Hamilton College Admission Journals: Anna MacDonald

Great Names Speakers

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:08:37 GMT

As the semester is coming to a close, life is getting busier and more exciting on the Hill. Seniors are presenting their final projects, all the musical and theater groups are showcasing their final performances, and the last speakers of the semester are giving their talks – all of this adds up pretty quickly. (But that’s why coffee was invented.)

But out of everything that’s been going on this week, I think the most exciting was the annual Great Names event. The Great Names series brings in famous and well-respected speakers from all around the world. Notable past speakers have been Bill Cosby, Condoleezza Rice, and Al Gore. And while we didn’t have anyone that well renown this year, our speakers were beyond inspirational.

Instead of the traditional single speaker, this year’s event was a panel of two Nobel Peace Prize recipients, Shirin Ebadi and Bernard Kouchner. Ebadi was the first Iranian and first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and was awarded such for her work as a human rights activist. Kouchner was the co-founder Doctors Without Borders. Both gave beautiful speeches, and it was a wonderful, thought-provoking event. This may be the busiest time of year, but it’s events like this that make taking a few hours away from work totally worth it.

Spring Has Sprung!

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 23:36:51 GMT

What a crazy past few weeks it’s been! It feels like I was in Italy with the College Choir only yesterday, having the greatest Spring Break of my life, and now it’s mid-April and I’m suddenly having to make decisions about next year. Where am I going to live? What classes am I going to take? How is it already time to figure these things out? What happened to March?

I’m not the only one on campus feeling the end-of-semester panic, and it’s obvious. The administration is furiously prepping for Admitted Students Day on Monday; professors are getting ready for our final papers and projects and exams; seniors are in a constant state of denial while finishing their theses; and the rest of us are just counting down the days until the Macklemore concert in May.

Even the weather’s in quite a mood. On Monday it was sunny and warm. Yesterday it was storming. Today, it’s cold, once again. All I can say about this week and its weather is that it hasn’t been boring or predictable. Still, though it’s gray and rainy outside today, campus is buzzing with a frenetic excitement that’s unique to this time of year.

Congratulations!

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:09:45 GMT

As many of you are aware, the final admission decisions were posted online on Thursday, so let me be one of many people to congratulate everyone who was accepted! I remember how stressful March and April were when I was senior, and how nerve-wracking it was to open the letter and/or email that could decide your very future. (And how relieving it was once everything was over and you could just enjoy the rest of high school.)

But the process isn’t over yet! It’s the final countdown, ladies and gents, and the last step is all on you – where do you want to spend the next four years? Of course, I’m inclined to tell you “HAMILTON, OF COURSE,” but how helpful would that be? Instead, let me tell you why I chose Hamilton, when I originally had no intention of coming here at all.

After a long debate between a few schools (not including Hamilton), I all but decided on Colgate. Being from Texas, it was a bit of an ordeal visiting Central New York, so when my parents and I flew up, my mother insisted on seeing Hamilton too, because she was sure I’d like it.

After a somewhat unsettling Admitted Students Tour and Info session at Colgate, we headed up the road to Clinton to visit Hamilton. It was rainy and I was tired and set on Colgate, so I wasn’t expecting much as we approached the Hill. But as soon as we passed by the brightly colored buildings and entered the cozy Admission Office, I knew there was something special about Hamilton. It just felt right.

(Not to mention I then learned about the emphasis on developing writing skills and the virtually open curriculum, as well as the tiny student body and the strength of the community on the Hill. But never doubt your gut reactions; they rarely lead you astray.)

So, after that one visit almost exactly two years ago, I decided immediately on Hamilton, and have yet to regret that decision. These past three-and-a-half semesters have been the most wonderful and life-changing months of my life, and though my time at Hamilton is not yet halfway over, I can assuredly state that I have grown and changed into a person that I can be proud of, and I will continue to grow and change and be influenced by the wonderful people here at Hamilton College.

Spring Is In The Air!

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:37:38 GMT

Midterms are done! Classes are over! Spring Break has begun! (For everyone except me because I’m in the middle of finishing a paper – oops.) Even as I write this, I can see students leaving one-by-one, piling into cars and dragging their suitcases across campus. Most of my friends will be gone by tonight, and I will be here, panicking and packing for my trip to Italy.

That’s right – Bella Italia! Every four years, the College Choir goes abroad for Spring Break, and I was lucky enough to join in time for a magnificent 12-day tour of Italy. With stops in Rome, Florence, Venice and more, it’s going to be a non-stop adventure of singing and eating gelato. (And let’s not forget the pandemonium of visiting the Vatican so close to Easter with a new Pope being instated!)

The trip will be a nice change of pace from the chilly Clinton winter, and I'm so absolutely ecstatic that I completely lost my train of thought for this post. Ah, well. I just can’t wait to get to Rome, and while I’m going to miss Hamilton, and I’m sad I won’t get to see my parents over break like last year, this is truly a fantastic opportunity, and I’m so grateful for the chance to explore Italy with my friends.

Happy International Writers Week!

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:52:15 GMT

It’s been a busy week for the English and Creative Writing departments here at Hamilton. There have been speakers and movies and even a Harry Potter trivia night in the pub, and it’s not over yet! Tonight the award-winning author A.S. Byatt will be giving a talk in the Chapel, and we super-nerdy English and Creative Writing majors can’t think of a better way to spend our Friday night (seriously).

And beyond the fun times to be had in the world of literature, it’s also been a great week for all the music lovers on campus. There was a fantastic show by a folk-rock band called the Felice Brothers last night (who new Hamilton students enjoyed dancing so much?), and a traditional Irish music group performing tomorrow. The most exciting thing, however, was the announcement of our big spring concert – Walk the Moon. I’d never heard of them, but many friends of mine are thrilled, and it’s bound to be a blast!

It’s been a busy week, academically and recreationally, but with the promise of Spring Break just a few weeks away, everyone is in high spirits on the Hill and ready to tackle midterms as they come.