Study Breaks to Use for Finals Week

With the end of the year coming to a close and final exams beginning this Friday, I know that most of my time will be spent in the library. However, we all need to take breaks while studying to refresh and clear our head. Here are some of my favorite study breaks to use during finals week!

1) Go to the waterfront and watch the sunset!

This past Friday my friends and I went to Perkins Pier to watch the sunset on Lake Champlain. The waterfront is a quiet and peaceful place, and is absolutely beautiful, especially when it's sunset! 

 

2) Switch up your study spot and go to a coffee shop!

There are so many options for study spots on Church Street and in Winooski. Dobra Tea, Muddy Waters, Skinny Pancake, Scout & Co, and New Moon are some of my favorites! Grabbing a tea or coffee and studying in a new location can really help, especially when it's towards the end of finals and you've spent almost all your time in one study spot.

3) Play frisbee or spend time out on the quad area when it's warm!

The quad area and library lawn are packed when it's warm outside. The past week, I've spent my free time playing frisbee and KanJam with my friends when the weather is good. Being outside and playing frisbee is a good way to have a short study break! 

            

4) Go to the gym or go for a run!

Whether you want to go on a run, work out, or play 3 on 3 basketball, Tarrant is a great spot to go for even a half hour to relax and get your energy back up!

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Most importantly, make sure to take care of yourself. We have less than two weeks left this semester, you can do it!

 

Until next time,

Katie :)

Contact me here!

Email: cbarry5@mail.smcvt.edu

Instagram: cbarry_28

A Day in the Life of a Sophomore Psych and Business Major

Hi all! Today I'm going to write about what my schedule looks like on an average day. :) 

7:45am - wake up (the hardest part of the day) and get ready for class! At 8:00 I head to Alliot for a nice breakfast with my friends. Whenever Alliot has tater tots or French toast sticks for breakfast, you know it's going to be a gooooooood day! Then at 8:20, it's time for the quick two minute walk from the dining hall to class!

8:30am-12:05pm - On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I have Italian, Statistics, and Cross Cultural Psychology back to back, but it's not bad! I personally like having three classes in a row because I'm done for the day at 12:05, and then I only have one class (Management) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

12:05pm - LUNCH! Yes, one of my favorite times of the day. I usually spend between 30 minutes and an hour in Alliot for lunch, because with the unlimited meal plan you can eat as much as you want, and Alliot is also a great social place where you'll see your peers. (I spent over 90 minutes in Alliot last week talking with friends and having four cups of tea which was a great way to destress and catch up with people I hadn't seen in a while!)

2:30pm - Every Monday at 2:30, I give campus tours to prospective students. Being a tour guide is a great experience for many reasons, one being that you get to tell people why you love Saint Mike's!

3:30-5:30pm - Homework session! My favorite spots to do homework are in the academic buildings and the student center! But when I really need to focus I go to the library!

The children's literature room in the library is my favorite spot to write a paper!

5:30pm - Dinner in Alliot!!!! 

7:00-9:00pm - This time is usually reserved for club meetings! I'm involved with many clubs and organization on campus, including DREAM, RHA, Campus Ministry, the Academics Committee, and more!

9:00-10:15pm - Homework again! 



10:15-11:00pm - Free time! I usually have free time scattered throughout the day, but at this time I'll usually play a board game (Settlers of Catan is my new favorite), or watch an episode of my favorite show or a sports game with my friends!

11:00pm - goodnight!!! getting a good amount of sleep is crucial to staying focussed in class, so always try your best to get at least 8 hours (even though that is challenging in college)!

Some days are busier than others, but I always make the most of every day and enjoy every minute as a student at Saint Mike's :)

Until next time,

Katie :)

Contact me here!

Email: cbarry5@mail.smcvt.edu

Instagram: cbarry_28

Mid-Semester Tips!

Hey everyone! February has sure been one of my busiest months here at Saint Mike's. In busy times like these, it's important to stay refreshed and stay motivated in order to get everything done efficiently and effectively. Here are some tips to staying refreshed, getting your work done, and still having a fun semester!

1) Don't Procrastinate (especially not on big papers)
    Let's be honest, we all do it. However, I found that by completing the smaller assignments first, it helps out in the long run because then there is less work to do so you can focus more on the big papers and big exams.

2) Switch up your study spot!

     I will alternate between doing work in the library, the Dion student center, and the academic buildings in order to get work done in the most efficient way. For me, I go to the library to do papers since there are not really any distractions, I go to the academic buildings to study for exams, and Dion to work on other assignments.

The loft on the third floor of Dion is one of my favorite spots to study!

3) Make sure to take advantage of the nice weather!

      Right now, it's 50 degrees and sunny outside. Be sure to go on a walk or doing homework outside on nice days, it will help you refresh and is a good way to take time for yourself!

4) Get off campus and explore!

      On weekends in the winter, I love to go skiing and downtown to the Burlington area! Getting off campus is a great way to clear your head and explore the beautiful state we live in. Here's some pictures I took at Smuggs this season.

 

Until next time,

Katie :)

Contact me here!

Email: cbarry5@mail.smcvt.edu

Instagram: cbarry_28

Extended Service Trip: BUFFALO!!!

The last week of winter break, I traveled to Buffalo, NY with a group of seven other students from Saint Michael's to participate in a week long service trip. Our group of Saint Mike's students split off into two groups to work in two different middle schools for the week. I was in a group that went to St. Augustine (an all boys middle school), and the other group went to St. Monica's (an all girls middle school).

We spent the week sitting in on classes, tutoring the students in study hall and cheering them on at their basketball games, and doing other miscellaneous projects around the school.

My favorite part of the week was eating lunch with the boys at St. Augustine. The students told me their dreams and aspirations for their future. Some told me they wanted to be a writer and go to Harvard, another wanted to be a veterinarian and go to Georgetown, and another told me about how they wanted to go to UCLA and play in the NBA. The week in Buffalo was a great way to start off 2017. I highly recommend that every student takes part in a MOVE service trip before they graduate!

Until next time,

Katie :)

Contact me here!

Email: cbarry5@mail.smcvt.edu

Instagram: cbarry_28

Semester Wrap Up: Highlights from Fall 2016

Well friends, I finished my exam and just submitted my English paper, so I can now say that my fall semester is over. Although this has been a tough semester for everyone on campus, there have been so many great memories that I want to share with you all.

Here are my favorite memories from each month this semester! 

September:
Moving back to school and going into Burlington was definitely one of my favorite parts of the semester. The entire summer I was counting down the days until I was back at SMC and in Vermont. The first night back, I went downtown with my friends to get late-night burritos at Boloco, which unfortunately just closed down :( However, nothing beats walking on Church Street, it's just so beautiful! 

October: 
QUIDDITCH! I'm the co-president of RHA (Residence Hall Association), a club at Saint Mike's that puts on different programming events throughout the year for students on campus. One of our biggest events is Quidditch! Yes, Quidditch, like in Harry Potter! RHA puts on a Quidditch tournament twice a year: once in the fall and once in the spring!

Keep an eye out for the Quidditch tournament happening next semester sometime in April!

November: 
The weather in Vermont is really, really, really weird. The weekend before Thanksgiving it was 60 degrees one day, and then 30 degrees the next day. However, my friends came up to visit on that Saturday when it was 60 degrees and sunny.

We went to the Skinny Pancake and the waterfront, which was a great way to get off campus and enjoy the nice weather! 

December:
I'm pretty sure every student can agree that Alliot Christmas Dinner is the most wonderful meal of the year. For those of you who don't know, Alliot Christmas Dinner happens once a year and is Alliot cooks a Christmas dinner for all the students! There is everything ranging from ham and mashed potatoes, to s'mores pizza and banana foster, to every type of bread you can imagine. 

And....there's eggnog.

And that's all I have! I hope everyone has a wonderful winter break! 

Until next time,

Katie :)

Contact me here!

Email: cbarry5@mail.smcvt.edu

Instagram: cbarry_28

The First Snowfall of Sophomore Year❄️⛄️❄️☃️❄️

Happy Wednesday Knights! It finally happened. I was studying in the academic buildings this past Sunday evening when my friend Dave came in and yelled, "KATIE IT'S SNOWING!" I immediately got out of my seat and pulled up the blinds on the third floor of Jeanmarie to reveal a winter wonderland. 

Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture at that moment, but here's some photos I took on my way to class the next day!

 The past few weeks have been very busy, long, and stressful with all the work piling up as the semester is almost over, but nothing made me happier than walking around campus and feeling the stillness in the air, seeing the snow hanging off the tree branches and knowing that this was only the first of many snowfalls to come this year.

On my drive back home yesterday, I-89 was absolutely beautiful to drive on. The trees were covered in snow and the top of the mountains looked promising for ski season. Here's two photos to prove that Vermont finds a way to make highways look beautiful.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving break! 

Until next time,

Katie :)

P.S. check out the snowman outside the library "Roberta Frost"!

Contact me here!

Email: cbarry5@mail.smcvt.edu

Instagram: cbarry_28

Oh Canada

        
Long weekends call for adventure. Montreal is less than two hours from campus, which makes it nice and easy to visit for a weekend getaway. Saint Mike's has the perfect location, because it's a brief walk to restaurants in Winooski Circle, a quick drive to downtown Burlington and the waterfront, a half hour from the mountains, and only a short drive up to Canada.



Montreal is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Old Montreal in particular has a European feel. This area of the city is lined with delicious cafés, art galleries, and historic churches.

       

         

Notre-Dame Basilica (pictured below) is almost 200 years old and was one of my favorite places to visit. 

       

For brunch we went to Crêperie Chez Suzette. I had the délicieuse crepe, with bananas and almonds. I've been to this café every time I've gone to Canada, and I would recommend it to everyone! 



We didn't have any specific plans set when we decided we were going to Canada, and we had a fantastic time! I personally prefer being spontaneous and deciding on what to do once we get there.



Montreal is absolutely beautiful and you will find things to do just by walking around. Montreal is a great city to visit for the day or for a weekend. I've gone three times so far and hope to go again in the future!

        
Until next time,
Katie :)

Contact me here!

Email: cbarry5@mail.smcvt.edu

Instagram: cbarry_28