Real World

I start work tomorrow. WOW. They say on average it takes someone 6 months to find a job after college, and I'm starting my  job a week after I graduated! This is where the hashtags come in... #blessed #thankful #hardworkpaysoff

Be confident and take action when a job opportunity comes around. Don't be afraid to negotiate and counteroffer. This being my first job that I've taken, I was unsure if I should negotiate pay. However, after talking to mentors, family, researching negotiation (Thank you, Levo League) and researching the position, I realized it could not hurt. In the end, I received an increase in my pay. 

Once I told my family and friends about the result and me getting a job, they were more excited about me for "asking for more." In the end, I would have been remiss to not make a counteroffer. 

My advisor in college said that she's never seen me nervous. Well, I guess I am a good actress, because I was sweating making the phone call! 

This college grad is off to work tomorrow! 

Thanks for all the well wishes everyone! 

xx

The End is Near

It's bizarre to think that a Conway has been at Aquinas for the past six years, because it seems like only yesterday that I was sticking my tongue out to my brother as he was heading off to a campus far, far away. Little did I know, two years later, that I'd be following in his footsteps, to attend the same far, far away college. 

A pre-graduation photo taken of me in my dress & cap! 

 Senior awards are tomorrow night. Graduation is Saturday. It's all coming to an end. It's the end of an era. 

A lacrosse teammate's mother made this sign
for Liza and I on Senior Day for basketball.
#AQFamily

As I look back on my four years here at Aquinas, I can hesitantly say that I've left my mark. I'm going to miss watching my friend Michael steal second base, standing up, at baseball games, but not nearly as much as I'll miss getting to talk to his parents. I'm going to miss my coach and the Fab 4. I'm going to miss Yesterdog, Schnitz's, my Starbuck's in East Grand Rapids and the friendly bank tellers at Bank of America. Aquinas is a special place. It's going to be weird going a week without seeing Sr. Aquinas, Sr. Ann or Sr. Rosemary. Everyone always complains about Campus Safety ticketing their car, but after four years, I've only ever received one ticket, and I have parked where I'm not supposed to park on too many occasions... so thanks for looking out for the Fusion, Campus Safety. I'm going to miss Wege brunches, the beautiful flowers that bloom every spring on campus, the college stories that never cease to amaze, Homecoming, Regina Hall, the library that's always too hot, the Moosters, the baseball boys, my lacrosse babes, my best friends and my schoolmates. 

Aquinas College Homecoming -  Go Saints!

Aquinas, thank you for an unbelievable four years. Without the education I received here, I would not be able to write a "cold-call" networking email, or get up in front of two hundred people and confidently deliver a speech. We don't give Aquinas the praise it deserves. So, leaving my mark here at Aquinas is one thing, but I can without hesitation say that Aquinas has left it's mark on me, and my entire family.

xx The Graduate

Moving Back Home

In about two weeks, I'll be moving back into my parent's house. My parents are totally fine with this and are encouraging it, but I on the other hand am very apprehensive about it and want to continue my freedom and independence. I mean, hello, I am a college graduate moving back into my childhood room with it's North Carolina blue painted walls, twin sized bed, shelves lined with trophies and every photo I've ever printed out on my ribbon boards. (Thankfully when I was home this past weekend, I prepared my room for the big transition by putting every trophy, medal, photo frame, scrapbook, and old memories into a box.)

I don't know why, but I always feel obliged to show people
a photo of the beautiful high school I attended.

The room congestion aside, the hardest part will not be having my parent's in my personal space, but running into parents, old coaches, friends and old teammates. Other than hanging out with a select few people when I have gone home in the past, I tend to keep a low profile. If I go out, there's a slight chance I'll become "bitter" and extremely negative about seeing everyone I thought I left. This time around, I can't act like this. I can't think about going back to Aquinas, because I am graduating and Aquinas is soon to be in my past.

Sophomore Year Volleyball Pink Out with my friend Jon!

 I can't describe my college friends in a blog post. I could talk for hours about how great a guy Jon is, or how hilarious Liza is, or how caring (once you get to know her) Taelor truly is, or about how serious Abby can be, or about how Rachael is always there for me, or how Mikey brightens up my day, or how forgiving Prince Harry is. In the end, my Aquinas family has been there with me through a tough first semester, six seasons of basketball and lacrosse, an interesting junior year and a fabulous senior year! I grew to who I currently am in front of and with my Aquinas friends. I cherish each and every memory I've made here. I know going back home and leaving my college friends will be hard, but four years ago, I left my high school friends, and wasn't that hard? I'm not sure if I actually was sad to leave all of my high school friends, but I am excited to catch up with them, maintain friendships with my AQ Saints and continue to make new friends each and every place I go. 

Moving back home won't be that bad. I don't have any ex-boyfriends (PHEWF!) that I'll run into... but there will be old coaches, and teachers, and high school classmates who's names I've forgotten, and... and... and...  Oh well, at least my rent is free!  

A group of my high school gang after a friend's graduation party! 

xx

In Light of the Meteor Shower Tonight

If you're every lying on a beach with 80 billion grains of sand beneath you,

700 thousand ocean waves before you,

60 million stars stretched out above you,

And you're still not at all impressed,

I want you to think about this:

The light you see reflecting from the stars is over one million years old.

Wow.

But then, just before you start to feel,

like a mere blip in the gigantic scheme of things,

please remember this:

Yes, you are small, but you're also irreplaceable,

and invaluable,

and miraculous.

Those stars don't have anything on you.

_____________

I don't know who wrote this poem, but a swim coach I idolized when I was a child gave this to me for my 11th birthday. I have had it on my desk ever since and I used to rehearse it every morning when I was getting ready for school. Just remember - whether it is a boy you're going up against in the final round of lightning, a classmate you're up against for a debate or the thousands of applicants applying for the same position as you - you have your own unique characteristics to bring to the table and don't let anything intimidate you, not even a sky full of stars.

"No one can make you feel inferior

 without your consent" - Eleanor Roosevelt

xx

What I've Learned, Part 1

College is the place where you find your bridesmaids and never miss a fraternity's party, right? Well, thankfully for me I only want 2 people in my wedding party and that Aquinas does not have Greek life. 

1. Patience - I am a very impatient person, and I used to be a lot worse. I tend to be impatient about a lot of things, including my love life, teaching my mother something new on the computer, the offense progressing, shopping, and lastly, school work. Seriously, I was that student that if I could not grasp a concept or solve a problem my first two times trying, I would move on/skip/pretend/guess it. I am not sure when the revelation occurred, but I have become much more patient when doing school work. I will re-read directions, take a deep breath and figure out the assignment I am doing. I look back and think about all the times I "gave up" on an assignment or theory because I was too impatient and antsy to sit down and solve it, and I think about how much more I could know (or about how much better my GPA could be...). But hey, at least I figured this personal issue out before I started graduate school and a full time job.
2. Events on campus - Aquinas is a small college, with 2500 students enrolled. However, Aquinas offers so much on campus in terms of resume builders, student events, athletic event, arts & music shows, community service opportunities, religious retreats and much, much more. I have realized that over my four years of college that although I have attended many more events than my fellow classmates, I have not attended enough to satisfy me. Being at Aquinas, I want to pass on to the other Saints that it is okay to attend a basketball game alone, or head to a baseball game with a group of friends even if you don't know anyone on the team, or even to a senior's clarinet recital that you haven't talked to since freshman year, or to organize a group of your friends to go cleanup a park on a Saturday morning. Aquinas has so much to offer and we barely take advantage of anything. I have really been living it up at Aquinas this last semester, trying to fit everything in, even if I have to go to events alone. I want to take this mindset into the real world with me to make sure I sign up for a volunteer association, to attend happy hours that are organized by a fellow young professional, to step out of my comfort zone and sign-up for a recreational basketball league. I want to make the most out of my life, and I want each one of you to make the most out of your college experience, especially if you attend Aquinas. In the end, attending the Career and Counseling Services workshops and participating in CAVA's Clean the Streets service activity will totally be worth it.
3. Go out - I am not advocating to go out every night, but rather once a week or when you have the time to. I understand how academically challenging college can be, but learn to prioritize. I have found that if you want to go to the "Jersey Party" on a Saturday night, but have a three chapter exam on Monday, to study during the day on Saturday, rather than at night. Whenever I have stayed in on a Saturday night (Yes, I know... hard to believe me being so popular and all) it defeats the purpose because I am unproductive and wish I was out and about wearing my Kobe Bryant throwback jersey like the rest of my friends. I am by no means saying to go out every single night of the week, but if you learn to have balance in your social and academic life, you will enjoy life as a whole more. 

   

   My family and I on my brother's
    graduation day just two years ago! 

   4. Drink coffee - I still can't stand the smell of coffee, or the taste of black coffee, but I am thankful for the energy and life coffee has given me when I have been near death. I think this coincides with my patience post and being determined in getting the job done, but coffee has come in clutch this past year when the only thing on my mind is taking a nap. Oh, learn how to make coffee because it will save you a ton of money rather than heading to Starbucks like me whenever I crave it. 

Think of college as a marathon... not a race

xx

Lilly Pulitzer

The brand Lilly Pulitzer will always fashion inspiration. 

Rest in peace Ms. Pulitzer!

.

xx

Senior Days

Senior Days are always emotional for each athlete, family and teammates. You want to send your teammates out in style, as a senior, you want to play your best game to date on Senior Day, and as a parent your emotions are ________. (I'll let you know...) Today was the AQ Women's Lacrosse Senior Day, and I was so excited to see two of my housemates, and two of my former teammates get recognized for all of their accomplishments. I played lacrosse my first two years at Aquinas, and have been the team's statistician my final two years. Although I am not technically on the roster, I love the lacrosse team as if it was my own. I feel as if these girls are genuine, fun and competitors. Lastly, the lacrosse team's parents are phenomenal... I could go on and on about the Terebinski's, McCarty's, Flewelling's, Roger's, Barrett's, Morrow's, etc., etc., etc. On every team there is drama, but at the end of the day, it's all about being able to put it behind you and compete.

The AQWLax Team photo at half time of the game today!

The girls presented me with flowers and a gift card
for keeping stats for team. 

Don't get me wrong, I loved playing basketball at Aquinas, but the team's cohesiveness this past season was not something I was fond of. Actually, it irritated me and kept me up on numerous nights because I could not figure out how to get us all to click and be happy. However, I was extremely pumped and motivated on my Senior Day, because my best friend, Ben, was coming to my game and he hadn't seen me play since high school. My parents and brother were also coming. A lot of AQ friends were there as well, including my brother's old housemates, my housemates and other parents that I've bonded with throughout the years at AQ (Yes, the Terebinski's made it!!). Senior Day for basketball was a "win or go home" game. We ended up losing 81-75, but I was most happy that my team for the first time in what seemed like forever went out leaving it all on the floor. We finally competed and hustled after every loose ball. Personally, I just wanted to play like the old Clare used to play; reckless, tough and mean. Thankfully, I did, at least in the second half. Although we did not win the game, I was content to finish the game without any regrets, and I made my last shot (...Something I told myself I HAD to do. I did it in high school too!)

Senior Day with my parents and coaches

I was blessed to be able to play basketball for all four years in college. Now, I came in with four girls, Liza, Karp & Tae and in typical girls basketball fashion, all three have hurt their ACL's. Karp & Tae redshirted their senior season, but will be back next year for redemption.  I was blessed to have never seriously hurt myself in 16 years of playing basketball (one serious sprained ankle during the summer was it!) I was blessed to have the BEST parents, who never said a negative thing to the AQWBB coaching staff. I was blessed to have my parents, family, and friends at so many games that it added as an extra inspiration to play harder. Lastly, I was blessed to make my best friend, Liza. These four years of college would have been dreadful and uneventful without her by my side. So, thank you Coach Nash for bringing Liza and I into the women's basketball program because at the end of the day, playing four years of basketball was worth it. 

The Original Four at Nationals, 2010!

The Original Four, Senior Day, 2013!

When it's time for your senior day, or your last hurrah at whatever it may be, go out on top and end on a make because it will make the end bearable. Thank you, Aquinas College family for making my four years here better than what I could have ever expected. 

xx