Aren’t We Special?

No words can begin to explain how lucky I am to have a chance to meet and eat with the most interesting group of people that I have ever met. I am really so grateful to have such a wonderful cohort and chaperone to accompany and go through this process with me.

I felt a connection right when DJ Jen came through the door and greeted us with a smile. I am sure I wasn't the only one who felt that way. We all genuinely laughed till our stomachs hurt, told a whole lot of jokes and just had a blast. I found out more things about people who I thought I pretty much knew already but in reality had just started to find out how unique they really are.

Jenny is the most qualified chaperone and the funnest to be around with. We all talked with each other so comfortably—it was honestly as if we had all been friends for many years.

This is the best experience for a first timer like me, entering the Ivy League Connection Program, because we had an unexplainable bond and I will cherish every moment I spend with my Ivy sisters.

Posted on behalf of Magaly Rodriguez Arreola

Partying with Pupusas!

Today was the day of the meet-up with the lovely Jennifer Gilbert, our chaperon. We all arrived at Oralia's, a Salvatorian restaurant located in El Cerrito. To our surprise, the name of the restaurant did not correspond to the name on the building. This led to many confusions, but in the end it was a new adventure. 

Our main dish was pupusas, Jenny's favorite. This was my first time eating Salvatorian food so I was very excited. The pupusas came out freshly cooked and steaming. I ate the cheese pupusa which melted when I dissected it with my knife and fork. To add more flavor, I added a splash of fresh salsa and that gave the dish the right amount of deliciousness. In the end, I was only able to eat one pupusa but I happily accepted the multiple drinks provided. I mainly consumed the cantaloupe melon drink that had the right amount of sweetness to satisfy me on this hot day. 

Try Out the Savory Salvatorian Pupusas!

During this meet up, I learned a few more things about my cohorts and Jenny. What I learned was how we had a different savory and sweet food. It was quite pleasing to know that we all have a variety of foods that we like to enjoy. This was the right place for us to bond because food brings people together. 

Bonding over Pupusas

Earlier today, I was feeling really nervous about meeting my cohort's chaperon, Jenny. However, as soon as I arrived at Oralia's Kitchen, I realized that I had absolutely no reason to be worried… Jenny is amazing! She really made an effort to connect with all of us individually--not just as a group, and I feel like everyone really appreciated it.  I also had the chance to get to know my cohort better and to find out what we have in common with each other.  

Since I will be missing my 2-week soccer conditioning camp (basically we run sprints for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week), I made plans to go for runs with Jagjeet, to go lap swimming with Thao, and to play soccer with Jenny (as long as it won't be too hot outside). Hopefully, I can convince Maria to teach me how to play basketball! Well, if her knee is up to it… I'm keeping my fingers crossed. 

I have a really good feeling about this group of girls, and I can't wait to go to Brown with them!

A quick selfie with Jenny

Oralia's Kitchen Adventure

Today was the great day to get together with the Brown 2 Cohort and meet our chaperone  At first I was a little uneasy with meeting her but now that I have I am in love with her. Jenny is an amazing person, she is a teacher with a fresh attitude with a real enthusiasm to teach and encourage the students around her. Everyone enjoyed her personality and what she brought to the table; it was also amazing to get to see my cohort once again and to get to know them better. 

Getting to my dinner date with my cohort and chaperone was a little difficult, I drive in El Cerrito constantly and have never heard of Oralia's Kitchen, so I got lost and was ten minutes late. But finally using amazing technology created by mankind (GPS) I found my destination and was welcomed with smiling faces. Meeting with my cohort and chaperone in a casual, comfortable atmosphere and talking about our experiences, wishes and backgrounds has truly got me excited to go to Brown and take full advantage of the opportunity presented to me, listening to some of the backgrounds of my cohort has given me an understanding of the skills I wish to acquire from the Women and Leadership course at Brown. It was amazing meeting my chaperone Jenny and to see my cohort. I cannot wait for the big dinner in San Francisco!

Learning Something New Everyday

Saturday morning was Session 3 and 4's tutorial for managing our blog sites. This is one of my very first blogs for Brown's Women and Leadership blog site. During the tutorial we went over the main points that I should know about blogging in general. We went over inserting pictures, correct formatting for the blog and proofreading our blogs, that everyone will be able to see around the world. That is the most nerve wrecking part, hoping that you do not make a mistake in your blog for the whole world to see and make fun of you, but Saturday's tutorial taught me and assured me that I will not do anything embarrassing in my blogs.

Don making sure I stayed focused.

The tutorial Saturday was very informing and helped me gain a lot more confidence when it comes to my blogging. When I first went into the tutorial I was very tired and anxious for the tutorial to begin. The first half went very quickly and the second half was a little slower but nonetheless it was very informing. I got to meet new people, I had to remember that this was an informational Ivy League Meeting and I was here not to socialize, I was here to learn to blog. This was not that hard to remember with me sitting directly in front of Don and having him stare at me the whole time. 

At the end of the tutorial I felt very comfortable with the idea of blogging and my next task was to go home and blog, and here I am sitting in my room going over all of the basics about blogging that Don taught me. My very first time blogging anything in my life, thanks to the Ivy League Connection and to Don, I am doing something new in my life and so far I am enjoying blogging. 

A Little of This and A Little of That

From Magaly Rodriguez

Hard at work but still sporting a smile

Anxiously waiting for the orientation to begin, I took a seat best where I could see the projection screen at the very front. When all the ILC'ers came, we began with introducing ourselves while Don was distributing two booklets—correction: a fifty pound packet and an almost same second-sized packet so we can follow along while he projected the slideshow on the board. I thought he was just kidding when he said that the presentation was going to last for approximately four hrs, but I guess not. Haha nevertheless, the first hour and a half we talked about our blog. We even had the chance to post practice blogs. We went over the basic things we needed to know like how to upload pictures onto media fire or blogger and what to post or what not to post on the site.

Don noticed this was about the best time to give us a twenty minute break so we could have a chance to process all the information he threw at us and after begin again where we left off. We took this time to get a snack that Don so nicely provided us with and some of us who, throughout the orientation, had a bit too much water, went to use the restroom. Finding the bathroom was a whole other expedition for me because I took more time trying to locate it than actually using it.

We started again with the packets, but the second half of this orientation seemed to go by faster. Perhaps it was because Don gave us more hands on activities to do—we took some sample pictures around the school and he introduced us to a magic cable that you put into the computer so no one will try to steal it whenever we use it in public. A laptop security cable is what he said it was called.......he sure convinced me that I needed to be very careful with my belongings and especially loaned items.

We uploaded a few pictures, downloaded a few more and then the rest was mostly about what to expect when we actually get there. The dorms, chaperones, luggage, expectations, responsibilities, and all that good stuff.

Today was just the beginning of what else is coming our way. I can't wait for the next event.

The Countdown Begins

During this tutorial session, I gained a lot of information about what to expect in the following months. This includes city council meetings, family dinners, school board meetings, and preparations for the trip. Don also explained to us the differences between each of the schools which gave me an idea of what to expect in my dorm. Unfortunately, Brown University is well-known for having the worst dorms with the most unsanitary bathrooms. I am not complaining because I am grateful for having the chance to go to Brown for free thanks to ILC sponsors.

As we were going through the lists of things that we needed to bring, I realized that most of the things were going to be available for us to borrow from Don. In addition to this, those that meet certain qualifications could be paid fifteen dollars a day during their trip. I feel extremely fortunate and relieved to be provided with a lot of support and to not have to worry about paying for anything.

We also had a chance to post up our own pictures on Don's practice blog. Thanks to Don, I got to use his expensive camera to take pictures of De Anza High School.

Every time I go to an ILC meeting, I feel the same adrenaline that I felt when I got accepted to attend the Women and Leadership program at Brown University this summer. It is a bit too early for me to believe that this is truly what is happening.

Even though the path to my summer at Brown has just begun, I understand that my scholarship could be taken away at an instant if I am not a responsible ILCer. I have come too close to an opportunity of a lifetime to lose my scholarship. 

Here are more pictures from today:

Carson Lian in his natural habitat