Exploration has been the highlight of my summer on campus so far. As a new tour guide for the Undergraduate Admissions Office, I made it my mission to dig deeper into everything Tufts has to offer beyond the usual places I visit during the school year. When classes are in full swing, it’s easy to forget just how many resources are right at my fingertips. For example, last week, I discovered that Tufts has a free bike rental service through Tisch Library.
At the front desk, I presented my Student ID to confirm student status and was directed to Bike 11, located by the astronomically large chess board. I hadn’t ridden a bike in almost two years, and even then, I had just re-learned after not riding since I was nine. I still recall some of the key takeaways from my childhood lessons. Taking these hazy memories from a decade and two years ago, I was anxious about falling when I first got on, but I knew I needed to try at least.
My first hurdle was trying to unlock the bike, which took me about ten minutes to figure out. I hesitated asking for help because something about it felt like a challenge I needed to conquer on my own. Once I unlocked it, I strapped in my helmet and gradually rode with both feet down, stopping every five seconds in fear of falling. I kept this steady pace for a couple of minutes until I gathered the courage to take my feet off the ground. The moment I did this, I almost fell, but luckily my instincts were sharp enough to keep me from hitting the ground. This made me more nervous, but excited that my feet were on the pedal for two whole seconds. It was progress.
On my second attempt, I remembered to keep my upper body neutral because the bike would emulate whatever shape I was in. With that in my mind, I fixed myself upright. It was a wobbly ride for the first few seconds, but before I knew it, I had ridden two full blocks without stopping. I was in awe of myself and confident that I could continue to ride without falling. And so I did. I ended up riding for about twenty minutes that day, only slowing down when I came to a turn. Still working on that one.
Nonetheless, that bike ride became more than just a summer adventure—it became a metaphor. At Tufts, experiences like these remind me that growth often begins the moment you’re willing to take your feet off the ground. It’s in those wobbly, uncertain instances—whether it’s hopping on a bike again, speaking up in a new class, or taking on a leadership role—that confidence is built. Tufts creates space for these leaps, big and small, encouraging us to try, stumble, and steady ourselves again. Just like riding that bike, every risk I’ve taken here has carried me a little further in my journey, and I’m excited to see where the next turn takes me. There is much more road ahead, and while I may not always know exactly where I’m headed, I know I have the tools and the courage to keep pedaling forward.