#31. Stay in Rochester for the summer and go to at least five of the more than 20 area festivals

Between the months of May and September, Rochester boasts over 25 festivals, with topics ranging from environmental awareness, to lilacs, to whatever fringe is.

This summer, I went to Imagine RIT, the Xerox Jazz Festival, the Corn Hill Arts Festival, Park Ave Festival, and the Rochester Fringe Festival. I also plan to volunteer at ZooBoo at Seneca Zoo later next month (I'll dress up and give kids candy).

I have not had as much fun as I did at each of these festivals in a very long time.

• I fell head over heels in love with downtown Rochester and The Frog Pond (The Best Brunch in Rochester according to Urbanspoon) during Park Ave Fest
• The marketing agency I interned at this summer essentially ran the Corn Hill Arts Festival, so I ended up dressing up like Tinker Bell and giving kids "pixie dust" at the Fairy Houses Tour Exhibit (pictures will not be included) 
• Last weekend I went to Silent Disco at Fringe Fest (dancing with hundreds of your closest strangers with headphones on to one of two DJs- since no one knows what you're listening to you can dance however horribly you want). Also, this weekend RIT's President Bill Destler will be playing his banjo at the Little Theatre, so I will be in the front row.

The music and art scene in Rochester is abundant, and makes me so proud to call this place my home (at least for four years). Alas, for all the slack we give old Rochester, the summer months make the horrendous winter weather completely worth it.  

Introductions

When I first applied to RIT, I researched everything I could. I applied Early Decision, so I knew where I was going to college about 7 months before all of my friends. This extra time gave me the opportunity to learn all about my future institution- from the campus layout, to the classes, to the housing, SIS and in general what Rochester has to offer. 

Amid this research, I found an article. This article was published by RIT’s University News, and was titled “99 Things to Do Before You Graduate”. I love completing lists- they’re like these huge challenges of perseverance, determination and passion. The feeling you get when crossing an item off a list is unparalleled and finishing it completely is immensely cathartic. 

The “99 Things” have been an integral part of my RIT experience, because beginning that day as a high school senior, I vowed to finish all 99, no matter where they took me.


I am currently in the fall semester of my third year (of a four year program) and I have finished 62. While this is an accomplishment, I am not even ⅔ of the way finished. This blog is dedicated to finishing that list, reminiscing and recollecting the memories of the first 62, and inspiring other RIT/college students to make their own bucket lists. 

To give an example of some of the items on the list, I have walked the pedestrian bridge at High Falls, jumped immediately from the hot tub off the high dive in the Hale Aquatics Center, painted the fraternity rock, and participated in Mud Tug (which is coincidentally this weekend!)

Here’s to this blog and finishing the list!