Tip: Write!!

Good morning!

I think it is really important to learn something new every single day, but I also know that it is hard to remember everything. So Tip #1 is to write down important memories and things you learn so you do not forget. 

So here it goes!

It is currently Day 4 of the Clark Scholars program. After a hectic move-in, orientation, and luncheon with the mentors, things are finally settling down (somewhat). I can already tell this summer is going to be extra special!

To backtrack a bit, I moved in on June 21st (though some scholars already moved in on the 20th). The housing situation is great! Everyone lives in a suite, which consists of a common area with a hallway that leads to four individual dorm rooms and two bathrooms. It is nice and spacious and everyone is super friendly :)

The common area

My dorm (pardon my mess)

Bathroom!

There wasn't much scheduled for the first few days, so I mainly just tried to get to know the other scholars. It been a crazy blur of new faces and interesting places. Everyone I have met so far has been quite nice, and I cannot wait to get to know them better. The campus is quite beautiful, with plenty of wildlife (by that I mean pigeons, crows, and squirrels). I met my mentor on Day 3. He is absolutely hilarious and I got to know him a bit better as we shopped for project materials. After shopping, we got some ice cream and went on a tour of the buildings. After assigning me some homework for the next day, he sent me on my merry way back the dorm. 

I spent a majority of the rest of the day completing the homework, but I did take a few breaks to eat and play some racquetball at the rec center with the some other scholars and our chaperone. I am absolutely terrible at racquetball, but it was fun nonetheless. 

It's really important to get enough sleep (at least 7 hours a night, right?) so bedtime for me is usually around 11. I woke up this morning at 7 for a run with two other scholars, who were both a lot more fit than me since I have not properly exercised in months, haha. It was pretty painful, to be honest, but I am determined to whip my lazy butt back into shape. The whole time I was running, I was just thinking about the delicious breakfast that I would be having afterwards at Einstein Bros Bagels. There is one a few minutes away from our dorm, so after my run, I showered and headed over. The servers are quite friendly (they let me customize my bagel however I liked!) and they remembered my name this morning after visiting them for the third morning in a row :') Since, the program pays for my meals, the breakfast sandwich and frozen coffee I got afterwards felt like a real treat. 

Delicious vanilla hazelnut frozen coffee with an egg white, turkey sausage, cheddar cheese, spinach, and mushroom bagel sandwich. 

...and now we are all caught up to the present! I will be meeting my mentor in a bit, so I will write more soon!

Truly,
Lucy