Where has fall semester gone?!

I don’t want start off my first blog with a cliché, but I truly can’t help it- time flies fast when you’re having fun, and now that I’m at the end of my first semester of sophomore year, I can’t help but wonder where the time has gone.

This semester has been a whirlwind of activity and I’ve loved every minute of it- the ups, the downs, and all the things in between. I started the semester by serving as an Orientation Leader for the incoming Class of 2012, and it was INCREDIBLE to be on the front-line of the Lehigh welcome committee. Between the icebreaker games, the campus tours, and the discussions of anything and everything that’s Lehigh, I feel that the new class of freshmen is starting their year off on the right foot, and it was great to be a part of that experience.

Once classes kicked in, the things started to get a little hectic- I took 17 credits (5 courses) that included three business classes, a social science course, and an advanced language class. Some classes came more easily to me than others, and despite being as stubborn as I am about asking for help, I got a tutor for my stat class and visited my Spanish professor’s office hours at least once a week. It paid off- I’m happy with the grades I received this semester and have set a goal to make Dean’s List next semester.

One of the highlights of the first semester was having an unbelievable Lehigh-Lafayette week. As the longest continuously played college football rivalry in the country, it’s needless to say that the 144th matchup was an epic event. To start the week, my friends and I formed a team in the Annual Bed Race competition and gave it our all pushing a bed on wheels down Library Drive. Although we went 1-1 overall, it was a blast to see the creative costumes and efforts of all the teams involved. The Thursday before the game was the first-ever Lehigh-Laf-A-Palooza, a giant pep rally involving our band, cheerleaders, our newly named Mountain Hawk mascot (Clutch!) and a headliner performance by State Radio! All this (and more) had the entire campus fired up for the big game on Saturday, and despite the freezing temperatures, the crowds stayed the entire game to cheer on our team to our 31-15 victory! I have countless pictures from this week to add to my scrapbook..

I was also able to work in some community service this semester, and organized the 4th Annual Strykes for Tykes Bowling tournament. Various organizations from campus sent teams, and all proceeds benefited a research center for Juvenile Diabetes. Eventually, I want to find the time to go a SERVE trip, which is an opportunity to travel to an area in need of help during a school break.

To wrap up my semester, I worked with Lehigh’s Career Services and landed three business externships. An externship is a one-day or multiple-day event with a company where you enter the work field, interact with professionals, and get some hands-on experience in the areas of your interest. I travelled into Roseland, NJ and NYC, NY to mix and mingle with some of the most prominent firms in the accounting industry. Although I was at first nervous to meet such accomplished individuals (lots of whom were Lehigh alumni!), I realized they were just as excited to meet current Lehigh students and shared their knowledge of their firms and the accounting industry as a whole. I’m planning to use some of the connections I have made this winter break to work on obtaining an internship at an accounting firm this summer.

Overall, this semester has been busy yet enjoyable, challenging yet manageable, exciting yet relaxing, and so many other positive things. As a sophomore, I still have my fair share of time left at Lehigh, and as odd as my parents may find it, I can’t WAIT to get back and begin my spring semester!