Category: Life outside work

10 things I wish I knew as a freshman in college

by Olivia

As I head into my junior year of college, there are a number of things I wish I had known as a freshman. For anyone in college this may help you, and if you’re out of college, maybe you can relate.

1. You hear a lot of freshman roommate horror stories, but they may just turn into your best friend. But, if they don’t become your best friend, you will find your person or people.

2. You won’t like everyone and not everyone will like you.

3. I’ve noticed college is in no way like high school, so stop being judgemental now.

3. R-E-L-A-X, the small things won’t matter 5, 10, 15 years from now.

4. Apply yourself. Join organizations on campus and get involved. You’ll meet great people and make your college experience so much better.

5. College is practice for real life. It’s OK to make mistakes.

6. Go for positions or internships you don’t think you can get. You’ll surprise yourself with what you can do and what you can get.

7. NEVER. PUT. GUYS. BEFORE. YOUR. BEST. GIRL. FRIENDS. Some boys are temporary, friends are most likely forever. Chicks before _______.

8. Yes, spend your money but remember to try and save it too.

9. Remind your family often how grateful you are that they were able to send you to college, many people don’t have the privilege.

10. HAVE FUN. You only go to college once and it only lasts four years.

I know college is an exciting yet also nerve-racking time. If you’re an incoming freshman and you’re not going to your first choice, it will be OK, better than OK it’ll be GREAT. Try and keep a positive mindset, even if you have a number of worries. Trust me, I was hesitant and worried too, it’s normal.

When I visited Loyola University Maryland, I thought I was for sure going there. But, the world had different (better) plans for me. Honestly, Loyola didn’t give me any type of academic scholarship, and I didn’t want to put my family through that tuition.

I went back and forth between Quinnipiac and Loyola, but in my heart I wanted to go to Loyola. Heading into my third year of college, it’s nothing short of a blessing that I’m a student at Quinnipiac. I haven’t thought about Loyola once. So for everyone, go into college open-minded, you got this!

Best wishes!

A reflection on my sophomore year at Quinnipiac U

by Olivia

Last year, I posted a reflection on my freshman year at Quinnipiac University, here I am with a reflection post on sophomore year.

These past two semesters were undoubtably the most challenging, not in regards to class work but sometimes it felt like I was juggling a THOUSAND things at once and forgot to just breathe. It took a toll on me. But with ups and downs throughout the year, my friends and I constantly said, “it is what it is.” It turned into 52B’s motto. Honestly, it’s so true. Whatever happens, life moves on and in 5, 10, 15 years the small things we stress abot now, won’t matter. That’s something to always remember.

I love living with roommates and realized I do not like living alone. I also struggled with a lot of sleepness nights worrying about the future. I’d get very anxious or worry about things I couldn’t control. My two roommates and I would get into our beds usually around midnight and end up talking about everything under the sun until like 2a.m. Yes, the next day I was tired. But, I appericated the conversations and care we had for one another.

So whats changed this year? Not much and I’m happy about that. My core friends and boyfriend remained the same, and my new roommate turned into a great, close friend. So FYI, don’t be afriad if you need to take a random roommate one year, they may turn into a best friend! But, I also continued being a sister of Kappa Alpha Theta and being a member of student media at QU.

Q30, which is Quinnipiac’s television station, caused me the most stress during my academic year, but it’s also one of the most important things to me at Quinnipiac. It has brought me lifelong friends, my boyfriend and has given me a lot experience in regards to TV news.

I had my first intership at WTNH News 8 in New Haven, CT during my spring semester. Word of advice, if an internship says you have to be a junior or senior, do not hesitate to apply. WTNH says on their site that they only want juniors and seniors, but I got a call and they made an exception to take a sophomore student. I got incredibly close to a few reporters. I’m so grateful that I was able to get to know them and go out on stories with them. They’re what made my experience at WTNH so good.

Journalism is in no way the most challenging major, and trust me, health science and nursing majors will make that clear to you…But, I’m choosing to spend my college years involved in so many organizations. I am just as busy, just as stressed and will be just as succesful. I encourage everyone to get involved with organizations on campus, they will make your college experience.

Next weeks post will be, “what I wish I knew as a college freshman.”

So here’s what I have to say. College is chaotic, stressful and can be (is) mentally exhausting, but it has brought me endless opportunities and so far, it has made up the best years of my life.

August

Greek fair, for anyone interested in rushing

Bid day 2018

October

Dinner at Livi’s house. It’s always a good idea to unwind and relax with those who are more like family than friends

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Someone’s graduating..

by Olivia

I’M BACK!

My sophomore year of college has come to a close so I should be way better with posting more frequently. I’m going to post a reflection from this past year at Quinnipiac soon, if you haven’t read last years, you can find it here.

Someone very close to me graduates very soon!!

To my big, Erica.

I remember orientation at Quinnipiac like it was yesterday. It was the day I met my roommate, Cara and the day that I met you. Now I knew Cara was going to be my roommate freshman year, but what I didn’t know was that my orientation leader, would become my big and sorority sister. They say sororities are just “paying for friends” but that’s not the case. Being in Kappa Alpha Theta has given me you, and you’re not a friend to me, you’re a big sister to me. It’s funny during the course of orientation and you as my leader, I had no idea just how much you’d mean to me three months later, I guess it was a foreshadow. 😉

As you graduate in a few weeks, I want to tell you how proud I am of you. Although you have a year of field work to go, you have completed the hardest of parts as an undergraduate. Soon you will make the best Occupational Therapist. I truly look up to you and am so proud of you. I’m grateful you’re in my life.

Time to pop the champagne!

My outfit details:

Jumpsuit: Marshalls

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Shoes: Dor L’ Dor (locations in NJ & NY)

 Apple watch band: Target

(I will get Erica’s outfit details asap)

These pictures are from a few weeks ago at Kappa Alpha Theta’s senior brunch, to celebrate those graduating :,)

Spring Break Back Home

by Olivia

My spring break wasn’t spent on an island or on some crazy vacation but back at home sweet home, New Jersey. Honestly, it was just what I needed. With my internship at WTNH News 8, ontop of classes and Q30 (Quinnipiac’s TV station) my days have been packed. Sometimes I just need a second to breathe. Being home and giving myself all the time in the world to lounge on the couch, catch up on all my favorite shows and eat my favorite home cooked meals was all I wanted and needed.

On my breaks from school my mom and I typically go out to eat together a lot. This usually means eating an absurd amount of sushi. This past spring break was no different. We also got massages, ooo la la. I never had one before!

Onto more exciting things my younger brother commited to run cross country at Loyola University Maryland. And, if you remeber from this post in 2017, I thought Loyola was going to be MY school. It was weird, I convinced myself after seeing the mascot, a greyhound, in the most obscure places. Like we went out to eat once and there were just random statues of greyhounds in the restaurant. So needless to say, at the time, I truly convinced myself I was being given signs from above that that’s where I was going to college. BUT, jokes on me, Ally is going to Loyola to run cross country and study engineering!!! Two things I have no interest in ever persuing.. ha ha ha. Now, I can’t help but think all of the greyhound signs I saw were a foreshadow to my brothers future as a greyhound. FYI, I’d love to post the picture he used when announcing his commitment, but I think he’d be embarrassed so if you want to see it go to my Instagram and go through the lifestyle highlight. 😉

We got pretty lucky with the weather over spring break in New Jersey. It started to warm up so my friends and I saw that as a beach day. We went to this cute cafe in Belmar called Stay Gold, got coffees and lattes and then walked alonged the boardwalk.

So that was pretty much my spring break. Lots of sushi, lots of late nights and movies, and lots of catching up with friends. Exactly what I needed.

After a nice quick break I’m feeling really good heading into second semester. I can’t believe another school year is almost in the books and I’ll be half way done with college in just 8 weeks.

I’m hoping I can be more way more consistent with posting on here too..talk soon!

Its been awhile.. College Media Conference 2018

by Olivia

This post is long overdue but this past semester my studies and extra-curriculars consumed most of my time. With winter break finally here, I am back with posting. My life has been pretty routine since getting back to school in August. My trip to Louisville, Kentucky, was the one thing that shook up my weekly routine.

So why did I go to one of the most random cities in America (in my opinion)? Well, I’ve talked about my participation in student media before on here and luckily, this year, I went to the College Media Conference with other Q30 members.

The College Media Conference happens yearly and this year the conference was in Louisville. We stayed at the Galt House Hotel where the conference took place. This hotel hosts those who go to the Kentucky Derby, so that was pretty cool.

The conference was extremely educational. I learned so much more about journalism and I loved every second attending each session.

I learned a lot, and I lived a lot that week. I’ll walk you through each day.

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