Senior Year at Fordham!

Fordham has a Senior Week Committee who is responsible for hosting many different events for seniors over the course of the year to celebrate our last year here together. One of their signature events are the monthly Senior Nights, which are themed nights, hosted in the McGinley Student Center with a DJ, food, and drinks. So far this year, we have had four Senior Nights: Childhood Dream Jobs, Party in the USA, the (Senior) Night Before Christmas, and Mardi Gras Masquerade for 100 Nights until graduation. These are very fun nights because you have to get creative with your outfits!

In addition to Senior Nights, the Senior Week Committee hosts a number of events called the Check it Off Series. These events are focused on helping Seniors transition from college to the real world by having speakers talk about “real life skills.” Some examples of events this year are: Healthy Cooking, Navigating the Cocktail Party, Financial Planning, and Apartment Hunting. These events teach seniors skills that we don’t necessarily learn directly in a class, but will need as we start living and working on our own.

The highlight of the Senior Week Committee is Senior Week (the week leading up to graduation). All the underclassmen have moved out and finals are over, so there are events everyday to celebrate our last week at Fordham together as a Senior Class. The two biggest events of the week are Senior Ball and Parents Appreciation Dinner Dance. Senior Ball is essentially the college version of prom and this year it will be hosted at Cipriani 42. Parents Appreciation Dinner Dance (PADD) is the night before graduation. It is when students and parents all get together on campus for dinner and dancing under a tent on Martyr’s Lawn. Fordham definitely appreciates its seniors and wants to make sure we celebrate our accomplishments of our four years throughout our last year!

Senior Nights at Rose Hill!

My past three years at Fordham have flown by, and it is crazy to think that I will be graduating in a matter of months. As scary as that thought can be, there are certainly some huge perks that come with senior year at Fordham.  In my opinion, one of the best things about senior year here at Fordham is the opportunity to attend Senior Nights! 

Senior Nights are events that happen once every month, the senior class gathers in the McGinley Ballroom to enjoy music, snacks, dancing and more! Each Senior Night has a different theme. The first occurred in October and the theme was childhood dream job. Classmates dressed up as everything from ballerinas, to doctors and vets, basketball players, astronauts and just about everything in between! The second night recently took place in November with the theme of Party in the USA! There was red, white and blue in abundance, with special guest appearances from Abe Lincoln and friends! 

Making our childhood dreams a reality! 

Party in the USA!

Senior Nights are organized by the Campus Activities Board (CAB). They do an amazing job of putting everything together and making sure the seniors can have an amazing time with their class before graduation! These nights are definitely something that I have looked forward to since freshman year at Fordham and I can't to see what next month's theme will be because I know it is bound to be a great time! 

Senior Spotlight: Maureen McKenna

     Name: Maureen McKenna        

     Hometown: Parlin, NJ

     Major: Psychology, Sociology minor

     Graduation date: May 2015

     Why did you choose Fordham?

Fordham was the first school I fell in love with because it was so beautiful! As soon as I stepped onto the campus my junior year of high school I knew this was where I wanted to be. Fordham reminded me so much of home and I love that I am so close to the city! There are definitely so many opportunities available here because of the location.

     What clubs/organizations/internships have you been involved in? What has been your favorite experience?

      I am a member of the Varsity Swim Team where I have competed for the last 4 years. Since I am going into education, I have also been able to do a lot of volunteer experiences at different schools throughout the city. I have been a volunteer for Jumpstart for 2 years which is one of my favorite things to do. Jumpstart is a non-profit organization that partners with preschools in low income areas and trains college students to help children prepare for kindergarten. Twice a week for 2 hours each day my team and I go into the preschool classroom and read to the students, assist them with their writing skills, and do a bunch of other fun activities. It is so rewarding seeing how much we can impact the lives of the students! In addition to Jumpstart, I have also volunteered at PS 205, PS 54, Harry Gordon School, and the Bronx Charter School which are all in walking distance from Rose Hill. Currently, I volunteer at the Rebecca School for students with special needs in Manhattan. I love that I have been able to volunteer in a variety of different schools because it is really fascinating to see how their learning experiences differ from my own. It is always nice to be able to help children who need the most support.

     What do you think is the best resource available to students on campus?

      The Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice- I have found so many opportunities to become involved in the community, especially in the field of education.

     What is your favorite personal memory at Fordham?

I don’t think I have any specific memories, but I always love when my friends and I explore the city. We always try to go to the city on the weekends to eat, shop, or just walk around. The city is the perfect get-away from school work and there is always something new to do!

     Where is your favorite place to hang out at Fordham or in NYC?

Any restaurant on Arthur Ave! There is so much delicious Italian food around here!

     What are your plans/goals/aspirations for post-graduation?

     I am enrolled in the 5-Year Education Track at Fordham so this year I was able to integrate 4 graduate level courses into my schedule. I will finish next year at Lincoln Center with my Masters in Elementary Education and Special Education. Hopefully after next year I will be teaching somewhere in the city! 

Top Ten Differences from being a Freshman to being an Upperclassman

 1.  You are able to choose you schedule

Coming in to Fordham as a freshman your schedule is handed to you. However, after that, you are able to choose your own schedule. This is a great way to take classes that interest you and plan a schedule that fits your daily routine. If you are a morning person, like me, you can choose to sign up for all of the 8:30s!

2. You take classes at the Lincoln Center Campus

Whether its because a course is only offered down at Lincoln Center or because you just want to get into the city for classes and have an excuse to venture into the city, as an upperclassmen you may find yourself taking classes down at Lincoln Center. I am currently taking a graduate Geometry course at Lincoln Center on Wednesday nights and it’s a great change of pace and its, surprisingly, great being able to get into the city at least once a week.

3. Your dorm style changes, if you are living on campus.

For those who choose to live on campus, as a freshman you will live in a single room dorm in either a double or a triple. The bathroom, at least in most of the residence halls, will be communal. Not to worry, this is how you will, surprisingly enough, meet most of your friends freshman year! As a sophomore you will once again live in a double or triple with an added bonus of the bathroom being in your room. Finally, as a junior or senior you will have the opportunity to live in an apartment style dorm which includes a living area, a kitchen, bathroom and single or double rooms.

4. The number of classes that you are required to take decreases

Once you become a junior, you are only required to take four classes whereas underclassmen are required to take five. The reasoning behind this is that students, in their junior and senior years should be getting internships and volunteer opportunities to prepare them for life after Fordham. Since  I want to be  a teacher, I currently volunteer by tutoring girls at the Rosedale Center in the Bronx.

5. You begin to take more classes for your major

In my personal experience, as I advanced through Fordham I slowly began to take more classes per semester that applied to my major than to the standard core. I am a math major and last semester all four of my classes were math classes!

6. You take on leadership roles within clubs and organizations

The clubs and organizations that you choose to join freshman year will play a big role in shaping your Fordham experience. For this reason, while you may just be a general member during your freshman and even sophomore years, as you become a junior or senior you may take on E-board (Executive Board) positions and hold more responsibility. I am not the Club Liiason of the Polish Club which I have been involved with since my freshman year.

7. You realize that office hours are the best resource around, and they are actually very helpful

As an underclassman I always hesitated to go to my professors office hours. However, after being here for three years,  I now go to at least one office hour, practically every day.

8. You become more focused on the future

As graduation approaches, you begin to think more about your plans for the future. I am currently working on graduate school applications to get my masters in Secondary Education.

My friends and I as underclassmen. 

9. You know your way around Arthur Avenue, the Bronx, and NYC more.

Once you become an upperclassmen you begin to know the best pizza place, the best restaurant on Arthur Avenue, the cheapest place to get groceries and the best places to hangout with friends. Additionally, all of your trips into the city as a freshman make you a master at the subways and cool things to do in the city.

10. You know the ropes

As a freshman everything is new and exciting. You are exploring where your classes are, what your professors are like, who you will be friends with, what clubs and activities you will become involved in and what you will do on the weekends. As an upperclassman you have been able to get settled in and can now enjoy all that Fordham has to offer, and believe me, from experience, it has a lot to offer!

Still great friends as upperclassmen! 

With all of this said, not everything changes as you move from being an underclassman to an upperclassman. For me, while all of these changes were taking place the one thing that did not change was my group of friends. I am glad that I have been able to share all of my experiences with them! 

Senior Spotlight: Savannah Coe

Swimming and Diving Headshot

Name: Savannah Coe

Hometown: Auburn, WA

Major: Biology and Psychology

Graduation date: May 2015

Why did you choose Fordham? During my senior year of high school, I was recruited by Fordham to join the Fordham Women’s Swim and Dive team. I had never even been out to the East Coast before, so the idea of moving 3000 miles away from home was a little daunting. But when I came to visit Fordham the campus was so beautiful and the school was what I wanted both academically and athletically that I decided this was the right school for me.

What clubs/organizations/internships have you been involved in? What has been your favorite experience? During the last four years I have volunteered at Montefiore Children’s Hospital, St. Barnabas Hospital, and the Bronx AIDS Society. I also helped perform genetics research at the Botanical Gardens. However, my favorite experience has been as a member of Peer Health Exchange (PHE). PHE members are trained to teach workshops about various health topics to ninth graders in the local public high schools. I joined the club my sophomore year and have worked my way up to become one of the leaders this year. It is really rewarding to teach a class when the students are engaged and you can tell that they are really soaking in all of the information. Plus, it is a great way to travel around the Bronx and see different areas.

Spring weekend: music, friends, and food!

What do you think is the best resource available to students on campus? I think career services is one of the best resources available to students on campus.

What is your favorite personal memory at Fordham? One of the best weekends at Fordham every year is spring weekend. My sophomore year was especially good because we had great weather and on Saturday Andy Grammer and Grouplove had great performances. Who doesn’t love a weekend full of concerts and free food?!

Where is your favorite place to hang out at Fordham or in NYC? It may be a cliché, but I love hanging out in Central Park when I have some free time to relax. Generally that only really happens in the summer, but it is a great place to workout, relax, or escape the noise of the city.

What are your plans/goals/aspirations for post-graduation? My plans are to attend medical school, but right now I am still waiting for acceptances so I’m keeping my fingers crossed! 

Senior Nights

It's hard to believe how quickly the past three years have flown by whenever I think about this being my last year at Fordham.

But not to fear! Being a Senior at Fordham has its perks!

About once a month, Fordham hosts a Senior Night on campus for all the students in that year's graduating class.  Each event has a specific theme, and students are encouraged to create costumes that showcase that theme.  It's a great opportunity to be creative, have some fun, and enjoy the company of your fellow classmates!

A lawyer, an electrician, a baker, a flamenco dancer, a flight attendant,
a scientist, and a teacher head to their first Senior Night!

In October, the first Senior Night for the class of 2015 was held, with the theme of "Childhood Dream Job."  People dressed up as doctors, ballerinas, chefs, teachers, athletes, police officers, and everything in between!

November's scheduled event is themed "90s," encouraging attendees to dress up as a character, celebrity, or anything related to the 1990s.  In past years, other themes have included "The Name Game (dress as something from the first letter of your name), Safari, and 100 Nights (celebrating 100 nights until Graduation).  Students anxiously await the announcement for the next event's theme, so they can start planning their next set of costumes!

Being a Senior at Fordham

As Senior Year started, pretty much the only questions I got from family, family friends and random strangers was “wow you’re a senior, what are you going to do post graduation?” I hate getting this question as much as everyone else does. It puts us on the spot to declare a course of action for the rest of our lives. It also erases the importance of this year as just time spent planning for something else and puts a preemptive end to our time as college students. 

Luckily Fordham has helped me strike a balance. By living so close to New York City, I get to intern three days a week at the French Investment Bank where I worked this summer. My advisor even helped me work my schedule so I can have all my classes packed into two days. I love my internship. I love the people I work with, I love my boss and I love the work I do there.  I find every day I go into the office to be exciting and challenging, and gives me a chance to perform at my absolute best.

 But at the same time, Fordham has shaped our senior year to be one of continuous growth. I’m taking a values seminar, a capstone course that takes an interdisciplinary look at different issues and I’m going to senior night, where my entire class dresses up like what our child selves wanted to be “when we grew up”. 

 All of this is a great way to “grow up” this year. I am excited for the future, I feel happy that I have found a career path that I love and look forward to doing every day. But I am also excited for the now. I am excited for dinners in the city with friends, snowball fights on Eddies and for continuing to learn and grow into the person I will be when I put on my cap and gown on that distant day in May. Fordham isn’t done with me yet and I’m not done with Fordham. Fordham has taught me that every day is a chance to learn something new. And continuing to learn is exactly what I intend to do post graduation.