Service Learning Fiesta

Hi Everyone,

Some of our fiesta decorations

This past Wednesday, some classmates from my Liberation Religion and Society class and I went to a homeless shelter in Erie, PA to cook a fiesta dinner.  As a class requirement, our teacher asked that we plan a dinner, cook it, and then interact with some of the less fortunate in our city in an attempt to understand what it's like to be in their situation. 

The kitchen was HUGE!

Mercyhurst prides itself with its' hands on learning, and I couldn't think of a better way to learn about the oppressed and marginalized, than to actually spend some time with these individuals.  We arrived at the shelter at 3:30 p.m. and were there until 6:30 p.m.-- boy, was everyone gracious!  There were about 40 different people who ate our taco dinner who were all so appreciative of the 3 hours we took out of our day to spend time with them.

The table was empty by the time we left!

In addition to the fiesta dinner, my classmates and I also purchased some basic necessities, such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, and others things, for our guests to take with them.  Among many other things, this trip taught me how even the smallest deeds can have the biggest impacts-- what a great lesson to learn as the days before I leave campus quickly approach!

Presque Isle Beach Trips

Hi Everyone!

Presque Isle Pic- Junior Year, 2012

Presque Isle is probably one of my favorite places to go in Erie.  Not only is it free, but a trip to the beach with your friends, while enjoying the sunshine is always a great time.

Beach trips always end @ Sara's

Immediately when I saw how gorgeous Friday evening was supposed to be, I sent out a mass text to my friends and planned a Friday evening beach outing.  Our evening consisted of playing SPUD (a childhood game we all somehow remembered how to play!), volleyball, and of course, a trip to Sara's, which is this awesome diner that has delicious milkshakes and ice cream.

All in all, it was a really great day and it reminded me of all of the other beach trips my friends and I have had since freshman year.  Here are some additional pics from past beach trips that my friends and I have taken over the years-- enjoy!

Beach Volleyball- Freshman Year, 2010

Presque Isle Fun- Sophomore Year, 2010

Paddleboarding- Summer 2011

Senior Year in NYC

Hi Everyone!

So while all of my peers are starting to get their acceptance letters for grad school, I received an acceptance letter a few weeks ago for another type of program.  As I've mentioned in the past, I've been hoping to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC as a visiting student and I finally received my acceptance letter, yay!  Although I am extremely excited to be spending a year in one of my favorite cities, it will definitely be bittersweet leaving Mercyhurst and all of my friends.

Mercyhurst green space

FIT concrete jungle

With that being said, you don't need to be a fashion major in order to take advantage of other great opportunities to study at different campuses.  Mercyhurst just announced the official opening of an international center in Dungarvan, Ireland, where quite a few of my friends are studying now.  There are also a tremendous amount of study abroad programs where you can immerse yourself in a completely different cultural setting.

My senior year in NYC will definitely be a huge culture shock and far from the campus I have grown to love at Mercyhurst.  However, I look forward to all of the great experiences and potential internship/career opportunities the Big Apple has to offer. =)  BTW, I plan to keep up with my blog next year so hopefully you'll continue to follow me and my adventures in NY!

Mercy Month: We are... Globally Responsible

Hi Everyone!

So this weekend was the conclusion to Mercy Month, which has been a month filled with all sorts of activities that go back to our Mercy roots.  This year I managed to get quite involved in Mercy Month, whether it be trips to the Motherhouse, listening to speeches, or even cleaning up campus!  This past Friday, MSG teamed up with the Green Team in a "Post-Thaw Clean Up," embracing our Mercy roots and showing how we are "Globally Responsible," one of our Mercyhurst core values.


Here's a picture of us after we finished-- it took less than 2 hours out of our day... not too shabby!