Grace Lee '24 - Introduction

Image
Posing in front of flowers

Hiya! My name is Grace (she/her), and I am a sophomore from Diamond Bar, CA, a suburb in Southern California. At the end of my first year, I declared Biology as my major, and I am currently considering Music as my second major.

In addition to being a prospective major in Music, my love for violin led me to join the Amherst Symphony Orchestra and start a new music volunteering club called Healing Hearts with Harmony. On the STEM-related side of Amherst, I am a Profiles Editor for Amherst STEM Network, and I also participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship this past summer. Beyond music and STEM, I also have an on-campus job with the Healthy Herd Advocates and live in the Asian Cultural House in Morrow.

Outside of class, you can probably find me rushing to Arms Music Building for practice, chugging AHA seltzers at Val, scrambling to finish my work at the Science Center, admiring the picturesque sky, or filling up my loyalty cards at one of the three boba shops in town. I’ve had such a fun time here so far, and I’m so excited to share my experiences at Amherst! If you’re curious about the music scene, the STEM community, or about the college in general, please shoot me an email at yelee24@amherst.edu — I’d love to speak to a prospective Mammoth! Cheers, and have a wonderful day!

Hidden Gems of Amherst College

December 3, 2021

Hi there, Prospective Mammoth!

When I first arrived on campus, the college seemed too big to explore. But after a year and a half in school, here are a few hidden gems of Amherst College that I found through my various adventures. 

1. Gad’s House of Improv: Gad’s is Amherst College’s one and only improv comedy group. They perform every Monday at 10 p.m. My friends and I only started attending towards the end of the semester this year, but we’ve been trying to go every week because we enjoyed it so much. It usually lasts an hour, and each situation involves audience suggestions on what the topic of the improvisation should be. I highly recommend checking them out if you need a break and a laugh. 

Image
A sunset lights up the sky with the Octagon in the background.
2. Sunsets at the Johnson Chapel: As the winter draws closer, I’ve been noticing that the sunsets are getting more colorful and vibrant. Though there are many places where you can see the sunset, the hill near the Octagon and Johnson Chapel is my top place to do so. The slope allows a clear view of the sunset and is a picture-perfect opportunity. Another location for a nice late afternoon walk is the bike trail. 



3. Poetry mailbox: This is probably the most “hidden” gem out of the list. I’m not really sure where this mailbox is, but it is somewhere along the bike trail. It’s basically a small mailbox (picture attached here) with bits of paper on it. People can stop by to read poetry or write some.

Image
Mail box labeled "Take a poem, leave a poem."

4. Music library: Located on the second floor of Arms Music Building, this library holds many collections of sheet music. The librarian can help you find the specific piece that you want and photocopy it. You can check out pieces for up to three months at a time with your student ID. Besides the sheet music, the library has desks that you can study on, and since not many people know about it, it’s a great study space. 

Image
A view of the music library.

5. Yushien Garden: I’ve never really been inside the garden itself, but I’ve seen it from a distance. It’s located between Kirby Theater and Appleton, and you would normally miss it if you were to walk by it. You can read more about its history here. It’s fenced off so you can’t enter it, but you can appreciate it from afar. I would love to sit in the Japanese garden for a few minutes one day. 

Have a wonderful evening!

Hadestown!!!!!!!!

April 29, 2022

Hi there, prospective Mammoth! 

I had The Most Wonderful Weekend Ever! On Sunday, I was fortunate enough to go on a trip hosted by The Green Room, the theater club at Amherst College, to see Hadestown on Broadway! I’ve wanted to see Hadestown for two years now, so it was a dream come true. The Green Room received funding for some tickets and a shuttle to NYC, so it came at no cost to me (besides the food). They were able to take people who were not in The Green Room themselves, like me. Here’s how my weekend went. 

Saturday: At 10:30 am, I visited The Arbors Assisted Living with my club, Healing Hearts with Harmony, to play music for the senior residents. Afterward, I returned, studied a bit, then got ready for prom and the Asian Culture House formal. It was a bit unfortunate that the school-wide prom and the ACH formal were on the same day, but I did get to attend prom for an hour in the beginning. It was my first prom ever and made me wish I had gotten my senior prom in high school. 

Sunday: I got up at 7 am, picked up a bagel from Val, and went to the shuttle by 8 am. I knocked out for the entire bus ride to NYC (about three hours). When I woke up, we were in Times Square, right in front of the Walter Kerr Theater!!! We had about three hours to wander the city and get lunch before our 3 pm show. My friend and I took some pictures on our way to lunch--spring in NYC is gorgeous! My friend and I walked to Koreatown and ate at the Udon Lab. 

By 3 pm, we were sitting in the theater, and I could barely hold back my excitement. I already knew how amazing of an experience it would be since I had listened to the Hadestown recording so many times and watched Youtube clips of it. It defied my expectations. The musical was so much more tangible, awestriking, and overwhelming in real life (I teared up). I couldn’t believe that I was lucky enough to see Hadestown with nearly the entire Original Broadway Cast FOR FREE. Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada had such entrancing voices, Patrick Page sent shivers down my back, and I couldn’t take my eyes off Jewelle Blackman’s Persephone. 

After raving about Hadestown for quite a bit, my friend and I walked to Ootoya for dinner and ran back to the shuttle by 9 pm. On the bus ride back, I went through my pictures, listened to the Hadestown recordings again, and worked a bit on my Stats problem set. Unfortunately, my Organic Chemistry midterm was that following Thursday, so I had an incredibly stressful week. But it was all worth it. I sincerely hope that The Green Room leads another trip to Broadway next year because I can confidently say that I had the best weekend ever.

Image
In front of the Hadestown stage holding a playbill
Image
Posing in front of flowers
Image
Picture in front of a tree in Central Park

Preregistration week

April 22, 2022

Hi there, prospective Mammoth! 

This week was preregistration week, which means that I was able to register early for next semester’s classes this week. I thought that I would quickly go over my classes for next semester/year and also shed some light on what the registration process is like at Amherst. 

The general order of the registration process is advising week → preregistration week → roster management → second round registration week → start of new semester and add/drop period. Everything from advising week to second round registration happens in the semester before the semester you are registering for. 

In advising week, students come up with a list (about 6) of classes that they are interested in and meet with their academic advisors. The advisors approve your classes and catch up with you on how your semester is going. 

During preregistration, students who know what classes they want to take can register for their classes. Since it’s only preregistration, students who don’t know what classes to take yet can choose to hold off on registration. However, since some popular classes can get overenrolled pretty quickly, I recommend registering for those classes during preregistration week. (Oh also, whether you get into a class is not based on first-come-first-serve, which is something that I like. It depends on the professor, but some classes prioritize majors and seniority while others prioritize diverse viewpoints and majors.) During roster management, you’ll find out if you get into a class or not (if the class is overenrolled). 

Second round registration is similar to preregistration. Then, during the Add/Drop period at the start of the new semester, you can shop for classes that you are interested in. This means that you can sit in all of the classes that you are interested in, then drop the ones that you choose not to take. Once Add/Drop ends, your schedule is set! 

In Fall 2022, I hope to take Biochemistry with lab, Developmental Biology with lab, and Social Psychology. Unfortunately, Developmental Biology is overenrolled as of now, but I hope that I can get in since I am a rising junior Biology major. Most students are supposed to take four classes per semester, but I am using the half-course policy to only take three. The policy states that if a student takes 4.5 credits in one semester, that student can take 3.5 credits in the next semester. My three classes add up to 3 credits, and I will also be continuing oboe lessons and orchestra for credit, adding up to 4 credits. 

If you have any questions regarding Amherst, please feel free to reach out to me at yelee24@amherst.edu. Have a wonderful day! 

Pre-med at Amherst

April 15, 2022

Hi there, prospective Mammoth! 

If you couldn’t already tell from the many STEM classes that I’ve written about in my blog, I am on the pre-med path as of now. I’m not sure about what specialty I am interested in, but I am considering pediatrics for now (but everything can change in two years!). I thought that I would quickly go over what kind of extracurricular activities I am involved in and my pre-med (still somewhat short) experience as an Amherst student. Just a side note that I’m just a sophomore now, and if you want actual pre-med advising, you should make an appointment with either Dean Aronson or Becca. Keep in mind that this is my experience. 

Currently, I perform in the Amherst Symphony Orchestra as a first violin, lead Healing Hearts with Harmony, a music volunteering club, volunteer at the local soup kitchen through Not Bread Alone, and will start volunteering at the Hospice of the Fisher Home this Sunday (and of course, write my blog as always). I dabbled in various clubs during my freshman year, such as Difference for the Developmentally Disabled and The Amherst STEM Network. As I narrowed down my interests over time, I started to focus on the activities that I have now. 

Something that I enjoy about being pre-med at Amherst is definitely the community. Others in my class are all supportive of each other, and classes aren’t cutthroat since (to my knowledge) we aren’t graded on a curve. I feel like most people on the pre-med path at Amherst are very chill about it and try to help others if they ask for it. I also enjoy how we have Dean Aronson and Becca, the Pre-Health Advisors, to support us. All pre-health students are encouraged to meet with them at least once a semester. I go to them for advice and occasionally update them on what is going on in my life. 

One not-so-great part about pre-med at Amherst is that it is difficult to find clinical experience here. Unless you have a certification and get a job, I personally feel like there aren’t many places to continuously get clinical experience. I applied to Cooley Dickinson Hospital as a volunteer but realized that I had no way to get there or come back. If you had a car, it would definitely be doable to volunteer at Cooley Dickinson. Instead, I decided to volunteer at the Hospice of the Fisher Home, which is about 15 minutes by PVTA. I’m glad that I found Fisher Home, as hospice was the kind of clinical experience I was looking for. Also, you could focus on other aspects of your experience while you are here and try to get patient interaction over the summers. 

Overall, there are both pros and cons of being pre-med at Amherst. Sometimes I feel like I’m falling behind, but I always try to remind myself to go at my own pace. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me at yelee24@amherst.edu. 

SURF Experience

April 8, 2022

Hi there, prospective Mammoth! 

Around this point of the semester, many students have an idea of what their summer plans are. I am still in the process of figuring out the details, but I will most likely stay at home in California and spend most of my time volunteering at a hospital and a nonprofit organization. Last year, though, I knew that I was going to spend my first college summer on campus doing research through the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship here. 

SURF is a research program in Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Geology, Math & Statistics, Neuroscience, Physics, and Psychology for Amherst students. The program is 8 weeks long and covers housing, meals, and a stipend. Last summer, I spent my time in Prof. Edwards’ cell biology lab studying the signaling pathway that drives macropinocytosis (cell drinking). 

I had never stepped foot in a lab before SURF and definitely never used lab equipment. When I was accepted to SURF, I was nervous that I would not be able to keep up with research. However, picking up the proper lab techniques and information was relatively quick. I read a few papers on the topic in the first week of the program to familiarize myself with the project’s background and the model organism. I learned how to take care of the cells, prep media, and use the microscope. 

Then, using some papers as guidance, we came up with a protocol for our experiment and bought the necessary materials. Surprisingly, perfecting the protocol took longer than I thought we would. To figure out the specific concentrations of certain solutions, we ran multiple pilot experiments. We even had to switch to a different protocol in the later weeks of the program because it worked better. Finally, as time was running out, we ran our final experiments and collected our final data. After the program ended, SURF students had about a month to submit a poster or a recording of a three minute flash talk. Biology SURF students had to create a poster to present at the Biology Department poster session once we returned in the Fall. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the program, as my friends and I had time to have fun outside of the lab with no homework. We were able to visit beaches, amusement parks, Boston, and more over the weekends. I’m grateful that I had the privilege of participating in SURF. I think I obtained a more realistic idea of what research is like, which helped me focus my future a bit more. I did get a bit burnt out though, which is partly why I took a break from research. I strongly urge every student interested in research to apply, even if you may be nervous about it. I was able to grow so much more as a student in STEM through research. If you have any questions about SURF, STEM, or just about Amherst, please feel free to contact me at yelee24@amherst.edu!

Healing Hearts with Harmony

April 1, 2022

Hi there, prospective Mammoth! 

Last semester, my friend and I started a club called Healing Hearts with Harmony after realizing that Amherst College did not have a music volunteering club. In this week’s blog post, I thought that I would write about the process of starting a club (and also advertise my club :’). 

Once we had decided on the objective of our club during the second semester of our freshman year, we had to wait until the beginning of the upcoming Fall semester to formally propose our club. Over the summer, we made a list of everything that we had to prepare ahead of time, which was only a budget, eboard list, a short list of goals, and a constitution. Then, when the week to propose new Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) came, we submitted everything and waited. 

A few days later, Jelani Johnson, the Associate Director of Student Activities, reached out to set up a meeting. I prepared a Google Slides presentation to support the club proposal, including the documented interest for the club from students, goals, mission, advisor, budget, and plans for sustainability. After a few weeks, our club was approved, and we had a follow RSO meeting to discuss the next steps. One of those next steps was for the president (me!) and treasurer to attend a New RSO training, in which we learned more about leading a club at Amherst College and the resources we can use (especially regarding funding). 

And that was the beginning of our club, Healing Hearts with Harmony! We are a music volunteering club, and students visit The Arbors Assisted Living once a month to play music for the senior residents. If you enjoy playing an instrument or singing and are looking for a low-pressure environment to perform, join us! Our last volunteering event was last Saturday, March 26, featuring a string quintet, a guitarist-singer duet, a flutist, a pianist, and a few violinists. 

Overall, creating a new club was time-consuming, but I would say that it was a very worthwhile investment! If you come to Amherst and have a difficult time finding your niche, you can make a club for it. 

Have a wonderful evening!

A day in my life (Spring edition)

March 25, 2022

Hi there, prospective Mammoth! 

Welcome back to my blog! Today, I will be writing about a day in my life (Spring semester edition). Like last semester, I’ll cover what my Friday this week looks like!

9 a.m.: Wake up and get ready. 

9:40 a.m.: Go to Intro Statistics office hours at the Seeley Mudd building on the First-Year Quad. I didn’t think that I would spend that much time in office hours, but I ended up asking lots of questions about the problem set that I did beforehand. I left office hours feeling so much more confident about this lesson. 

11 a.m.: Attend Intro Statistics in the Webster Hall building next to SMUD. It was a bit weird to go straight from Statistic office hours to the class and a bit tiring to constantly think about statistics for over two hours. But thanks to office hours, I was able to work through the lab relatively quickly and check my understanding of the material. 

12 p.m.: Attend Organic Chemistry in the Science Center. We learned a bit more about Carbonyl chemistry today. Our exam is next Wednesday, so I made sure to pay extra attention today. 

1 p.m.: Lunch! My lunch today was miso-marinated salmon, one of Val's best meals. I ended up getting it in a take-out container and eating it while I watched One Piece. 

2:30 p.m.: Oboe lessons! I rushed to the Arms Music Building for my weekly oboe lessons. I learned some more notes on the oboe and got some more music to practice. My teacher also cut my reeds a bit so that they were easier to play. 

3:30 p.m.: Work time. Though I would normally spend my Friday afternoons chatting with friends, taking a walk (the weather was gorgeous today), or relaxing, I thought that I should study for the upcoming chemistry exam. It wasn’t very productive, though; I mean, who can actually get work done on Fridays? I ended up going over to Arms again to practice violin. 

6 p.m.: Dinner at Lili’s! I decided to get dinner at Lili’s Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant in town, with a friend for her late birthday meal. I absolutely adore Lili’s; their hand-pulled noodles are always heavenly, and their serving sizes are big. Some other restaurants I like are Pita Pockets, House of Teriyaki, and Crazy Noodles. 

8:30 p.m.: Birthday party! We got some snacks and ordered a cake from Val (yes, you can ask to have a cake made by the dining hall!). This was the last activity of the day, and I spent the rest of the time chatting with friends and doing some homework. 

Have a wonderful evening!

Spring break at Amherst

March 14, 2022

Hi there, prospective Mammoth! 

Spring break has finally started! After finishing up my midterms for three of my classes on Friday, I breathed a sigh of relief and got excited to finally get a break. Since I live in California, I don’t think that a flight back for a week is worth it. A few friends also chose to stay on campus with me. Here’s a short outline of what my friends and I have planned for Spring break. 

On Saturday and Sunday, we went to Boston. We planned to sleep at an Airbnb and spend most of our two days out and about. We arrived at South Station and went to Chinatown for some hotpot on a rainy day. Our dessert was a drink from Gong Cha. Even though Amherst has three boba shops, some variety was much needed. Then, we walked down the street to a hair salon to get our long-awaited haircuts. It was around 3:30 pm once we finished our haircuts, and we took an Uber to the New England Aquarium. We were able to get tickets for the 4:40 time. The last time that I visited an aquarium was in middle school, so it was exciting to see the creatures. Our dinner was at Seoul Soulongtang, and we ate our seolleongtang to our heart’s content. It was too cold to walk around anymore, so we went to our Airbnb and crashed. 

On Sunday, we had a small breakfast at a cafe near the Prudential Center and went eye shopping afterward. Then, we walked through Newbury Street and had a late lunch at Yamato II, which has all-you-can-eat sushi for $24. We went back to Chinatown for some baked goods and finally ran to South Station to catch our Peter Pan bus back to Amherst. 

For the rest of the week, I plan on resting and finding summer opportunities. We plan to watch the new Jujutsu Kaisen 0 movie in Hadley on Thursday, which is the next thing I’m looking forward to. Our organic chemistry professor is also hosting a liquid nitrogen ice cream party on Thursday for the students who decide to stay on campus. Overall, I’m very excited to have some time to myself. 

Have a restful evening!

Image
Hotpot
Image
Sushi
Image
Seal statue
Image
Posing in front of the Chinatown gate.
Image
Korean food
Image
Two turtles

Music lessons at Amherst

March 4, 2022

Hi there, prospective Mammoth! 

I’ve mentioned in my previous blogs that I play the violin in the Amherst Symphony Orchestra. I’ve been playing the violin since seventh grade, and it’s been something that I really enjoy doing. I took violin lessons during my first semester at Amherst College, and though I wanted to continue taking lessons, I realized that I would not have the time for it. Practicing for my violin lessons along with orchestra music would be too demanding. This semester, I decided to pick up oboe lessons even though I had not played the oboe before. I thought that I would outline what taking lessons for an old or new instrument is like here. 

For my oboe lessons, I am borrowing an oboe from the Music Department so that I don’t have to buy one for myself. The Music Department has a few instruments that students can borrow for a semester, but you would have to reach out directly to find out which ones they have. If you have your own instrument, that’s even better!

You can register for music lessons for half-credit during regular registration dates, and if you are on need-based financial aid and are taking the lessons for credit, your music lesson fees ($775) are covered. You also need to take a corequisite full-credit music class within that school year; if you don’t know how to read music, you should take MUSI-111 Introduction to Music. Sometimes, Amherst College does not have an instructor for an instrument. For example, Amherst College did not have an oboe instructor until this semester. If so, you can try to take music lessons through the Five College Consortium. 

I honestly think that every student should try to take a music lesson at least once during college. When will you ever have a chance to learn a new instrument for free? Why not learn how to play the guitar or the harp, or maybe even the banjo under the guidance of top instructors? I’ve had two oboe lessons already, and I feel like the lessons are a nice break from all of the studying that I have to do. At least for me, music is an escape that I think everyone should enjoy. 

If you have any questions about music at Amherst or about Amherst in general, feel free to email me at yelee24@amherst.edu. Have a wonderful evening!

Snow Day! And A Winter Packing List

February 25, 2022

Hi there, prospective Mammoth! 

Today is my first ever snow day! A winter storm swept through Amherst all throughout Thursday night and Friday, so all of our classes were canceled for today. Here’s a brief overview of how I spent my free Friday, and a list of things that I think all Californians (and people from usually-warm states) should look into. 

I had a slow start to my day and woke up at noon. Then, I grabbed lunch and got Covid tested. Today was one of those days that I valued having a community in my dorm. Though I didn’t go outside much because it was snowing, I still could chat and hang out with the people on my floor. Three of us even made impromptu plans to go sledding down Memorial Hill on cardboard boxes! The boxes unfortunately did not work, but we borrowed other people’s sleds. It was hilarious to see other people's makeshift sleds, including a table, a packing box, and a unicorn inflatable float. I will definitely buy a sled for next year. After we returned to our dorm, the dinner that we had ordered from Formosa had arrived! Overall, I would say that I had a great first snow day. 

My packing list:

  • Beanie to keep your forehead warm. When it’s cold and windy, my head starts hurting, so I recommend getting a beanie to cover that forehead. It can also conveniently cover the tips of your ears, which begin to burn when it’s cold. 
  • Gloves: I cannot stress how terrible it is to have your fingers exposed to the cold. Your extremities lose heat the fastest, especially your fingers. Whether you put on your gloves to carry something in the cold or to throw snowballs at your friends, bring them. 
  • Parka: It seems fairly obvious, but you definitely need a thick parka to layer up. Bonus points if it reaches your knees. 
  • Layers: I find that I can brave any kind of weather as long as I am dressed well for it. You will definitely need to find multiple layers, even under a parka. A nice long sleeve or crewneck will do the thing. I never understood the importance of layering until it was too late, since a single hoodie would do the trick in California winters. 
  • Honorable mentions: boots, thick socks, thermal underwear, hand warmers.

Have a warm evening!

Image
A few students look out over a snowy Memorial Hill
Tags:  blog-student life 

Outdoor programming

February 20, 2022

Hi there, Prospective Mammoth!

Amherst College has recently made an effort to increase connection, community, and fun for student well-being. Some measures taken include opening up the ice rink for student use, Saturday night food trucks, late night dining, a new outdoor stage, WinterFest, and more. Today, I participated in one of the outdoor programming events and went snowboarding/skiing at Berkshire East. 

I have never skied before and have no equipment, but Amherst provided equipment for us at the rental shop. After I got Covid tested and grabbed a quick breakfast from Val, we left the college at around 9:30 am on a shuttle. When we arrived, we picked up our boots, helmets, and snowboards/skis and made our way to our meeting place. 

I started off on the beginner slope with the snowboard, determined to become Chloe Kim 2.0. People with some experience helped me get my snowboard on and taught me the very basics of snowboarding. I was TERRIBLE at snowboarding. I kept falling and sliding in the wrong direction, and eventually, my legs, hands, and tailbone hurt from crashing down all the time. It was a bit humiliating to roll around on the ground when little kids were whizzing down past me.

After we had a quick lunch (sandwich, cookies, chips, seltzer), I decided to swap the snowboard for some skis because I was tired of my tailbone bruising all the time. The skis were so much easier to learn as a beginner, and I eventually got to go on the intermediate slope. My friend and I zoomed down the slope multiple times until it was time to go back.

I really enjoyed skiing for the first time at no cost, and though the sign-ups closed very fast, I think I will try to go again if I have the chance. My entire body is sore, and I feel like I’m going to fall asleep, so I’ll sign off for now. Have a wonderful evening!

Image
Selfie in front of a ski slope.
Image
Waiting in a ski lift line.
Image
Selfie in front of a ski slope.

First week back

February 11, 2022

Hi there, Prospective Mammoth!

Things have been crazy since school started this week! The first week of classes during college is always a bit hectic and disorienting as everyone tries to get back into the flow of things. Here’s how my first week went. 

The very first thing that I did when the clock hit Monday 12 a.m. was log onto ACData and drop PHYS-116. Before Add-Drop started, I realized that my Four Year Schedule would work so much better if I took physics later. So, I swapped physics for BIOL-320 Evolutionary Biology, which fulfills a requirement for the Biology major. My advisor was very glad that I was prioritizing my biology classes. This semester, I am taking Organic Chemistry 2, Intro to Statistics, American Sign Language 2, and Evolutionary Biology.

Classes were held online for the first week to limit the spread of Covid. I prefer in-person classes since it is difficult for students with roommates to attend Zoom classes. I attended Stats at 11 and Chemistry at 12. After I had lunch, I relaxed in my room before I had to head out to UMass to attend my in-person ASL class. Thankfully, Chemistry didn’t have discussion sections this week so I was done for the day. The rest of the days went similarly with my other classes. 

Other than classes, I had orchestra on Tuesday and Thursday. We met once on Zoom on Tuesday to go over the pieces that we are playing for our next concert (March 6!), but we decided to practice our pieces this week on an honor system. So, I reserved a practice room during the regular orchestra times and practiced the piece on my own. 

Strangely, this whole week dragged on and felt like a month. It may have been the Zoom classes that made it seem like time was flowing slowly. I’ll be very thankful to revert to in-person classes next week, though getting out of bed 30 minutes earlier might be difficult. 

I hope you have a wonderful evening!

Winter break roundup

February 4, 2022

Hi there, Prospective Mammoth!

Welcome back to my first blog post of the new year! It has been a few weeks since I last updated my blog, so I thought that I would write a recap of my winter break and January term. It was quite an exciting and adventurous six weeks off-campus; hopefully, my roundup sheds some light on what being an Amherst student is like outside of the two academic semesters. 

Right after my finals week ended, my friends and I went to New York City for a week to celebrate my birthday (yay 19)! New York City is about three hours away from Amherst College. You can ride a Peter Pan bus there, but someone’s parents came to pick us up. One of my friends lives in Queens, so we were able to stay at her place while we hit all the tourist spots in the city. We visited the Brooklyn Bridge, walked The High Line, perused through the MOMA, went ice skating at the Rockefeller Center, and stuffed ourselves with food. If you have time over a break, NYC is a great getaway (especially if you haven’t visited it much like me). 

January term started a week after I arrived back home in Southern California. Many J-term classes, including mine, were held online through Zoom because of the recent surge in Covid cases. I took ENGL-270 Letter Writers and Epistolarity, a course that made use of the distance made by Zoom to personally explore what letters can do. Though having class every day for three hours was a bit difficult, I enjoyed the topic and the readings. I especially loved reading Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster and The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. After a whole month of classes resulting in my 27-page capstone project, I’ve come to appreciate J-term for its opportunity to immerse myself in a subject with no other distractions. 

I flew to Amherst a few days before the actual move-in days in order to attend my UMass Amherst class, since their classes started a week and a half before ours. I’ve attended three UMass Amherst ASL classes so far, and I can already tell that it will be my favorite course of the semester. Currently, I am holed up in my dorm room, waiting for my Amherst classes to start. Though it has been quiet before the official move-in dates, I’ve gone sledding, watched a preview of someone’s senior music thesis, indulged myself with Studio Ghibli movies, and enjoyed my free time. My friends are moving in one by one, and life is returning to campus! Amherst is definitely not the same without the people. 

Please email me at yelee24@amherst.edu if you have any questions about Amherst College! I hope you have a very cozy weekend! 

My classes for January term and spring semester

December 17, 2021

Hi there, Prospective Mammoth!

The fall semester has now officially ended! Though finals were incredibly stressful, I enjoyed this semester. Since January term and spring semester are coming up, I thought that I would talk about my plans for the near academic future. 

Usually, Amherst College has an interterm in between fall and spring semesters, in which students take fun classes and enroll in workshops. Due to Covid, Amherst introduced a January term, in which students can take classes for credit. I think 2022 is the last year that we will have J-term. Last year, I enrolled in PSYC-100, Introduction to Psychology. J-term classes were held remotely, so I Zoomed into class over J-term. 

This year, there is a mix of in-person and online classes so you can choose a class that best fits your plans. I wanted to stay at home a bit longer before I had to go on campus for spring semester classes, so I decided to take an online class. This J-term, I will be taking ENGL-270 Letter Writers and Epistolarity as a break from my STEM-filled semesters. Letter Writing is my first ever English class at Amherst College (besides my first-year seminar), so I am a bit nervous about how it will turn out. Some part of me also wishes that I can be on campus to play and sled in the snow, but I am glad that I can spend more time at home. 

Then after J-term ends, spring semester starts right away. In the spring, I will take Organic Chemistry 2, Introductory Physics 1: Mechanics, Introduction to Statistics, and American Sign Language 2 at UMass. I might also take instrument lessons, but it’s up in the air right now. It’s a very heavy course load, especially with two labs, but I am very excited to start. 

Feel free to email me at yelee24@amherst.edu if you have any questions regarding choosing courses, STEM at Amherst, January term, or anything else! Have a cozy end-of-the-semester! 

P.S. A very warm congratulations to the incoming Class of 2026 who were admitted through Early Decision!