Senior Year Bucket List
McKenna's senior year is just about to start, and there are so many traditions she wants to participate in this year!
McKenna's senior year is just about to start, and there are so many traditions she wants to participate in this year!
I think a lot of Carleton students hit their senior year and realize how little time they have left. It’s hard not to feel sad about that, because there are a lot of fun things to do on campus. As I prepare for my senior year, there are a few Carleton traditions that I don’t want to forget about!
Bubble Brigade
Each year, during our first Convocation, professors march in with their fancy academic robes. As they enter, seniors standing on the balcony shower them in bubbles! I had heard about this practice as a prospective student, but I completely forgot about it by the time I got to campus. Seeing the bubbles appear from above my head was magical! I’m very excited for my turn to shower my professors with bubbles.
Bake Cookies in Dacies
The Cookie House is a well-known, unique Carleton tradition. Originally owned by a woman named Dacie Moses, this house is now a spot for students to hang out and bake cookies. They also run a popular brunch each week. Although I do have a soft spot for sweets, I haven’t baked any myself yet! That’s definitely something I want to do before I leave (and something I think my friends will appreciate).
Play Broomball
Although I’m not particularly athletic, I want to play a game of Broomball this year. Broomball is a sport that’s similar to hockey, minus the ice skates. It is played on the ice rinks in the center of the Bald Spot. There’s also a campus tournament for those who are a little more competitive. The senior administration has their own team and I hear they’re really good!
Arb Sleepover/Camping
The Arboretum is a fabulous resource! In the past year, I’ve started to take more Arb walks with friends and I always love stargazing at night. My friends and I have talked about trying to camp out in the Arb overnight, but we haven’t had the chance to do it yet. This is definitely a fall or spring term activity, but I want to make it happen. Luckily, CANOE has some spare sleeping bags and hammocks we can request—no need to bring a tent from home.
Steal Schiller (hopefully…)
One of my favorite campus traditions is the bust of Schiller. Legend has it that this tradition began when a Carleton student found a sculpture in the basement of an academic building and decided it would look better on their mantle. It’s become somewhat of a campus-wide scavenger hunt. I haven’t yet captured Schiller, but I will definitely try to do that this year.
Of course, there are lots of additional fun traditions at Carleton. My friend Lucy has already shared some of her favorites in this blog post! Additionally, for a cool comprehensive list of Carleton traditions over the decades, check out this timeline here.
McKenna is a Russian and Psychology double major who is thrilled to be spending the summer in Minnesota! On campus, she’s often designing lights for a student performance, speaking Russian in Parish house, or grabbing a meal with friends. She’s also a proud member of the Carleton Equestrian Team. Off campus, she participates in the CLS Program and is a tutor with Paper Airplanes. Meet the other Bloggers!