At Holy Cross, the “grace” period between arriving back on campus and being busy once again is as short as the winter break is long. Many Holy Cross students joke about the lack of “syllabus week,” but many are ready to jump right back into their lives at HC after being on break for over a month. Winter break, especially for sophomores, is a popular time for job shadows with HC alumni and service trips to underserved areas here and abroad. Upon arriving back on campus, one hears chatter about every students unique break experience.
At the outset of the semester everyone is excited to take on their new classes and set a routine that will take them into the spring months. Last semester’s lunch and dinner schedule might not remain the same, but the fresh faces you see walking from class to class is a welcome change. Familiar friends are eager to have another great semester considering many students have just sent their applications to the study abroad programs of which they hope to be a part their junior year.
Whereas the first semester of sophomore year felt a bit strange insofar as the “newness” of freshman year has worn off, the second semester of sophomore year brings with it a new sense of purpose. One’s major needs to be chosen by the end of this year, and many students have either joined a new organization or become a well known part of one they were in last year. Personally, I had a successful season as a part of the Moot Court team (I encourage you to “meet the coaches” on the web page!) as my partner and I finished top 40 in the country at the National Tournament in Dallas, TX. More importantly, the Moot Court team is something I have felt more connected to thus far this year. Being involved on top of the workload can be a lot at times, but the personal rewards of staying with an activity year after year are invaluable.
