Happy May, sweet friends! I am so grateful that we have finally transitioned fully into warm Spring weather, surrounded by bright flowers and lots of sunshine. It also just happens that April is my birthday month — I turned 20 on April 22nd!
This month, I set goals for myself so that I could stay on track and make the most out of this month. I also encouraged you to set intentions of your own — so if you did, now is the time to look back at your progress! Give yourself a big hug for making it this far and working hard on your dreams.
As always, I am going to be talking a bit about the things that made me smile throughout this month — the music, academics, fitness, memories, and everything in between!
Music
It should come to no surprise to my loyal readers that I made a monthly Spotify playlist entitled APR19, which consists of all the songs that I had stuck in my head during the month of April.
This month, the majority of the songs I listened to were throwbacks from the 1970’s. The reason for this? I took a yoga class a few weeks ago that was 70’s-themed! The music of Jim Croce and Elton John is very reminiscent of Spring to me, so it was perfect for transitioning into warmer weather and sunnier days.
Here’s my top 10 favorite songs from my April playlist:
- Sunshine on my Shoulders — John Denver
- Livin’ Thing — Electric Light Orchestra
- One of These Nights — Eagles
- Turn to Stone — Electric Light Orchestra
- Rocket Man — Elton John
- Operator — Jim Croce
- Vincent — Don McLean
- The Chain — Fleetwood Mac
- Care of Cell 44 — The Zombies
- Honeymoon with B Troop — 10cc
The 1970’s obsession doesn’t stop there, folks. I made a hippie 19 playlist full of relaxing, acoustic songs from the 1970’s that are perfect for starting a lazy day, unwinding at the end of a long day, or even for practicing yoga. Here are some of my favorites from that playlist:
- Leader of the Band — Dan Fogelberg
- You’ve Got a Friend — James Taylor
- Lena — Art Garfunkel
- If You Could Read My Mind — Gordon Lightfoot
- Longer — Dan Fogelberg
Side note: My little (Ann Duke) and I have been obsessed with the new song “Old Town Road – Remix” by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus. It’s so catchy and a bit ridiculous. Ann and I had it on repeat the entire weekend of Tri Delta formal and memorized all of the words.
Academics
Very early this month, I was inducted into Psi Chi, the International Psychology Honor Society. I am very excited to be a part of this prestigious organization, as it will open many doors for me in the field of psychology.
I also had a bunch of exams and papers due during the latter half of April, signaling that the end of the semester is quickly approaching us. Despite the fact that the majority of these exams and assignments were in the span of about 3 days, I think I did really well on all of them! All with the help of google calendar, coffee, and a positive mindset.
My favorite assignment this month was a presentation that I was instructed to give in my upper-level elective psychology class, called Motivation and Emotion. My partner and I decided to tackle the topics of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation, specifically through the lens of a William & Mary student.
Since the professor wanted us to include media on the slides to make it more interesting, I decided to add Spongebob Squarepants gifs that appropriately explain each of the psychological concepts we discussed. We got really into it — and the professor and our classmates seemed to really enjoy it as we presented!
I have recently recognized the importance of maintaining balance in one’s academic life. For example, I make sure to do about half of my studying with friends or in a social setting because I know that it helps me stay positive and reduce stress. Drinking coffee and playing music while I study also makes keep studying a bit more enjoyable.
I have also been scheduling study breaks throughout the day (e.g., coffee with friends, yoga class at the rec, etc.). Doing so ensures that the time that I actually spend studying is efficient and productive. It also allows my brain to rest and absorb the content I have been shoving in all day.
Yoga
During the month of April, I have started practicing yoga at the W&M Recreation Center, as well as the new Health & Wellness Center! I have found that yoga is an incredible way to release stress and worry from the week and start fresh.
Yoga simultaneously inhibits the sympathetic nervous system (our fight or flight reflex) and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (our rest and digest processes). This is why practicing Yoga proves to be so helpful for those who deal with stress daily.
As you might remember from my april goals post, I actually applied to the Shanti Garudasana Yoga instructor training program through W&M early this month. After an interview and an audition class, I was accepted and given a scholarship! The program starts in September and meets for a whole weekend once a month, for six months.
I am so incredibly excited and grateful for this opportunity, as it will give me so much knowledge and insight regarding the history and anatomy of Yoga. I will also have the privilege to guide others in their Yoga practice, helping them release tension from the week and start fresh into the next one with an open mind and heart.
I am happy to say that I have been very good about keeping up with the goal that I set at the beginning of the month, which was to take at least 3 yoga classes per week. Even though part of me wanted to isolate myself during my hardest exam week and do nothing but study, I kept scheduling yoga classes.
Doing so significantly decreased my overall level of stress. I put my mental and emotional health before academic success and in doing so, my performance actually improved.
Food/Drinks
As you all know, I recently became obsessed with a drink called the “London Fog,” which is basically an Earl Grey tea latte. I recently overheard someone in Swemromas ordering an iced blackberry London fog — and it was my favorite shade of light pink, so I knew I had to try it!
It’s light, refreshing, and very Spring-y. I definitely recommend ordering this next time you’re at an Aromas.
Movies/TV
I recently started rewatching my favorite TV show ever, Twin Peaks. It’s a 1980’s/90’s murder mystery horror drama with comedic elements. I definitely recommend that everyone watches this incredibly well-constructed, quirky show.
Memories
I made a lot really wonderful memories with my friends in April. It just seems that every month that passes by gets better and better! Here are some of the most memorable events from my April.
On April 5th, Tri Delta hosted Delta House of Pancakes, our Spring philanthropy event to raise money and awareness for St. Jude Children Research Hospital. My sisters and I cut fruit, made pancakes, and danced around all day and it was an overall wonderful experience. (Plus, we raised a couple more thousand dollars for St. Jude!)
That Saturday while I was practically living in Swem, my friend/super-talented photographer Shreyas asked me if I wanted to do a quick photoshoot later that day. Of course, I said yes! We trekked all around Williamsburg looking for great locations to shoot at and ended up with some really cool pictures.
All of the following pictures were shot and edited by Shreyas Kumar.
April 12th was Tri Delta’s Senior Spring Formal, so of course I got dressed up and went with my sisters. My big, Aly, even came down to Williamsburg just to come to formal — such a treat!
On the 20th, William & Mary’s sustainability committee hosted an early Earth Day festival, which I attended with my best friend, Ky. It was an incredibly beautiful, warm and sunny day that could not have been more perfect for the occasion. I started out the day with some outdoor yoga at the Wellness Center. Then, Ky and I went to a butterfly garden and sunbathed on the grass. It was a wonderful day to be connected to the beautiful world — and people — around us.
The next morning, I dragged her to brunch at First Watch with me because she had never been before. I had the yummiest Smoked Salmon Tzatziki Toast and she had a Banh Mi-esque breakfast bowl. I have a feeling we’ll be back soon.
When I wasn’t studying for exams, April was dedicated to spending time with old friends — and meeting new ones! I am so grateful for the people that I have gotten to know throughout the past month and sincerely hope to continue to develop these relationships.
I’m a huge extrovert. I thrive and flourish around people — whether it’s partying with my best friends, studying with my classmates, or meeting new friends for lunch. I have realized the importance of surrounding myself with others, because I had previously neglected it. This is a lesson that I am so blessed to have learned and will certainly never forget.
the moore the merrier 