The Spire

Viveca Stucke ’26

Features Editor

This week’s Peep My Crib highlights Clark Hall, specifically Clark 131 which is home to first year residents Kelsey Bitzas and Susan Allakhverdob. As new members of the Holy Cross community, Kelsey and Susan were dedicated to creating a cozy and welcoming environment where they could feel at home and find belonging. For Kelsey, a Worcester resident with a lifelong dream of attending Holy Cross, designing her room was meaningful as it represented the realization of her aspirations and her desire for a personal sanctuary on campus. For Susan, their dorm is representative of her desire to find a college and space on campus that helps her thrive, where she can express her truest self and be uplifted. 

Kelsey and Susan’s room holds special significance, especially because they faced an unexpected room change during their first week at Holy Cross. They were initially placed in a triple room as a mistake and had to relocate, which was a challenging start to their college life. Despite this disruption, they created a cozy and inviting space that brings them comfort and peace. In their first year, having a calming and zen environment has been essential, giving them a place to unwind after long, busy days so that they can prioritize their mental health.

Although it’s only their first year, freshman year of college can be one of the most stressful as students are trying to navigate through finding their own place and discovering where they thrive. During this journey, having a space that feels truly theirs helped to provide a deeper sense of stability. Kelsey and Susan have decorated their room to reflect this need for calm and comfort as they have used soft and soothing tones to create a tranquil atmosphere, while having their blinds open for natural light helped to open up their space and bring a feeling of warmth and openness to the environment.

For Kelsey, for example, being from Worcester, she needed to create a familiar and comforting space. Having visited Holy Cross every year since she was a kid, she wanted her room to affirm that campus was somewhere that she could truly feel at home, and be a place where she belongs and can grow as a person. For Susan, the room is a haven where regardless of her workload or the stresses of college life, she can relax and feel at ease. Their choice of bright, welcoming, and clean decor transforms the room into more than just a form as it becomes a deeper reflection of their dreams, aspirations, hard work, and inner peace.

Featured images courtesy of Kelsey Bitzas ’28

Copy Edited by Sophia Mariani ’26