Author: Marissa Marsh

Since midterms have finished, things have been peaceful— almost a little too peaceful. Midterms were not too stressful for me as I understood most of my classes’ material, excluding one. The time following midterms has me feeling like I’ve begun to find my way in Geneseo. One major thing slipped my mind due to midterms and panicking about finals— registration for next semester! I believe I have found my major, and I’m making my schedule work around that for next semester without having to wake up super early because I am not a morning person. Besides all that, I am doing rather well in my classes, namely this class. 

For various reasons, this semester, Theater Therapy for Veterans has been one of my favorite classes. The main two are that I feel comfortable in the environment of the class, and I understand (and enjoy) the work we do. I have connected with a few of the readings so far, mainly bits and pieces of The Theater of War and 9 Circles. I will not get into detail here, but it is nice seeing you are not alone in what you are going through. I really enjoyed reading 9 Circles because it was overall a compelling piece of literature. I appreciate the effort put into the writing and how it was written in a way that forces you to see both sides of a story. The rest of my time working with peers and Professor Arena in Theater Therapy for Veterans has been delightful. For the last few weeks of this course, I hope to put my all into my final sketch— even though I am nervous about performing it in front of my peers, which is funny because we have been reading aloud for weeks now. As for my other classes, I will continue to put all my effort into these remaining weeks. 

I believe that I will do well throughout the end of this semester— as long as I do not overwhelm myself and continue to pace myself with the work that is left. I have been feeling incredibly nervous about finals week, and I hope to give myself enough time to study for everything. All of my classes are going better than expected— I have mostly A’s and B’s. I continue to encourage myself to study and take the time needed for my work, but it is not easy sometimes. There are a few things I am trying to get done by the end of my first semester here at Geneseo. My hopes are I will be able to keep my grades up even by going home for the holidays and getting out of school mode, and giving myself time to relax so I do not overwhelm myself with studying and schoolwork. Maybe I can get into the classes I have planned for next semester. I’ve consistently reminded myself that even though things are stressful, this is worth it. 

My main concerns are the last two, I think. I have been working on my registration plan for a while, so I am crossing my fingers that I get into the classes I planned out. Lastly, I have been hard on myself for not getting straight A’s and only high 90s to100s on my schoolwork. Then I remember the first semester at college will be difficult because it is a significant change, and sometimes it is hard to adapt, but things will get easier. It is all going to be worth it in the end. No matter how challenging this has been, I can’t help but feel it is bittersweet having my first semester at Geneseo almost over. 

Halfway There  

Hi everybody! Marissa again. I am currently about halfway through my first semester at Geneseo. So far, schoolwork and keeping myself happy and healthy has been a wild ride. I never thought I would make it this far, so being here, not only at Geneseo but at my halfway mark through the first semester, is shocking. It is funny how time flies—it feels like last week it was summer. I was swimming with my brother, helping my grandparents restain their pool deck, and working a shift at the ice cream stand. But here I am. Even this far into school, my grandparents text me every day, making the day a little better. I have yet to be completely comfortable with college, but that makes sense because it is a huge change going from a school with forty-four students in my high school graduating class. People who have mostly the same backgrounds and beliefs, to hundreds of people with a range of backgrounds and beliefs. I just did not expect to need so much time to adjust—especially not to the schoolwork, which I am usually particularly good. 

In my few weeks I realized that college courses are nothing like high school classes. On that note, though, college is not as scary as high school teachers make it out to be, and the professors do not disregard the students but take their time to understand if you reach out and let them know if something is going on. My teachers in high school made it seem like all the professors do not take any excuses whatsoever, you are on your own, and the professors do not really care about their students. From my experience in college, I have to say they were wrong. So far, all my professors have been understanding if something important comes up or if you are sick as long as you take the time to contact them— they realize everyone has things that aren’t planned. Often, the professors hold office hours if you are lost so you can talk to them and get extra help if needed, and to me, it seems like the professors do care about their students, or they would not put the time and effort into doing everything in their power to help us. 

Honestly, my classes are going rather well, and I am enjoying most of them. The studying aspect is still new to me, but I am getting better every day. One of my favorite classes so far has been Theater Therapy for Veterans, and I continue to learn about and relate to the content. In Theater Therapy for Veterans, we read “The Theater of War” by Bryan Doerries. At first, I wondered how I could even begin to relate to veterans and their experiences. Even so, I began to see myself relating somewhat to various characters in the tragedies that were being mentioned. It was helpful to realize that none of us are alone in this life— we all have someone who can either relate to us or will listen to us. That being said, I am ecstatic to see if the rest of the readings are something I can relate to on a personal level.  

By the end of this semester, I expect to see myself grow as a person as well as a student. I firmly believe I can choose a major or, at the very least, have an idea of what major interests me the most. I would also prefer to obtain a better sense of time by the end of the semester. Hopefully, with a clear sense of how long I should be spending on homework every night, studying before tests, along with scheduling a time for going to office hours and review sessions, my confidence in academics will rise, and I will grow less anxious at the thought of doing anything other than schoolwork. 

Welcome to everyone reading this! My name is Marissa Marsh, and I am a first-year student at Geneseo. I am currently an undeclared major, which makes sense if you know me. I grew up in a small town up a hill from Watkins Glen, NY, so adventuring outside was the main activity for my friends and me. Even though I am no artist, I love to paint and have been a soccer player since I was knee-high. I also have two cats I love with my whole heart, Max, and Hank, who are both over 20 pounds, about three feet long, and spoiled like no other. I have found a home away from home in Nassau Hall with my suitemates. Though my crazy four different colored walls with unique designs, the painted door, and random trinkets may not surround me anymore, I have a newfound “family.” Many memories to make here (which will acquire more trinkets), then it will be homier as time goes on.

Geneseo has been on the top of my list for undergraduate school since I first visited two years ago, so you can imagine my excitement when I got my acceptance letter. My first few days here were filled with excitement, nerves, and the overwhelming feeling that college was not for me. All without going to classes yet! I am making friends by meeting and talking to people in my classes, but I am awkward and not great at making friends, so I have been hanging on to my partner (who came here with me) for dear life. I’m loving my classes and feel I am doing well in them. The issue is I am an avid procrastinator, so going from high school, where breezing by without studying and putting off work is easy (for some), to here, where that is not the way to maintain A’s, has been a slap in the face. Other than that and missing family, it’s been good for me to find a place to be myself where I can continue to grow into someone I am proud to be. Having the freedom to do whatever has been exciting. However, with that comes the responsibility of keeping myself fed, hydrated, on top of schoolwork, and getting enough sleep. All while trying to be out of my room as much as possible. It is a juggling act and a lot of work, but knowing once I, hopefully, get a routine down, I know I will thrive in this environment. 

I really love all my classes, though my two favorites are Theater Therapy for Veterans and Geology. Honestly, I had no idea that I would be in Theater Therapy for Veterans, and seeing it on my course schedule was nerve-wracking, as I had no idea what it entailed. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised when I came for the first class. I honestly enjoy the class because it has an amazing vibe; I like the material and my professor. Professor Arena makes me feel welcome and comfortable, which is helpful for liking the course and allowing me to feel like I have someone willing to listen if needed. This course could help me improve in many different areas. I would like to learn about writing clearly and concisely. I feel like I babble in my writing, and this course could help me with that. I would also enjoy learning about theater, as I have always been interested in musical theater but have been too nervous about getting involved. I cannot wait to learn more about veterans because many in my family are, and this course may help me learn more about how to support them and understand them a bit more. I have yet to truly connect to any of the books but appreciate the readings from They Say, I Say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. They have already helped me with essays and other writing, and I know they will help me during this semester and throughout my time in college.