{apple roses}

Fall has officially arrived here in New England, and I am all about autumnal activities. This past week or so has featured a Mountain Day hike up the Mount Holyoke Summit, nature walks along the Nashua River, apple picking, the juggling of gourds, the drinking of cider, and many more fun fall festivities.

Last night, Gigi, Emma and I turned these apples, fresh off the tree, into...

...these beautiful, delicious works of art!

Below I've embedded the source of our inspiration, which includes more explicit directions on how to make these tasty treats.

This recipe is just a peek of all the adventure I've had during the first month of my second year at Mount Holyoke. A more thorough update to come!

{sohail} senior '16

{sisterhood} my first year at a women's college

Coming back from my first full year at Mount Holyoke College, I've had a lot of people ask me about what it's like attending an "all girls school." While I appreciate the intent of the inquiry, and don't really mind the somewhat demeaning vocabulary (an all girls prep school is very different from a post-secondary women's institution), the tone in which others often pose this question tends to leave me a bit irked. More specifically, when other women ask about my all-female educational experience, many follow up with a statement about "how they could never do it," and proceed to praise my commitment to my studies. Especially when weighted with sarcasm, the underlying implication of such statements is that I have made an inevitably regrettable 'sacrifice' by opting out of a co-ed learning environment.

I took a huge leap of faith last spring, and committed to Mount Holyoke College at the very last possible second. I was flown out for accepted students weekend in April, and fell in love with everything that Mount Holyoke had to offer. Witnessing so many young women walk and speak with such confidence, laugh and snort amongst friends without hindrance, and ask every question under the sun without apology was both refreshing and inspiring. I felt comfortable striking up a conversation with students as we passed on bridges or in hallways, and I remember leaving just about every encounter thinking, "Wow. I want to be like her." Though my anxieties regarding the gender demographic were soon put to rest, I was still hesitant to commit. Mount Holyoke was 1,400 miles away from Minneapolis, much farther than the other private Midwestern schools I had applied to. In the end, the deciding factor was this: while I could easily see the person I was at Concordia in Moorhead or St. Olaf in Northfield, I pictured a happier, enlightened, and more driven version of Sonia at Mount Holyoke, and I strived to turn the growth from that image into reality the second I signed into the class of 2018.

One of the first things I learned during orientation was that while Mount Holyoke identifies as and is classified as a women's college, not all attending students self-identify as female. First and foremost, Mount Holyoke is a prestigious, renowned institution that endeavors to provide its students with a rigorous, stimulating academic experience. These combined truths, often lost amidst the branding and promotion of women's colleges, led me to reevaluate my understanding of the term, sisterhood. I now believe the underlying concept of sisterhood embodies and fosters a "togetherness" made up of individuals who personally understand and respect the implications of being a woman in this world, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender assigned at birth. Students at women's colleges value places in which mostly women hold authoritative leadership positions, and recognize that until societal patriarchies no longer exist, the necessity for such spaces remains intact.

~ Other relevant updates ~

Auditioning for and becoming a member of the "bubbly, spirited, beautiful mess" that is the Victory Eights (V8s) a cappella group this past semester has been the best decision I've yet to make at Mount Holyoke. The amazingly intelligent, talented individuals who comprise this ensemble have transformed my college experience, my view of music, and my way of thinking in more ways than I can articulately express. They are my heart and soul, my 2AM study buddies, the people I want to share each major event and insignificant detail with, and the family to whom I am connected in every way other than by DNA. Learn about our legacy, see photos, and listen to a few tracks at our website.

I've decided to opt out of the Glee Club this fall to pursue other musical opportunities offered within the 5-Colleges, if my schedule allows. In addition to exploring extracurricular activities off-campus, I'll be taking a Jane Austen lit course at Smith with a very popular professor, which I'm extremely excited for!

I've signed on as a contributing writer for a new online, student-run radical publication called Mount Holyoke Radix. View my first article, titled "Reconciling Ourselves: Returning to Conservative Communities," and many other amazing pieces written by my passionate activist peers here.

I will be declaring an English major this fall, and have been asked to be a student liaison for the department. I have also been awarded a "Sibley Prize," which is given to first year students who show the most promise in English composition.

This past spring, I took an intensive 6-week training course to become a peer mentor for Mount Holyoke's "Speaking, Arguing and Writing (SAW) Program." It is a paid on-campus job in which I will work with students for 30min/1hr sessions in the Center a few hours per week, with the possibility of pairing up with a professor to work with a specific class allowing for more regular, targeted, long-term mentoring. 1000% times better than Dining Services.

I will be living in Wilder Hall next year, which is directly in the center of campus on "the green." Not exactly the most picturesque view from the window, as I had in Ham Hall, but much closer to both the music building and the bus stop, which I very frequently use. My roommate, Athena, and I will be living together again. I adore her. Seriously she is perfection. (Proof lies in the adorable photo to the right -->)

While there have been moments when I've questioned my college decision, and have briefly imagined what it would be like as a student at St. Olaf or Concordia , I've never, not once, regretted my choice to come to Mount Holyoke. The intelligence, dedication, and beautiful diversity surrounding me have more than confirmed I have made the right decision. While studying in the library, chatting at the coffee shop, or even walking across campus, I overhear animated conversations championing social justice, discussing strategies for sustainable, eco-friendly living environments, or criticizing the systematic flaws in various forms of government in at least 3-4 different languages. These are the things that remind me I am walking with, sharing meals with, and learning with some of the world's most promising individuals, who will, without a doubt, change the future. While Gandhi's words often resonate with me to lead by example, my truly astounding peers are the ones who inspire me each and every day to be better and work harder to invoke positive change.

When people ask me how school's going, it's so difficult to explain how genuinely happy I am to be at Mount Holyoke, especially when limited to the fleeting seconds most conversations allow for. So I tend to respond with a few 10 point vocab words that don't even remotely do justice to my experience. I know there isn't a better place for me to be, and I recognize how lucky I am to be able to say that. I fall in love with Mount Holyoke a bit more each day I am there, and my heart hurts being away these long summer months. I have grown more than ever throughout this past year, and will continue to grow into someone I can be proud of -- someone who never settles for anything less than extraordinary, someone who fights for what's right.

I have made no sacrifice; I have found my bliss.

Mount Holyoke celebrates "Holi," Spring Weekend 2015

Pangynaskeia, "Pangy" Day 2015

"cultivating the total world of women – physical, intellectual, and moral”

Learn more about this wonderful springtime Mount Holyoke tradition here. 

Enjoy some of my favorite articles on the perks of attending a women's college:

29 Signs You Go To A Women's College (Satirical)
Notable Women and Their Alma Maters 
What's In A Women's College?

{tips for moving to a different planet} a guest post

I am a southern girl. I was born and raised in Texas and despite the unfortunate politics, it will always be home to me. I grew up in place where everyone was nice; just as nice to strangers as they were to family. I grew up with sweet tea, home cooking, cowboy boots, football as a religion and cows within walking distance from my house. Needless to say, Texas is light years away from the beautiful, but ever so confusing (at least to me) Massachusetts. So, for any of y’all who are thinking of heading out into space as well, here are a few tips to make the move a bit easier.

1.      Bring food that reminds you of home. For me this meant the sweet tea mix my Grammy used to use and Texas Trash (its homemade Chexmix). One of my favorite things to do when I’m feeling homesick, is making a big glass of sweet tea; it tastes like home.

2.      Take your favorite stuffed animal. I have a green teddy bear named Green Bear (creative, I know) and he is the most comforting thing in the world when all you want to do is cuddle up and wonder why you moved to a place that gets so damn cold. I want to make it very clear that there is absolutely NO shame in taking stuffed animals to college, do whatever makes you most comfortable. 

3.      Dress the part. For me this meant figuring out how not to freeze come winter. So, for my dear little southern belles who are wanting to move up north you will need:

·         A good parka (it’s okay if you don’t know what a parka is, I didn’t know either). I recommend one long one with a hood.

·         A good pair of snow boots. Make sure they are water resistant!

·         A big umbrella. I can’t even begin to tell you how much rain there is here. These people have definitely never experienced droughts.

·         Gloves, scarves, hats and most importantly fuzzy socks! These will keep you nice and toasty(ish) in the cold!

·         Sweaters. Lots of sweaters.

·         Fleece lined leggings. Just trust me on this one.

4.      Be prepared for a bit of culture shock. The North and the South are very different, neither one is necessarily better, but be prepared for some changes. If you are moving north, try not to get offended if strangers aren’t as nice as you would expect. They are not being rude; they just aren’t always as openly friendly as a lot of southerners are. On that note, if you are planning on moving to the south for the first time, try not to be put off by everyone smiling so much and asking how you are (whether they know you or not). That’s just what is considered polite, you’ll get used to it.

5.      Politics, if you were considered liberal in the south, you will probably be considered conservative up north and vice versa if you move from the north to the south. Role with the punches my friend.

6.      Remember that in a sense you are an ambassador for wherever you are from. For a lot of the people you meet, you will be the only person that they have ever met from your home state, so represent it well. Basically just be polite and try not to be an ass.

7.      Stay in touch with family and old friends. Social media, cell phones and Skype are all great ways to stay connected with loved ones. Use them! Being able to talk to people face to face makes being away a lot easier.

8.      If you miss your pets. It’s pretty common for people to walk their dogs on campus, so don’t be afraid of asking to give the pups some love! If you are missing a different animal, check out a local pet shop or shelter.

9.      Embrace the culture. Don’t lose your old traditions, but be open to new ones that are specific to the area. Try to just go with it!

10.  It’s okay to be homesick. It happens to the best of us, but just remember why it is you chose to move. Call home, cuddle your teddy bear, drink your sweet tea, and basically just do whatever you need to do in order to feel safe and comfortable in your new home. It won’t happen overnight, but as the days pass, it will hurt less and less until one day, this strange new planet will feel like home.

For any of you that are thinking of a big move but are unsure, I encourage you to try it. Worst case scenario, you hate it and move home. But who knows, maybe you'll love it. You never know where your next adventure will take you, so just be open to it.

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Lily Williams is a freshman at Mount Holyoke College. She is a book lover, a vintage clothing junkie, and a dog person. She loves old black and white movies. She is a hopeless romantic and adores tea. She should have been born in the 50's and aspires to be a mix of Audrey Hepburn, Tina Fey and Hermione Granger when she grows up.

Please check out her blog, Horribly Bookish Button!

{home for the holidays}

     Winter break was a warmly welcomed chance to relax and rejuvenate before spring semester. I very much appreciated every night on my comfy mattress, access to a car, a plethora of Caribou coffee dates, and all the Afghan food I could eat! Though I had lots of fun catching up with family, high school friends and teachers--and I already miss them dearly--it's good to be back at Mount Holyoke, as I have also missed my classmates and community here. Now that I have completed all of my distribution requirements for graduation, I can choose to take most or all of my classes in a subject area that I enjoy or intend to major in (in my case, this excludes all math and science courses). This spring I am taking Intro to Study of Literature, Intro to Sociology, American Politics, and a religion course titled Women and Gender in Islam. The first week of classes has been great--all of my professors are very qualified intellectuals who enjoy harboring a passion for their respective discipline within their students. 

     I am still a proud member of the Mount Holyoke Glee Club, and our brief trip to Philadelphia to perform for their alumnae chapter was a blast. Additionally, I will be auditioning for a few of the a cappella groups on campus tomorrow afternoon, the V8's (the oldest continuing, all-female collegiate a cappella group in the nation) and the M&C's. I also plan to be more actively involved with Amnesty International, a popular human rights organization that promotes awareness of and involvement in issues of global importance. I'm excited for all that I will learn and the many opportunities I will be lucky enough to experience; cheers to a wonderful semester!

Here are a few holiday photos from my stay at home~

{Look at how big they've gotten!}