1. The hill is larger than can be appreciated on an hour long tour—trust me. Even a month in, I find the trek to the opposing side to be quite the trip.
2. Everyone is so nice and genuinely wants me to succeed. From my fellow peers to my professors, I can always find someone who is willing to go the extra yard to help me complete something on time, or answer a tough question.
3. Picking classes in a room full of people with a countdown clock projected on the board makes for a very stressful second of button clicking (I ended up clicking submit on time and getting the classes I needed regardless of the unnecessary hype).
4. The food is definitely better than your average college dining hall. While it’s surely not my mother’s cooking, it consistently satisfies my craving for everything from green curry to sundaes (P.S. Dewick is better).
5. Fourth floor dorms get really hot when there is no A/C.
6. Finding a group of friends from either a club, your hall, or team makes life a lot more fun. It becomes a lot easier to find someone to meet for a meal, or hang out with if you find a broad range of individuals to call your peeps. Regardless of whether or not you stay friends in six months, it’s nice to build some bonds to navigate being away from home and your decade long friendships.
7. Folding laundry is not fun. Period.
8. It’s easier to make the long walk to the gym if you find a workout buddy that will hold you accountable for getting in some much needed exercise.
9. Finding a good study spot makes for more efficient and ultimately shorter nights.
10. Sticking a mirror to your dorm door is never a good idea. The door will slam, and eventually the mirror with fall and shatter.
11. An hour of time between classes is the hardest to deal with because it’s not enough time to get anything done or go back to your dorm, but it’s equally too long to simply meander to your next class.
12. 97% humidity makes for a really hot day.
13. Olympic medals are just as heavy as they are rumored to be. When Gevvie Stone (silver medalist in the women’s single sculls) stopped by our practice the other day my month was just about made.
14. Although I had a moment of panic the night before school, I definitely made the right choice in Tufts.