There’s Nothing Like Summer in the City...
Well, except for the fact I don’t live in a city. I live in Hampton, NH, a small coastal town who’s population quite literally quadruples when the weather heats up. While it is my home, I often find myself seeking refuge from the tourists. I did have the oddest through- will I actually miss the clueless drivers, the aggravating patrons, the hopelessly lost families with screaming children? They don’t leave until September, and then they’re back in a matter of months for leaf-peeper season. It’s odd when you realize nostalgia will make you miss these “inconveniences”. I suppose that’s part of packing up your life and moving on. There are tourists in Noho, I’m aware, but none like the particular brand of sunburned, frazzled humans that invade the boardwalk here. Well, enough nostalgia... Let’s get down to what I’m sure you are all dying to know: what I’m filling my summer with! (Right? You all are so excited to find out all this :) )
It’s my true feeling that Senior Spring should be considered a part of summer. There’s honestly more freedom, as no one’s started their summer jobs nor truly thought through the inevitability of moving separate ways. There’s not the aggravation of couples splitting up before college, of friends realizing the only thing that kept them together was a few shared classes- it’s just hedonistic youth at its finest.
I’d say my Senior Spring started in late March when we produced our school musical, Evita. I’d already been admitted to Smith, and with the stress of college off my back, I could truly relax and enjoy being a part of a, while difficult, incredibly empowering show. Plus, I made more friends this year than ever, had more inside jokes than ever, and was in the front row (trust me, that’s a big deal when you’re 5′9!) more than ever. It was the perfect way to kick off spring.
On the last day of classes for seniors, we have a big ol’ tradition called the Senior Walk, in which, plot twist, the seniors all walk campus. We go through a tunnel of underclassmen and faculty, which is an amazing experience, and rock our college gear. One of these pictures is of my senior friends- all college bound, incredibly bright and talented, and honestly some of the greatest people I could ever hope to meet.
Some pictures of my school, to show the serenity and beauty of spring...
Seniors go off for two weeks on Senior Projects (mine was interning with a local attorney which was electrifying) and then, on the last day of classes for the entire upper school, we have a student-produced-and-run music festival called Woofstock (our mascot is a bulldog... it’s cheesy but hey, it’s high school) Everyone gets their yearbooks, and after a flurry of passing Sharpies around and a few judiciously timed tears, we all settle in for an evening of music. The above picture is of Berwick’s premier all-male choral group (never mind that they’re the only one), Low Key. I know, I know, an all-male choral group doesn’t really fit in to the blog of a women’s-college freshman, but I wanted to take a minute to appreicate my friends/boyfriend/Evita cast members for taking initiative and making the arts more prominent at BA. That initiative is something I hope to take for college.
If someone makes me talk about graduation one more time I’m going to cry, so here’s a nice photo of my best friend pushing me into the future (I jest, of course, but hey it’s a good caption) (She’s going to Barnard- Seven Sister Sisters!). This was actually taken the night of baccalaureate, the day before graduation, where I received the History Achievement award, something I’ve been low k ey hunting for since freshman year. It recognizes academic excellence in history, which is one of my future majors at Smith, paired with English.
My summer job is at Strawbery Banke, a living history museum in Portsmouth, NH. I work there as a historical roleplayer and interpreter- although I prefer my days as a roleplayer because I either get lovely 1920′s curls (thanks Mom!) or a full Victorian costume.. complete with corset. While I love wearing the corset because, well, it’s a corset and I’m a nerd, I’m also even more grateful for the fact our society has moved beyond those cause I can’t always breathe... oops!
New England really knows how to do the Fourth of July. Being the birthplace of liberty and all that jazz, it’s our only man-made claim to fame (other than the Boston Red Sox). My best friend took this photo of me- after she put stickers on my face and a bandana in my hair- when we went into Portsmouth to see the fireworks. Honestly, I look more relaxed here than I had been in ages. Probably cause I was! Hurray for a soothing summer!
What’s summer without some reflection and goal setting? I found this while poking around Portsmouth after work one day, and I love it. Despite considering myself a feminist, I’d be amiss to say I don’t feel and give into societal pressures. I don’t always work out cause I want to, I work out to fit a societally imposed mold into which a woman should fit. I do a lot of things to fit into that mold, and the more self-aware I become the more I realize how BS all that is. Thus, my summer resolution is to do things freely and self-guided. I have a reading list of literally 50 books I’ve been wanting to read for years, but supposedly never had the time to read. Well, now I’m doing that. I’m learning guitar cause I want to. I’m continuing viola cause I want to. I’m going to be an adult in three months- I don’t need to do things cause people tell me I should anymore. I’m going to be a Smithie, and I want to live up to the definition of the word: brave, outspoken, confident, beautiful, witty, kind, and unique.
