Time at Hollins seems to pass as quickly as Tinker Creek after a long rain. I have barely been able to wrap my mind around the fact that I am a junior let alone that First Step was roughly three weeks ago. The semesters at Hollins have the unique ability to feel as though they have always been happening and that they have just started. I am constantly looking back in amazement that so much time has passed. Already? We are already into the fourth week of the semester? I am already into my third year at Hollins? Yet, at the same time: I am only four weeks into this class? I have only been at Hollins for a solid two years?
Junior year is an exciting one at Hollins for a number of reasons. The first is a given that you will find at any university—by your junior year you know what your major is and you are an upperclassman. The next is something special to Hollins—junior year is a huge year for traditions. I will not only be taking only English/History classes (oy vey, gotta love a double major) but I will also be participating in Ring Night and going abroad to London spring semester. This year is huge for me, and it feels as though it still sneaking up behind me, waiting to pounce with surprise and the sudden solid realization: I am a junior.
Opening Convocation this year was amazing. I found out that I (tied with eleven other amazing juniors) am at the top of my class. Hollins is so full of intelligent, strong women that there are twelve of us in that spot. I couldn’t believe that I was standing up with my classmates, sure I worked really hard last year, but standing next to some of the women who have not only become my sisters but women that I admire truly gave me a sense of accomplishment. Kyra Orr is our student body president this year, and her speech nearly brought me to tears. It was good to be back at Hollins.
Here are a few pictures from First Step that I stole from friends of mine (my pictures are locked away on my camera until I can get my mom to mail me the connection cord, just because I’m a junior doesn’t mean I’m not forgetful):
