Holy End of September Batman

It's kinda crazy that today is the last day of September. It really feels like I just moved into my apartment and just started classes. I've already had my fair share of quizzes and exams, most of them I've done relatively well in, but I still can't believe that tomorrow is October.

I can never decide what my favorite season is. I don't really think I like Spring because it rains a lot and the weather is always damp and chilly. I like summer because it's always sunny and warm and there's plenty of time to lay out on the beach and get a tan. For the longest time I always felt that summer was my favorite season, but now I think it's changing. I love living in New England and seeing the leaves change colors and being able to wear jeans and sweaters, and it finally becomes acceptable to order a tall (small) non-fat (milk) with whipped (cream) hot chocolate (yum) from Starbucks :)

So usually I'm really positive about all things Boston and Suffolk, but for once I might need to complain just a small bit. Through Suffolk we use this system called Blackboard where we can get our assignments, grades, e-mail address for the students in our class, basically all things good. However, it wasn't all that good for me last week. I had to submit a homework assignment online using Digital Dropbox. Apparently my professor never got it, and sadly we got into an argument over it because I did it on time and submitted it, but he didn't believe me; thank you former students for destroying all trust professors have in their students. Eventually the professor did believe me and my homework was accepted without penalty. Technology is supposed to make things better, but I really don't think it's been perfected yet.

On top of that, for the same class, we all have to purchase My EconLab, a supplemental program, for $50. We need this to take three departmental quizzes, and to submit one homework assignment. The problem is this supplement comes with a brand new Economics book, so if you bought the book used, like my class did, we don't have it, or if you bought the book new and used it for Micro and you are now taking Macro, you still have to buy the supplement. Why do authors of books insist on trying to take every dollar away from you?

Most college students have very little money, especially when we live in apartments and have so much to pay for, so asking us for another $50 just really isn't an option sometimes. It's frustrating. That's it in terms of my complaining. I guess if that's the worst experience I have, then I really have it pretty good.

On another note, I'm doing a breast cancer walk on October 5th with fellow ambassador Kayla and I'm pretty excited about it. I haven't done a walk in years and I feel kinda bad about it, so I figured I'd start now and I'll probably do one yearly. Almost time for my tour! Yayy!

Oh Boyyyy

Things have been relatively quiet lately. Yesterday was officially the first day of fall which is exciting but sad at the same time. I love wearing flip flops, and when it starts to get really cold out, I can't wear them anymore. Technically I could still wear them, but I think my toes would freeze off. At the same time, I love fall because the trees look really pretty with red and yellow leaves. See exhibit A to the left which is a picture of the commons. This picture is actually hanging above me right now in the office and I think it's really pretty so I had to add it to my blog.

Anyway, I'm doing a Breast Cancer Walk on October 5th from 8-10 am. I'm trying to raise about $500 which may seem like a lot, but some people have raised much more. I'm doing it in honor of my grandmother who passed away over the weekend from cancer. I've never really gotten involved with cancer walks or any fundraising that is done, but I think I will now. It was really important to my grandmother, and I'd like to carry on her dedication.

I missed my classes on Monday and so I have to make up a quiz for one of my classes today at 3 pm. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to do it today because I didn't have any time to prepare for it. The quiz is on the chapters we've read out of the book, but honestly I haven't been keeping up on my reading, so the quiz today will be interesting. Good luck to me!

Being in Boston never cesases to amaze me. I on my way to my apartment last night around 7:30, and while I was walking through Government Center, I saw someone doing push-ups off to the side. They just dropped down on the brick and starting doing push-ups. It was really odd.

Haley is Amazing

Another week has come and gone here on the Suffolk campus. I originally had registered for 5 classes this semester, but I ended up dropping a Sociology class. It's called Protest and Social Change, and I really thought it would be about well known social movements that have had a profound impact on society. I was expecting the civil rights movement and the right for women to vote, but sadly that was not what the class was about. Instead the class was about much smaller movements that I had never heard of, let alone familiar with. I felt as thought the work that was expected of us: from having to see a movie that was only being shown in one theather in Boston and having to purchase 6 books to dividing the class in half and each half read and discuss another book and write multiple papers, was a little too much for me to handle because this class isn't required for my major.


Don't get me wrong, I like challenges when I am in class. I don't mind being given a few papers to work on, having a group project and reading a book or two, but I feel that if I am going to do all this work, it should be for a class I have to take for my major, or as an elective that I am truly excited to take.


So for now, I am only taking 4 classes which is a little unfortunate because I'm afraid I might fall behind, but I could always take a summer course which isn't that bad. I have somehow ended up with about 4 extra credits from courses I have taken that were 4 credits each. In the Sawyer Business School (SBS), the classes are typically 3 credits, so any that I have taken that are 4 credits, I've ended up with an extra credit.


I am also hoping to get an extra credit or two for working in a hotel. I'm really interested in getting into Hospitality, and sadly Suffolk does not offer that major. However, I have heard that other students who have shown interest in Hospitality have taken up an internship and have gotten credits for it. I emailed a counselor in the SBS about potentially earning some credits, and I'm going to set up a meeting with him soon. I'm really lucky to be going to a small school where I have the opportunity to do an internship and get credits for something I really want to do that Suffolk doesn't offer.


I'm also really lucky to be in the Admission's Office right now because a fellow ambassador and a counselor are currently talking about what they order when they go to Wendy's and Taco Bell. Of course what they order varies depending on how hungry they are, what type of mood they're in...ha ha wow. Never a dull moment here in the office. Speaking of which, today is National Cheeseburger Day! We had a meeting today to go over information about the New England School of Art & Design (NESAD) and for lunch we had sandwiches and cheeseburgers...naturally.

If you're curious about my title,"Haley is Amazing", I was at a loss for what to title this blog, and so the wonderfully charming Haley blurted this out, so it has stuck! Anyway, I'm off to go do something fabulous with my life.

And We're Back!

This past summer was pretty hectic. I worked about 40 hours a week and all the money I earned literally went to my new apartment! (I'll get to that in a minute). I did get to take a mini vacation to Hampton Beach in New Hampshire with my best friend for a weekend, went to Six Flags New England for my birthday, saw Batman: The Dark Knight four (4!) times, none of the times I paid might I add, and I saw the Backstreet Boys (don't laugh) in concert for free.

So now here I am, getting back into the swing of things. My roommate from last year and I have a new apartment in the North End that I absolutely love. We have a huge kitchen and living room, a roof deck, and laundry in the building, which is rather hard to find in apartments. Honestly, when I first came to Suffolk I was concerned about the housing issue. Not having dorms available for all students can seem like a major drawback, but it can really be viewed as a strength rather than a weakness. For example, my dad was getting me ready for the business world months ago by having me lay out how much it cost him to pay for me living in the dorm and a meal plan versus living off campus with other expenses such as cable, internet, groceries and rent.

Surprisingly, the totals were very similar. Granted buying furniture for a larger space pushed the cost up higher, but at the same time, I'll have this furniture for the two years in an apartment and who knows for how long afterwards. As I saw it, either I buy the furniture now, or two years from now when I move elsewhere. This is where all my money went this past summer. I refused to let my dad pay for anything furniture related in my new apartment. He's paying rent and tuition and that is more than I could ask for.

While I'm extremely fortunate to be living in an amazing apartment, I never realized how lucky I was to have lived in the dorms my first two years on campus. Not just because I've been supplied with basic furniture and someone to cook me food three meals a day, but because it made the adjustment of living in Boston much easier. I've grown into an even more sensible and smart adult that only Suffolk could have helped me become. I don't think that going to a "traditional" college campus could have done the same thing.

Two years from now when I graduate (yikes!) I will be entering a new world already knowing how to survive on my own, while all of my other friends will just be learning how to. I'm certainly not saying other colleges and universities do not teach fundamental skills on how to become a successful individual when you move out on your own, but Suffolk teaches these same skills without a classroom and a professor; that is something truly unique to Suffolk University.