Keeping Up with Friends
Under COVID, it's safe to state that having a typical college social life is nearly impossible — the key pillars of meeting people in large groups are…
It's officially been about 2 weeks since pre-orientation season ended, and all I can say is I am having horrible withdrawals. Like, shaking, sweating, unable-to-wear-anything-other-than-Chaco’s withdrawals.
I suppose I should back up a bit and explain.
This year, I was fortunate enough to have the amazing opportunity of participating on support staff for Tufts Wilderness Orientation (TWO). I did TWO as a freshman and it was undoubtedly one of the best experiences I had my first year, so I was incredibly excited when I found out I would be able to give back to the program that has shaped my life for the better.
I’m not sure if I can even find the words to express my deep, unconditional love for this amazing program and community, but I’m going to try.
Doing TWO as an incoming first-year was life changing. I met people that went from being complete strangers to my good friends in a matter of days, and I had the best leaders in the world (shout out to Lem and Gem!). Having a group of friends coming into freshman year made the transition process a million times easier, and my leaders were there for me every step of the way—particularly when times were hard.
Second semester freshman year was difficult for me—I developed depression and had a lot of personal things on my plate. It was my leaders that kept me grounded, and offered support and advice through everything. And it was TWO that kept me at Tufts. The morning I found out I made support staff was the happiest moment of my spring semester. I had been on the fence about transferring, but now knowing that I had this program to look foreword to in the fall, and the plethora of new friends that came with it, I suddenly felt I had a reason to stay.
My experience on support staff was everything I could have asked for, and more. There was nothing more rewarding than standing in the place of the support staffers I so exalted as a freshman, welcoming incoming students and sharing with them the love this program has shown me. Even now, when students approach me because they remember I was one of the crazy staffers who played games with them and made them feel welcome, I feel so incredibly rewarded and joyous. My only wish coming into this year was that I could be there for a first-year the way the TWO staff was there for me, and already I feel like I have fulfilled that.
TWO has given me so much. It gave me an experience I will never, ever forget (five days of backpacking on the Appalachian trail, pooping in the woods and snuggling under a tarp… what could be better than that?). It gave me incredible friends and mentors and invaluable experiences. The bracelets on my wrist (a token of participation in TWO) symbolize so much more than just the 5 days I spent in the woods—they represent the community I belong to and the friends I cherish.
TWO has filled me with an everlasting love (its shining, liiiiike a sun, it radiates on everyone…) and I am so thankful. My heart is TWOly full!
Under COVID, it's safe to state that having a typical college social life is nearly impossible — the key pillars of meeting people in large groups are…
My two homes are very far apart.
The Great Plains that raised me are roughly 1300 miles away from Tufts. It takes plenty of planes and lengthy layovers…
I remember thinking to myself when I first applied to Tufts, “Why Medford of all places?”. My whole life, all I ever wanted was to move to a big…