Entries tagged with “Spinners” from Hawk Talk - Steven
Hello
again!
This
past weekend, me and my friends walked around Lowell again. It was really fun and we are definitely going
to do it again soon. We probably walked
around for over three hours. There is
always something to do here, whether it is walking around, going into the small
shops, restaurants, etc. Or even just
going to the recreation center to work out, going to a Spinners game, going to
the various sporting events on campus, or joining the 80+ clubs on campus. Let’s just say that I’m never bored while I’m
on campus. I’m actually almost disappointed
when I have to go home!
And
Sunday might have been my most interesting day on campus so far and probably
will be for awhile. On Sunday morning at
breakfast, one of my friends said randomly that he wanted a turtle. One of the RA’s in my dorm mentioned that he
had a turtle at his house and that he would let us borrow it for the year. (This is just an example of how nice and
friendly the RAs are. This particular RA
sometimes even hangs out with us) So like six of us travelled to Tewksbury to
pick up a turtle. Then the house next
door was having a yard sale so we checked it out. Combined, we got a coffee table, small
speakers, an ice bucket, and an old laptop from like the 1980s or something for
12 dollars. (They threw the laptop in
for free) In one day we all got a
turtle, a coffee table, an ice bucket, and speakers, plus an extremely
old-fashioned laptop that might even be worth something because it’s vintage. Out of all of us, 4 have a quad so they got
the coffee table and we decided to put the turtle in their room too. I did miss the Pats game, but from what I’ve
heard about it, I’m kind of glad I missed it.
Now that’s a Sunday afternoon!
I’m
having a lot of fun and loving college life.
Well, that’s all for now. Now you
all just have to wait to see what’s going to happen to me this week!
Opening week has been amazing!
Move-in for freshman was on Saturday August 29 and if
you all remember, it was pouring! The
entire day went by very smoothly and move-in was very organized. UMass Lowell had tons of volunteers ready to
help unload cars and bring stuff to the dorm rooms. I was all settled and unpacked in under an
hour. Other activities on the 29th
included an inspirational speaker named Ed Gerety and a Casino Night.
On Sunday, upperclassmen moved onto
campus. A couple of friends I made over
the weekend and I took a drive to the mall and Nashua, but somehow ended up
getting lost in Dracut. (I have no idea how we pulled that one off!) But
somehow we reached Nashua and got some stuff for our rooms. I bought a Ferris Bueller poster, which is
one of my favorite movies of all time.
Also on Sunday, another new friends and I explored downtown Lowell and
even went in some of the art museums.
I’m usually not that interested in art, but I thought it was pretty
cool. I would add some pictures, but
unfortunately, I left my camera in my room.
Sunday was a great day.
On Monday, the same new friends and
I drove to Kimball’s Ice Cream in Westford, Massachusetts. One of my friends bragged about it so we
decided to take a road trip. I had
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and it was amazing! If anyone wants to take a ride, I highly
advise you to go to Kimball’s.
On Tuesday (Today), we had our convocation. It is literally the complete opposite of
Commencement. The university and faculty
welcomed us, the Class of 2013! There
many speakers, but the keynote speaker was Reverend Dr. Jamie Washington. The marching band played the usual
commencement tune (I don’t know the name of it, but everyone has heard it at
graduations) and the faculty even wore their commencement robes. Immediately following convocation, there was
a BBQ and a club fair. This was where
incoming freshman could see/join the 80 clubs the university has to offer. Like
I mentioned in an earlier blog, I did join the Ultimate Frisbee club. In the afternoon, there was an event called
“Riverhawks on the Roof”. It was a BBQ
on the roof of the parking garage on East Campus overlooking LeLacheur Park,
home of the Lowell Spinners. The park is
literally on East Campus, right across from the Recreation Center. Later, my friends and I went to the Spinners
game. It was awesome! We had like 30 of us and we were easily the loudest section in the whole
park. (Section 100!) We never stopped chanting for 3 hours and
half of us even lost our voices. I just
got back from a great night, but unfortunately, classes start tomorrow,
although you wouldn’t have known that fact as we kept chanting even after we
left the stadium and while we walked across campus.
If anyone is nervous about making
friends, don’t be! I’ve already made so
many great friends and it’s only been 4 days!
And remember, everyone is in the same boat as you. You are all at a new school and do not know
many people. Just be yourself, keep your
room door open and people will walk into your room and introduce themselves. And don’t be afraid to walk into other open
doorways and introduce yourself! Now, I’m back in my room, writing this blog and
preparing for classes tomorrow. Even
though it’s been a short time, I already feel like UMass Lowell is my
home. Although the last couple days were
a blast and a great way to start college, I’m looking forward to starting class
and beginning a new chapter in my life.
Wish me luck!
For
a full schedule of opening week events, look here: http://www.uml.edu/openingweek/schedule.html
