chloë at smith

she/her, smith college ‘22. la->noho

[smitten-smithie-blog]

My First Semester Classes

While I ended up taking leave part way through first semester, I thought I would write about the classes I was taking! I really enjoyed all of them.

1. Intro to Political Thinking- While this class was probably my most challenging, I really enjoyed looking at Gov from more of a theory standpoint. This class was heavily discussion and reading based, which was an (expected) departure from high school level classes. I had professor Erin Pineda and she was wonderful! I really enjoyed her teaching.

2. Intro to Sociology- Sociology was really interesting. I loved how the theories we learned could easily be found in the real world. This class was lecture style, which I honestly prefer. I took it with prof Cory Albertson and he made the class really fun.

3. Reading and Writing Short Poems- This class was probably my favorite of the semester. My senior year of high school, I was not a fan of my English teacher for a myriad of reasons, and was really nervous going back into an English class. However, the professer (Maya Janson) was wonderful and I loved the class. It was a great opportunity to dive back into writing and reading poetry.

[smitten-smithie-blog]

My Smith Job

For a lot of students (myself included), part of their financial aid package included work study. In the past, first year students were required to work in dining/housekeeping, but as of fall 2018, we were free to apply to any job that interested us. I got a job with Smith’s theatre department as a lighting technician- I have never done anything quite like that, and I had so much fun learning all about what goes into lighting performances! One of the biggest projects I was involved in was hanging and focusing lights for the Smith musical “Midnight on the Miskatonic”, which was super stressful at the time, but it all paid off when we saw the show. I learned a lot about pushing myself out of my comfort zone with my job- it required a lot of literal heavy lifting, heights, and dealing with equipment I had little to no experience with- and I’m really grateful that I got to prove to myself that I’m capable of completing difficult tasks.  

(Image description: my name in the program for “Moonlight on the Miskatonic”. End ID).

[smitten-smithie-blog]

Smith’s Supplementary Essay

As college app season nears its end, I thought I would share some of my advice on Smith’s supplementary essay. I know that the unconventional prompt may be a bit intimidating, but try and have fun with the essay! This is your chance to showcase your personality to the admissions board. I am by no means an expert on admissions, but my advice comes from my personal experience and observations.

1. There isn’t a “right” answer- Again, the supplementary essay is Smith’s way of getting to know you beyond your stats. The class of 2022 had the same prompt, and everyone I know who got in had a wide variety of movie choices and essays.

2. Allow yourself to be creative!- I think I saw another blogger (Emma?) suggested taking 10-15 minutes to just sit down and write whatever comes to mind. What ultimately became my essay came from a free write session that I did as a bit of a joke.

3. Have 3 people read your essay- a parent/close adult, a teacher/writing expert, and a peer. During my college application process, I remember one piece of writing advice that particularly stuck out to me, which is that you should not share your writing with too many people. Having too many editors can ultimately weaken your paper; and anyways, your paper is yours- you want your voice to shine through. 

Below is the essay that I submitted for my supplemental- for obvious reasons, please don’t copy or borrow from my paper. I hope that reading my paper may give you some inspiration: 

Despite my pretentious teenage soul leaning towards an obscure Swedish film, my heart knows exactly which movie I would want to star in, given the chance: One Direction, This Is Us. Like many tweens coming of age in 2011/2012, I was fully invested in both the music and lives of the boy band. I distinctly remember my reaction when I first watched the film masterpiece that is This Is Us- I cried so intensely that I choked on my popcorn, and was subsequently banned from eating any more during the course of the movie. Though the logistics of starring in a documentary of a well established boy band may seem complicated at first, I would be content taking on any role from personal assistant to honorary band member. Choosing any other production would truly be a betrayal to my past self.

Best of luck on your essay writing! Feel free to reach out with any further questions.

[smithbysmithies]

Hi! I'm applying ED ll and smith is my dream school and while I'm doing my application I've just been feeling like I'm not good enough to apply here and that my stats aren't good enough and that I won't get accepted anyways and any chance of me getting in is just false hope and yeah so! does anyone have any tips on how I can get passed this?? bc at this point I'm having second thoughts about applying

Hey!

The way I like to think about things like this is you have a much greater chance of getting in if you apply than if you don’t apply at all! Try to not compare yourself to anyone else you talk to or stats you see online, admissions is looking for a diverse pool of applicants, and test scores and grades aren’t all that make you a person. If you don’t think you would want to go to Smith then don’t apply early decision, but if Smith is still your dream school then go for it!

Hazel ‘22J

Hey!

If Smith is your dream school, you should definitely apply! Like Hazel said, Smith is looking for a diverse pool of applicants, and wants to have students who have a wide range of interests. I got in ED I and I didn’t have straight A’s in high school. I also didn’t submit my SAT score, because I didn’t feel that it reflected my ability as student. They evaluate applications holistically, meaning that they want to know you as a person, not just your standardized test scores and grades. If you think Smith is your top choice and applying ED II feels right for you, go for it! Best of luck!

-Miranda ‘22

[smithbysmithies]

What do you think on your application helped you the most to getting accepted into smith?

Hey!

I think being myself in my college essay and Smith supplement helped me the most. In my opinion, my college essay demonstrated my resilience in navigating struggles throughout my life, and my Smith supplement showed my passions. I hope this helps!

-Miranda ‘22

[smitten-smithie-blog]

My essays and interview, they helped show Smith who I am beyond my transcript!

[smitten-smithie-blog]

taking leave!

hi all! I wanted to make a post to announce that I made the decision to leave Smith for the remainder of this semester and next semester to focus on my mental health. I’m still going to be posting about my experiences with Smith, and I have some posts lined up that I’m excited to share. I’m planning on taking some community college classes in the spring and returning to Smith next fall- and, as always, will keep this blog updated with my adventures.

[smitten-smithie-blog]

The First Snow!

Last night, Northampton had the first snow of the year! This was super exciting for me because I’m from Southern California and thus rarely see snow. I’m sure that I’m going to be tired of the snow in about a week, but for now I’m fully enjoying the weather.

(Image description: the view from my window of a tree, lampost, and the ground covered in snow. End ID).

(Image description: me w a snow person I made! End ID).

(Image description: two cups of hot cocoa. End ID).

My friend and I also celebrated by getting hot cocoa from Iconica, one of the cutest coffee shops nearby.

(Image description: the view from Iconica’s window. There’s a big orange stripe painted on the window, and you can see a plant, snow, and buildings behind the window. End ID).

[smitten-smithie-blog]

Glazed

Ever since I was a kid, my parents took me to get doughnuts post-voting. Now that I’m in college and have voted for the first time, I had to continue the tradition🍩A pal and I went to Glazed, an iconic doughnut shop in Northampton and had a great time celebrating voting! If you’re ever in Northampton, I would definitely recommend visiting Glazed and getting a doughnut (or two or twelve). They’re cheaper after 10 too, which is super nice for college students looking for a late night sugar rush.

[smitten-smithie-blog]

Family Weekend!

My mom came out for family weekend this past weekend, and I had the best time! Homesickness is definitely real, so it was nice to hang out with my mom in real life, as opposed to FaceTime and texts.

(Image description: my mom sitting in a local coffee shop with her coat. End ID).

The Roost is a super cute restaurant downtown that I love- unfortunately, it’s quite a walk from my dorm, so I don’t go often. However, my mom rented a car so we went for almost every meal.

(Image description: me in a colorblock jacket walking on a red frame in front of an apple orchard, with the forest and mountains in the background. End ID).

Since we’re from LA, and don’t experience “real seasons”, I wanted to give my mom the quintessential New England experience. I thought the perfect way to do that was by bringing her to Park Hill Orchard, a super cute and artsy apple orchard about 15 minutes away from Smith. We had the best time exploring the art, pumpkin patch, and apple orchard, and ended up buying 3 pies and some local ice cream to enjoy.

(Image description: me through the window of a bookstore, surrounded by books, smiling. End ID).

My mom has also visited a few months earlier, and we had a great time at the Montague Book Mill, and a cute restaurant next door. So this weekend, we had to go back! It was just as cute as we remembered.

(Image description: my mom and I taking a selfie with a painting on a mirror. I’m wearing the same outfit, a brown jacket and black hat, as the painting. End ID).

(Image description: a small statue in the botanical gardens surrounded by flowers. End ID).

On Saturday, we started off the day by checking out the Smith museum and the botanic gardens (with a hot chocolate break in the middle!). My mom hadn’t seen the garden before, and had only briefly stopped in the museum, so it was nice to take a bit of time to explore them.

To end our adventures, we ended up checking out the other 4 schools in the consortium out of curiosity! Below are the photos of me in front of their signs- in the order Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, Umass, and Amherst

While the other schools were all super pretty, Smith is definitely my favorite❤️

All in all, I had an amazing weekend! I’m so grateful that I had the chance to hang out with my mom, and I miss her already.

[smitten-smithie-blog]

Voting!!

Recently, I voted for the first time! Since turning 18, this is probably the thing I’ve looked forward to most. The midterm elections are SO important this year, so make sure to go out and vote! Since I’m from California, I voted via mail which was super convenient. If you have any questions regarding voting at college, or in general, please reach out.

(Image description: me dropping my mail in ballot in a mail box. End ID).

[smithbykennedy]

#diversifysmithathletics

Yesterday, we took a stand as 65 athletes, both of color and allies, to demand more diversity and inclusivity from the Smith College Athletics Department and our teams. At Smith College and across the country, race and socioeconomic background are identities which support a social hierarchy where some people hold privilege over others in many given situations. Sports are one of those situations where those identities come into play. As people of color, we do not have access to sports in the same way that white people do, as many sports are inaccessible until college. As students at Smith College, while we all have the privilege of joining sports like crew, swimming and diving, and field hockey, we do not have the privilege of moving through our teams’ spaces in the same way. We cannot afford to take the same risks as our teammates and often do not feel as safe to put ourselves out there. Many of us have experienced microagressions, ignorance, and lack of respect from our teammates. While many of them are probably not aware of how they come off, this does not make their actions okay. Although we signed up to participate in athletics and to represent our teams well, we did not sign up to deal with microaggressions. We love our coaches, teammates, and the sports we all participate in. Being athletes on this campus is a part of our identity and something we are very proud of. However, so is our race and socioeconomic backgrounds. This work in creating better team cultures and recruiting more diversity is necessary for us as athletes to feel safe and a sense of belonging on our individual teams as we cannot check our blackness, brownness, or family income at the door.

We demand:

•Recruitment of athletes from more diverse locations.

•One full-time employee to work as a multicultural liaison with each sports team.

•Coaching staff prioritize creating a more inclusive team environment.

•More coaching staff of color.

•Setting up a plan to achieve the above demands over the next two years.

[smitten-smithie-blog]

Pet-A-Pet-Day

Today was pet a pet day at Smith, which is exactly what it sounds like! There were a bunch of dogs and puppies in front of the health center (along with donuts, facepainting, and some other cute activities). Needless to say, it was the perfect break from the stress of college life.

(Image descriptions: me holding a tiny, fluffy puppy!!, a gif of the same puppy being pet, Webster the Labrador laying down while being pet and looking very content, the first puppy being held while my friend looks at the camera, and Mia the golden retriever. End ID).

[smitten-smithie-blog]

Sib Week!

About two weeks ago, Ziskind had sib week! Sib week is a Smith tradition wherein an upperclassman in your house gets paired with a first year, leaves presents for them, and is revealed at the end of the week at tea. My sib, Alice, is ridiculously sweet, and left out presents including a mug, face masks, a book, and candy. It’s been super fun to have the chance to bond with her, and get to know the upperclassmen in my house a bit more.

(Image description: a chalk drawing from my big sib that reads “Chloe You Rock”. End ID).

[smitten-smithie-blog]

Apple Picking!

My friends and I decided to celebrate fall break and the changing weather by going to Park Hill orchard! I had the best time- it was so cute.

(Image description: hand holding vanilla ice cream over some pumpkins. End ID).

(Image description: 3 of my pals in a flower field with a forest behind them. End ID).

Later, we hung out in my friend’s room, made friendship bracelets, and ate apple pie- the perfect end to a wonderful day.

[smitten-smithie-blog]

An Appreciation Post For The Animals On And Near Campus

featuring a brown lab puppy (he’s a service dog in training!), a very sweet golden retriever, Gus the cat, some cows I met during orientation, another, different golden retriever, a black cat I met downtown, and a very large fluffy dog with major polar bear vibes.

While I miss my dogs and bunny tons, there are tons of opportunities to hang out with animals on campus which I’m super glad about! Also, tons of people walk their dogs around campus and are happy to let you pet them if you ask. 

[smitten-smithie-blog]

My college necessities (which aren't actually necessary)

These items are extra expenses which definitely are not in anyway “required” for a good college experience, but I thought I would share some electronics and devices that have made college marginally less stressful for me.

1. A minifridge- I eat a LOT of hummus. Like, the workers at Pita Pocket in downtown Noho are familiar with me two weeks into me moving here. Having a tiny fridge under my bed for any leftovers (as well as a place to keep food for when I’m too lazy to make the trek to a dining hall, has definitely been super nice. However, most houses do have fridges you can use though, if you don’t want to spend the money. Also, minifridges are kind of discouraged at Smith because they aren’t super sustainable, but I love having access to one. Here is the link to the fridge I have:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GRMN7GJ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2. A handheld vacuum- another little electronic I keep under my bed, having a small vacuum has helped me keep my space clean without too much effort. Link to my handheld vacuum:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DAI5BZ2/?coliid=IRA33OC8PM48Y&colid=2HND9XPVN1XMX&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

3. A printer- Smith has plenty of printers to use, but when its late having my printer available is super convenient. Also, I feel like the cost sort of evens out- I print a lot, and don’t want to spend my limited funds on printing in the library. Link to my printer:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013SKI4LU/?coliid=I39SV82FQFMO4R&colid=2HND9XPVN1XMX&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

4. A keyboard cover- I like to keep my laptop keyboard clean… but I also like to snack while doing my work. Having a removable, washable cover makes cleaning up crumbs much easier. Link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GGZU0TE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[smitten-smithie-blog]

Mountain Day!

Today is Smith’s long-held tradition of Mountain Day, where the president cancels classes on a nice fall day, so students are able to enjoy the weather, go apple picking, and bond (and take tons of instagram pictures, of course!). I went apple picking with my house, and it was the sweetest time!

(Image descriptions: my hand holding an apple over some fall leaves and grass. End ID).

I’m already looking forward to next year’s Mountain Day🍃