3 Classes, 1 Exam, and a Thesis Defense :-)

Sorry Mike... I had to copy you! Although, it looks like I might have a lighter load than you as we face the end of our time here at Siena.

This is it. I just had my last Tuesday-Thursday class at Siena (for those of you who do not know what this is, classes either fall on Monday-Wednesday-Fri or Tuesday-Thursday). I also had my last thesis meeting ever... By the way, my thesis defense is on Monday, May 3rd at 7pm in the Library (L26) for those of you who might be interested in coming!
This is just a bunch of "lasts," and I don't like it!

Soon I will be a Siena alum, moving on to earn my Ph.D. in Biology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
But before that, I want to enjoy my last two weeks here. As weird as it sounds, I'm going to try to enjoy the stress of finals, my defense, poster presentations, inductions, and studying. And I'm going to enjoy Senior Week with all of the friends that I have grown up with over these past four years.

*sigh*

~Bianca

4 Classes, Two Exams, and a Thesis Defense

That just about sums up my remaining academic obligations as a Siena College student. I've really been soaking up my remaining weeks - or, perhaps better - days at Siena. It really has flown on by, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here.

Importantly, though, Siena has provided me with a quality education. I'm not finished yet and I'll be headed to law school, particularly, Washington and Lee University School of Law. Now, as I've mentioned, I am from Mechanicville, a grand total of twenty-five minutes from Siena. Washington and Lee is in Lexington, Virginia, about nine hours from home. That's what I call broadening one's horizons! There are some similarities to Siena from what I can tell, such as emphasis on fostering a tight-knit community. So, law school will be a new experience both academically and culturally, and I am very much looking forward to it.

Not just yet, though. Until graduation I'll be taking in every bit of Siena I have left!

Take Care,
Mike DiSiena

"Lawyers, I suppose, were children once."
~Charles Lamb

Last Week!

Hey Everyone!

This is the last week of classes for all of us and its very hectic. Its truly amazing how quickly time goes by. I was recently talking with one of my friends about this year and I realized how great this year was. My first accomplishment was finally declaring a major (applause!). Its a relief to be on a track, even though I still have a whole list of things I want to do in life. My second accomplishment this year was finally officially becoming an RA. Being a resident assistant truly changed my life.I've met some great people (including my boyfriend, Dylan =]) and I know that many of the boys and I will still be friends even after they've left "mommys nest". My third major accomplishment this year was being able to juggle everything. Its so easy to become self absorbed when you see everything on your plate, overflowing onto the table but I didn't let that happen. My juggling had many mishaps, but I'm fortunate in that I always have family and friends supporting me.

Overall, this was a great year for me, and I can't wait for my junior year... Even though I'm still flabbergasted at the fact that two years have flown by SO quickly.


Until the summer,
Leanne

Graduation

Wow, four years of Siena really does go by fast! It has really started to hit me lately that I'm almost done with Siena! We are currently in our last week of classes, and then next week is Finals! The actual graduation day is set for Sunday, May 16th.

I've been talking to my parents about plans for graduation and moving out. My mom was actually mentioning how proud she was of me, and how she wouldn't miss my graduation or any of the other celebrations for anything!

Many of the clubs are now coming to an end as well, so the leadership is being passed on to the next year's e-board. It is nice to pass on the responsibility of a club or organization to someone else, but it also makes you realize that you are moving on. Being the Captain of the Bhangra team certainly kept me busy, so passing on the responsibility isn't so bad, but at the same time, I'm really going to miss the team!

Moreover, I realized that academics are going to be very different for me! Next year I'll be going to Medical School. That means for the first two years, I basically attend lectures, study, and take exams. I'm pretty much done writing papers and my science classes won't have lab. Well, except for our anatomy lab in which we dissect cadavers, but that's not exactly the same thing as biochem lab.

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that life passes by fast! If I've learned anything from it all, it is certainly to enjoy every minute of it! So be spontaneous, have some fun, achieve great things, and make some great memories of it all!

:o) To Siena's class of 2010, and to all the high school seniors about to graduate as well, Congratulations!

"Your Names Are Inscribed On Fames Immortal Scroll"

One of the privileges of my time here at Siena has been attending, twice now, a trip to Gettysburg with my fellow students. The trip is organized and led by John Vallely, one of our librarians and a lecturer on U.S Military History. Each year Mr. Vallely takes students to the Battlefield and explains in detail the history of the battle and the significance underlying the many monuments found throughout the grounds. The stories of the sacrifices of those that fought those fateful days in 1863 were truly moving, and Mr. Vallely did an expert job in making the monuments come alive through his account of the battle.

While I'm a political science and philosophy major, I've always loved History, particularly U.S. History. Last year, when the opportunity presented itself to go to Gettysburg, a place I had never gone to before, I jumped at it. I am so glad I did then, and that I was able to do so again. One cannot go to those grounds, made sacred by the blood shed by tens of thousands of American soldiers, and leave unaffected. There are 1,400 monuments preserving the memory of the battle, but the one that strikes me most is the monument, pictured above, to the North Carolinians that fought for the Confederacy (for another angle, see here. The North Carolina monument, designed by the same fellow that designed Mount Rushmore, depicts the faces of actual men that fought in the battle, forever facing the field where Pickett's Charge occured. Behind the monument reads these moving words "To the eternal glory of the North Carolina soldiers. Who on this battlefield displayed heroism unsurpassed sacrificing all in support of their cause. Their valorous deeds will be enshrined in the hearts of men long after these transient memorials have crumbled into dust."

Defending a Year and a Half of Work

So, I just got the go ahead today to schedule my Honors Thesis Defense, which is where my very hard work will be presented to the Siena College community, as well as to others who might choose to attend. I wrote my thesis on something called Just War Theory and how the changing character of war calls for modifications to this theory (it sounds like it could be dry, but I promise it is actually quite exciting!).
You may be wondering why I chose this topic since I am a Biology major. Well, the great thing about Honors Theses is that you can write pretty much about anything you want, even if it is outside your area of study. I happen to be a fan of philosophy, and I wanted to really do something substantial with this interest in my last year here. So here I am... with an almost finished work! I've written it all, and now I'm just revising here and there.
But anyway, my defense is probably going to be in the first week of May. I will be sure to post the date and time on here so anyone who is interested can attend. Pretty please???

Off to revise!

~Bianca

P.S. Here's a fun fact about the Honors Thesis... we get several copies of our work bound in the form of an actual book, and one copy stays in our library here!

Random thought of the day.

Hello Everyone!

I know it's been a while, but rest assured I will give you a more thorough update of my life in a later post. Currently, I'm about to run to my 3:40 class but I had this thought that I just had to share.

Why is it that when I go to Starbucks, or Coldstone and ask for a "small", I get questioned because I did not use the "correct" terminology. Listen, I can't keep up with all this jargon, and it is not fair of the barista to give me the cold shoulder when I do not say "venti". If these companies are so keen on using their terminology, they should print flyers and send them to all local residencies near their particular store so that when poor innocent souls like myself order their Birthday Cake Remix they say "Like it" rather than "small.

Ironically, I am off to "Business Communications" class. Perhaps today we'll learn why companies believe confusing patrons is beneficial in the long run.

Until Next week!

Leanne

The Fun Kind Of Homework!

Hey everyone! Right now im in Standish Library trying to get a ton of work done tonight! Just me, my orange, and some fruit loops! Luckily some of my work is alot of fun, for example my photography class! Here are some of my photos from over the last few weeks!








<3Liv

Cherry Blossom Weekend in DC

Hey everyone!

So for the Easter break, my family and I went to Washington, D.C. to visit my aunt, uncle, and their two little girls. And it just happened to be Cherry Blossom weekend (which we usually miss every year)! All of the cherry blossoms in D.C. were in full bloom. It was a really wonderful scene to behold... not only because of the gorgeous flowering trees, but also because of the hordes of happy people enjoying the first real spring weekend with family and friends. There were hundreds of kites and frisbees. People were snapping pictures and laughing and eating ice cream and just having an all around wonderful time. It really was a great way to spend a long weekend.

This brings me to my advice for the day (in my old, almost graduating age)... make sure when you get a break, you really do take a break. Try to set aside all of those end-of-the-semester worries and really take a breather. I've found this to be really important especially for Easter break, because after that it is full speed ahead to the end of the semester! Then you'll actually be refreshed and won't burn out when it matters.

Stop and smell the cherry blossoms!
And then it's back to the grind.

~Bianca

Here are some pictures from last weekend.
1) A picture my dad snapped of the Capitol while riding a Segway!
2) A close-up I took of the cherry blossoms down by the tidal basin.

The Annual King Lecture

If you do so happen to come to Siena, I can guarantee that you will, at least once, find your way to the Martin Luther King Lecture Series. I raise this only because tonight I attended the Series for the second time during my stay here at Siena. The lecture is, as they say, kind of a big deal. It is organized and supported by a number of respected community leaders, and the speaker always has a distinguished record of accomplishment. This year's lecture was given by Dr. Charles Ogletree, a Harvard Law Professor and Director of that same institution's Center for Race and Justice.

Professor Ogletree delved into the hope of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how that hope can continue to be put into practice today. His lecture was filled with a number of anecdotes about his interactions with the nation's leaders, including the President himself. It was a real privilege to hear from such an important leader in the field of law, and its relationship to race. I am always glad for the opportunity to listen to the scholars that Siena brings to campus. It is definitely one of the added benefits of going to College!

Take Care,
Mike DiSiena

Blocks,Bubbles, & Lady GaGa..

I'm so glad to be back home with my family! I hope you enjoy my adorable baby cousin Matthew. He is the best part of home. The weather is beautiful so I hope you are all enjoying it too! At the same time its funny I do miss Siena!! And can't wait to get back, and can't wait to see a certain someone ;] ( Yep that's you Michael Ellement)


-Liv<3