salience

A glowstick, that's what it reminds me of--how it doesn't illuminate until you snap the plastic at the bubble inside. That's the only thing that comes close to describing how I feel right now. Sure, I'm busy, living by the "just-in-time" philosophy. Things seem to just interlock, like a split second difference in any aspect of my life would completely alter where I am right now.

My car is in Boston, shivering in the MA spring of a BC parking lot. This weekend is the kick-off for my round of the CWP internship. I'm on a really great team with Aleksandra, one of the coolest girls I have ever met. She is mid twenties, European, has lived stateside for about eight years, and has done the program four times. She is my team's district manager, or shrink, if you will. The person we're to call when we can't take anymore, when we're on cloud nine, and who will call us to tell us how it is. My team is mostly BC and UMass Amherst folk, for the most part, ten really great people. Four of us are Juniors at BC, and we've already clicked. Our meeting last night was only just to "check in," and ended up lasting two hours. It was such a relief to talk about all of the stress and anticipation we're going through, to already feel comfortable with who we're going to be working with, if only on a more abstract level.

My zipcode is Danvers, MA. It's been known to be a good territory in the past, Aleks is psyched for me. We both anticipate success on my part. I have all of the right tools, it's merely a matter of getting out there and doing it. I know I can run a $100,000 business. It's going to be positively fantastic to do, and will do wonders for my self-confidence. I wish I could reduce my enthusiasm to words, but you will just have to trust me on this one. :)

Classes are crazy, as usual. It's shocking to take a step back and realize just how challenging BC is. The wonderful thing is professors care about your career after school. Class time has shifted from "here's what you need to know for the exam" to "here's how this will help you five years from now." I can't get enough of it. Having professors care about your mental process not only while in their classes, but your epiphanies months from now makes the $576/class worth it. Plus, even if it isn't the easiest thing to do right now, I know my degree can only catapult me that much further down the road.

My RA job is great. I'm researching the Hudson Bay Company (based in Canada) for an Organizational Behavior professor. I'm learning all of this crazy fur/goods trading business which reminds me of Centennial. So basically I work 19 hours of Michener every week. :)

Band is my life, still. I do not know what I would do without music. I've decided I will play in a group no matter where I end up after school. I just can't imagine putting my clarinet/alto/conducting aside completely. Recruiting has started for the upcoming season, as well as leadership training. Only a few more weeks until drum major tryouts and I can't wait. My excitement is building, and people can't wait to see me in front of the band. Let's just hope two and two add up to four. :)

I'm really thankful for my friends here. I do miss my family and it will be hard not going home for Easter break. (The first break I will have not gone home, yikes!!) But while my roots are with my blood, my life is in Chestnut Hill. I can't quantify the light the things I do and the people I know contribute to my soul. But sometimes I just look around and think, how can I not be thankful for each second??