Transcript
Speaker: Hey guys, I hope you're doing well.
Speaker: It has been such a long time since I last recorded a podcast and I feel like life has changed so much since then.
Speaker: It is currently Saturday, November 25th, 2023 and I think the last time I recorded a podcast would have been like around August 25th, so about three months.
Speaker: And as I mentioned, so much of my life has changed since then with I guess the big one being surgery, but also just lots about what my
Speaker: future plans are have changed and just who I am and how I feel internally has changed.
Speaker: Oh my goodness, I could go on.
Speaker: And so much has changed and I'm going to record an episode about these changes.
Speaker: But for now, I'm going to stick to the topic of this episode, which is going over my college bucket list.
Speaker: Something you should all know about me, and I'm guessing a good amount of you probably do because you follow me on different platforms, is that I'm a very reflective person.
Speaker: I've always been an extremely reflective person.
Speaker: And I also like to keep track of the way I think, my thoughts, things I do in my day-to-day basis.
Speaker: I've been this way since literally like I was five years old.
Speaker: And it applies to all areas of life.
Speaker: Like I keep a running notebook so I can go back and look at, you know, what my training looked like three years ago, four months ago, whenever I want.
Speaker: And I also always have a gratitude notebook on hand where I reflect on the good things that happened in my day.
Speaker: And it's just
Speaker: Honestly, really cool for me to get to look back and think, what were my values?
Speaker: What was I grateful for my sophomore year of high school versus what was I grateful for my sophomore year of college?
Speaker: Obviously, things are very different between the four-year period, but I do that for a lot of areas of my life, and I recommend doing that if you don't already have some way of keeping track of things through a journal.
Speaker: It's really great.
Speaker: And I mean, everyone always speaks about how important it is to be reflective and to express gratitude for your day and, you know, just being mentally strong and staying optimistic.
Speaker: But it's honestly, yeah, it's just really cool to like reflect on who you were and where you're going.
Speaker: And honestly, my Instagram account and this podcast serves that purpose for me too.
Speaker: You know, even the last podcast I recorded was I was in a very different mental space.
Speaker: I was going through a really, really hard time.
Speaker: And it's really cool to just like get to say how much better life is since then and still getting to empathize with that version of myself back in August.
Speaker: So in line with everything I've been speaking about leading up to this point, going back to I believe it was April of 2020, so the first month of quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, I was going through a hard time as was every other person in life.
Speaker: And you know, this would have been right around when I figured out that I would never have a senior year of high school, spring semester, if that makes sense.
Speaker: Like I wouldn't have
Speaker: had graduation, senior prom, just everyone always says that that period of life is the best time of your life.
Speaker: And slowly but surely, everything got canceled to the point where I was saying goodbye to my professors and classmates over a Zoom camera.
Speaker: So really tough times.
Speaker: And I know one thing that I tried to really lean into when I was going through that period of life was to really just focus on the good things that were coming in the future.
Speaker: And for me, again, with that timeframe would have meant going to college, my freshman year of college at Hamilton College.
Speaker: So in true Kylie nature, I had a notebook and I wrote a really long bucket list of all these things that I was hoping to accomplish in my four years of college.
Speaker: And again, just kind of thinking about like what could I get done in college gave me hope and brought me joy in that tough and lonely period of life during quarantine.
Speaker: So I'm
Speaker: I honestly forgot I had this list.
Speaker: And to give some context, again, it's November break.
Speaker: So like Thanksgiving time of my senior year of college.
Speaker: So almost four years has passed since then.
Speaker: And I'm almost done with my first semester of senior year, which means I only have one semester left.
Speaker: So I thought it'd be fun to, one, look through this list.
Speaker: I can't even remember anything I wrote.
Speaker: So it could be fun to go through it together.
Speaker: But two, to kind of like remind myself like, oh, these were these things I was hoping to accomplish in college.
Speaker: I still have a semester left to do it had I not done it yet.
Speaker: So let me just stop talking and hop into going through this list with you all.
Speaker: I'm kind of scared to see what I have written down.
Speaker: Okay.
Speaker: Wow.
Speaker: I think my bucket list, let me see.
Speaker: It's one, two, three, four, five.
Speaker: It's five pages long.
Speaker: So we've got stuff to go through.
Speaker: Let's just get right into it.
Speaker: First thing, have the best four years of your life.
Speaker: Yeah, I think so far I'm on track to accomplish this goal.
Speaker: Definitely highs and lows for sure.
Speaker: But overall, these have been an incredible three and a half years.
Speaker: So good that I'm off to a good start on accomplishing these goals.
Speaker: Two is go to nationals at least once per season in your four years.
Speaker: I have not accomplished any of that.
Speaker: Life has been tough for sure as an athlete.
Speaker: And I don't really need to get too much into it right now because you know my story if you're here.
Speaker: But yeah, no, I've never gone to nationals.
Speaker: But I do have two track seasons left, so not going to count myself out, but things are not looking likely, if I'm being honest.
Speaker: Three is win a NESCAC title.
Speaker: So adding to the list of athletic accomplishments that I have yet to achieve, not saying that this one is impossible in my two track seasons, but not likely.
Speaker: Four is become sisters with your team.
Speaker: This one I feel like I've done a pretty good job with.
Speaker: I think my teammates are my closest friends at Hamilton and we help each other through thick and thin and I love them.
Speaker: So I would say that it does feel like a sisterhood.
Speaker: So I'm going to give myself a check for that one.
Speaker: Five is be roommates with teammates.
Speaker: And yes, all four years I've been roommates with teammates.
Speaker: Six is be unapologetically you.
Speaker: Be your goofy, friendly, optimistic self.
Speaker: 100% this has been accomplished.
Speaker: I think I've just become more of all of these things.
Speaker: I've just been the most happy and confident and just quirky version of myself.
Speaker: So yes.
Speaker: Next is be an all-american.
Speaker: Again, guys, I have not accomplished this yet.
Speaker: I'm not counting myself out per se, but not looking very likely.
Speaker: The next one is take tons of cool classes of all kinds.
Speaker: Expand your mind.
Speaker: And yeah, absolutely.
Speaker: I have done this.
Speaker: I try to take like one like really out there class each semester.
Speaker: Hamilton's really cool in the sense that like you have an open curriculum, so there's no course requirements.
Speaker: So you get the option to take like the most random classes.
Speaker: And just to name a few, I'm currently in martial arts.
Speaker: I've taken
Speaker: theater classes.
Speaker: I took a class called Mafia Myths and Realities where you like literally watch The Godfather and like learn about the Sicilian Mafia.
Speaker: So definitely have achieved this bucket list goal.
Speaker: Next is Party with Johnny, my twin brother, and I've absolutely done this way too many a time.
Speaker: Yeah, enough said.
Speaker: We've definitely got that one down.
Speaker: Next is cook some good food with Betsy.
Speaker: She's my roommate slash teammate.
Speaker: And yeah, we actually threw a pasta party for my team about a month ago.
Speaker: So we were in the kitchen chefing it up.
Speaker: We're also roommates.
Speaker: She's my other roommate who lives in the loft with me.
Speaker: So we've definitely cooked together.
Speaker: Glad that I've accomplished that one.
Speaker: Next is be grateful and appreciative of all your professors, coaches, and trainers.
Speaker: Yep.
Speaker: I tell them thank you on a daily basis.
Speaker: Every single time I leave class, I say, thank you, professor.
Speaker: You know what I mean?
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker: Next is eat at the diner in the middle of the night.
Speaker: We have a diner on campus that's open from midnight to 4 a.m.
Speaker: The tradition is like you go to the party and then you go and get like chicken tenders or pancakes at like 2 a.m.
Speaker: And I've done this again many, many times.
Speaker: So glad that I've accomplished this.
Speaker: Next is become friends with all types of people.
Speaker: Yup, done this one as well.
Speaker: Hamilton brings all sorts of people with all different backgrounds and hobbies and interests and passions.
Speaker: And I definitely have friends, you know, across all different sports teams, across all different clubs, across international, national, across the West Coast, Hawaii even.
Speaker: I have teammates from Hawaii.
Speaker: So yes, absolutely have accomplished this.
Speaker: Next is maintain a GPA of 3.8 or higher.
Speaker: Most semesters, yes.
Speaker: I've had a few semesters, linear algebra, where I definitely did not achieve this goal, but I'm always up at the 3.5.
Speaker: And honestly, this is a beautiful thing about college and myself is that I feel like once I got to Hamilton, I really chilled out in terms of not being hard on myself if I wasn't the top of the class.
Speaker: I think that was just a major change I made going to Hamilton, and it's honestly been the best for me, and I've still had a lot of academic success.
Speaker: And
Speaker: I've got a job now.
Speaker: So, you know, it all works out eventually.
Speaker: Next is have a super cute, cozy and organized dorm.
Speaker: Yep.
Speaker: Next after that is a visit Amanda at the zoo.
Speaker: Amanda is my childhood best friend, still my best friend forever.
Speaker: And the zoo is her college, UMass.
Speaker: And
Speaker: Yep, I visited her sophomore year.
Speaker: It was crazy to say the least.
Speaker: Next is stay in contact with Amanda, Jacob, Sean, Andreas, Olivia, Christina, Helena, Adam, Rachel, Katrina, Ari, and Turner.
Speaker: Yes to all of those people.
Speaker: I actually just saw them a few nights ago at a bar for like a little college reunion around Thanksgiving time.
Speaker: So, or sorry, high school reunion around Thanksgiving time.
Speaker: So glad that all these important people from high school
Speaker: are still friends that I have in my life today.
Speaker: Next is FaceTime Amanda at least twice a quarter.
Speaker: Yeah, we do that.
Speaker: Like I see me, my three closest friends, Amanda, Christina, and Mary, we FaceTime.
Speaker: I might not be exactly twice a quarter, but I am going to give myself that one because we talk every day through text and FaceTime when we can.
Speaker: Next is talk to Coach Sean at least twice a quarter.
Speaker: He's my high school coach and I do.
Speaker: We text, we phone call, we Instagram DM, we do all those things.
Speaker: He's the most influential person I've ever met in my life.
Speaker: So yes, he's definitely somebody I speak to
Speaker: regularly.
Speaker: Next is talk to mom at least twice a week.
Speaker: FaceTime, call, text.
Speaker: Yeah, I do that.
Speaker: I probably talk to her every day.
Speaker: She's like my bestie, so of course.
Speaker: I guess in line with that, the next is talk to your grandmother at least once a week, which again, I also do that.
Speaker: I text her, call her probably once a week.
Speaker: Next is bond super close with the guys team, meaning like my men's cross country team.
Speaker: And I would say I've accomplished this to some extent.
Speaker: I wouldn't say they're my closest guy friends on campus.
Speaker: Those would be more like my brother's teammates or my boyfriend's teammates, but
Speaker: They're all really great people and I'm glad that I have such a good connection with them all.
Speaker: Next is be voted captain of a team, which yes, I was captain all my junior year and took the season off this past fall for cross country getting surgery and I hope to be leading the track team come the winter and spring.
Speaker: Be on student athlete advisor committee was my next goal and I'm on that.
Speaker: I have been all four years, so go that.
Speaker: Next is have a cute college boyfriend.
Speaker: Exposing myself here.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker: I don't think I could have ever imagined having such a strong and solid and just amazing relationship that I do now.
Speaker: My boyfriend's currently in the basement with my family playing knee hockey and having a beer.
Speaker: So he's fully assimilated to a black culture and I'm so lucky for him.
Speaker: Next is get plenty of sleep and fuel and hydration.
Speaker: Big dog always.
Speaker: You betcha.
Speaker: You betcha.
Speaker: Senior year of high school, Kylie.
Speaker: The next one on my list is become a better public speaker.
Speaker: And I think I have done this pretty well.
Speaker: I would say, honestly, I don't know.
Speaker: It's probably a conjunction of Hamilton and honestly, like having a podcast and an Instagram account where I'm constantly speaking to the camera.
Speaker: If you know, you know, like that is such a good way to develop the skill of becoming comfortable speaking and just like hearing your voice.
Speaker: if that makes sense.
Speaker: But yeah, Hamilton all have to take a speaking intensive course and we have oral exams in most of our departments and we even have an oral communication center where like before giving class presentation, you can go to the center and then like you basically have like a one-on-one with like a tutor and you give your presentation and they give you feedback and stuff like that.
Speaker: So really great resource to have.
Speaker: And I definitely think I've developed my public speaking skills.
Speaker: So go me.
Speaker: I guess.
Speaker: Next is eat some post-run Cider Mill donuts.
Speaker: We have a Cider Mill in town and they're known for their cinnamon sugar donuts and all the time I've had these.
Speaker: They're so good.
Speaker: In line with that, the next point is going to Utica Coffee with friends and I do that
Speaker: like a few times a week.
Speaker: So yes.
Speaker: After that is sleepover in a friend's dorm.
Speaker: And I have done this.
Speaker: I slept over in my friend Kaz's room freshman year.
Speaker: I forget like why I slept over.
Speaker: Like I could have just walked home to my dorm, but I have and it was fun.
Speaker: So definitely have achieved that.
Speaker: Next is team ice bath.
Speaker: meaning like in the trainers and yeah we do that like after every run so go me I think I like underestimated like how often I'd be doing a lot of these things I go in the ice bath every day I do most of these things every day so yeah next is be a younger sister to older teammates and I would say that I've definitely filled this role for a lot of them so
Speaker: Glad that I've accomplished this goal.
Speaker: After that is take advantage of the Career Center, which is, again, another great resource we have on campus where it's like basically you get a one-on-one advisor to help you with anything career-related and future-related.
Speaker: So whether it be helping you write your resume, your cover letter, or something,
Speaker: taking pictures of you for your LinkedIn, like your LinkedIn headshot.
Speaker: And of course, then also just helping you to look for jobs and connect you with alumni.
Speaker: So I have gone to the Career Center and it's been great.
Speaker: So glad that we have that resource and that I've been able to accomplish that.
Speaker: The next point on my list is go to a cool assembly on campus.
Speaker: And I have I've gone to like more academic ones.
Speaker: Like we do something called Common Ground and we had like somebody from the White House come and speak about like a political issue on campus, which is really interesting.
Speaker: But I've also gone to like the more fun ones.
Speaker: Like I went to a comedian a few weeks ago with Luke and some of his friends.
Speaker: So free entertainment, free education.
Speaker: Absolutely take advantage of it.
Speaker: This next point is called Eat at Altieri's, which is a restaurant in Clinton, the town that Hamilton is in.
Speaker: And the reason why I have it on my list is because my parents went to Hamilton and they love this little like pub that feels like a kind of like a hockey restaurant.
Speaker: You know, it's such a cute and cozy little fireplace.
Speaker: And I have eaten there.
Speaker: It's definitely not my go to restaurant just because we have a lot of good food in the area.
Speaker: And I
Speaker: I'd rather not eat like a greasy burger after, you know, a long day of practice and everything, but definitely a time and a place for it.
Speaker: And I have gone.
Speaker: Next is get a post-run smoothie at Cafe Euphoria, which is a cafe on campus.
Speaker: And again, I do this regularly.
Speaker: So yes, similar to that, it's the next point is get a smoothie bowl from Soul Bowl, which is a smoothie bowl place right near campus, which I actually went to on my overnight.
Speaker: when I visited Hamilton senior year of high school and I go to Soul Bowl about once a month.
Speaker: So have accomplished that.
Speaker: goal.
Speaker: Next is eat at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner at McEwen, which is kind of, it's like our second dining hall, which is traditionally, it's on the other side of campus.
Speaker: So it's traditionally like where like your art majors would eat because usually athletes are eating on the light side of campus near athletics with their team after practice.
Speaker: But I mean, I think I had this idea that like I would never eat at McEwen just because that was kind of how it was when my parents were there.
Speaker: And now it's not really like that.
Speaker: I eat McEwen probably once or twice a week.
Speaker: So I definitely underestimated how often I'd be eating there.
Speaker: And I eat there regularly.
Speaker: Next is have a picnic with your teammates.
Speaker: And this kind of aged poorly because I actually had to do that every single meal my freshman year of college because of COVID.
Speaker: We didn't have a dining hall.
Speaker: So we ate outside like literally until it was freezing and like snow on the ground because it was the only way we could like eat with people.
Speaker: And then when it was too cold, we'd have to just like eat in our dorm rooms by ourselves.
Speaker: So I did have lots of picnics freshman year for sure.
Speaker: Next is do at least a few doubles a year.
Speaker: Hashtag grind.
Speaker: And again, I do this every week.
Speaker: So little Kylie has no idea what's coming in terms of training, but yeah.
Speaker: Yep, yep, that was not something I did in high school and it's something that's a regular part of my training in college.
Speaker: The next point on my list is teach your friends how to skate and play hockey.
Speaker: Taught my boyfriend, so I guess that counts.
Speaker: Next is travel to one of Johnny's away games.
Speaker: My brother, he's on the lacrosse team.
Speaker: I haven't done this one yet.
Speaker: But maybe I'll do it this spring.
Speaker: And part of the reason is because I'm also in season in the springtime, obviously, with track.
Speaker: So it's kind of hard to get away.
Speaker: But I have traveled to Luke, my boyfriend's away games.
Speaker: I even came home to Boston to watch him play.
Speaker: I drove to watch him play in Connecticut.
Speaker: I go to his games in like the upstate New York area.
Speaker: So I have traveled to his games.
Speaker: So giving myself a half credit for that point.
Speaker: The next point is host a recruit and give her the time of her life.
Speaker: I've hosted a recruit.
Speaker: I don't know if I've given her the time of her life.
Speaker: We don't do overnights anymore.
Speaker: Unfortunately, ever since COVID, it's now just like a day visit.
Speaker: So I have hosted recruits for that and brought them to classes and took them to meals.
Speaker: So I'm glad that I've been able to be a spokesperson for the team for these younger girls.
Speaker: And a few of them have actually
Speaker: you know, since come to Hamilton and now they're my teammates.
Speaker: So that's pretty cool.
Speaker: So I have done that, giving myself like 75% credit.
Speaker: This next point is to try aqua jogging.
Speaker: Again, I do this, like this is my main form of training.
Speaker: I love aqua jogging and it's great to have access to a pool like right in the middle of campus.
Speaker: So it's very easy to get to aqua jog.
Speaker: And again, I do this six or seven days a week.
Speaker: So definitely crossing that one off.
Speaker: Next thing on my list is share clothes with a friend.
Speaker: I think it was because I was just like, I didn't grow up with sisters and I've always been like very small in comparison to my friends from home.
Speaker: So I just thought it'd be really cool to like wear one of my French shirts like to a party at night or like to class.
Speaker: And I do do this with my friends.
Speaker: It's a great perk to, you know, finally getting to live with girls.
Speaker: My next point is dress up nice and go to a formal.
Speaker: And yep, I have done this many times, whether it be going with
Speaker: my boyfriend to his formals or to my team's formals or you know just like with a guy friend to their formals so um i actually have a formal coming up a week from today absolutely checking this one off the list these next goals are all running related and um unfortunately i've not done any of them because hashtag injuries and hashtag um yeah i still have two seasons left but uh let's just say these goals because um if not done in college i have faith that at some point in my life i will be doing this break five in the mile break ten in the 3k
Speaker: break 1730 in the 5k, break 37 in the 10k, break 17 in the 5k, break 22 in the 6k, and PR in all of your events.
Speaker: Again, I have not done any of these, but I have faith that one day I will.
Speaker: Next is run a 50 plus mile week and love every second, which I did do that.
Speaker: I was consistently running 60 to 70 miles a week for
Speaker: like three months my sophomore year of college.
Speaker: And then everything, you know, went badly.
Speaker: And right now it would not be smart for me to be doing that, especially given the fact that I had surgery three months ago.
Speaker: But I do do the equivalent of like 60 to 70 mile weeks with cross training minutes, factored in.
Speaker: So again, I can check this one off and I hope to one day be able to get back to that higher mileage, lower intensity training, because that is what my body thrives off of as a runner.
Speaker: Next is make it on the Hamilton YouTube page or Instagram story slash page.
Speaker: And I have been in all of these.
Speaker: So go little influencer me, I guess.
Speaker: Next is eat a meal with a member of staff, which I have done.
Speaker: I ate a meal like with my math professor.
Speaker: I don't know why it's on my list.
Speaker: I think it's because my mom used to talk about how like
Speaker: That was like a really special thing she got to do being going to a small school where you got to know your professors.
Speaker: So that seemed like really cool to 18 year old self.
Speaker: And again, I have done this.
Speaker: So I can't say it was all that special, but it is cool that, you know, you really get to know your professors outside of the classroom.
Speaker: And then my last thing on this list is have a friend from home stay over in your dorm, which I've done this.
Speaker: My friend Amanda stayed over and my friend Ari stayed over.
Speaker: So yeah, that's, that's just, that's my bucket list.
Speaker: I'm exhausted from talking through all of that.
Speaker: It was a long list and it was really fun to like
Speaker: go through and see what I was hoping to accomplish and noticing that I've basically accomplished everything from a life perspective, but I have a lot of untapped potential in the running world specifically.
Speaker: But I think that happens for a good reason.
Speaker: Again, I feel like college has been a place where my priorities have definitely shifted and I think for all really healthy and the right reasons for myself.
Speaker: So I
Speaker: You know, some things definitely I was underprepared for how great life would be in terms of finding really great friends and really great relationship and having really balanced social life and doing well academically.
Speaker: Like I think like I had could never have imagined how great my life would be in that.
Speaker: But also, of course, I never would have foresaw or wanted the four-year injury cycle that I've currently been in.
Speaker: So that has definitely put a damper on my running success.
Speaker: But again, one semester left and I have hope in myself.
Speaker: But yeah, I mean, this was just like a really cool activity to get to reflect on.
Speaker: on what I wanted to accomplish and where I am right now in November of my senior year.
Speaker: So I hope this maybe inspires you to make a bucket list for whatever phase of life you're in, whether it be going into college, for the school year ahead, for your next phase of life.
Speaker: For me, that's going to be the rest of senior year and then making the transition into the real world where I will be surprised.
Speaker: Guys, living in New York City, more of this to come.
Speaker: But yeah, this was a really fun activity.
Speaker: And I hope you enjoyed going through this with me.
Speaker: You guys are the best.
Speaker: This was kind of a shorter episode.
Speaker: So get ready for some more episodes in the near future.
Speaker: But I hope you guys all have a great rest of your day.
Speaker: And thank you so much for being here.
Speaker: You guys mean the world to me.
