Columbia Lions!!!

Yesterday we attended "Lawn Parties" and also went to the Columbia Club (an exclusive club which alumni can pay a membership fee to be a part of) for tours and drinks in their gorgeous bar. Afterwards a bunch of us went downtown to the Lower East side for drinks. It was a wonderful and fun evening and we got some adorable photos to show you as well. 

Also, don't forget to visit my new blog (which I am transitioning to right now): http://babyellephant.wordpress.com/

Senior Week at Columbia.

So I will give it to Columbia University...they know how to celebrate graduation in style!!! Last night began our "Senior Week" events that will culminate in our all-school Commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 22nd!!! Here's just some of our graduation festivities calendar (so you know what you will be hearing about). Our theme for Senior Week is the Roaring 2013s (in honor of the latest Great Gatsby movie, of course). 

Anyways, last night we went on the "Senior Cruise" with 500 of our classmates! It was so much fun - I went crazy dancing with all of my friends (and new friends, too!) I think my favorite part was the photo shoot we had beforehand...the photos turned out AMAZING. Check out some below! I promise to post more soon. 

Also, I am going to transition to my new blog over the course of the next few days: http://babyellephant.wordpress.com/ 

I think its time for a new website, especially with all of the changes that have been occurring in my life. Its time for a fresh start. I truly hope you will choose to continue on my adventures with me! I would love to have you all. :) 

Columbia Class of 2013 Senior Week Events:

May 15th (Wednesday): the last "Senior Night" at Havana Central

May 16th (Thursday): Senior Cruise aboard the Chelsea Spirit with 500 of my classmates

May 17th (Friday): Lawn Party (5:30 p.m.), Tours of the Columbia Club (8-10 p.m.) with drinks afterwards, Yankees Game

May 18th (Saturday): Yankees Game, Avenue Q Performance, Senior Ball downtown at the Marriott Marquis  

May 19th (Sunday): Barnard graduation 

May 20th (Monday): SEAS graduation (our engineering undergrads - Caroline will be graduating!)

May 21st (Tuesday): Columbia College graduation 

May 22nd (Wednesday): Columbia Commencement 

XOXO

"We live in a world of horrible inequalities and we are called to do something, as doctors and as humans, to repair the world." - Paul Farmer

Yesterday, Caroline and I went to a talk to hear Paul Farmer and Jeffrey Sachs speak! Paul Farmer is one of the most incredible human beings on the planet. Seriously. He's a physician (MD/PhD from Harvard) that started the Partners in Health organization, which just built a stunning and entirely solar-powered hospital in Mirebalais, Haiti (in addition to having projects in dozens of other countries). He's a brilliant and witty speaker and was so humble and generous with his time. He said he'd talk to me about possibly doing an internship at the hospital in Haiti, so fingers crossed! 

P.S. My cousin Brandon (who went to Harvard Med School and did his opthalmology residency at Bascom Palmer - the best eye institute in the world) took a class with him at Harvard! So cool! 

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”

Today one of my Professors emailed us and told us what a wonderful time she had in our seminar. I love that quote she sent us...and it was so true for me today. I've had a rough couple past days (and sorry to everyone who called and texted me, I wasn't able to get to my phone) but Im doing so much better. I truly am blessed to be surrounded by my incredible friends (who always believe in me, no matter what) and my wonderful Mom. 

Happy Belated Mother's Day, salami (I call her salami)!!! You are truly the best Mom I could ever ask for and I wouldn't be the person I am today without you. Nor would I be here today. Thank you for pushing me (even when I didn't agree) and for always having my best interests at heart, even when I can't see it. I know you will always support me no matter what I do and just want whats best for me. I can't thank you enough for all of the sacrifices you have made for me - I am truly the most blessed daughter on this Earth! 

Please remember that each day is another day, another gift if you will. Anything can happen. And also nothing could happen, if you choose not to act on your dreams or what you want. There are so many things that I want to do before I leave this Earth, and I resolve that I will do as many as physically possible before my time comes. If there's anything I hate, it's having regrets and not taking chances. Also, don't forget to believe in miracles. I do! 

Please enjoy some photos that I took today with my beautiful friends! I hadn't seen them in days, so it was wonderful spending time with them again. 

XOXO 

I love you, Grandma Lib!!

Yesterday my wonderful Grandma Lib passed away. Please hold her and the rest of my family in the light (a Quaker tradition). Grandma Lib was one of the most important people in my life and I can't imagine not seeing her every time I go back to Washington D.C. She has been my guardian, advice-giver and biggest cheerleader since the day I entered this world. She was truly an inspiration to my entire family and never gave up fighting, even when everything seemed to be going wrong. I will never forget my Grandma Lib and everything she has taught me. I know she would want to live every day like it were my last, so I promise to do that for her. I love you so much, Grandma! 

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”
― Dr. Seuss

The End is Near!

Yesterday was my last day of classes at Columbia! Wow....just wow. I actually ended up only having one class (it was actually a recitation!) because my last Introduction to Archaeology class got cancelled. I was the teeniest bit disappointed, since it was pretty anti-climactic. Oh well! In the evening I attended Sigma Delta Tau's formal which was really fun! We went to a cute Italian restaurant for dinner beforehand and then went to Southern Comfort (Justin Timberlake's restaurant actually!), which they had rented out for the occasion. Definitely a fun way to celebrate the end of classes!!! (See photos below...more to come soon).  

Tonight I am going to Professor Stokes's apartment on the Upper West Side to celebrate the end of our wonderful "Psychology of Creativity" seminar - truly one of the most incredible classes I have ever taken at Columbia. Each of us is also going to turn in our final project, a "Creativity Handbook" that we created. I will try and post mine here! Professor Stokes is one of the most unbelievable professors you will ever meet! Psychology is actually her second profession. She was first a painter and actually studied at Pratt. She eventually became the Creative Director and Vice President of several of the largest advertising firms in New York City, including Ted Bates, J. Walter Thompson, Shaller Rubin Associates and Jordan, Case, McGrath. She then pursued a Ph.D. at Columbia in Psychology when she got bored. Her husband is a MacArthur "Genius" Fellow and also pursues creative pursuits in his spare time. They are truly an incredible pair and I can't wait to spend time with both of them this evening. Professor Stokes and her husband were actually both present at my Senior Vocal Recital as well. It was so wonderful of them to attend (in addition to all of my other guests) - thank you thank you thank you all for coming! :) 

Afterwards I am running to my Columbia College Senior Dinner for the Class of 2013 (over 980+ of my classmates registered to attend) on South Lawns and then going to my friend Mary's 22nd Birthday party! It is going to be a fun-jam-packed day. 

You know I wouldn't want it any other way. 

XOXO

This Time [John Legend Concert]!!!

This time I want it all

Showing you all the cards

giving you all my heart

This time I'll take the chance

This time I'll be your man

I can be all you need

This time it's all of me...

-This Time, John Legend

On Friday night I went to see John Legend perform at the United Palace Theatre/Cathedral in Harlem!!! John Legend has one of the most incredible raw voices I have ever heard ... and I finally got to hear him perform live. His voice is the perfect blend of jazz + folk + blues + pop. Seriously, look the guy up. (Did you also know he went to the University of Pennsylvania?) Sharon and I won a contest to see him perform on Friday night and I brought along my friends Anmarie (from cheerleading), Ryan (whom I met through Anmarie) and Jess (one of my best friends since freshmen year). We originally got seats all the way in the back (row W) but then snagged seats in the first row by acting like the superstars we are. Ok, fine, it was mostly me - but it worked! Though his set was only an hour and a half long (hey, what do you expect for free), he had the entire audience (2,300+ people) singing along with him. It was wonderful. His songs are mostly sad ones, but the lyrics are like poetry and his voice is just so gorgeous. 

Afterwards we went out for drinks at "The Heights" (my favorite Columbia bar) and stayed until 3 a.m... a bit longer than we had anticipated. Mostly because Caroline and Derek joined us for some fun!! 

My favorite John Legend song is "This Time". Listen to it HERE, please!! I promise you won't regret it. 

Myself, Sharon & Jess in our first row seats for the John Legend concert!!!