So Here's the Plan...

This evening, the Ivy League Connection students were attending an orientation regarding the plans for our trips this summer. As usual, being punctual was my main priority, so after nagging my mom to hustle it up, I left my house to head over to Pinole Middle School.  As soon as my car rolled around the corner of the entrance, I could make out the other ILCers signing in and entering the multi-purpose room.

The ILCers and their parents attentive to the orientation.

After signing in and greeting familiar faces, we got settled down as Don picked up the mic to address us. Don spoke about how After his brief but effective speech, Madeline Kronenberg let us know she had to leave early in order to attend a graduation, but that this meeting was the time to ask questions, and to really get to know about our trips and what's expected. Next, Don called the chaperones up to say their words. Each chaperone stated who they were, what school they were chaperoning, what universities their cohort was visiting, and more. Afterwards, Don gave us the okay to break into our individual cohort to discuss their own travel plans.

Ms. Neal talking about chaperoning the Brown cohort.

As everyone broke out into their groups, the Brown University ladies and our family members shuffled over the our own table, where Ms. Neal, our lovely chaperone, was gathering the supplies, ready to hand us out some forms. She gave us our tentative itineraries, which included when we would be leaving, the course dates, and our tour visits to Harvard, Yale, and Wellesley. She told us about how the dorm situation was going to work, what our dining hall would provide for us, and more important details regarding our stay in Rhode Island. Adrianne Ramsey, an ILC alum who attended the Women & Leadership course at Brown just like me, gave us a lot of valuable information on what life was like on the Brown campus, what the Women & Leadership course looked like, and what visiting Providence was like. Her words gave way for even more excitement to be going to Brown this summer!

As the cohorts reunited once again, Don went up to speak once more. Now he would be going over what to pack, how to pack, and what items were up for loan. For this part of the orientation, I had to take out my notepad in order to remember Don's tips regarding travel and luggage. On one hand, Don was emphasizing the need to be ready for anything, to pack this and that and those and these. But on the other hand, Don was warning us to pack only what we were willing to carry. How am I ever going to get my luggage together?

At about 7:30, the orientation was at its conclusion. By the end of the meeting, the prospect of going to Rhode Island this summer felt so much closer. All the hard work put in by the sponsors, by the students, by the parents, by the coordinators, would finally come together in a matter of weeks. This orientation only solidified the anticipation.