Here I am; this is me.

Hello, readers!

I hope you learn to get used to my obsessive use of song lyrics in application to my life...and my blog. Most of my titles will probably be either in reference to song or directly quoting one. If you'd like to know from what song it is, please ask! These lyrics, "Here I am, this is me," are from a Bryan Adams song in the animated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. It's an excellent soundtrack; Bryan Adams performs the vocals, and Hans Zimmer (Black Hawk Down, Gladiator) composed the music. An incredible collaboration, I think.

Music has always meant something to me. I have a difficult time listening to music that I cannot either relate to directly, or relate to past events in my life, or relate to events which I have observed. But when I do find music that connects to me in some way, it is a beautiful moment that seems to never fade away. Forgive me for being mushy. I have just spent a lot of time with music lately, and I feel as though I must pay her some homage.

The Christmas season is a wonderful time to get into music. I have friends that listen to music year round, but I prefer to keep it special, and bring it out solely for the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. This year, as I am away at college for the first time (I am a freshman, by the way), I have found particular solace in the mixed CD my best friend and I made last year for our friends. It's a compilation of our favorite Christmas music, and we spent hours upon days putting it together. The end result was a CD titled "The Night the World Began Again," and it perhaps has more meaning to me now, while I'm away from all that I'm used to, than it did then. Either way, it has been a lovely Christmas music companion. If you would like some references to good Christmas songs, please feel free to ask.

I suppose, since this is a Queens' student blog, that I should discuss a bit of the happenings around campus. Come to think of it, that's probably why you're here, isn't it? I apologize; I tend to get sidetracked quite easily. But now that I have talked about how much I appreciate music, allow me to tell you how much I appreciate my college: Queens University of Charlotte.

This first semester of college has been filled with excitement, education, emotions, service, decisions, expectations, idealism, reality, friendships, complications, failures, successes, and a variety of other nouns. But, despite inevitable ups and downs, I have loved every minute of my brief time here, thus far. Orientation Pros, RAs, upperclassmen, the admissions office, professors, and everyone else involved did an incredible job at making the transition as easy as possible. For those of you worried about this stage for your children, don't be; Queens tackles its transitioning students with patience, grace, understanding, and energy. I could not have asked for a greater first semester experience.

That being said, I simply cannot sum up all that I have done and learned over these several months here, so I will reflect on the most recent. The holiday season at Queens is filled with fun traditions that help students feel more at home--or helped me to, anyway. I suppose I cannot speak for everyone else. The traditions range from a medieval feast (Boar's Head) to a semi-formal (Casino Night) to a lessons and carols service (Moravian Love Feast). While I was not able to attend all of the events, I did attend and participate in the 75th Annual Boar's Head Banquet. Along with three other members (Stephanie Phipps, Lacey Kline, and Amanda Wade) of the student-run Dance Club, I performed in front of President Davies, her husband, her son, and a few other important guests which the meal was honoring (traditionally, the President and his or her spouse represent the King and Queen as it would have been at an actual medieval feast). Lacey Kline, the Vice President of the dance club and one of the performers, choreographed our pieces to beautiful music from the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack, composed by Dario Marianelli. (May I digress for a moment and say that this collection, as well as any classical music, is wonderful to listen to while writing papers or studying intensely for exams, as I have been doing over the last couple of weeks. This is yet another important role that music plays in my life.) The entire ceremony is beautiful, complete with medieval style costumes, garlands, a lovely performance by the Chamber Choir, and, of course, delicious food. After 75 years, it is no wonder this tradition has stuck; the key to a college student’s heart is always through their stomach.

I have finished my exams for the semester, and I am going home tomorrow for the Christmas festivities. I am excited to go home, but I will be equally as excited to return to my new home in January. I am amazed by the college experience as a whole, and feel so blessed to be a part of this amazing community. I hope you will enjoy reading about my little life here, and I would love your comments and feedback!

May you all be joyful and merry this holiday season. And may you find some music that means something to you.

Fondly,
Leslie Virginia