#mountproud

By Chris Wray, C'18

Congratulations! As a student-athlete at the Mount you are one of the very few in the nation who have the opportunity to compete in college athletics at the highest level. According to the NCAA, only 2.4 percent of high school women’s soccer players, and only 1 percent of high school men’s basketball players will play at a Division I institution. Even in other sports the percentages are not much higher.  

Being an athlete in college is in some ways the same and in some ways very different from high school. There are many more people there are to support you, but the pressure is greater.  

Here are 10 tips on how to thrive at the Mount as a student-athlete.

1) Don’t Be Afraid Of Change

Be versatile in your endeavors, be open to many different opportunities and challenges, and understand that you control your platform which builds connections. It’s not a bad thing to step out of your comfort zone, so be open for change. Just because it’s comfortable for you doesn’t mean that it’s beneficial.

2) Manage Your Time

Understand that in college your schedule will be set but there’s nobody to make you go through it. Figure out a way to become organized especially with assignments. You can use the planner, an app or something else, and make sure you check all of your syllabi. You can run short on time quickly if you’re not careful.

3) Get To Know Your Professors

Professors will know of you, but they will not know who you are until you decide to let them know. Being able to talk to professors about your academic and career goals gives them the opportunity to find out your strengths and weaknesses in the classroom and find out what they can do to help you be successful.

4) Find Out What Interests You

There are lots of different ways to get involved at the Mount, so don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Coming into college with an open mind can help you find out what you are truly interested in and get a jump-start on building your career path.

5) Remove Outside Distractions

Limit your outside sources and their opinions. Although family, friends, and coaches have your best interest at heart sometimes it will not be what’s best for you. These people that are close to you are not a part of the team, so they do not see the things that you go through with your team - they only see what they believe is best for you.

6) Building Relationships

In college, there are many assignments, due dates, lessons and notes. Some of these you may miss because of travel or just not understand. This is the time when it’s necessary to have a good support system that understands this and can help get you back on track.

7) Every Question Is A Good One

College is full of situations that present openings intended for many questions, so take full advantage of this. Don’t be afraid of an uncomfortable situation or confrontation either. Being able to address things and keep them in-house makes the biggest difference.   

8) Stay Organized/On Top Of Things  

The things you do now determine how things will go for you in the future, and all situations are connected. If you are unorganized and stressed out with school it will carry over into your sport without you even noticing it but your coaches can tell. Some decisions you make come from an understanding that your sport is one of the biggest factors that should be taken into account.

9) Build Accountability

Be accountable for yourself first then do the same for others. Understand that your decisions will have consequences no matter how small you may think they are and it’s on you to make sure that no matter what you are prepared. Once you are able to successfully do this make sure you bring others along with you.

10) Trust The Process

Understand that the coaches and trainers are professionals in what they do. Believe in what they tell you because they are here not only to win but to help you become a better person both mentally and physically. 

Conclusion

“Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today”

I hope these tips help you find comfort and serenity in the Mount and all of its diverse resources. There is no better time than now to use this advice to your advantage - talk to your professors, teammates, and most importantly your coaches. Don't be afraid to ask questions- in the end we will only regret the things we did not do. If there are any other questions or concerns that you may have visit our website www.msmary.edu.

Share this article with your current and incoming teammates and stay tuned for a video in the near future!

Office of Competitive Fellowships | January 31, 2018

Mount St. Mary’s University commits itself to offering students experiential learning opportunities that facilitate experimentation, reflection and conceptualization from an international and global perspective. Most recently, Mount senior Saribel Morales-Rivera received a travel grant, jointly sponsored by the Office of Competitive Fellowships, Honors Program and history department for five days of research in Madrid, Spain.

Her research included visiting and studying the history behind two notable Spanish monuments, El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen. Morales-Rivera received preparation for her trip from Christine Blackshaw, Ph.D., and Jamie Gianoutsos, Ph.D. While abroad, she embraced the opportunity to take guided tours of each central structure, examine insightful research materials in La Biblioteca Pública Municipal “Iván de Vargas,” and leisurely wander the bookstores of Madrid.

Morales-Rivera’s research will support her senior honors project, which she will complete this spring. As a member of the Mount St. Mary’s University Honors Society, which “offers talented and motivated students an educational experience that integrates curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular learning in both interdisciplinary and major areas of study,” Morales-Rivera has the opportunity to present her senior research and honors thesis project at the university's SPARC Festival this spring.

The Mount senior's travels to El Escorial, the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen, conceived by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco to honor and bury those who died in the Spanish Civil War, made a profound impact on her honors research, but it also impacted her personally as well.

She commented upon the vastness of emotional experiences she enjoyed while abroad, particularly as she as she began to contextualize the cultural significance within each structure that she visited. “The grandeur of El Escorial and the solemnity of the Valley of the Fallen are so difficult to describe,” Morales-Rivera explained, “but experiencing these monuments has afforded me the opportunity to engage with my own perceptions of them within my analysis of these buildings in Spanish memory.”

As a member of the Mount Fellows Society, a university organization run by the Office of Competitive Fellowships that provides students a unique opportunity to live into the university mission of graduating students “who see and seek to resolve the problems facing humanity,” Morales-Rivera has distinguished herself as a high-achieving academic.

Her ability to apply immersive international travel experiences into collaborative academic opportunities has tremendously and profoundly impacted her honors level research. Commenting on how her time abroad impacted her honors project research, she remarked, “I am very grateful that Mount Fellows, the history department, and the Honors Program funded my trip to Madrid. Since I was able to learn about Philip II’s and Francisco Franco’s legacies through casual dinner conversations with Spaniards I met throughout Madrid as well as through research, I feel as though my research was reinvigorated, and added more passion to something I did not think I could be more passionate about.”

By Dylan Holden, C’18 

Studying abroad at the University of Cambridge has been such an amazing and transformative experience! I am split between Pembroke and King’s Colleges within the university and am taking rigorous courses in cell biology, Cambridge literary history, as well as metaphysics and philosophy of mind with world-renowned professors and students from all over the world.

The university has such a deep and involved history as it is the third-oldest university in the world (founded in 1209) and has housed many famous alumni such as Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, C.S. Lewis and Charles Darwin (whose room I am fortunate enough to live in!).

The prestige and rich tradition of the university can be felt everywhere on campus – from punting on the River Cam that Sylvia Plath described so vividly in her poetry, to studying in the King’s library by the famous chapel, to having a pint with your friends at The Eagle where Watson and Crick announced the structure of DNA.

The Cambridge student workers and coordinators make sure to offer plenty of opportunities around campus and the local area to keep all of the summer students busy.

A typical week for me would most likely consist of touring new cafes and restaurants, going to pickup football games, a formal dinner at one of the colleges, guided tours of the local architectural or historical sites, watching a Shakespeare play in the gardens, and, of course, plenty of studying and writing. 

One of the highlights of my time here so far has definitely been experiencing the art and culture of London, only a 45-minute train ride away. In proper British fashion, a group of friends and I attended one of the many BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall that are held over the summer months. Our prom, entitled “Ella and Dizzy: A Centenary Tribute” was a concert focused on jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie, conducted by Grammy and Tony Award winner John Mauceri.

Other high points of my time in the city included tasting my way through Borough Market, viewing the Royal Palaces, and enjoying the street music and festivals in and around Hyde Park. While in the U.K. I have been fortunate enough to make amazing friends that I traveled with to Scotland, Sweden, and to many other locations within the U.K. as well.

During an extremely rainy weekend in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, I visited the Edinburgh Castle that has been around since the 12th century, walked the “Royal Mile” street to the tune of bagpipes, had a tour of the Scottish Parliament building, and enjoyed a traditional meal of haggis.

In Stockholm, Sweden, I was able to practice my (mediocre) Swedish with the locals, walked the narrow streets and shops of the Gamla Stan, toured the Fotografiska photography museum that contains some of the most famous photos ever taken, and experienced the Vasa Museum that is housed inside of a 17th century Swedish warship.

While my last two weeks here before returning to the Mount will be focused on preparing for final exams and essays, I hope to continue learning more about Cambridge’s history and experiencing life here in the company of great friends. 

The professional connections and opportunities I have gained from this trip have already proven to be invaluable and will undoubtedly play a major role in my future endeavors and life after graduation.

By Sydney Johnson, C’19

Hello Mounties! My last two weeks have been filled with fascinating lectures, a trip to Dublin, Galway and the Cliffs of Moher and great times with good friends. 

Our days usually start around 9 a.m. with lectures until about 4 p.m. After that, my friends and I will either make dinner together or explore a new restaurant near campus. If we are feeling extra adventurous we will head down to Victoria Square which is their main shopping center with all sorts of everything. I don’t think I’ve had a single bad meal. All the food here I have had has been fresh, local and not processed. It will be a wakeup call going home. The beef stew has been a favorite that I will miss greatly.

When we aren’t in class we have been trying to explore around Belfast. In addition to the free afternoons or evenings we have, we had two free weekends to explore Europe or the rest of the island of Ireland. This has been a great blessing that I have taken full advantage of.

The first weekend my friends and I took a bus to Dublin. On Saturday we took a tour visiting Galway, an abandoned Monastery and the Cliffs of Moher, but Sunday spent walking around Dublin stopping at all the major spots. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the Cliffs of Moher.

Reflecting on living in Belfast has been very interesting. I couldn’t quite figure out why I felt so comfortable in Belfast. I have had a history of moving far away from home. As some of you may know I am originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, and moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland for college. This was not an easy move at all and it took a lot of time for me to feel comfortable and really want to explore around. In Belfast, it was almost immediately. The people in Belfast are extraordinary and honest about the struggles they are going through. This is a picture of the green in the Botanic Gardens where people come together and spend time with each other.

This honesty and openness made the community as a whole a very welcoming and open place for us as students to come in and visit. We have also been walking everywhere! I have been averaging about seven miles every day. Walking to and fro has allowed us to get to know the smells, the voices, the sights of Belfast and the neighborhoods we walk through regularly in a very intimate way.

My friends and I have talked about this a lot and how much we think this has helped us really take part in our lectures and discussions in class. When you can personally engage with the academic material it makes all the difference. 

This realization has made me very excited to get to go back to school. I have countless ideas for lightning talks for SPARC week and future research projects that I hope to one day achieve on the topics we have learned.

This trip has really had an impact on me but I think I am ready to head home and spend some time with my family before I head back to our mountain for another year!

If you have any questions about the Northern Ireland conflict, the effects Brexit will have on Northern Ireland or Northern Ireland, in general, I will try my best to answer them. Thank you so much for following along on my journey and I can’t wait to see all of you soon!

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By Sydney Johnson, C’19

I have been here for almost two weeks and have two more weeks left! The two weeks have been packed with amazing tales that I will have with me forever. I have made friends from the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, England, different parts of the U.S. and even Australia.

This incredible program draws people from all over the world to come together and discuss the nuances of peace processes. The program consists of both lectures and interactive, as well as tourist trips. The lectures have been phenomenal. Truly indescribable.

By Lizzie Boyle, C’19

Last week, we were introduced to the Theatre Collection at the University of Bristol which had a wealth of information focused on the history of British theatre. Though we have visited various archives throughout our time in Bristol, this archive and museum were a variation on what was normally to be expected.

During our time with the Theatre Collection, we were able to look at three different productions of Julius Caesar. While analyzing photographs and playbills along with more traditional documents, I was struck by how comprehensive the study of history can be. Later that evening, we were able to attend a production of Julius Caesar at the Bristol Old Vic which is the longest continuously running theatre in the UK.

The production of Julius Caesar was an incredible performance that directly connected to my experience at the Mount. During my spring semester freshman year, I took the Origins of the West class for the core which highlighted much of the Greco-Roman tradition. Then during the fall semester of my sophomore year, I took Western Imagination with Dr. Hinds in which we read Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. We even performed various acts of the play throughout the course. This helped me understand the greater context and significance of the performance that we attended.

Additionally, seeing Julius Caesar helped connect two time periods that are incredibly prominent in the history of Bristol and the surrounding area. The first of those time periods would be the Roman Empire and the legacy it leaves behind. The remnants of the Roman Empire can be seen throughout various sites we visited including the city of Bath. Additionally, there are many artifacts being found in archaeological research related to the Romans included Roman pottery and various coins.

However, Julius Caesar was also written by William Shakespeare during the Tudor period. The Tudor period, largely characterized by the reign of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I can be seen throughout various buildings such as the Red Lodge Museum. The presence of many elaborate Anglican churches and cathedrals also shows the influence of these Protestant monarchs.

Though Julius Caesar was set in the past, the play also had many cultural and political links today. The week we attended the production, a performance of Shakespeare in the Park was all over the news for its depiction of President Trump as Julius Caesar. The production we saw was set in a modern context but was much less controversial as there were no references to the political climate in the United Kingdom or the rest of the world.

However, in terms of politics, we recently were able to witness a general election on June 8th. In the general election, districts each elected one member of Parliament to the House of Commons. The results were a hung Parliament with Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative party losing seats. As the United Kingdom has many important political decisions to make, including the future of Brexit, it will be interesting to see how this political shift affects the nation.