December 2007
Christmas is in the Air
 
As Christ’s glorious birthday approaches, my schoolmates and I dig deep into the trenches of our minds in attempts to retrieve all the information we have learned over the last three and a half months.  As I look back on the academics of this semester, from endocrine pathways to Catholic politicians to the debate over the morality of health care policy, it’s funny to note that one really does acquire quite a bit of novel knowledge every semester, whether or not the class falls within a field of interest.  These past four years are coming to a close quickly and at the same time have been quite a fascinating and stimulating journey, I must say. 
 
I can’t believe how busy and exciting my November was!  The highlights of the laundry list of last month’s activities were: a Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Concert at Kleinhan’s Music Hall, a health care lecture on campus, the annual semi-formal dance, my apartment-mates and I participating in College Bowl, Thanksgiving break, induction of new DiGamma service honor society members, Christmas in the Quad, and a trip up to Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada.  In addition to all this excitement, I found out that I received an internship, which will begin next semester, at a health savings account management company, which is incredibly thrilling.
Kevin Field '08, DiGamma Service Honor Society Student Master, and I at the new inductee tapping ceremony.

Final exam week is an exciting, necessary, yet sometimes stressful time of each semester.  This semester I ended up having to take five final exams – which is somewhat typical of most science majors.  The number of exams each student carries during exam week varies, from one all the way to six.  Some are even lucky enough to have all their exams fall on Monday or Tuesday, thus leaving the rest of the week to do whatever one pleases or simply head home for Christmas break.  Although, as the semester draws to an end one begins to feel a great sense of accomplishment, especially when one realizes how much they have achieved in a mere four months.
 
Christmas break is always a nice reprieve from the grind of classes and extracurricular activities while also a time to reconnect with friends, family, and old classmates.  Unlike in high school where most schools gave only a week or two for Christmas break, the majority of colleges and universities, including Canisius, grant about a month off.  This year our
break begins on December 15th and classes begin again on January 14th.  During this month I will be flying home to Colorado Springs for two and a half weeks, going to New York City for the Campus Ministry-sponsored Winter Service Week, and spending time with friends and family.
 
As we leave Canisius for a month and embark on the warmth and familiarity of our homes the campus takes on a certain stillness that is characterized by the official beginning of winter in Buffalo.  The cold weather of the next few months sets in, but only to greet us again with warm, familiar and fresh faces at the beginning of the spring semester.  This next, final undergraduate, semester should be a fun and exciting one, especially with the news of graduate schools and job opportunities popping up for the seniors.  I write this journal entry in the midst of final exam week, therefore I must bid you adieu and wish you a safe, joyous, peaceful, and very merry Christmas! See you next year!
 
Shawn's September 2007 Journal
Shawn's October 2007 Journal
Shawn's November 2007 Journal