“All I want for Christmas is you~” As Mariah Carey “defrosted,” the Christmas season is finally approaching! Maple Tree Lighting On December 6, my friends and I went downtown to witness the 50-plus-year-old tradition of lighting a living maple tree in the Town Common. There was a market beside selling cute Christmas souvenirs, delicious snacks,…Continue Reading The Christmas Season
We’re now in the thick of finals period, so I thought I’d take a step back to let you all know how this whole thing works. Some high schools might have final exams, but mine didn’t, so the concept of finishing classes almost two weeks before you actually end the semester was foreign to me…Continue Reading Finals Period at Amherst
This past weekend (12/7-12/8), since it’s the last before finals begin, there were various winter formals held by the different clubs and teams on campus. So many clubs had formals this weekend, in fact, that I had three in one night. Now to answer the question: What is a formal? A formal is when a…Continue Reading A Very Formal Weekend at Amherst
In the beginning, I thought that “wasting time” was the ultimate college sin. Like many first-year students, I entered Amherst with an intense desire to prove myself—overwhelmed with assignments, a packed schedule, and a mountain of expectations. Every moment of downtime felt like a wasted opportunity. If I wasn’t studying or doing something productive, I…Continue Reading The Secret Life of College Study Breaks: What I’ve Learned from Wasting Time
Hi friends! Welcome back to the blog 🙂 For those of you who live in chilly places, I hope you’ve been staying warm (I personally use cold weather as an opportunity to wear the chunkiest scarf humanly possible). As we finish up our last week of classes for the semester and begin reading period for…Continue Reading Finals Season Peaceful Moments
Isn’t the snow just lovely? Last Wednesday (12/4) and Thursday (12/5) around 4-5 inches of snow fell on Amherst. I’m from Massachusetts and used to experiencing snow every year but it felt more beautiful on campus. People from warmer parts of the country and world were especially mesmerized by the feathery flakes dancing through the…Continue Reading Snow at Amherst
Embracing the Power of Routine When I first arrived at Amherst College, I felt the pressure almost immediately. Between rigorous coursework, adapting to a new environment, and the drive to succeed, it was easy to feel overwhelmed. However, I quickly realized that prioritizing my mental health wasn’t just essential for my well-being—it was crucial for…Continue Reading How I Balance Academics and Mental Health at Amherst
Though winter break for Amherst is only two weeks long, usually students view winter break as a one-month-and-a-half long break simply because January term, known as J-Term, starts after winter break and ends right when the spring semester starts. As someone from the West Coast, having J-Term feels strange as lots of my high school…Continue Reading January Term
Brahms and Hindemith in our own Buckley Recital Hall. Yesterday, the Amherst Symphony Orchestra performed Johannes Brahm’s (1833-1897) Symphony #3 in F major, OP.90 (1883), and Symphony Metamorphosis by Paul Hindemith (1895-1963). This is the second time I have attended an ASO concert, the orchestra blows me away every time. The first piece was very…Continue Reading Brahms & Hindemith Winter Concert 2023
3/3/2023 Hi everyone! I hope you are well! In this week’s blog, I’m going to give you an overview into what a week at Amherst looks like outside of classes, and some of my thoughts on stress management and mental health. Please email me if you have any questions at sgoldsmith24@amherst.edu. This week at Amherst The…Continue Reading Thoughts on a week at Amherst