Katherine's Blog

Declaration!

Kberkovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Berkovitz) — Mon, 24 May 2010 14:22:00 PST

So I’ve finally done it. I’ve declared my major! I have decided to work towards my degree in psychobiology. This major requires that I take all the normal requirements for the psychology major plus five biology and five chemistry classes. My bio and chem sequences will start in the fall term, and I have to admit that I am a little anxious. One of my primary goals for next year is to get involved with faculty research, particularly research concerning cognitive psychology. One of the professors on campus operates a sleep lab to analyze the differences between the sleep state and conscious state. It would be an amazing opportunity to get research experience early on, especially since I’d like to be a researcher in neurolinguistics after graduate school.

Many of my friends are still undeclared majors. But you know what? That is perfectly okay. Don’t worry if you are having trouble narrowing your program down. I was able to explore in the different departments this year, and fulfill Core requirements at the same time. I think it is important to have a little buffer room to explore topics that you haven’t tried before. Wherever you end up, be open to your course pathway. Let your interests guide you because you will ultimately succeed doing what you enjoy doing.

Week 9

kberkovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Berkovitz) — Mon, 24 May 2010 14:20:00 PST

Monday will mark the start of the spring quarter’s ninth week. This means that we have just two weeks before finals. I have a lot of feelings rushing over me. I struggle to enjoy the beautiful last days of my freshman year while my friends on the semester system have already welcomed summer. I really am not ready for summer because I know I am going to miss this place a lot, albeit for just a few months. But it’s not time to get sentimental, yet. I’ll leave that for a later entry. For now, it’s time to buckle down to work.

In my Introduction to Ethics class, I am busy readying Stoic, thought. I am working on a paper due next week analyzing Epictetus’ philosophy. My professor encourages us to go over our readings twice in order to prepare for our daily reading quizzes. Despite best intentions, I’ve never followed this advice before this term, and I have to admit that I’m very pleased with the results. Rereading helps me apply the information that I’ve learned to other assigned readings.

In Advanced Chinese, we have just finished a lesson analyzing love. The lesson’s primary reading talked about a successful business man who sought the advice of Buddhist monk in order to free himself of his unrequited love. This reading provoked discussions about the real meanings of love. In addition, my class just completed an advanced reading concerning Zhu Ge Liang, China’s legendary military strategist during the Three Kingdoms Period. Now I am reading a book for my final presentation by foreign journalist and sinologist, Peter Hessler, called Oracle Bones. This book analyzes the interactions between China’s past and present.

My General Psychology class just took a test about consciousness and learning, and now we are moving on to memory, perception, and sensation. I’ve tried to review my notes every night after taking them to encourage the neural connections. I just wish there was more time in the day to do this! I think my finals would be a breeze if I could apply this practice to all my classes.

My Christian Tradition class will be taking a field trip to the Russian Orthodox Cathedral tomorrow. We were privileged to have a Russian Orthodox priest on faculty this term. He came to speak with us about Orthodoxy. I am excited to experience this rich tradition first hand,

Into the Wild

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:41:00 PST

One thing that I’d like to invest my time in next year is the Bronco Urban Gardens (BUG), a new environmental justice initiative. The Garden is a short walk from campus and was created in Fall 2009 as a coalition between Santa Clara University and Silicon Valley HealthCorps to promote food security and environmental literacy in the Santa Clara County.(
Student and faculty members of BUG help tend the vegetable garden by weeding and harvesting. I’ve never really done any gardening before, but I think this will be a great way to feel more connected with the community and the food I consume. We have signs posted throughout the dining hall that urge us to eat a “low carbon diet” by sticking to local produce and poultry.((Volunteers work on Wednesday and Saturdays for three hours. I think I will get a lot out of joining this initiative, especially since I’ve recently read about Alice Waters’ “Edible Schoolyards,” an outdoor classroom based out of Berkeley, California. I urge you to visit the website for BUG by clicking on the following link. (( https://sites.google.com/site/broncourbangardens/about-bug

Trip to Castle Rock

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Mon, 10 May 2010 14:40:00 PST

Hey everyone!
I’m three for three now. Three weekends spent in the outdoors. Three whole weekends spent in the elements, in MY element. As you may remember reading, I spent two weekends ago in Muir Woods in Marin County and last weekend in Yosemite National Park. I found that I’m happiest when I’m outside, especially among trees. This weekend, my dorm took a hike to Castle Rock in the Santa Cruz Mountains. ((I woke up on Saturday morning to a hazy, tired sky. I pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt, packing mittens and a hat in my day knapsack. By the time our group reached the base of the hike, the sun had come out of its shyness. In fact, I ended up slathering on the sunscreen and pulling out a baseball cap to shade my eyes from the sun. ((And it’s a good thing I brought that hat because then I could see the glorious swooping movements of hawks across the sky. We even found a nesting spot for the hawks.((I’m really glad that I decided to sign up for this dorm event because I met new people from my dorm, including a CF from the first floor. Wherever you end up, be sure to sign up for dorm events, even when you have “established” friend circles. That’s something that I know for sure: meeting new people transforms us into the people we will become.((

Happy Mother

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Sun, 09 May 2010 15:02:00 PST

I’m only a freshman I’m already becoming nostalgic for Santa Clara memories. Actually, this could be a problem come end of senior year. If you think this is going to be a sappy blog about all the friends I have made this year, you’d be wrong. This is going to be a sappy blog about my mom.

I’d met some very wonderful people this year, and I’m so lucky that I’ve gotten to spend the time that I have with them. But this year has also made me better appreciate the wonderful people I already had in my life, especially mi madre.

My mom has really been for me this year. When I was sick with mono, she sent me a “get well” almost every day for a month. When I was missing home, she sent me pictures of the snow and of the blooming crocuses outside. When I was happy, she was always ready to share my excitement over the phone. She is everything to me, and I hope I can let her know that as best as I know how.

I’ve missed my mom a lot this year, especially over the long period that I didn’t see her from the end of December until this weekend. That’s right. THIS PAST WEEKEND. As if seeing my mom wasn’t enough, we got to spend time together in Yosemite National Park. Two great beauties: El Capitan and my mother.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. And all you out there, go give your moms big bear hugs.

Midterm

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Thu, 06 May 2010 11:26:00 PST

As we all know, there are productive and unproductive ways of dealing with stress. With two midterms and a major paper due this week, I had more than enough time to explore these ways. For example, I’ve watched my room explode with clothes and papers. Ehhhem..sorry, roomie. Seriously. Where are my socks?

Procrastination. See, I don’t know whether to put that under the productive or unproductive category. On Tuesday, I went to the book store to engage in acts of random reading. Sitting in a pillowy reading nook, my friend and I took a couple hours to read humor and travel books. Next time, we plan to venture downstairs to the textbooks and to the greeting card section. They say that time you enjoy wasting is not wasted. Hmmm. I’m liking the sound of that.

I’ve also exercised at our wonderful fitness center a couple times this week, which really helped with my stress. I’ve found that the best time to go is in the early evening when everyone is at dinner. Then I can snag my favorite stationary bike.

Tea. That’s been my go-to beverage, but not because I need the caffeine. I make it so I can relax. I am starting my own little collection, including three different kinds of green tea. All are delicious.

But what is my favorite way to deal with stress? To be with my friends-- laughing, eating at Benson, studying in the gardens, or playing a couple of hands of Rummy 500. I’m not sure what I’d do without them.

Weekend

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:42:00 PST

Soulful music and baked goods. Nope, I guess it doesn’t take that much to make an awesome weekend at SCU. On Friday, my suitemates and I made a red velvet sheet cake for our other suitemate’s 20^th birthday. She was obviously delighted when we presented the frosted treat after a long week. We asked to bake with the associate resident director, a senior graduating in June. It was at her apartment that I learned about Sunday’s voice recital.

The voice recital was stupendous. A senior who runs the front desk at my dorm was one of the performers, along with a junior majoring in music and political science. The program was called “The Dream of Love.” The first half of the performance was an operatic montage, drawing from Italian, German, French, and American composers. The second half of the program explored the theme of love in show tunes and more familiar favorites including a song from the Broadway musical “The Light in the Piazza.” The two students were both very appreciative to their teachers, friends, and families who have supported their musical careers so far. I really enjoyed seeing the product of obvious hard work and refinement.

In addition to the voice recital, I was happy to attend the acapella concert put on by Supertonic (SCU’s formal group). An alumnus (of the class of 2006) came back to sing with the group that he helped found. As with the voice recital, joy was contagious.

Some thoughts on a sunny afternoon

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:38:00 PST

Roses are in bloom again on the Mission Campus! Explosion of color meets me on every footpath I take—to class, to the dorm, to the cafeteria. I think that I’ll have to start taking my morning walks again to reacquaint myself with the wildlife here and take some time to absorb my surroundings. I’ve been thinking a lot about the word “place” recently and how intimately it connects with who we are as individuals. It is very special to me that I am here, in my room, as the afternoon sun pours onto my desk. It is special that I am in the same space, the same place, as my suitemates who are working on midterm preparations and microwaving leftovers for a late lunch. Time and space have perfectly aligned to allow our stories to cross. I am in the same place as those who are riding bikes to class and lab, and as those who are sharing coffee and pastries at Mission Bakery.

This place will be mine for three more years. And even after that, so too, will it be mine. Santa Clara, like any place is not just where you went, but becomes who you are. In fifty years, there will still be part of me that will identify with this campus in bloom on April 29^th in my eighteenth year of life. I am glad to make Santa Clara part of me, and I hope to make an impression on it as well.

Weekend Getaway

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:26:00 PST

It’s a Sunday. A day of rest. A day of peace. I am sitting on the porch of our hotel room in Marin County, looking out onto the clear water. Everything is quiet, still, and waiting. Mountains stand in the distance. My dad stands at the railing.

My dad’s visit has been such a welcome surprise, as I haven’t seen either of my parents since December. I’ve really missed them both. In fact, it’s been almost four months, which probably explains why I’ve been so homesick recently. My suitemates have been doing an amazing job at cheering me up, but to finally be able to give my dad a big bear hug and see my own facial expressions in his has been more than a little comforting.

Last night, my dad and I drove to Muir Woods National Monument. I now understand why John Muir called the Redwood forests his own cathedrals. In the trickling of water over moss-covered rocks, I heard what Muir called the “heartbeat of the earth.”

As the moon started to come up, we drove to the beach in the rental car. Muir Beach was filled with pods of family, friends, and dogs huddled around stone fire pits to share their lives. The waves, pulled onto the shore by the cheese moon above, excited barefooted children. Or maybe they were just excited to stay up past bedtime.

Even the Eden of Santa Clara can seem hectic sometimes. I’m glad I have this moment to pull away and sip tea with Dad.

What?s Gone Down

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:24:00 PST

I would like to take this moment to describe some miscellaneous happenings from this past term that I particularly enjoyed.

1. Clash of the Castles. This was a dorm showdown between Loyola RLC and DaVinci RLC. We started off with an epic limbo battle…which we lost. And then we continued with a glorious orange passing relay…which we also lost. But you know what? We Loyolan’s don’t settle. We proceeded to challenge DaVinci to a “find the M&M’s in the whipped cream pie” contest, which we won easily. We went on that streak to win the relay race and other contests of strength. And everyone got barbeque, so can we really say that anyone “won” this day of competition.

2. Bee speaker and honey tasting. Earlier in the term, one of Santa Clara’s biology professors gave a talk in the business schools about his beekeeping hobby and the importance of bees to our economy. The talk was both intriguing and delicious.

3. Chef Wars. Our executive chef competed for the title of Top Chef with chefs from three other universities. For 20 dining points, I had the privilege of tasting all of their best dishes. My favorite dish was honey-glazed prawns over a nest of Asian noodle salad. Twas’ a beautiful day.

4. This past week, our own museum (the De Sassiet) hosted a college night. Dosiers had prepared scavenger hunts in which students had to locate various paintings from permanent and temporary collections to enter a raffle. There was also a photo booth and collage-making station. A good time was had by all. Especially those who won in the raffle.

A Sampling of Courses

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:42:00 PST

Hey Everyone,

I was trying to think the other day about what might have helped me decide on which colleges to apply/attend. Then it hit me. I would have loved to have a short description about different classes. I’m going to share with all of you some of the classes that appeal to me. I’ve included descriptions from the 2009-2010 Undergraduate Bulletin.

Anthropology 140- Food, Culture, and the Environment, the “exploration of the history and impact that food choices have made on human societies.”

Anthropology 155- Conflict Resolution, which “examines sources and responses to conflict in varied social and cultural contexts.”

Art History 110- Early Christian and Byzantine Art: “Christian art and architecture from the catacombs in Rome through the early 14^th century in Byzantium.”

SCU is GREEN!

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:21:00 PST

By now you guys can probably tell that a lot of things about Santa Clara make me happy. So far I’ve talked about a lot these things including the people, the dorms, the waffle bar, and the beautiful blooming rose garden. But as Earth Day rolls around, I’d like to draw everyone’s attention to yet another aspect I love about Santa Clara University—its commitment to sustainability.

First of all, Santa Clara has made a commitment to reduce waste. In the winter, the different RLC’s competed to reduce electricity consumption. My RLC fared well in this completion, reducing energy consumption by about 15%. Although the competition is over, many suites are still working to unplug and open windows to let in the fresh California morning instead of using air conditioning.

Students from GREEN (Grass Roots Environmental Efforts Now) club chalked powerful facts about water consumption on the sidewalks around campus. As a result, I have gotten in the habit of turning off my shower water while I later shampoo and conditioner into my hair.
In the cafeteria, students put all leftover food, napkins, sandwich parchment, and plastic containers in the specified compost bins. Cans and non-compostable plastics go in the recycle bin. We do it automatically, like swiping our access cards to get into the dorms. On the tables this week, we have reminders informing us how we can eat a “low carbon diet.” For example, the placards remind us about the fuel that certain foods require for shipment. In addition,the menu specifies which items are organic and local. Even the bookstore is on board with Santa Clara’s sustainable mission, selling notebooks and notebook paper made out of recyclable materials. Us Santa Clarans take our exams in “Green” Books, also made from recyclable paper.
When you come to visit the campus, be sure to visit the house that our team made for the Solar Decathlon, an international competition put on by the Department of Energy. Building a completely solar-powered and sustainable house, our students received a commendable third place.
I am proud to identify myself as one of this community, as part of a larger mission to a better earth. I hope to work in the Santa Clara’s Urban Gardens, which is dedicated to growing pesticide-free fruits and vegetables just 15 minutes off campus. For more information about Santa Clara’s commitment to Sustainability, please click on the following link:
http://www.scu.edu/sustainability/index.cfm

April

kberkovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Berkovitz) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:09:00 PST

Hey everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying preview weekend! I know that a lot of information is being thrown at you right now: campus tours, pamphlets about majors and minors, and nitty gritty about dining and housing. A lot of you probably feel stressed about your upcoming decision, and this feeling is definitely justified. Please don’t worry about making the “wrong” decision. The best advice I can give is being open to whatever feels right for you. As the inscription at front of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi read, “know thyself.” I’ve already admitted in a previous post that I am a compulsive list maker. I’ve decided that I will use this skill to help you guys out a little. I’m going to go back and remember what decisions and concerns I had and how Santa Clara resolved them for me. Sound good?

My list of concerns:

1. Size. I had applied to all very small liberal arts schools (each with around 2,000 students). In the end, Santa Clara was my only “medium sized” school with 5,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate. I guess this tale has some hints of Goldilocks. The medium size was “just right.” Why? I wanted the personal attention from professors that a small school affords, but I also wanted to feel the continual excitement of always meeting new people and throwing around new ideas. Santa Clara has exceeded my expectations in this regard. I just ate lunch with a professor a couple of weeks ago to catch up on life and common history interests.

2. Are the people friendly? The answer to this one is a resounding “yes!” This was important for me because communal support is vital for both personal and academic growth. Before I was even a student here, a Santa Claran wrote me a two page email to personalize Santa Clara for me. This sort of attention to community is common here. People stop each other on the path and stop to find out how you actually are. “Uh, fine” probably won’t cut it for a lot of people here.

3. Is the weather nice? Ummm. Do I even have to respond to that one? :D

4. Am I going to be too homesick? Although my home is in Connecticut, I haven’t felt too homesick, since my brother lives very close. Also, my friends often invite me over to meet their families and share a meal. I also get cookie and popcorn care packages on a semi-regular basis from empty-nesters.

5. Santa Clara’s emphasis on educating the “whole person.” I knew that I wanted to pay attention to my personal, physical, and spiritual growth, not just my academic growth. Through guest speakers, discussions, mentorship from my professors, guided meditation, and the community service office, I sense a very real change in myself, especially with regards to “living in the moment.”

6. Will I be challenged here? I’ve found that teachers demand that you demand the best of yourself. I’ve learned a lot more than facts here and have experienced paradigm shifts, which is very exciting. Of course, I couldn’t have known this coming in, but I do now.

7. How is the food? As someone who loves cooking and baking, this was definitely an important consideration. I think the food is pretty amazing. Be sure to check out Benson even though you will be having lunch in a different location for your preview day. My favorite day is Wednesday because they almost always have salmon.

8. Facilities=beautiful. One of my first thoughts on the campus tour: “Arose garden? Is this for real?”

9. Excellent access to public transportation including buses, taxis, and Caltrain.

I think it is important now more than ever to take some time alone time for yourself when you visit. Take a stroll through Mission Gardens and sit under the trellis to breathe in the perfume of the wisteria vines. Really get a feel for this school. Can you imagine yourself here? Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. We’d love to have you.

Again, email me if you want some more insights. I’m here for you.

One Year Ago

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:53:00 PST

It’s been exactly one year. One year since I first walked through the Mission Rose Gardens. One year since I first sank into one of those snug reading chairs in the Learning Commons. On April 4^th of last year, I attended a preview day. I remember feeling wonderfully delinquent, flying across the country to sunny California on a Friday afternoon while school was still in session.

I remember meeting a lot of amazing people that day, some of which have actually become some of my close friends. It was also the day we “out-of-staters” learned that palm trees are not native to California. One event in particular sticks out in my mind from that day, just one year ago. When asked “why Santa Clara?” one professors answered that at other universities, students become excellent for the sake of being excellent. He continued on, saying that while this is a respectable aim, Santa Clara students are also excellent for the “sake of something else, for the sake of something larger than themselves.” This summarization of the university’s mission really hit home for me. I’ve always wanted to feel as closely connected to this world as I can, and it was amazing to visit a school that reflected my desire. I look forward to meeting some of you in the coming weeks, as preview visits commence. Feel free to stop me on the path if you recognize my picture. I love answering questions.

Spring Break 2010 Part 3

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:52:00 PST

One thing I’ve really missed at college is my mom’s grits: creamy, buttery, and the perfect accompaniment to scrambled eggs and pancakes. This morning at a waffle house in New Orleans, I finally had some grits that taste like Mom’s.So, yes. This is going to be another one of those entries where I spend too much time talking about food. But come on, people! I just got back from New Orleans! I’ll just give you some highlights.First of all, crawfish cakes at the local Crawfish Festival. Actually, not just crawfish cakes. Tack on crawfish potatoes and fried alligator on a skewer. This trip was also my first time trying jambalaya, gumbo, and red beans and rice. Perfectly spicy, perfectly smooth, and perfectly southern.

I saved the best for last: beneigs at Café du Monte: light square-ish donuts loaded with powdered sugar. My mouth thanked me the moment the little pillow of heaven reached my mouth. Probably one of the best things about dining in New Orleans is the service; the servers exude hospitality and warmth. As I’ve said before, I could get used to this life, especially if pecan waffles were involved.

Spring Break 2010 Part 2

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:19:00 PST

I feel a little discouraged that I can’t give New Orleans its appropriate due in a blog entry. New Orleans is not just a place. New Orleans is a people, a feeling.

There is still a lot of rebuilding to do in New Orleans, especially the Bayou (wetlands). Once a lush, freshwater habitat for mangroves and grasses and mosses that served as natural protection for the city, the Bayou is not a brackish dead zone, devoid of stabilizing vegetation. I leaned that Louisiana loses millions of acres of wetlands every year. In fact, in the next 38 minutes, an area the size of a NFL regulation football field will be claimed by the sea.

Apathy is not a luxury available anymore. So far, the St. Bernard Project, the organization my group worked with, has rebuilt 267 homes. Sometimes, something simple like mudding can seem like a drop in the bucket, but a prayer by the late Archbishop Romero has helped me direct my thoughts:

Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

On the last day of working, as I was finishing up the third coat of mud in the entry way, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” came on the ipod speakers. I couldn’t help but think that the next time that that time plays in that room, the walls will be textured, painted, and covered with family photographs and it will be Christmastime. I feel happy knowing I contributed some normalcy to a family that has lived in a trailer for the past 5 years, unprotected by insurance (the area was rezoned as a non-flood zone just before the hurricane). But there is a lot of work still to be done. You can help right now by texting NOLA to 50555. Houses only take 15,000 for the St. Bernard Project to rebuild.

bloSpring Break 2010 Part 1

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:15:00 PST

I am writing this to you the old fashioned way—long hand. I’m using a black pen in one of those marble composition notebooks that they used to make us copy grammar rules in. I’ve been without a computer for a whole week now. No email. No solitaire. No facebook. No clicking or scrolling or status “liking” for this girl. I’ve been away on an immersion trip in New Orleans.

Writing to you in this notebook seems more “real” than typing at my QWERTY keyboard. It’s more personal, I guess, with the crossouts all over the page where the Boeing jet hit some cloudy patches. This is how the immersion trip was for me: real, genuine. What gave me this impression? The locals. Whether at the local waffle house or in line at Home Depot, the people of New Orleans eagerly told their stories and open their lives up to me in a way that I am not used to.

But let me back up for a second. Immersion trip in New Orleans? A lot of people were surprised when I chose Louisiana as my Spring Break ’10 destination spot. “What about Haiti?” most people asked me. Let me tell you what I told them. On August 29, 2010, the people of New Orleans will remember the 5^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I want to remember with them, but not just for a day, a meager 24 hour period. I want them to know that America still cares that thousands of families still live in FEMA trailers or cannot afford to move back to the parishes where they grew up or the houses where their grandparents were born.

There were 12 of us who landed at the New Orleans airport last Sunday, all of us unsure of the construction work we would be assigned by our site supervisor. We ended up “mudding” the drywall seams of a two bedroom house for a local family. We “mudded” and sanded for 7 hours a day for 5 days straight. The work was physically exhausting, but rewarding. I knew that just by smoothing plaster into seams I had joined something larger than myself, that I had substance behind my words or compassion for the hurricane victims. In a reflection session, one of my friends was saying how “no” becomes easier the more times we say it. I’m glad to see myself not just saying, but living “yes.”

In case you’re wondering, I’ve become a very competent mudder and have learned to appreciate the smooth edges of the ceiling. I even awoke on my cot one night to find my arm doing the sanding action.

Rate my professors

blogSCU@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:28:00 PST

Hello all,

I’d like to dedicate this post to clarifying some things about ratemyprofessors.com. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the website, Rate My Professors allows students to evaluate their professors on a number of different criteria. The site also allows students to add specific commentary on anything from teaching style to personal style.

Let it be said that two of my favorite professors received horrible reviews on ratemyprofessors. One student compared my favorite teacher to the devil. A lot of people use this site as an outlet for revenge against an unwanted grade and to release personal gripes into the universe.

I’ve found that asking people whom I know and trust to list off their favorite teachers is a great strategy. When I do use RMP.com, I look for information to indicate teaching style. For example, I might stay away from a teacher and class that rely too heavily on a final exam. I know that I do not like that kind of pressure.

Just like anything, don’t believe everything you read on the internet. When you get to college, use the site appropriately. Otherwise, you might miss out on some great professors.

Spring Break is here!

blogSCU@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:27:00 PST

The campus is mostly deserted now, as most people have left for the spring holiday. Just as everyone is leaving, the campus is blooming with life. I’ve started taking early evening walks through Mission Gardens, and I can’t pass the cherry trees just outside my dorm without standing on my tiptoes to smell their puffy, white blossoms. I wonder what it will all look like in a week. Although I finished all my finals on Wednesday, I will be staying on campus until Sunday. On Sunday, my Immersion Trip group is leaving for Louisiana to help rebuild houses for Hurricane Katrina victims, who, more than four years after the storm, have not been able to move out of FEMA trailers.

I’ve never been on an immersion trip before, so I don’t know quite what to expect. I’m hoping to do a lot of journaling while I’m there, so I bought a marble composition notebook at the school store. I’m excited to get to know the new people I met at the lasagna dinner and hear their stories. I hope that I will be changed by the trip, as so many people have told me I will.

I am pretty much done packing. Laundry is done, too. I’m not sure if anything will really prepare me for what I am about to experience. It will definitely be a big shift between the Eden-like gardens of Santa Clara and a community devastated by water and mold.

Time

KBercovitz@scu.edu (Katherine Bercovitz) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:24:00 PST

Let’s just say that stress is not in short supply this week. If there is one good thing about final exams period, it reminds us all how much support we have at Santa Clara. Last week, the cafeteria served free breakfast at midnight—eggs and tater tots. On Friday night, my dorm hosted a pajama party, complete with Disney movies, popcorn, footy pajamas and cereal. I am planning on going to a study social tonight. Ostensibly, they are going to have cookies, milk, and free scantrons and blue books.

I’ll admit that I’m a little more stressed out since the time I wrote my last blog entry. I guess that’s natural, seeing that exams are all anyone can talk about. Well, that’s not exactly true. Today, everyone just talked about how sad they were that we’re losing an hour of sleep due to Daylight Savings Time. My friend solved that problem; we are pretending that the time change is happening tomorrow when we actually have real time-sensitive obligations. This has been almost relaxing. I recommend you try it next year. It’s interesting how important time seems to be to function in our society, and I am excited to leave my watch at home for the retreat I am attending next term.