A Year in the Life of Caroline Dow Bishop

A Week of New Things

This past week and weekend was filled with acclimating to college life after a long summer.

Last weekend I was chosen to be in the Laurentian Singers, the select chorus on campus, which was a goal that I set before even becoming a SLU student!! The following evening SLU hosted the annual Adirondack theme dinner following the First Year Cup Festival; a series of competions among all FYPs to gain points for their college. Last Friday was the perfect day for the FYC festival and theme dinner. During the dinner there was a campus organization fair and a great band performing.

After the theme dinner I drove up, with the Laurentian Singers, to St. Lawrence's camp on Saranac Lake called Canaras(Saranac spelled backwards) for a retreat. We had 5 hours of practice, ice breakers and lots of good food!

Going up to Canaras was such a wonderful experience. The natural beauty of the lake was overwhelming and the camp it's self was breath taking. I cannot wait to go up again next year! After a short drive home on Saturday, I felt at home with the Laurentian Singers and pumped about the upcoming semesters!

After coming home I went up to the St. Lawrence River with my boyfriend Jon and his parents to visit some of his family friends, the Augsburys, for dinner. Their camp is over 100 years old! It was wonderful to sit back, relax and be near the water. After going up to Canaras and going to the Augsburys' camp, I will never (again) say that SLU is in the middle of nowhere--the North Country is one of the most naturally beautiful and peaceful places in the world!

After the fun filled weekend, I, and 2,200 other SLU students, had their first full week of classes! This year I am taking Chinese, Journalism, Music and an Economic History seminar class--what a liberal arts schedule! After the first week I am truly enjoying all of my classes and Laurentians.

In addition to classes and singing, I also decided to pledge for a sorority! This is one thing I NEVER though I would do. But as I was visiting some of the houses during recruitment I realized that I had been missing out on a lot of fun, amazing friendships and endless leadership opportunities. After the rush period I am now proud to be a CHI-O girl!!!!! I could not be happier about being in the EK chapter of Chi Omega, the largest sorority in the WORLD. My sisters are wonderful and I could not have asked for a more worthwhile experience. Go CHI-O!

Finally, after classes, singing and CHI-O I re-applied for, was appointed to, a position in THELMO, our SLU student government, as chair of Academic Affairs. I held the position last semester but loved it so much and had some wonderful ideas this semester that I wanted to continue working on for the student body. THELMO holds a very special place in my heart and I cannot wait until our first meeting this Wednesday evening!

OK well that's all for now--I have a Chinese quiz tomorrow, wish me luck!

Yours Truly,

Caroline

WELCOME BACK!

Welcome to St. Lawrence class of 2011!!! This past week has been a blur; I am a returning sophomore and best of all an Orientation Leader for first years. The group of Ol's arrived last Wednesday for training to prepare for helping the first years acclimate to campus with academic and social support. Being an OL has been A-mazing! All of the first years in the FYP, Gaines, that I have been assigned to are awesome and SO much fun.

My favorite part of the past week was going to the Matriculation Ceremony--a very old SLU tradition. All of the Ol's played a part in the ceremony by carrying their FYP's sign down the center aisle and having all of their first years proceed out with them. This was a great new way to really integrate the first years into the ceremony as well as the OL's.

Academically, I am very excited about the upcoming semester. I will be taking Chinese, Journalism, Economic History and Music--a true liberal arts schedule! I expect that this year will bring new challenges as well as wonderful experiences and opportunities for me to take advantage of at St. Lawrence.

Although I am no longer playing on the Varsity Volleyball team I will continue with being active in THELMO, our student government, as chair of Academic Affairs, singing in either Laurentians (if i get in, keep your fingers crossed for me!) or University Chorus and setting up a student and faculty representative for the American Association of University Women, AAUW which advocates for equality and equity for women in social and educational settings, at the St. Lawrence County Branch.

I have my first class at 12:40 so I better get going--but I am pumped to be back at SLU revisiting all of my friends and professors! Until next week!

All the Best,

Caroline