What to do in Dutchess County

^photo cred to Kate Horvath

Something that seems to be common among our generation (and pretty much everyone else) is that we often don’t appreciate something until it’s taken away from us. Like the quote, “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone,” we often realize a little too late how important something might be to us. This is the case when it comes to my experience at Marist College. This is not to say that I didn’t enjoy my time there; I would do it all over again in a heartbeat and loved pretty much everything about school. However, my biggest regret is that I didn’t take advantage of what surrounded me.

What do I mean by this? Last year (my senior year), a few of my housemates and I did internships for school credits. I interned with the American Cancer Society (and loved it) and one of my good friends, Kate, interned for Dutchess County Tourism. She was a journalism major but is also passionate about photography and she’s definitely great at it. Long story short, Kate found an internship that allowed her to travel to locations (local attractions, parks, antique shops, etc) and take pictures. She would usually invite me on her journeys and deciding I wanted to explore the area a little more after four years, I would go with her. By the end of the semester, I had seen more in the Dutchess County area than I had in my previous seven semesters combined. Kate and I often found ourselves saying, “Wow, I wish I had known about this sooner.”

So I am now here to give you Marist students some advice. Take advantage of the area; you will never get these four years back. And contrary to what some say, the area is beautiful. Family weekend is coming up and I’m sure you’re looking for things to do. I realize it’s harder for freshmen to get places because they don’t have a car, but one of my suggestions is in walking distance so there are no excuses!

What To Do:

1)      Go to ‘Walkway Over the Hudson’ and walk across the bridge! It is also sometimes referred to as the Poughkeepsie bridge and is located within walking distance of Marist College (walk past the diner and you will walk under it…then see signs!) It is a steel cantilever bridge that spans between Poughkeepsie and Highland. It was originally built as a double-track railroad bridge and is now a New York State Park. With fall on the way, the view is guaranteed to be incredible. You can see Marist from the bridge too! I would definitely recommend going on the walk; you can go as far as you’d like and it’s great exercise and an excuse to see the area from a different view. For more information, visit their website at http://www.walkway.org/. (This info was taken from their website and from Wikipedia).

2)      Go to Hyde Park for a day. Hyde Park is probably known most for being the location of the Culinary Institute of America; though pricey, the food is fantastic. My family and I ate here during family weekend of my freshman year and were not disappointed. Go for a meal or go grab dessert; I haven’t tried the desserts personally but everyone I’ve talked to said they’re outstanding. If you’re looking for something more historical, check out the Vanderbilt Mansion or the Franklin D. Roosevelt home. Both estates are gorgeous and worth checking out. The FDR home was built in 1826 and has stables, icehouses, a walking trail, and the graves of Franklin and Eleanor located in the Rose Garden.

3)      If you go to Hyde Park and are still in the mood to explore, drive a little more north until you arrive in Rhinebeck. Rhinebeck is a beautiful city located at the foot of the Berkshire Mountains. The town is often referred to as ‘quaint and charming’ which sounds cliché, but it really is. The shopping is awesome; cute boutiques, antique shops, and more. If you’re more into the outdoors, there is no shortage of hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, etc. When you’ve finally worked up an appetite, go to the Rhinebeck Deli, the Farmer’s Market, or to Starr Place. All are different from one another but will not disappoint.

4)      One final place I would suggest checking out is Bowdoin Park. Kate and I went here for one of her assignments and thought the place was beautiful. If you’re traveling south towards the mall, there is a road that takes you to the park (the road is before the mall). The park is conveniently located on the banks of the Hudson providing a gorgeous view of the river. There is a playground area for small children and multiple playing fields if you’re into sports. At Bowdoin Park, there are approximately four miles of trails where you can sit and relax or observe the wildlife.

So if you are a Marist student (or a parent, local resident, or just visiting), check out any of these locations. Whether you’re looking for good food, exercise, nature, or shopping, there’s something to do for everyone. I know you may not think so now, but as you’re about to graduate in four years, you’ll wish you did more and appreciated the area more. Take advantage of what’s around you!!!

Generation Y vs. The Baby Boomers…what’s the difference?

As I’ve probably mentioned in other posts, I’m a recent graduate from Marist College. Why is this relevant? Because I am looking for a job and applying for them regularly. Anyone in the same position understands that applying for jobs is like a job in itself; it’s tedious, takes time, and an attention to detail is critical. I often ask my mom for advice when it comes to cover letters and resumes because she often has an understanding of what people like and want to see.

The other day, I was sending off a cover letter and resume when my mom walked in the room. I put the title of the position in the subject line of the email and added three exclamation points (!!!) to it. Why? Because I feel like it’s an attention grabber. I want my email to stand out over others so I add exclamation points for good measure and to show my excitement about the position. Before my mom could say anything, I quickly said, “I know they may look unprofessional, but they seem to work for me so I’m keeping them.” I was expecting my mom to say it probably wasn’t the best idea and looks childish, but instead she told me she’d just read an article on a related topic.

The article can be found here … http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704421104575463540853116732.html. I would suggest reading it if you have time because it highlights some of the major differences between Generation Y and the Baby Boomers. In the article, the writer, Jeffrey Zaslow, talks about a similar situation he experienced with his daughter. When helping her write a letter, he suggested to his daughter to take out a few exclamation points because they were excessive. His daughter followed his advice. She then received a response email which included an exclamation point at the end of three of the four sentences.

I consider myself to be at an interesting age when viewing these differences between generations. Computers were first introduced when I was a small child; I remember playing Carmen San Diego on our bright blue Apple computer when I was a little kid. I was also around when cell phones started becoming popular. That is, I have lived part of my life without these technologies and part of my life with them. I’ve seen them evolve and have become extremely well-versed in the advances of technology. Unlike my brother and his friends and those younger, getting a cell phone was a privilege and had to be earned. Now, I’m baffled as I walk down the street and see an 8-year-old playing on a cell phone.

However, touching back on the punctuation subject, I believe Generation Y has reasoning behind it. Focusing on my friends and family, literally everyone has their own cell phone. With owning a cell phone comes learning the language (i.e. LOL, LMAO, haha, etc.). When it comes to texting and communicating through technologies, Generation Y tends to over-use certain phrases and acroynms. What many adults don’t realize is that they convey a tone; ‘haha’ is friendly. You aren’t necessarily laughing though. LOL (laughing out loud) is usually added to make sure you don’t come off like a biotch. Your texting language sets the tone of the conversation. If one of my friends were to text me a simple sentence with a period on the end, I would assume they’re mad. Contrary to this, we use exclamation points with one another to show that we are excited or happy.

Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that there are definite differences between my generation and my parents. Yes, I do ask my parents for advice and listen to it, but it is dependent on the topic. Somewhere in the same article, it talks about YouTube videos. If I wanted to learn how to tie a tie, I most likely wouldn’t ask my dad (even though I’m sure he is a pro.) Instead, I’d Google it or go look a video up on YouTube. My generation has become technology-dependent, but it is our expertise. My parents ask me for advice on cell phones, computers, instant messaging, and anything else that I know more about than they do.

Earlier in this post, I mentioned job searching and how tedious it becomes. I have applied for several positions regarding social media because I consider myself to be an expert in this area. However, something I find interesting and unfair is that many of these positions ask for 2+ years of experience. This is nearly impossible since social media (i.e. Facebook and Twitter) have only recently become major sources of advertising and marketing. Yes, Facebook has been around for more than five years, but they only began advertising on the site during 07-08. I know this because I co-wrote an extensive research paper on the topic. I would assume that businesses want somebody who has grown with the social media and is younger because Generation Y are the experts, not the Baby Boomers.

I may be rambling, but these are just some points I wanted to make. I felt this article was relevant and important because others should be aware of the differences in generations. Parents and adults can be easily offended by someone younger, but it turns out we may know what we’re talking about when it comes to specific topics such as technology, social media, and communication. I am not telling my peers to no longer listen to your parents (because they really do know best about a lot of things), but try reversing the roles and teaching your parents some things. We are now living in a society that is extremely technology-dependent and it is only going to continue to grow and become more popular. What’s your response to this blog post? And what are your thoughts on the article? Let me know!

Another word of advice…STUDY ABROAD!

Yesterday I gave you some ideas on what you can expect during the first semester of your freshman year and now I’m going to give you more advice. Throughout our lives, we’re constantly told to get involved and become active in the community, school etc. Up until the end of my sophomore year of college, I brushed off this idea. I joined groups and clubs, but never really become as involved as I could have. Marist takes a smart approach when it comes to getting students involved by using a system of “priority points.” The more clubs you join, the more points you get which results in better housing assignments.

Another positive aspect of Marist is their study abroad program. When I was looking at schools, one factor that I considered (aka my mom encouraged me to care about) was the study abroad program. Is the school’s program organized? Can you get a full semester’s worth of credits? Where can you study? The questions were endless and I listened to what schools had to say only because my mom told me her biggest regret in college was not studying abroad.

I was told that the most popular time to study abroad is during your junior year, so during my sophomore year I started researching programs. In the beginning, I was hesitant. How could I leave Marist, the school I love, for a full semester? What about my friends? I would miss out on too much and miss my friends and family. Except then my friends started becoming interested and I started to care a lot more. To make a long story short, after a lot of toying with the idea of going abroad, I applied and was accepted into the Florence, Italy program along with four of my good friends and multiple other friends that I knew. However, I was still kind of in denial. I would be leaving my family and some of my best friends for an entire semester and didn’t know if I could deal with that. (Side note: you may be asking why I chose Florence, Italy. It was between there and Australia, but I chose Italy because I knew I would be able to travel all around Europe easily. Marist also has an amazing school set up in Florence: Lorenzo de Medici. Another side note: all my friends who studied in Australia absolutely loved it and everyone I know who studied in Florence absolutely loved it…you can’t go wrong no matter where you choose.)

Fast-forward to August of 2008 and the beginning of my junior year.  August 20, I leave Newark on an international flight with about 60 other Marist students and arrive in Germany. From Germany, we take two smaller planes to Florence. We’re brought to our assigned apartments scattered throughout the city and I find myself wanting to cry and be happy at the same time. Side note again: Marist takes care of housing. They have people who travel to Florence and literally search the city for the best apartments in great locations. Not all schools are this accommodating, but I assure you it’s not difficult to find housing. For two weeks, the 60+ Marist students I traveled with and I take an intensive Italian course which counts for three credits. Then the real semester begins.

During those first weeks, my friends and I played the part of a tourist. You could find us wandering around Florence with our giant maps and cameras and gazing at Italian buildings such as the Duomo (conveniently located less than a block from our apartment and also the picture used in this post…it’s 1000X more beautiful in person). I’m finding it hard to put into words what my experience was like. If you’ve studied abroad, you probably understand this.

The point I am trying to make is that if you have the opportunity to do so, you should. I can’t imagine what is better than going to school in a different country, taking cool classes, and living in a different culture for four months and having the experience of a lifetime. Even if you can’t go for a full semester, I strongly encourage you to at least do a short-term program. Can you imagine laying on a beach in Barcelona, Spain on one weekend and camping out in a tent for Oktoberfest in Germany a week later? What about getting lost in Amsterdam or cliff jumping into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of the Greek Islands? This was my life for four months. I really am having trouble organizing my thoughts right now because there’s so much I want to say, but you should go abroad or travel if you can (and save money first!).

I would like to say at this point that I did become homesick for a period of time. I believe that it’s only natural. After the first month and a half of excitement wore off, I found myself sad and missing my family and friends. But if you refer to yesterday’s post, I mentioned being homesick there too. It is bound to happen but the best way to handle it is by sticking it out. I had also said I read Eat Pray Love during my time abroad. I did this when I was homesick. And after I finished the book, I had a pep-talk with myself that went something like, “Sarah, you are having the experience of a lifetime. Do you not realize how lucky you are to be traveling across Europe and earning credits at the same time?” Then I realized how stupid I was being and got over it quickly. It is not fun being homesick, but it is fun living in a different culture for a semester. My positive experiences far outnumbered my sadness.

I think going abroad is one of the smartest things you can do if you have the funds and opportunity to do so. I came back a changed person and definitely for the better. After studying in Florence, I have a much deeper appreciation for other cultures. I also caught the travel bug and would now like to travel anywhere and everywhere. When you’re abroad, you’re put into situations that you could never even fathom occurring. These experiences shape you and your life as you become more mature and well-rounded. An international experience also looks great on a resume because it gives  you a different perspective on life and the world. So again…STUDY ABROAD IF YOU CAN. Research the programs at your school (or if you aren’t in school, research online—>Student Travel Association is a great source!). Go with your friends or go without. You will meet people and be outside your comfort zone, but you WILL have the best freaking time of  your life. See the world my loves!

5 things you should know when going to college for the first time…

When I woke up this morning, I was overcome with depression because in 5 days, my best friend goes back to school and my brother will be heading off to college for the first time. Basically two of the people I’m closest with will leave me…and I’ll be stuck in Vernon job-searching. My friend, who is attending Quinnipiac University for graduate school, has a pretty good grasp on what she can expect when she arrives back on campus. My brother is a different story. His life is about to change dramatically (and hopefully for the better), but he doesn’t really know it yet. I am so excited for him ( and jealous), but will miss him so much. Since I’ve already done the whole college thing, I know what to expect. I understand what it’s like to be a freshman, scared and overwhelmed and not really sure what’s going on. So the point of this blog post is to give some “What you can expect” pointers for those heading off to college.

1.)    You need to understand that EVERYONE else is in the same position as you. I know my brother and his group of friends from high school are extremely close. I know a lot of them well too, and one of his friends confessed to me the other day that he’s not looking forward to college. My advice to him: all of your other friends from home are going to be doing the same thing. They’re about to embark on their college journey too and are most likely just as scared as you. However, you should find it comforting that each person is also trying to transition from summer to freshman year. Also, when you get to college, every kid there is in the same position. They’re overwhelmed and scared. Most of them don’t know anyone else (or maybe just a few kids), but for the most part, are looking to make friends. So keep an open mind and an open door; it will help you meet people from the start.

2.)    You will most likely be sharing a room with someone. You no longer have the luxury of having your own room but instead share one with your roommate. Try to talk to your roommate on the first day about their lifestyle. How late do they stay up? Do they wake up early or sleep in? Do they study in complete silence or like to play music or have some sounds in the background? You need to understand that you are both adjusting to a major life event. If you get back from class at 10 AM and your roommate is still asleep, have some consideration. Don’t slam the door shut and turn on all the lights. Learn how to work your schedules around each other; I promise it will pay off.

3.)    Your roommate may not be your best friend. Now, I know girls are different than guys, but my advice is to not put all your eggs in one basket. Don’t spend all of your free time with your roommate. I’m not saying to ignore them, but meet other people too. I made the mistake during my freshman year of only hanging out with my roommate for about the first two weeks. We literally did everything together; woke up, ate, went to the gym, etc. It’s not healthy to spend that much time around only one person, especially when you don’t know them well. You may not be as compatible as you think you are (which I discovered the hard way). Girls also tend to change their mind quickly. Your roommate could decide a week into school that she doesn’t want to be BFFs with you and now you’re upset because you’ve only been hanging out with her. Walk around the dorm and meet other people; eat lunch with some people, go work out with another group. Variety is a good thing!!!

4.)    You will most likely become homesick at some point. I am not trying to be a Negative Nancy with this post, but I experienced this and know a lot of my other friends did too. In the beginning, there is so much excitement. Freshmen are ecstatic that they have freedom, can go out when they want, skip classes, etc., but then all of a sudden they miss home. This happens to almost everyone. It’s part of life and happened to me both when I first went to college and when I went abroad. It’s only normal to miss your home and parents and good food. Home is where you feel comfortable, so it makes sense. My advice here is to not give up or give in. As much as you may want to go home, stick it out. If you keep leaving school to go home, you miss out on making friends, going out, and having fun. Remember, everyone else is in the same position. Even if you hate school at first, stick it out through at least one semester to give it a real chance. Experience as much as you can, especially in those first few weeks and months. If you do this…

5.)    You will probably end up loving college. By the time Christmas break rolls around, you probably won’t want to leave. Yes, it will be nice to go home and see your high school friends and have a real meal, but you don’t want to leave your college friends or lifestyle! By December, you will most likely have a routine down and be much more comfortable at school. You will have had a semester to meet people and adjust, and hopefully these changes are positive. When I was home over Christmas break during my freshman year, I found myself dying to get back to school and my friends.

College will honestly be the best four years (or two) of your life; it just depends on how you handle the situation. If you follow these tips and listen to my advice, you’ll already be ahead of the game. I encourage you to go in with a positive mindset because that’s half the battle. If you believe you’re going to hate college, you will. But if you go in thinking that you’re going to have the time of your life (you probably will), then that’s what will happen. And you should also know that if you ever need to talk, there is always someone somewhere who will listen. You can call your parents, your friends from home, or even talk to someone at school (a friend, RA, etc.). Also, to my brother, I love you more than you know and promise you’ll have the time of your life. And I am OBVIOUSLY here no matter what you need so don’t ever hesitate to ask for advice or call me. Good luck to all the freshmen!!! Enjoy 🙂