#capturebaypath

Friday I had a wonderful opportunity to got to Milan for the SALONE INTERNAZIONALE DEL MOBILE - a huge week-long design fair held in Milan every year. I went as part of my internship and it was really neat to see so many different and new furniture pieces and design concepts.

Here's just a few examples of the kinds of things I got to see all day:

As this weekend was more relaxing than exciting I would like to take some time to talk about Bay Path. About 2 months ago Bay Path started a new marketing campaign dubbed "#capturebaypath". Check out this link for the video to get the idea and learn what it's all about.

The day this was announced there was a huge to-do during lunch to make the announcement and get everyone fired up about it. That day my FaceBook news-feed was literally FILLED with photo's of everyday happenings at Bay Path. Since then, the hype has died down quite a bit, but every once in a while someone will post a #capturebaypath photo and I will be reminded how lucky I am to be a part of such a wonderful community and close-knit group of women.

This realization has been reiterated even more through my being abroad. Without Bay Path (and the support of my family and friends, of course) I would not have been able to have come to Florence or have all of the wonderful and life-changing experiences and adventures that have come with being here.

On top of all that, I would not be the person I am today without the support and guidance I have received from the entire Bay Path community.
Who else can say the President of their college knows them by name?

Or that the President's husband's entire face lights up whenever he sees you?

Or that you can be skype-ing with your friends and the Resident Life Director will leave his meeting just to say hello? (granted he thought someone had an important question/situation)

At Bay Path, those are common occurrences. Okay, maybe not the last one specifically, but that's the kind of people that work at Bay Path and make it less like a school, and more like a home-away-from-home.

Every spring Bay Path hosts the Women's Leadership Conference: a day-long event filled with speakers, break-out sessions, and networking opportunities. This year, the keynote speaker was none other than QUEEN LATIFAH. Yes, you read that correctly. Who else can say they got to listen to Queen Latifah speak, get her autograph, and get a photo taken with her? Granted, I can't say that because I was over here when it happened, but seeing my friends getting to meet such an inspiring woman, and for her to take the time out of her undoubtedly busy schedule and devote a day in Springfield, Massachusetts  is simply incredible, and could not have happened at any other school.

Check out this video for a taste of what I'm talking about.

This year was the second annual Academic Achievement Day where the entire college takes a day off of classes to celebrate all of the hard work the students have been doing for the past year. There are presentations, and panel discussions, and performances. In the afternoon there's a keynote speaker, followed by a fantastic dinner, and the day closes with the Marcia Conrad Awards where students and clubs are honored for their excellence.

Even I had a part this year!

I skype-ed into a classroom with students interested in studying abroad and got to talk about my experience and the amazing opportunities Bay Path and AEF have provided for me. I was an awkward experience, because the Bay Path computer didn't have a microphone, so they could hear me, but I couldn't hear them, so whenever they had questions I had to wait for them to type...luckily I didn't have to do it alone because Enrico (my Italian professor) and Mathew/Matteo (the "international marketing-study abroad coordinator" for AEF) were also there to talk as well.

Without Bay Path I would not be the person I am today.

I would not have the life-long friends that are more like sisters.

I would not have a team I consider my family.

And I would not have a school I consider my home-away-from-home.

As much as I miss home and my family and am looking forward being there, I am also looking forward to heading to Bay Path for graduation (a few weeks after I get back) to catch up with my Coach, my adviser, my bosses, and - of course - my friends!

 

I am so incredibly blessed to have these people in my life and be a member of  the wonderful family that is Bay Path College. While it does have its problems, and there will always be drama if you're looking for it, there is no other place I would rather be earning my college education and no other people with whom I'd rather be learning and living.