Julianne Murphy, of Oceanport, posting her 'diary' on the Clark University website

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Julianne Murphy is a diarist at Clark University.

WORCESTER, MA (02/26/2014)(readMedia)-- Clark University first-year student Julianne X. Murphy, of Oceanport, N.J., is one of 12 undergraduate students sharing her college experiences through diary entries on Clark University's website. Murphy was selected by the Office of Admissions to provide a personal look at student life.

Murphy began blogging shortly after she arrived on campus last September. She studies biochemistry.

"In high school, writing was something I loved, but I was quite limited to technical writing only. It has been great to be able to write creatively and passionately while reflecting on my college experience," Murphy said. "I cannot wait to read my entries years from now."

After Fall break, Murphy raises the question of whether or not her "home" is back in New Jersey where she grew up, or at Clark, in Massachusetts, where she can also "feel comfortable." She and her roommate discussed the possibility of having two homes.

Murphy shares how she celebrated the Lunar New Year with friends at Clark, lists what she likes about her courses, and reveals what she and her friends do when they visit New York City, Chicago and explore their surroundings in Worcester. Murphy gives a glimpse into academics at Clark, and shares her feelings as she approaches the end of her first semester (even describes her first experience with "an oxygen bar" the Student Activities Board provided during finals week!).

In her latest entries, Murphy reflects on what she was doing roughly a year ago-when she was deep into the college selection process, and lists the tools, websites and publications she consulted during her college search. Murphy admitted the full-boat LEEP Scholarship she received from the institution was a draw, also said "the community was also a prime player in [her] decision."

"I initially wanted a large school in the South-essentially the polar opposite of Clark... I ended up at a place I would never have imagined myself choosing. In the end though, or at least in the present, I am more than happy with my decision," wrote Murphy. "To put it simply, I feel myself changing and I like it."

To read more about Murphy's experiences at Clark University, visit her Clark Diary.

Murphy is the daughter of Stephen and Michelle Murphy. She is a 2013 graduate of Biotechnology High School. She intends to take advantage of Clark's Accelerated B.A./Master's Program, hopes to earn her advanced degree in biochemistry. Murphy is a member of the Pre-med Society and the Asian Culture Society at Clark. She also works for the Main South Tutoring Program.

Founded in 1887 in Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark University is a small, liberal arts-based research university addressing social and human imperatives on a global scale. Nationally renowned as a college that changes lives, Clark is emerging as a transformative force in higher education today. LEEP (Liberal Education and Effective Practice) is Clark's pioneering model of education that combines a robust liberal arts curriculum with life-changing world and workplace experiences. Clark's faculty and students work across boundaries to develop solutions to complex challenges in the natural sciences, psychology, geography, management, urban education, Holocaust and genocide studies, environmental studies, and international development and social change. The Clark educational experience embodies the University's motto: Challenge convention. Change our world.