At the college welcome for the Class of 2018, Peaches and President Cassidy (#kcass) both made a point of saying that Admissions does not make mistakes. They called out that awful thing that every Mawrtyr thinks during especially hard exams or impossible papers, “I must have been the admissions mistake.”

Maybe the sentiment didn’t resonate with the Class of 2018 (and transfers and new McBrides!), but as I looked around the room at Customsfolks and DLT and assorted other stragglers, I could tell that something had struck a pretty serious chord. Maybe it was that all of us were being validated at the same time, in a really intense way. Or, ya know, maybe it was just me, and I was projecting my epic feels out onto everyone I saw…

I remember the first time I confronted my own “THEY WERE WRONG” mindset. It was during my Customs Week, last year. The giant crop of new McB’s was heading into Erdman to eat lunch, and I stayed behind to hit the bathroom. One of the McBride Traditions Mistresses was waiting with me, and we were trying to have a conversation in all of the noise and confusion and crowding that is Erd during Customs. It was probably not the best time for me to have asked this question, but I’d been thinking about it all day, and I couldn’t hold it in.

“So…admissions requirements for McBrides are different, right?”

After two days surrounded by students who were (in my mind) better, stronger, faster, I couldn’t really understand how I got in. I was definitely the fluke. That, or they were just taking anyone. Because that makes sense.

Noa kind of laughed, but then she looked straight into my face and said, “No. Admissions for us is the same as it is for them. You’re here because you belong here.” And then the bathroom was free, and the moment was over. It wasn’t a super emotional heart-to-heart, but that answer stuck with me. I’ve been thinking about it a lot this week, as I help to usher in a new McB cohort who are all probably thinking the same things I was last year.

I’m not immune to feeling like I’m not good (or whatever) enough to be at Bryn Mawr, for sure. It comes up a lot, especially when I’m waiting for papers to come back or for grades to post. It sure does help, though, to hear from the President that we’re all supposed to be here.

I recently posted a picture on my Facebook page of my Customs Week schedule. I think it might be a pretty good indication of what it’s going to be like for the rest of the year. I’m hoping to maybe perfect my ability to effectively time manage, but that’s probably asking for too much.

You know how on New Year’s Eve people make lists of the things they’re going to change as the year turns over? Resolutions, but also larger things, bigger goals about improving one’s life. I’m thinking that it might be useful to put a list like that here, so that I can make the most of my final year at the Mawr. Something to keep coming back to, like an epic to-do list of awesome. At the very least, it’ll feel good to cross off the small stuff. 

• Continue on this trend of going to Bikram (almost) every day.
• Keep my calendars updated.
• Actually make plans with friends. And keep those plans.
• Read and respond to every e-mail.
• Bring Wilson to campus.
• Remember to drink enough water.
• THESIS.

I know, it’s kind of boring. And short. I’ll add to it, and likely change some things. Feel free to call me on stuff, though- especially keeping plans and responding to e-mails. I’ve gotten a little out of touch this summer.

Speaking of calling me on things, if you see me around campus, say hi! I wanted to become a Banter Blogger for lots of reasons, but one of the big ones is McBride visibility. I’m around all the time, and though I’ve been told I’m intimidating, I refuse to believe it. I’m friendly! And I like friends. So say hi. Bright hair, big tattoos, very loud laugh that I can’t seem to control.

Legit intro post (who I am, where I’m from…) coming soon.

Welcome back, Bryn Mawr. <3