{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?