Dear future residents of Tilton, 1st Floor:
I can't tell you how lucky you guys are to have been assigned T1. It was my home my first year at Tufts, and the birthplace of many lifelong friendships and stories. When I first walked into Tilton on move-in day, I cringed. I don't know why I had expected some sort of neat hotel-like building, but what I found was quite the opposite of what I had hoped for. Tilton's old. And slightly delapidated. The tiled walls are an odd greenish-brown color. The common room couches have clearly been there for more years than any student would wish to guess. The kitchen, which contains an ice cream vending machine which apparently hasn't contained ice cream for generations of freshmen, is working, but that's the most anyone can say about it. Basically, it's not high class living.
That first night, my new roommate Sarah and I hunkered down in our beds, the only part of our room which we'd bothered unpacking, and talked for hours, snuggled in our covers, excited and apprehensive for the year to come. This was the first of many late night talks in T-110, and the beginning of a relationship with the girl I now proudly call my best friend at Tufts University. Meeting the rest of the floor started when our RA paired each of us up with another floormate and instructed us to learn as much as we could in a short period of time about our companion. The common room was filled with laughter and claps, as initial awkwardness gave way to hilarity and ease in the midst of a hoard of people who hardly knew each other. In those first few weeks, a family of funny, quirky, smart and beautiful individuals was formed, and the bonds of friendship tied us firmly together. No longer was dining a scary experience – T1 trooped to Dewick like a hoard of hungry sailors, loud and exuberant, happy and together. Coming back from classes felt like coming home to brothers and sisters, who were always willing to listen to you whine about such and such teacher. In an uncertain time when I wasn't sure how well I would deal with being an ocean away from my parents, T1 was there for me, coaxing me through difficult days, smiling with me on wonderful ones.
This spirit of close friendship only grew during the remainder of the year. More and more members were introduced to the T1 family, neverminding if they actually lived on T1 or not. Each new person's height was noted on the height chart (a simple sheet of purple paper from the Crafts' Center) that was taped to the wall until move-out day in the common room. And each one brought a new, incredible personality to T1 – from the honorary roommate of T-107 to the lax bro that left more stuff in T-110 than Sarah or I did. Hall snacks occurred each Tuesday at 10 pm, and brought us all together each week for eating contests and food fights. Dance parties (including glowsticks, obviously), spontaneously occurred on Wednesday afternoons in the darkened corridors. Movie nights were organized last minute, and proved that the nights spent packed into a room watching Harry Potter were just as needed as the night T1 dressed up entirely in plaid and went off to Theta Chi. Some upperclassmen laughed and shook their heads. Yes, we were incredibly “freshmen”. But we were also incredibly lucky to have been all placed together on one legendary hall. I don't often thank the Office of Residential Life for much, but in this particular case, they absolutely nailed it.
T1, you have no idea how much you have meant to me. Every single one of you added something to my life, and I know that in the years to come, although we may not always be together, we will always be in touch. I hope that you all have wonderful sophomore years, and that you find new families that will love and support you.
Future residents, I hope you find that T1 is as much of a home to you as I found there. Get to know each other, leave your door open, go down the hall inviting people to meals and events. Open yourself up to new people and points of view, and always respect one another. This is your first year of college, a fleeting but primordial moment, a magical experience. Laugh, cry, sing and dance... and hopefully you'll walk out of Tilton on the last day of your freshman year wondering how you could have possibly gotten so lucky. I know I did. Good luck T1, may you have many happy memories awaiting you.
Sincerely,
Gillian.
PS: A couple rooms have hidden notes in them for you guys from their previous occupants. Additionally, a giraffe is hidden somewhere on the floor. Have fun looking for them.