A memoire from commencement

Proudly wearing my Preview Staff stole :)

College of Fine Arts Love

Samaa and I representing College of Fine Arts, SoTD

It all went by so fast...enjoy the moment

We have been replaced. Today I watched the 2011 Preview Staff skits with some of my fellow staffer from just one summer ago. It was a whirlwind of emotions and crazy to think that was us not too long ago. What was funny is that I sat next to Mark Hermano and we have a history of Preview skits together. We watched the 2009 Preview skits after our trip to LeaderShape and then of course we were in them last year, and then now coming full circle--watching the next staff take our place. They said our lines, danced our dances, and smiled the way that we smiled. But I have to admit, that our Staff had a little bit more of "fire" under our belts...but maybe I'm just biased, a lot!

I will always remember how it felt to come to the stage every Day 1 after dinner rotations and really feel like I am welcoming all these new, excited, but really scared Gators into the Gator Nation. It is a big deal, and I am completely fortunate to have experienced something so great.

Withdrawal.

So it has been a couple of weeks since our last session, and I miss it dearly.
I have been keeping in touch with the staffers online as much as possible to keep them in my life but it is not the same. Good thing that my students are messaging and emailing me like crazy to help them with their schedules.
And another good thing, we have a session (the real last session) in about a week and a half. I can't wait!

Summer's over, it couldn't last.

After 21 sessions: 21 6:55 briefings, 21 Classic fare breakfast muffins, 21 check-ins, 21 G-O-O-D MORNING!, 21 rotations, 21 Reitz lunches, 21 finding big Orange letters, 21 advisor meetings, 21 greetings to students/families and loved ones, 21 dinner rotations, 21 sayings of "UF's the one that I want", 21 late nights at Broward, 21 7:29 am running to debriefs, 21 looooong Day 2 campus tours at noon, 21 waiting in lines at Quiznos and having 10 minutes to eat, 21 teachings of "We are the boys" in the auditorium and 21 crazy unwinding de-briefs until at 5 pm -- WE ARE DONE! (until hidden session in the fall)

6,400 incoming students, 21 sessions, 38 staffers, 1 summer, 1 family.

PLUV is forever! <3

Catch of the day!

All summer long, I watched the staffers before me get selected to be catch of the day. I finally got chosen on the very last session!

I was so shocked to hear my name called on briefing that morning. Dalila said that I was chosen for the previous session. Whitney and I shared it for the last session, I got it on Day 1 and Whitney on Day 2.

I was so happy that I was chosen not only by Dalila, but from the rest of my staffers through the catch of the day notes. Our philosophy the whole summer has been to play, make their day, be present and choose your attitude. Based on what the staffers said about me, and the quality of my notes that I got, I got to wear the hat. The oh so famous fishy hat. I was so honored. I'm so glad I got to experience that.

Flashing back 3 years...

I feel like a Freshman again. From my first night in Gainesville-->to now, three years later, it has been a trip indeed.

In many ways, I am the same person. But in so many other ways, I have grown into someone that I could not even imagine becoming before. I remember being an incoming Freshman and scared as hell my first semester, but I was also excited. I was excited to start off with something new, something with so many possibilities.

My preview experience sort of prepared me for life at UF. Honestly, the only thing I really remember about my session is the skits, they seemed the most real. But I remember them to this day. It is so great to be able to have that impact on others just like I was so deeply impacted 3 years ago. I don't think that I can expect my students to remember me forever, but maybe for the rest of their career at UF. I hope they can see me as someone that helped their transition a little bit smoother, easier and meaningful.