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