Graduation and Summer

Graduation was a lot of fun. It was also sad because most of my friends whom I've known for the past three years graduated and moved away from Marin. The good thing is there is facebook and the telephone, so they aren't gone forever. Still I'll miss being able to give them a call and hang out because they are a minute walk away. Next year I'll be in their place, and I will be walking across the stage earning my diploma. Though it seems close I know I still have a lot of work ahead of me. In fact, this summer I will try to get a head start on my senior project by completing some (hopefully most) of the research I need. When the spring semester rolls around and I am getting ready to begin writing my business plan, I should have all of the research completed. Yet, before I start thinking about more school work I'm going to sit back and enjoy summer (really I'll be working and trying to save money). This is my first summer I've spent in Marin, and so far I'm liking it :)

Summer Vacation

Hey everyone, this has been a great school year with lots of great events, classes, and people, and I’m happy that you guys were able to experience it with me.

Just because it’s the summer doesn’t mean I have nothing to do. This summer I’m still on-campus as a Resident Advisor (RA). I will be helping with the international students that will be living in the dorms. I meet some great international students last summer from France and had lots of fun. Besides being an RA, I am working for the Information Technology department and working on writing my Senior Thesis.

Like I told you guys, I am done with my undergraduate study in the Fall so I have four months to start, write, and finish my Senior Thesis. Working with my professor now to come up with a topic and get writing. My goal is get half, if not all of my Senior Thesis written by the start of school. I got three months; I can do it.

Other than that, I get to enjoy summer with friends and look forward to senior year.

To all of you attending Dominican in the Fall, ill see you during Orientation and for everyone else, best of luck in college!!!!

Stay Coo and Lets Go Penguins

Chilly

FRESHMAN YEAR- THATS A RAP!

I cannot believe that I am completing my first year as a freshman at DU. Time flies. Ive been really stressed out with finals and I am ready for the 3 month summer break. Second semester was a little tougher than the first, but not to an extent where I couldn't handle it. I had a 16 unit course load, but I was still able to manage being a Student Ambassador and a member of ASDU. So, as you can imagine, I was a busy girl!

I found myself crying two days ago at Midnight Madness-Ive been such an emo lately! I cried because I knew I would no longer see alot of the seniors that will be graduating this year. Many of them are ambassadors and many of them are my peers within ASDU. I have always been a part of student government for as long as I can remember, but I have never worked with a group of people I can actually say I have grown to love and will miss dearly. There arent any class distinction, so I was able to become close to alot of people-some more than others. I cried because I will miss seeing them at work, or in meetings, or in the dining hall. I am only a freshman here, but I was able to form bonds in just a year here at DU. These people really do become family and I will always cherish the happy moments we had.

So, what is Midnight Madness? Im glad you ask! Midnight Madness is a time where we can take a break from studying for our finals. We get to have breakfast at 10pm(way better than IHOP or Denny's) at Caleruega, we get to socialize with our student body, and we get to enjoy a great show! This time around we were able to watch a 2 hour long hypnotist show! I was one of the craziest thins I had ever seen. About 15-25 students were hypnotize and asked to do things that they would never do in public. I always thought these kind of showes were fake, but indeed they are not. I thought it was hilarious when the hypnotist had people smack themseleves in the butt screaming "Whos your daddy!" or have guys actually believe that he was Jessica Alba. You had to see it to believe it!. For those of you who will be joining us next fall, you will=)

This summer I will be traveling. I depart for Amsterdam and Paris in less than 3 weeks. Ill be back just in time to take a summer course at Pasadena City College back home in Los Angeles. I was elected as Sophomore Class Rep for ASDU 07-08 school year, so I get to come back early and help out with Freshman Orientation. Im looking forward to that! I remember my first day as an actual student on campus-it can be a bit intimidating, but nevertheless, it will be so much fun!

This week will still be stressful because I have a few assignments I need to complete. Im done with freshman year for the most part. Moving out of the dorms next week will feel so surreal. All the late night study sessions, movie nights, parties(yes even getting caught by RA's), adventures in Pennafort will now only be a memory. I teared up a bit when I heard my suitemate playing her guitar the other night. I realized that I will no longer we waken up by the strumming of her music. These are the memories that will last a long time.

Im excited to go home for the summer and spend some time with family and friends. The people I have met here have become my family and my friends as well because I lived with the. You do not live with your friends back home so therefore a differnet friendship is born. Dominican became my home away from home, but now I can actually say this is my home. Im leaving home and Ill miss it like crazy. Once I get to Los Angeles, I know Ill want to come back to San Rafael. Youll soon know enough what I mean!

Have a wonderful summer and wish me luck on my finals=)
Ill tell you all about my adventures when I get back from Europe
Adieu for now!!!

~Victoria Rivera~
Student Ambassador c/o 2010
Freshman Class Representative
major: Occupational Therapy

The “Final” week!

After eight months including NCUR, Penguin Ball, Midnight Madness, Boat Dance, ASDU elections, spring break, and midterms, this school year is almost over. Tuesday, May 1 was the end of the academic school year. It’s amazing to realize that after eight months, its all over; another year has come and gone. Today, Thursday, may 3rd is the start of Finals week.

As I sit here and write this, I think of the one Final I just finished for my Social Psychology class; a 50 question exam. Sounds like a lot but that is much easier than 10 – 25 free response questions. All I have is two more Finals and then I can declare myself free of academics for another year! Tomorrow and next Tuesday are the days of my remaining Finals.

This has been a great year to be part of student government. We put on some great events and really out did ourselves. We did a lot of things that have never been done at Dominican before. Next year, many of the members on student government are returning from this year’s group so that same drive and desire will be there.

The greatest thing about this time of year in college are the celebration dinners that every department and organization want to have as a method of thanking their staff for a job well done. I have attended one thus far and have been invited to four others. This is when all those extracurricular activities pay off.

With respect to athletics, all of our sports have wrapped-up. Tuesday, May 1 was the date for the Athletic Banquet Dinner. All Dominican teams; Men & Women’s Basketball, Golf, and Soccer, Men’s Lacrosse, and Women’s Tennis, Softball, Volleyball, and Cheerleaders, joined in the Gym and enjoyed receiving and watching their fellow athletes receive awards from their coaches. The event is always very classy and this was no different.

Well, that’s all from this Penguin. Got to get back to studying for Finals!!!

Stay Coo and Lets Go Penguin,

Chilly