Hello everyone! This is Emily Castillo reporting to you live here as a first-year student at the College of the Holy Cross. I am so pumped for what this new chapter in my life has to offer. I’m ready to take on new challenging courses, new friends, new activities, a new setting, but most of all I’m ready to take on the numerous set of stairs I have to trudge in order to get around campus.
I’m not going to lie, I was super nervous (as was everyone else) before coming to Holy Cross. I knew that this was the perfect fit for me, but I also knew that there would be a few struggles I would have to overcome before I truly felt at home.
So a little bit about me! I am from Lawrence, Massachusetts which is about an hour from campus. My family comes from the Dominican Republic, and I was born here. I love writing, and I hope to pursue this as a career in the future. But also, I am extremely fascinated with the world of languages- mostly anything Asian. I am currently taking Chinese 101, Perspectives on Asia 2 (history class), my Montserrat: Fantastic Voyages, and also Writing Women in the 20th Century. So far, my classes are going great. It’s exciting to finally be able to take classes in topics that I am interested in unlike the mandatory classes in high school. The adjustment was really hard at first. The classroom setting in college is way different from high school. I also find that, I am almost always studying now, and there is always something to do. It is very challenging, but in a way that is enjoyable as I’m learning about all the subjects I have never touched upon and long wanted to. After a month, however I feel more comfortable in the classroom and taking on the rigorous workload.
Besides academics, I am also enjoying myself by getting involved on campus! I have gladly been elected as part of the Executive board of Mulledy Hall House Council (Environmental Liaison) which means I will be taking care of anything about sustainability on campus and Mulledy, and anything that helps us become “more green” as well! Here’s an E-Board selfie!
Also, I’m part of the Club Field Hockey team! Which we recently won our first game against Umass Lowell! Surprisingly, I ended up scoring a goal! I obviously joined the A.S.I.A (Advocating Student Interest in Asia) club as well since I love all aspects of Asian culture!
I’ve met a lot of new friends joining clubs, in my dorm, in my classes, at Odyssey orientation, and became great friends with my roommate Kara.
It was not easy to adapt to this new environment, and sometimes I get homesick but I’ve easily fallen in love with Holy Cross. Here’s to a great year full of new connections, experiences, and wisdom. This is the next best thing in my life.
There’s more to come! I’ll keep you all updated.
Emily.
Emily Castillo '19