Miles away from the place where I grew up and oceans apart from my family- I feel more at home than I ever have for the very first time. In realizing that my house is not my home, I've discovered a place where I truly belong. Tufts is a wonderful place, not only because it's socially acceptable to wear pajamas practically everywhere but also because you get to have pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
I remember one of the very first things that I did after receiving my acceptance letter from Tufts was downloading the iJumbo mobile app so that I could check the dining hall menus on a daily basis. The unlimited meal plan is undoubtedly one of the major perks of being a freshman.
The second best decision I ever made (the first being my decision to apply to Tufts, obviously) was signing up for the FOCUS pre-orientation (STRONGLY RECOMMENDED). What better way to recharge your psychological batteries and kick start freshman year than through community service?
Looking back, I realize I achieved more than just the mere satisfaction of giving back to the community. My FOCUS group is literally my surrogate family. The extroverted introvert in me usually has a hard time opening up to people but oddly enough, I was perfectly at ease talking about myself with these people. Catching buses and trains to get to different parts of Boston, cooking brinner and having late night conversations that flowed until 2:00 in the morning were the perfect bonding experiences.
I half expected to be overwhelmed by the chaos and confusion of the Orientation Week that followed FOCUS. A million questions ranging from "Will I be able to make friends?" to "Who will I sit with in the dining hall?" bombarded my mind. My fears were soon put to rest. My roommate and hall mates are absolutely DOPE. We've already put up Christmas lights and have mini-concerts accompanied by the ukulele and guitar on most days.
I’ve discovered that Tufts can really me connect with my embarrassing and awkward side. I succeeded in locking myself in the bathroom and losing my dorm key during the very first week of orientation. But hearing a girl sing 'Wildest Dreams' by Taylor Swift in the "Quiet Study Area" of the Tisch Library probably topped my chart experiences for the week.
Four weeks into the academic grind, I'm finally starting to feel the heat from all the homework assignments. But I really hope that I strike a balance between my academic and social life. Ain’t no place I’d rather be. Ain’t no people I’d rather be with- I’m finally at my Hogwarts.