User:LostInSpace

My name is Amelia Orwant, and I have been a CTYer for 5 years. 3 sessions at Roger Williams baby CTY, 1 session at Lancaster, 1 session at Carlisle, and 4 sessions at Baltimore.

What CTY Means to Me

CTY has been a second home to me. So far, I have been to CTY for 5 years, 9 sessions, and 12 classes and each has been a unique and amazing experience that has helped shape me into the person I am today. I began CTY at Roger Williams in 14.2 taking Science and Engineering (which has now been renamed to Physics and Engineering.) Since then I have been back to Roger Williams, to Carlisle, to Lancaster, and to Baltimore. I was Princess of the Blood at Baltimore 18.2 and will be empress at Baltimore 19.2.

When I began CTY I didn't have that standard story of feeling that I had finally found a place where I belonged. I did, however, find a place where I wanted to belong. My first year after baby CTY at Roger Williams, I double sessioned at Baltimore. When I first arrived, I was nervous and antisocial. I brought a book with me everywhere I went, and I rarely ventured out from behind it. By the end of those 6 weeks, however, I was the outgoing and quirky CTY student that I had always wanted to be. I was gladly friendly and social towards everyone around me, and I was happier in doing so. Ever since then, the Baltimore campus has been special to me. I have tried new sites first session and had a wonderful time experiencing Lancaster and Carlisle, but I always go back to Baltimore second session. In 17.2 I was close friends with Kathlyn who was appointed empress for 18.2, and she appointed me as her Princess of the Blood for 18.2. Although she couldn't make it back for 18.2, I came as the Princess of the Blood along with the Empress Lynne. Together, we fought for traditions at Baltimore, as it has always been the strictest site and traditions have always been difficult. I will be coming back to Baltimore 19.2, the last session of my last year.

14.2

14.2 was my first experience of CTY. My dad went to CTY (Carlisle, 1984), and introduced me to the idea of nerd camp when I was 10. I was eager to sign up to this mythical nerd camp, and I went to Roger Williams baby CTY. I signed up for Science and Engineering (now Physics of Engineering.) My roommate, Katya, and I were the only female human beings who signed up for this class, and we were in a class of around 20. Although this reflection of the stigma around women in math based science was upsetting, our class was quite enjoyable. Katya and I were brought closer together by this, and we became great friends. She and I both live in Massachusetts, so we were able to meet up after CTY, and years later I invited her to my bat mitzvah. I was also close friends with Zach and Quinn, two great guys that influenced my first CTY experience for the better. I loved my first time away from home for three weeks, my first time hearing American Pie, and my first time at nerd camp.

Thanks to my RA, Ashley, my instructor, Tina, and my close friends, Katya, Quinn, and Zach. You guys made my first CTY experience a good one!