volleyball (photo courtesy of gwsports.com)
We had a little fun on picture day (photo courtesy of @GW_Volleyball)
Wearing lovely GW ponchos since it was completly downpouring on the way to dinner (photo courtesy of @GW_Volleyball)
First day of practice! (photo courtesy of @GW_Volleyball)
Picture with George at the Nationals game!
If you want to follow all of the action of GW volleyball this season, in addition to reading my blog posts you can follow @GW_Volleyball on twitter!
As for my class, I am almost completely done with it. All I have left is to complete my final 10 page paper before I leave for the Purdue tournament this weekend. Wish me luck!
Last night, I went to my last Nationals game before the end of the season. They played the New York Mets and lost pretty badly, but it was still a great game to see and the fans were louder than usual. Seeing the stadium practically full (when there are around 40,000 seats) is pretty neat... especially because we were up in the nosebleed section 417. We were directly above home plate though so we did have a nice look down to the game.
Me, Annie, and Emma in the nosebleed section
The highlight of the game though was the post-game concert. Every month or so, they host a concert after the game in Nationals Park so you just go down to the closest seats and rock out to some fun music. This post-game concert was amazing mostly because Third Eye Blind was playing... and for those who don't know them... they were a prime-time band back when I was in middle school. Songs like "Never Let You Go" and "Semi-Charmed Life" play in commercials now, they were that popular.
A huge number of people stayed behind for the concert which was amazing and even surprised the band! Here is a video someone took last night and posted to youtube- not the best quality but gives you an idea of the fun :)
Summer is almost over.. but not quite! I am planning to really take advantage of the last few days of summer before school starts in 2 weeks. Because I have been here over the summer enjoying the heat and the humidity, I’ve tried to get out to see things that I normally can’t get off campus to do.
Some of the highlights:
I have been to several Nationals games this summer that have been really fun- not only are they cheap with your student ID card (the $10 tickets become half off!), but there are plenty of fun things that have also happened near the Nats stadium. I went to a Food Truck Fiesta at the fairgrounds, and this weekend I’m going to a concert after the Nats game Saturday night. It’s easy to get to on metro and a blast! They even sell $5 hats outside so that you can really look like a true Washingtonian.
I have started to explore the culinary streets of DC, starting with Oohs and Ahhs on U Street. This restaurant combines soul food with Southern flair to leave you with a full belly and a happy soul. Along with 5 friends, we managed to try the baked chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens, green beans, fried catfish, grits, sweet tea, and homemade lemonade. Everything was delicious- I recommend asking for half sweet tea half lemonade for a delicious summer drink. I have also been to new restaurants, like Alero and Grillfish, as well as stopping by my favorite joints, Lauriol Plaza for example.
Working right near the Capitol has also allowed me to get out to the museums after work. Jazz in the Sculpture gardens, the Air and Space Museum, and the Botanic Garden for example. The Botanic Garden is my new favorite spot in DC and I recommend it to anyone, even if you are just visiting! As you approach the Capitol from the mall, walk up the right hand side on the block before the Capitol and stop into the Botanic Gardens. You can sit and eat your lunch at the First Lady Fountain, or check out the Hawaii room. They have so many different species of plants it's ridiculous.
And finally being 21, I’ve tried some fun bars. Bier Baron was a stopping point last night for my friend Emma’s birthday, as she is a beer lover who spent her time abroad in Amsterdam. They have over 500 bottled/canned beers, along with around 20 nice options on tap. For $5-$9 beers, I was quite happy to try a new beer and sit around at their cozy wooden tables. They also have a 5-7 PM happy hour special where you can get a draft beer and a burger for $10! They do card right at the entrance because you have to be 21 to go into the tavern, so it’s not an option unless you are of-age.
I’ve also made it my goal to explore more during the school year- hopefully I’ll have the time during my senior year to really take advantage of this city before I begin in the working world.
(One of GW sports' favorite songs, played at every basketball game - "Welcome to DC")
Under 10 days. That’s less than 1.4285
weeks, less than 240 hours, less than 14,400 minutes, and less than 864,000
seconds. THAT means that the countdown to GW Bound (@GWDCBound) has begun! GW Bound is a
program presented by the Center for Student Engagement (@GW_CSE) that welcomes incoming students to GW’s campus to allow them to settle
in to life at GW. More importantly, these incoming students venture out before
other students move in on a mission to get to know the place you’ll be living
for the next 4 years and the people you’ll be getting to know over these next 4
years.
Don’t fret, though—GW isn’t throwing you
out in the wild—literally (in the case of Adventure Bound!) or figuratively. An
eclectic, excellent cast of GW sophomores, juniors, and seniors will serve as
the guides for all of the co-curricular programs. As you probably could have
guessed, I myself am a guide for D.C. Bound. In fact, I just found out today
that I’ll be taking my group to a bunch of places throughout D.C., including
the Newseum and other media-related destinations. My guide partners, Sophie and
Emma, and I will have a grand ol’ time with incoming students as we travel
around the city, representing GW and showing our new friends just some of the
sources of our Hippo pride, so to speak.
That's right! Really, who DOESN'T love The Hippster?
After GW Bound, right before classes
start, I will definitely post whatever pictures and video I have from the whole
process, from the start of training on the 16th to the final day of
it all on the 24th. Hopefully, whether this year or sometime in the
future, I hope you get a chance to experience GW Bound. My own experience was
stellar. I still have my “Experience D.C.” t-shirt, along with all of the
memories from those first few days before classes.
In closing, I'll let some of the CSE staff sum it up for you! Take it away, Heather, Ellie, and Lyndsey!
Thanks for reading!
Stay spirited (and, as always, feel free
to leave a comment or shoot me an email with any feedback or questions),
Well, in 2 days my summer vacation is technically
over.Why so early you ask? Tuesday begins the
2012 GW Volleyball season! I can’t wait to see all of my teammates and begin
our journey to the A10 Championships. And while I refer to it as 'summer vacation,' it never truly felt like summer to me. As you may
have inferred from my last post, I stayed in DC this entire summer instead of
going home to Wisconsin. And from the moment my last final exam ended in May,
my summer has been busier then I could have ever imagined. I’ve been interning
all summer at ATF and it has been quite a rewarding experience to say the
least. I learned a great deal and was exposed to possible careers to pursue
after graduation. In addition to interning, I also took multiple classes here
at GW, working hard to that I can earn my double major in Psychology and
Criminal Justice. So between interning all day, working out, and taking classes
at night five days a week, my summer schedule was more than a little full. Fortunately, despite being so busy, I was able to go home
for a few days in between my summer class sessions. It was a welcome, albeit
too brief of a break and I was so thankful to see my family and friends for a
few days and spend the 4th of July weekend with them. I also was able to continue
one of my summer traditions—go to Summerfest, America’s largest musical
festival, which is held every summer in Milwaukee on Lake Michigan (aka 10
minutes from my house). Last year, I ended up seeing 17 concerts at Summerfest within
the span of 10 days, but since I was only home for a few days this summer, I was
only able to see 2—Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker—and both of them were amazing. However, I did go to another concert
this summer in nearby Bristow, Virginia. I saw Sugarland, who never fails to put on a
fantastic show. Obviously, I love concerts. They are probably my favorite
summer activity. I can’t believe that summer is basically over and I’m about
to begin my senior year, but I am excited! And of course I’ll keep you all
updated on my life as my senior year unfolds.
Feel free to email me with any questions! cbgraf@gwmail.gwu.edu -Christie
As you might know, summers in DC can be quite humid and hot,
reaching the upper 90s and lows 100s at times. And personally, my perfect
temperature is the 70s range, otherwise I get hot. My motto is that if its
above 80 degrees and I am outside, I need to be within reach of a pool. Although
I do enjoy swimming in cooler temperatures as well (hey, I'm from Wisconsin, I
can handle a little cold). My friends often call me crazy because I can
comfortably go to the pool and tan when it is only 65 degrees outside (which is
what I did over Christmas break in Florida this past December), but that has
not been the case this summer in DC. In fact, these last few months, the
temperature has rarely dropped below 85 degrees! So, in the beginning of the
summer, on the weekends when I had free time (since I intern and have class
during the week), I frequently hit up the Mount Vernon campus pool. Unfortunately,
since then I haven’t had much free time to go and work on my tan. The pool is free for GW students and members of the
community can pay for a membership. All others must purchase a membership. And
let me tell you, every time I've gone, it has been crowded. Everyone has had the
same idea as me to escape the summer heat. After all, it is a very nice, quite
large pool, supervised by lifeguards, so why wouldn't people al flock towards
it? It was a godsend for me since I am used to spending countless summer days
around my pool back home. It was funny, the first time I went this summer, my friends
and I all had on our suits, sunglasses, and were carrying our towels and some tourists
walking through campus passed us and asked "where's the beach? or even the
pool?" Little did they know that all you have to do is take the Vern
Shuttle to the other campus and don't forget your towel and sunscreen!
Feel free to email me with any questions!
cbgraf@gwmail.gwu,edu -Christie
People always ask "What does the typical GW student do on the weekend?"
I usually answer that with 10,000 kids it's difficult to summarize all the unique options we have as an school located in downtown Washington, DC. Between the National Mall, the Museums and Zoo, the restaurants and professional sport optionsit may seem as if students are rarely on campus. And while our lack of a football team is often cited as a lack of school spirit I believe that we more than make up for it through student organized events. Below are 9 events you won't want to miss this coming year:
1- Holi
An Indian festival marked by throwing color pellets at others March 2- Capital Funk Showcase G Dub's very own hip hop team brings together other crews to perform April 3- Bake Sales in Ivory Tower Sooner or later (probably sooner) you'll walk past a bake sale in Ivory. You should donate. EVERY night. 4- Raas Chaos Indian dance group Raas holds an an annual competition of teams from schools in the region November 5- Greek Life Recruitment Learn about the sororities and fraternities on campus from the brothers and sisters! Throughout the fall
This past Sunday it was another round of "Guess who's on campus?!?!". This time it was a bit different in that GW hosted the Team USA Men's Basketball team!
Turns out Coach K didn't want to practice in the Verizon Center where they would later play Brazil, so they decided to come over to the Smith Center on campus. One of my roommates and I went with our leftover US flags from our July 4th celebration to the arena to catch a glimpse of the NBA's best.
Out strolled Kevin Durant, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love, and Kobe Bryant. It was a pretty impressive crew but do they make it into the top 5 people I've seen on campus or in DC? I've interacted with Olympians, Presidents, Secretary of Sates, Emmy winners, and World Cup winners.
Here is the full list of famous/interesting people I've either met or seen in my first three years:
Barack Obama (shook his hand)
Michelle Obama (shook her hand)
Brazilian National Soccer Team (Neymar, Thiago Silva, Pato, and Hulk signed my shirt)
Bill Clinton
Jon Stewart
Team USA Men's Basketball
Usher
Madeline Albright
Hilary Clinton
Robert Gates
Stephen Colbert
Michael Bloomberg
This isn't a full list of people who have come to campus, it's only my list. When you come to GW, you know it'll be a fun filled four years, but not just for the normal college reasons.
Coming soon will be the 9 Student Organized Events You Should Attend
Unlike his GPS, your GPS at GW will lead you in the right direction.
Lesson #011: Your GPS will "guide" you through.
Pop quiz, readers! Ding! Corny game-show host voice:
“WHAT is a GPS? Is it…
a. A global positioning system device used to prevent you
from getting lost on the road.
b. The stock symbol for The Gap, Inc.
c. German Potato Salad
d. Your Guide to Personal Success!"
… The correct answer is D! At GW, GPS is short for Guide to
Personal Success (@GWUGPS) and there are dozens of them with the goal of
smoothing your transition to GW your freshman year. Basically, they are students
and staff who, kind of like a GPS in your car, want to help you navigate your
way through campus life and the GW community, in regard to any needs at all,
whether personal or professional.
With the rest of the Office of Parent Services and beside my freshman year GPS guide Rodney Johnson! In the Fall of sophomore year, I began working in his office, after getting to know him and the rest of the staff.
My GPS guide freshman year was Rodney Johnson, the Executive
Director of the Office of Parent Services. He was there for me freshman year
and reached out to me, even as I sought help in locating the resources I had
available to me. One of my friends, Liz (who is an awesome GW STAR tour guide during the academic year!), has President Steven Knapp as her GPS and,
not too long ago, I had the chance to interact with Danielle Toglia, the Regional
Director for GW Admissions in New Jersey. All are incredible mentors and aid
you in getting the most out of your experience at GDub.
As I just found out yesterday, I have the honor of being a
GPS guide for the 2012-2013 academic year. It’s truly important to me to lend
to someone else the help I had getting to this point at GW. I’ve had help along
the way from various staff members and administrators, whether in big ways or
small ways, so it is important to me to pass that on. I’d guess that a lot of
GPS guides feel the same way. We’re here to help however we can, especially
since we’ve received that help along the way and are looking to give back—so that
the legacy of extending a helping hand lives on. After all, we all need
somebody to lean on, at least once in a while.
Coming to GW (or any university, really) can feel like going
from a tiny fishbowl to a big pond. You get there and, immediately, surrounded
by all of the novelty, try to take it all in. It takes a while to adapt and see
that it really isn’t all that big. GPS guides aid you in finding the path
through that transition. Anyone can use one.
To request a GPS guide, visit http://ci.gwu.edu/LifeatGW/GWGPS/
to learn more and email gps@gwu.edu. Who
knows, Class of 2016? Your guide can very well be me, a former Cabinet member,
a rad staff member, or an exciting new mentor! The possibilities are endless.
Be sure to sign-up and let your GPS lead the way.
So yeah, I know it is like two weeks late, but here are the accounts of my 4th of July experience in DC.
Amy and I on Constitution Avenue watching the 4th of July parade
I was very excited to spend my 4th of July in DC because although the fireworks are pretty cool over the Austin skyline, nothing can match the firework show I saw over Washington. The day started with Amy, her boyfriend Kyle and I watching the 4th parade. Amy and I were thrilled with the high school bands (since we were both in marching band in high school) and found high schools representing our home states (Wisconsin and Texas). Although it was a little warm, we found our spot in the shade along Constitution Avenue and watched the parade in relative comfort.
After a lunch and rehydrating back on campus, we split into different spots to see the fireworks. I chose to face the crowds at the National Mall to get a glimpse of the performances and, more importantly, witness the fireworks over the monuments. The experience was breathtaking and totally worth facing the crowds for. Although I have no pictures of the fireworks because my phone died, I could not have asked for a better "Boy do I love GW" moment.
This summer has been amazing and I am sorry I haven't blogged as much as I'd like to. As always, feel free to reach out to me as I am here working for the Admissions office all summer. I hope to see even more happy perspective students in August and please feel free to reach out to me with any question/concern/praise :)
Last week before the heat wave hit all of us here in DC, I took a Wednesday off and escaped to the wilderness for a bit. A friend and I traveled about 2 and a half hours south of the city to go hiking at Old Rag Mountain in the Shenandoah Valley. We arrived at 10 am and were happy to find only a few parked cars. I've hiked a couple times before but had no idea what to expect from Old Rag. I very quickly realized however, that our day was not going to be a walk in the park.
Old Rag Mountain is pretty distinct because it stands away from the other mountain chains in the Blue Ridge. After hiking up a steady incline and switchbacking for a solid 90 minutes, we reached the base of the rock scramble. From this point on there were boulders to climb over, crevasses to squeeze through and absolutely stunning views of the Shenandoah. On the left we looked over a valley with smaller hills, farmlands and houses. To the right was an endless chain of green mountains and a skyline that seemed to blend into all that was below it. At 3,291 ft we had climbed to the summit of Old Rag and took a hard earned break.
The entire loop is about 7 miles and was super challenging but so rewarding. It was an incredible way to spend a day away from the craziness that is DC and to just hang out in nature. If you like exploring and adventure, I would highly recommend this day hike. You could even turn it into a weekend of camping if you bring your tents! Just remember to have lots of water and some way to snap a few pictures of the scenery.
Last week I had a rather typical "THIS is why I go to GW" moment.
After a day of doing good at my marketing internship at GlobalGiving, I jumped on my bike to go play soccer with a group of guys I've been meeting up with since late May. But not until this time had we actually discussed their backgrounds. Below is the breakdown of my pick up soccer team who are all G Dub grads:
Wassim is from Lebanon and now works for the International Monetary Fund
Ante is from Serbia and now works for the World Bank
George is from Romania and now works for a financial consultant group
Gianluca is Italian and now works for an clean energy start-up
Mahmoud is Egyptian and now works for the World Bank
Ali is Turkish and has a year left at GW
Fredrick is German and works at Lufthansa
I'm a Nicaraguan who grew up in Texas and I have a year left at GW
It's powerful to think that we all come from such diverse geographic areas from across the world but that we A) share the fact that we chose GW for undergrad and B) we share a deep passion for soccer. These two drives brought us together as a group and I know that even when I'm not in classes or even on campus I still appreciate what GW has done for me.
Summer has crept up on DC at an alarming rate, with thunderstorms bringing in some cool relief from the 100 degree heat while taking out air conditioning in homes and workplaces in Virginia, Maryland, and DC. The heat index is unlike anything I've ever experienced before- I have never spent a summer outside of Oregon! My obsession with the weather also stems from the current internship position I have.
I am working at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the International Affairs Division. It has been my first experience working for the federal government and I must say that I am enjoying it thus far. Every morning, I am able to watch the Daily Operations Brief on FEMA internal television- which shows the weather patterns across the United States as well as the developing emergency management issues. I have already learned a lot about fire departments, mass care, FEMA organization during a disaster, and diplomacy through the work I've helped out with.
My office is extremely dynamic, and being a paid intern really helps me feel like part of the group. I am doing work that I know is useful and that another employee would be working on without my presence. This is a really important thing to seek out when looking for internships, because at the end, you should be experienced like any one else in the office (to a slightly lower level, but still).
The only hard part about this job so far has been working 8:30am to 5pm daily. I can't believe how tired I have become!! I am slowly getting used to it, but I think working a 40 hour week is a great experience that really symbolizes what it will be like to work in the "real world," whatever that is.
After exams ended, some friends of mine who were
graduating and leaving the DC area in a few short weeks really wanted to
experience the National Air and Space Museum over by Dulles Airport. They had been
to the one located on the National Mall since it is located so close to us, but they really
wanted to see the new edition of the Space Shuttle Discovery that was just flown
across the country a few weeks earlier to the Dulles location. So, we borrowed
my sister's car and drove over there, since you cannot metro over there. You
might be able to bus over there or find another way, but I am not sure (I have
only every driven there).
The museum is actually called the Steven F.
Udvar-Hazy Center and according to the website was "named in honor of its
major donor, and features the large Boeing Aviation Hangar in which aircraft
are displayed on three levels. Visitors can walk among aircraft and small artifacts
in display cases located on the floor, and view aircraft hanging from the
arched ceiling on elevated skywalks. Many engines, helicopters, ultra-lights,
and experimental flying machines are on display in a museum setting for the
first time. Among the aviation artifacts on display are the Lockheed SR-71
Blackbird, the fastest jet in the world; the Boeing Dash 80, the prototype of
the 707; the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay; and the deHavilland Chipmunk
aerobatic airplane."
I have been there a few times previously and each
time I find it completely fascinating. It is very easy to spend several hours
just walking around mesmerized by the beautiful planes and learning about ones
you know nothing about. It is quite a large facility as it is actually a full
sized aviation hanger, complete with a separate wing for space aircrafts and a
restoration area. There is also an IMAX located within, which shows a variety
of films related to aircraft and space, including one about NAVY fighter pilots.
If you are in the area, have the transportation, and
have a few hours to spend, I would definitely recommend visiting this museum.
Here is their website if you want more information: http://airandspace.si.edu/udvarhazy/
For your enjoyment, I have plenty of pictures!
My favorite, the F-14 Tomcat
another view
an old Army medevac hellicopter
the newest edition to the museum, the Space Shuttle Discovery
the restoration area
Feel free to email me with any questions!
cbgraf@gwmail.gwu.edu
Fun fact: This is the CI logo. What is it, you ask? One hint is that it is not a G and a W, as some have speculated. Ask your small group leader when you come to Colonial Inauguration.
Lesson #010: "See you at CI!"
Hey, buff and blue Colonials! In case you’ve been wondering
where I’ve been, I’ll tell you: I’ve been at Colonial Inauguration (@GWCI on Twitter)! Let’s back
up a little bit…
At some universities, mom and dad pull up in their minivan
three days before classes and drop off their students, at which point students
are forced to sit in auditoriums and classrooms, learning about university
services. Boring, right? I concur. At GW, we have our own brand of orientation
and it is called Colonial Inauguration or CI.
Dozens and dozens of professional staffers and student staffers
work for over a half year to put the pieces in place for a 2 ½ day spectacular.
Chris Kim and Lauren Cattano, the 2012 CIHQ (Colonial Inauguration
Headquarters) team, could better explain what it’s all about!
Colonial Inauguration is not only for students but also for
the whole family. The siblings program is an opportunity for Future Colonials
to get to know the place their older sibling will be living for the next 4
years (in fact, it is so impactful that about 10% of the Class of 2016 is made
up of siblings of previous Colonials!). Parents also have an opportunity to get
in on the action and learn to adjust to their child going to college, not only
for their own purposes but so that they can be there as a resource for the
student they are shipping off to a city that could very well be an eerie place
had GW not had this orientation every summer.
In working with the Office of Parent Services, I get to
witness the wide-eyed parents, students, and siblings as the Colonial Cabinet,
CI Staffers, CIHQ, and administration “perform” an award-winning orientation. I
can see the excitement in their faces! Even still, I will never forget my own
CI experience back in 2010 with my group leader Aubrey, who actually inspired
me to minor in creative writing! At CI, students gain resources, knowledge, and
friends. I know this first-hand and, honestly, wouldn’t trade that experience
for the world.
If you are a member of the class of 2016, be sure to look
out for Alyse, who is one of our wonderful admissions bloggers and an excellent
addition to the thirty-four member Colonial Cabinet. If you still have yet to
come to GW, I don’t want to spoil all of the surprises, but, if you visit www.ci.gwu.edu, you can see for yourself just
what CI has in store!
This past week on Monday I began my marketing internship at GlobalGiving. With a mission that "catalyzes a global market for ideas, information, and money that democratizes aid and philanthropy" I know I can feel good about my work everyday. At our downtown DC office I'll be posting to Facebook, Tweeting, and blogging for our project leaders while also learning more about the interntional development sector. The work enviornment has been fantastic so far with 17 other interns, ice cream socials, and free t-shirts! I'll make a special photo post about the GG office soon.
My job this summer is in the GW School of Business as an Admissions Assistant for MBA Programs. With nearly 3 years of experience in the Office of Undergraduate Admissons it's a very different experience now working with graduate students. This offers a new perspective on the University and has provided me with a great insight into what it takes to be a successful candidate for grad school.
While I do have my days planned 9-5 Monday through Friday I'm pysched to be spending my time in our nation's capital! I'll be able to explore the city more freely knowing that I don't have essays or reading to be done. And with all the interns coming from across the country it's great to meet new people who are doing amazing things at other schools. But most importantly the most energy will be coming in three day spurts from all the CIs! This time of year is always special as our next class of eager Colonials learn what G dubs is all about while also experiencing the mass volume of free food that is GW. I'll take some pictures of the CI session 1 that is this week to show y'all what it's like!
All the best, Oscar @myworthynotes | oscarn@gwmail.gwu.edu
A few weeks before school ended, two of my friends and I
were able to cross off an item from our spring semester bucket list:
paddleboating on the Tidal Basin! We came across them when we were taking in
all of the cherry blossoms and wanted to do it then, but they were closing for
the evening. So, we decided to come back another day, but life kept getting in
the way. It took a month, but we finally found the time on a beautiful Sunday
afternoon to head down there and finally do it. It was a lot of fun! Tiring of
course (they rent them out by the hour), but so much fun. Since there were 3 of
us, we had to take a 4 person boat. From in the Tidal Basin we had the perfect
view to take in the scenic sights of the surrounding monuments. If you are in
the area and have time, I would definitely recommend checking this out. Here is
the website for more information: http://www.tidalbasinpaddleboats.com/
And, like always, I have pictures of the outing!
Washington Monument
Me in front of the Jefferson Memorial
Oh no, she's "falling in"
taking a much needed paddle break
On another note, I am staying in DC all summer, interning,
taking classes, and exploring the city, so I’ll keep you guys up to date on
what I’m up to over the next few months!
So you know how professional sports have an award show named the ESPY’s? Well, this year GW decided to host their own version, honoring the best of GW athletics. And so, everyone in the athletic department, including the athletes, coaches, administration, and academic support donned their best semi-formal attire and traveled over to GW’s Lisner Auditorium for an evening of fun.
It was strange seeing all of the other athletes dressed up in dresses and suits because you rarely see them dressed in something other than athletic clothing. Everyone looked wonderful and the evening was rather enjoyable. It started off around 6:00pm with pictures outside, followed by appetizers in the lobby and basement of Lisner. Finally, at 7:00pm, the main event of the night began. The awards show was hosted by a member of the women’s soccer team and a member of the men’s baseball team. The awards being given ranged from Mr. and Miss Colonial and Community Service Award to Colonials' Best Moment of the Year. My volleyball team and I were actually nominated for the Colonial Best Moment of the Year for our phenomenal comeback and victory versus Georgetown in the DC Challenge, but ultimately lost to Men's Golf for setting a scoring record to earn their program's first-ever A-10 Championship. Those who planned it put a lot of effort into it and it paid off. The event was a hit and we all can’t wait until next year’s ceremony. And of course, I have some pictures from the evening.
GW Volleyball Team (I am in the front row on the far left)
Roommates!
Georgey Award Statue *photo courtesy of gwsports.com
We hope this blog will give you a taste of what it means to be a Colonial. Our bloggers will post periodically throughout the year, so check back often!
Feel free to comment on anything, and if you have any questions for the bloggers, you can e-mail them at blogger@gwu.edu.
Happy reading!
Click on the picture of one of the Colonial Bloggers below to read only their posts.
Matt
Jennifer
Alexa
Senior from Upper Marlboro, MD - Double Major in International Affairs and Economics
Oscar
Rising Senior from Pflugerville, TX - Majoring in Sociology
Alyse
Sophomore from Los Angeles, CA - Majoring in Mechanical Engineering
Amy
Shireen
Junior from New City, NY - Majoring in Middle Eastern Studies
Adam
Senior from Madison, NJ - Majoring in International Affairs with a focus in Conflict & Security
Christie
Junior from Waukesha, WI - Majoring in Criminal Justice
Brandon
Rising Junior from Austin, TX - Majoring in Sociology with Minors in Statistics and LGBT & Sexuality Studies
Marisa
Rising Senior from Portland, OR - Majoring in International Affairs, Global Public Health
