25

Hi everyone!

Happy beginning to the week! Just like any other year, we have finally reached the point where everything is getting kind of crazy. This last weekend, the senior class went on the senior retreat, Metanoia, which was by far my favorite retreat I have done at St. Mary's over my four years. Without indulging any information (because the secrecy around it is the best part), I can for sure tell you that it was an amazing experience after which I felt way closer to the girls around me.

Other than the retreat happening, two big things are wrapping up for me in school. As a part of my AP Lit class, we have to do a World Literature project where we read a book from somewhere in the world, during a time period, etc. I chose a pretty niche subject of Irish crime fiction, reading Declan Hughes' The Wrong Kind of Blood. It was a really good book, and researching the tragic history that led to Ireland's high poverty rate was a sad but interesting experience. Moving forward, I am supposed to give a presentation to my class to finish off the course, and I am really excited to share the message Hughes was trying to portray with the rest of my class. On the other spectrum of subjects, my SRM project is beginning to wrap up with my last log sheet for hours due next week. On May 24, there will be a night where everyone in SRM presents their posters and Powerpoints regarding the research that they participated in - and once again I am very excited to share my experiences in the lab and working with OHSU with everyone I know.

Overall, though, I really only have a few big traditional milestones left. I turned eighteen a couple weeks ago, Prom is soon, and then Graduation! Someone counted and we only have 25 actual school days left before we graduate, which seems ridiculous. The fact that my four years here at SMA have passed by so quickly freaks me out every time I think about it - I am definitely cherishing the time that I have left with those around me. :)

See you next time,
Bryn '17