Caitlin Connell ’21

What is your hometown like?

My hometown is much more crowded than South Hadley, which can be a good thing and a bad thing. One example is that the traffic is horrendous during rush hour when commuters arrive from other towns or leave for the day to go home. It can take an extremely long time to get to places that aren’t too far away, like from my house to my old school. On the other hand, it’s great because it has so many different people from different places and cultures than my own, and I’ve learned a lot about different cultures and places.

What do you miss most from home?

I probably miss my cat and friends the most because I haven’t been able to see them since school started. I’m excited to finally see my friends in person, not just on Facetime, and really catch up on how their first semester went. Also, I’m very excited to get breakfast in my pajamas which I’m not able to do here because I live in 1837.

What made you choose Mount Holyoke? Was it your first choice?

I wanted to attend college on the East Coast because every year my family and I travel to Massachusetts to visit family and friends. I also wanted to experience all that the East Coast had to offer, like all the great colleges and seasons. Mount Holyoke was one of my top choices from the beginning due to the excellent programs it offered, but it definitely became my first choice when I toured the school last year.

How have you found Mount Holyoke so far? Has your opinion about Mount Holyoke altered at all for better or for worse?

Since being here, I have definitely appreciated everyone’s friendliness. Everyone has been so helpful and willing to meet new people which has really helped me adjust to life here. My opinion on Mount Holyoke has definitely altered for the better since coming here as I’ve realized how great the academics, students, and clubs are.

Do you think you’ve found your “niche” here yet?

I don’t think I’ve found my “niche” yet, but I’m excited to continue to be involved, join different clubs, and try new things.  

What are your favorite classes?

I’ve enjoyed all my classes this year because of the range of topics each class has gone through. Spanish is definitely one of my favorites because we listen to music at the beginning of every class which gets me awake and starts my day off well.   

Do you have a potential major in mind? What field of study interests you?

I’m thinking about English as a possible major and possibly something else; I want to take as many classes as I can to see what else I’m interested in. I have really enjoyed my First-Year Seminar class called “Books within Books,” which looks at the books inside the actual novels or plays we read. In other words, we look at the books or plays which characters in a given book use throughout the story we are reading. One of these books is A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. This class has gotten me really excited for next semester’s English class!

What activities are you invested in on campus? (Sports, clubs, etc…)

Her Campus, of course! I joined Her Campus because I was interested in learning more about public relations and when I looked at the website, I really liked the range of topics discussed. I’m definitely glad I joined because the members in the club are very welcoming, hard working, and understanding. Her Campus has been an awesome club for me to join because I’m able to stay up to date on activities hosted around campus, meet more students from different years, and participate/learn about the public relations aspect.

What are your hobbies?

I really enjoy reading and writing, which is why I want to pursue an English major. I also enjoy drawing even though I normally just doodle random things like cartoons. I hope to be able to take a class focused on commercial art because I took a similar class in high school and really loved it because of its focus on computer drawing, screen-printing, and graphic design.

What is your favorite animal and why?

I really like cheetahs because of how fast they can run and because of their really unique markings. I used to watch animal planet when I was younger and I always thought cheetahs were so cool because they were one of the few animals on the plains to hang out in trees.

What is the weirdest thing about you?

Whenever I laugh really hard, my eyes get really watery so that it looks like I’m crying. This has always shocked and concerned any new friends I’ve made in the beginning because they see me laughing but with “tears” streaming down my face. After a while, they get use to it. So if you see me with “tears” down my face but I’m laughing, do not be concerned…maybe I have extremely healthy tear ducts?

After almost completing your first semester in college, what advice would you give any students starting college in the spring?

College is really great. I’ve met so many awesome people and have learned so much since starting. It’s a very cool and mind-opening experience. Also, I was really worried about getting lost all the time, but you’ll definitely get to know your surroundings quickly!

If you would like to write for Her Campus Mount Holyoke, or if you have any questions or comments for us, please email mt-holyoke@hercampus.com.

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