Missing My Roommate 'Across the Pond'

PBA student Chloe Westrich studied abroad in London, England.

What would you do if your roommate got accepted to a study abroad program halfway through the school year, which also meant he/she had to leave you? One of my PBA roommates for the fall 2011 semester was Chloe Westrich, from St. Louis, Mo. She had the awesome opportunity to participate in PBA's London Semester Program during the spring semester. According to pba.edu, The London Semester Program was the result of a partnership between PBA’s Center for Experiential Learning and Roehampton University, located in southwest London.

Chloe's PBA suitemates bake her a cake. 

Although it was easy congratulating my amazing roommate last fall for this incredible opportunity, it was disappointing to know our time as roommates was coming to an end. Chloe was definitely the glue that held all us suitemates together in the Flagler Towers dorm at PBA. She brought a special something to our suite with her bright smile and genuine personality. In celebration of her acceptance to the program, we baked a going away cake. It was difficult letting her leave, but throughout the semester we viewed her Facebook page, updated with happy photos and messages. Also, our entire suite contacted her through Skype on her birthday, which she spent in London, as well.

Chloe recently arrived safely back to the U.S. with lots of stories and experiences! Last weekend, I caught up with her after she settled down, back home, and she filled me in on her time in London. She explained:

Chloe in a London phone booth.

“Studying abroad in London was unlike any other experience I’ve had before. There were some real struggles in the beginning, but by the end of the semester I had fallen head-over-heels in love with the culture, the people, and all the exciting events happening around the city every day.

I was stretched in absolutely every way possible including: physically, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. I became familiar with another culture, but was also able to understand my own culture even better. I feel like I am walking away from this experience as a changed person: my mind has been opened to even more possibilities around the world and a brand new sense of adventure has been cultivated within me.

I have also been able to escape the typical American lifestyle of constantly rushing from one event to another, and really embrace a more slowed down lifestyle where I can really appreciate the people and events I encounter each day.

Some days I wake up and think to myself, 'Did that semester really just happen, or was all of this just a dream?' I am beyond thankful for the opportunities that I had, the people that I met, the breath-taking places I was able to see, and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences I had over the past four and a half months. I would highly recommend studying abroad to everyone.”

Although I had to share my roommate with London, I'm happy she had such a great life experience.

Have you ever thought about spending a semester abroad?

Knowing President Fleming Through 'Development'



President Fleming signs the hat of a new PBA student during Welcome Week '11 fesitvities.

 

Mr. William M.B. Fleming, Jr., Palm Beach Atlantic University's newly selected president, is the epitome of “development” here at PBA. As many of you know, President Fleming was interim president for more than a year before being selected this week as eighth president by PBA's Board of Trustees at the recommendation of the presidential search committee. However, I came to know President Fleming through his other service position at PBA.

I met him my freshman year when I got accepted as a work-study student in PBA's Development Office in Sachs Hall. In addition to taking on the role of interim president during the past year, he was also vice president of development, for many years. Working in the department, I not only had the wonderful opportunity to introduce myself to President Fleming, but he got to know me personally, as he does with many PBA students. Working with him for two years, and experiencing how smoothly the office ran with him as vice president, gives me great confidence in his tenure as president.

Additionally, as interim president, I have seen President Fleming's interest in the school skyrocket. Outside of being a student taking classes and working at PBA, I am involved with several student organizations as well. It has definitely been a great college experience seeing President Fleming meet and engage with my fellow peers throughout the year.

For instance, this semester he came to several “end of the year” student meetings.   At my weekly Impact Leadership Team (ILT) meeting, President Fleming observed our entire meeting and then was introduced, individually, to the 12 assistants and six interns for ILT.  I also heard that he did the same for this year's Welcome Week Steering Committee, which is in charge of introducing this fall's freshmen to PBA through Welcome Week. Also, as I am involved with the PBA Ambassador’s program, I saw President Fleming at this end of the year meeting, as well.   He not only already knew the majority of the 14 ambassadors by name, but also unique facts about their lives, providing many laughs and surprises.

Overall, throughout this year President Fleming has already demonstrated to me and other students his care and concern for bettering the purpose of the school – its students' education, environment, and overall development.  Congratulations to President Fleming, and congratulations to Palm Beach Atlantic University.

What has been your experience when interacting with President Fleming?

Fun During Finals Week at PBA

School’s out, so it’s time to pack up! Those familiar red “smart box” storage units appeared once again all over campus sidewalks and parking lots, signaling campus students to start gathering everything together for checkout.   Many of them were lined up with students' names, especially on the Pembroke green for Baxter residents!

Checking out of campus is probably the most dreaded job students have to do, but there is always the summer to look forward to. However, the fun, cool RAs we came to know and love are required to transform into "The Cleaning Police." Most students were up until the late hours of the night during finals week finding creative ways to clean their rooms and dorm halls, and we did a good job!






 You can also definitely tell that it was exam week because of the papers being proofread, the exams being crammed, and the two main food groups being Red bull and Ramen. The best thing that college prepares us for is learning how to balance working, cleaning, and having fun...not much time to eat though.  "Cram Jam's" breakfast for dinner this week served by PBA staff and faculty was probably our most nutritious meal!




 Despite all of the work from finals week, or just the end of the year in general, PBA students definitely like to have fun, as you all can see from the photos of everyone's version of coping with finals week.  As you can tell with these pictures, the "Instagram" photo app on students' phones was definitely a hit for taking cool pictures with to capture the best moments of final's week.





 As much as I enjoy living in dorms, sitting in classrooms and being in PBA buildings every day, it is a relief to be able to settle back home. The amount of relief that it feels to have a whole second semester, and an entire year as a sophomore completed is almost indescribable.  Now it's time to move on to summer and have some well deserved fun...maybe more than we had finals week! ;)





Tell me about your experience finals week and how you were able to incorporate fun into working!