My Quest for the “101 Things to Do Before You Graduate”

Back in September at Seventeen Again (a celebration of our 17th day of class held by the Orientation staff, where we got free root beer floats and collectible orientation cups. And if you could do the cup song, the free T-shirt is yours to take as well), we each got a poster of "101 Things to Do Before You Graduate." I have had it posted up on the wardrobe in my room, and now that I have been here at Rochester for more than two months already, I figured out that it is a good time to see how many items on the list I have completed, in one way or another. So here are the few that I have accomplished/come close to accomplishing.

18. Infiltrate an engineering student social
Well, I am on the track of pursuing a mechanical engineering degree, so this was easy for me. Engineering student socials (e-socials) are an opportunity for engineering students to check out different events going on in Hajim School, hang out and socialize with faculty and staff in an informal and casual setting, and, best of all, get free (good) food and drinks. I attended the first e-social back in September, where I learned about and signed up for the various engineering student groups.

27. Join Wegmans Shoppers Club
Wegmans is heaven for food-lovers like me. For those who are unfamiliar with Wegmans, it is a classy grocery store. You can find all the groceries that a normal store sells in Wegmans, but on top of that, they also sell delicious cooked food, sushi, organic food, and much more. And the bakery is beyond amazing; they have the best cupcakes! (They also made adorable minion cupcakes.) There are buses that run between the River Campus and Pittsford Plaza (where one Wegmans is located) on a regular basis.

52. Watch a game, drink beer, and eat wings at the Distillery
Okay, I did not watch a game and drink beer at the Distillery (I am still 18, so no alcohol for me), but the Distillery is so awesome that I want to write about it. I walked over to the Distillery to grab lunch with my hall-mates some time ago. It took us around 15 to 20 minutes to walk from campus to the Distillery, but the food they offer is really good so it is definitely worth the distance. The Distillery accepts URos (the flexible spending account of each student) as well. What's better than not needing to spend cash when you eat out?

62. Volunteer in the City of Rochester
I don't know if this counts, but on Wilson Day (the annual community service day for incoming students hosted by the University), I went on a trip to a Girl Guide Campsite close to Ontario County and helped paint the doors. It was the first time I actually painted, so it was a new experience for me. Although most of us were really tired at the end of the day, we still had a great time serving the community and bonding with each other.

71. Attend the keynote lectures at Meliora Weekend
In October, I attended the keynote address at Meliora Weekend as a volunteer. Robert Gates, former secretary of defense and director of the CIA, delivered a speech on the recent government shutdown, national security issues, and terrorism.

87. Get really involved with a club, sport, fraternity, sorority, or student organization
The one student organization that I have been actively involved in for now is Mini Baja. I traveled to Charlestown, Indiana with the team last month for a small competition. I had loads of fun then, and now I usually spend my weekend in the Baja workshop working on this year's car. I am not going to write long about Baja here, but if you want to know more about what Baja is all about, go check out Ty's blog.

90. Take a test where the mean is 23 out of 150
I haven't come across a test where the mean is 23 out of 150 yet, but I did take an exam where the median is around 50 (forgot the exact score) out of 100. . . . College is indeed a lot different from high school.

92. Find the old pool full of desks in Spurrier Gym
My friends and I attempted, but we failed. The entrance to the pool was locked, and the windows were shut tight. I could only hope for better luck next time! : (

So this marks of the end of my list of accomplished tasks. Stay tuned for the progress of my quest!