Powder day!

Vermont like most of the country has been waiting for some more snow to come this winter. Last weekend our dreams came true. Friday night, it began to slowly start and just didn't give up. I woke up at 6:30 am because I knew that it was going to be a powder day and that everyone would be at the mountain.

Once I began driving up the mountain road I realized that it had never stopped snowing on Mount Mansfield and wouldn't stop either until later that night. I quickly geared up for a very windy yet snowy day! My first run I was skiing knee deep powder and couldn't believe it. I ended up having the best time skiing and talking to people on the lift. With the wind and the constant snow dumping I wasn't able to get any great photos, but I did find some on Stowe and Smugg's blogs so check it out!

We are supposed to get more snow tonight and I plan on skiing at Stowe this Friday to celebrate my birthday! So keep an eye out for an update and photos from that!

This is my excited we have powder face!

Snow Shoe Festival

Two weekends ago I had the opportunity as a wilderness leader to help out at the Green Mountain Club Snow Shoe festival in Waterbury. I along with three other leaders were extra trip leaders at the festival. Talk about getting to go outside on one of the most beautiful days this winter. The sky was a crisp blue and warm making it perfect snow shoe weather.

Checking out the map!

The four of us took out four adults on the trail called Bingham Falls in Stowe. The trail was nice beginner hike that let us look at the falls at the end which were pretty cool. Leading trips for Saint Mike's students and volunteering in the community at events like this is part of the many things wilderness leaders get to do! I love the feeling of knowing I got up early on a Saturday and did something fun outside instead of just sleeping in all the time. This winter has been abnormal, but despite lacking snow fall and warmer weather I've still been getting outside at least once every week to ski,snow shoe, or frolic around!

My group of friends at Smugglers Notch!

Skiing in the morning and interning in the afternoon

Hello everyone!

In my last post I promised to tell you a little bit more about my crazy awesome schedule and new internship. I wanted to begin by telling you how I generally spend my Mondays. Being a senior I have been able to set up a sweet schedule that allows me time to ski around my classes, internship, and job. Monday's are my skiing morning and a way for me to begin the week well. Today, I skied some fresh pow pow....or powder! We finally got some more accumulation at the mountain so I skied until noon enjoying my mountain nature time.

My afternoons for two days out of the week are dedicated to interning at the Vermont Workers Center.The VWC seeks  The organization stands for justice in all different kinds of ways. From seeking an "economically just and democratic Vermont in which all residents have living wages, healthcare, childcare, housing, and transportation." They are such a wonderful organization that does great things for the community and the state and is already teaching me so much. .

http://www.workerscenter.org/

My role as an intern is mostly helping the media committee through social media expansion, distribution through public access television, radio, video, and documenting events VWC is a part of. I guess you can say that I'm helping people of Vermont and VWC members share their stories. I'm taking my blogging & social media skills I have learned and helping apply it to benefit the VWC. Here is our latest video we have made that were beginning to share and distribute! I'm excited to share all of this with you! Feel free to ask me any questions about it!

How was it for you coming in as a freshman to college?

I was really nervous and excited when I came to SMC. I was nervous to be far from home (I live in TN) and I was nervous about making friends. My roommate and I got along very well and to this day I'm still friends with the majority of girls who were on my floor freshmen year. I have met my closest friends here and now call it home. I also found things I love to do and people I love! The best advice I can give to incoming students is try things, find your niche, keep your door open so you can meet lots of people, don't sweat the small things, and think of college as an adventure.Great question!

Ask me anything

So many things, where do I begin?

Hello! Happy second semester and congratulations to any recently accepted students to SMC!!! I have heard some awesome questions from a few accepted students, but if ya'll think of more don't hesitate to ask me!!

This semester has begun so fast and as I write this I'm thinking how it's my last semester here at SMC which is too sad to spend any more time thinking about. I am taking some awesome classes and thought maybe I would share them. So, I'm taking a class on Refugees, Social Deviance and Norms, Dance Jazz class, and my new internship with Vermont Workers Center. The best part is I have an awesome schedule and am getting to do and study things I love. (The perks of being a Senior). I promise to share in a later post all about the Workers Center and what I am doing with them.

For my Refugee class I'm excited about one of our requirements which is mentoring or volunteering with refugees in the community. I have been paired with a first grader named Taha who is adorable and so much fun to play with. I am loving this component of class as I get to learn about his country while also sharing things I love to do. A lot of classes at SMC have a service component and I believe that it truly helps connect what's being talked about in the classroom to something more tangible and relateable.

Stay tuned for more updates on my awesome and busy semester and what else I am doing! Thanks for reading!

Beth

can you apply to be an o leader if you are studying abroad in the spring of the same year you apply?

Yes, because training begins right before school starts in the fall. Also, interviews and applications are completed in the fall and people find out in January so you could totally apply! Good luck!

Ask me anything

365 days in photos

The start of a new year always brings up goals, resolutions, and hopes for a fresh start. During the break I came across someone who took a picture everyday last year making up 365 pictures to represent the year. I thought about this and finally committed at the last minute. I decided that since I have a smart phone I can easily take a picture during my day and email it to myself. I will be able to look back on this year and remember small moments/specific days along with where and what I was doing. I have created a photo album  and would love to share with others the things and people that are important to me in my life. As you can see I really love my two dogs Molly and Rory! Enjoy and be inspired!