Finding Community at Tufts
When I was deciding where to go to college, the word “community” came up constantly. I remember asking myself, What does that actually mean? Is it just about having friends? Is it about feeling like you belong the second you arrive? Now, almost a year into my Tufts journey, I have realized that community is not one single thing. It is everything.
Tufts welcomed me with open arms, but I did not feel instantly at home on day one or even week one. And that is okay. Real community takes time. It is built through small moments, shared experiences, and a little bit of courage.
For me, it started in unexpected places. A game of badminton in the gym where I met upperclassmen who showed me the ropes. A spontaneous hike with the Tufts Mountain Club where I found myself deep in conversation with people I had only just met. A volunteer event with the Cancer Outreach Club on an early Saturday morning that reminded me why I chose Tufts in the first place. People here genuinely care.
But what has made me stay at Tufts is special. When doing my college search, I was deep into the college website, about 50 tabs open on my laptop, and on a Tufts website I came across a few words Tufts uses to describe its students: Kind, curious, and collaborative. I remember sitting with those words and doing some self-introspection. I also showed those words to my friends and family, and all of them said, “That sounds like you.” I agreed. It felt like the right match. And now, after spending a year here, I can say with full confidence that those words truly describe our Tufts Jumbo community. Whether it is a familiar smile from someone you had one class with two semesters ago or a casual “hi” while passing each other on the President’s Lawn, there is a warmth on this campus that never feels forced. That is what makes Tufts feel like home.
Being involved in so many different groups, from Women Entrepreneurs to the Hindu Students Association, has given me a real appreciation for how layered and diverse this campus is. There is not just one Tufts community. There are many, and they all intersect. You can be pre-med and also passionate about art. You could be wanting to pursue engineering, but be invested in music. You can be into research and also host Diwali night. You do not have to pick one identity. You can build your own.
Some of the most meaningful communities I have found were not through clubs at all. They happened through real moments of vulnerability, courage, and awkwardness. Like when my roommate and I stayed up talking about feeling overwhelmed during our first finals week. Or when I nervously showed up to an event alone and left with three new GroupMe chats. Or when I gave my first tour and a student told me, “You made Tufts feel like a place I could see myself.”
Finding community at Tufts is not about fitting in. It is about showing up. It is about joining the club you are curious about, saying hi to someone in the dining hall, and allowing yourself to be a little uncomfortable. And it is about realizing that everyone else is also looking to connect, even if they do not always say it out loud.
So if you are reading this and wondering what community will look like for you, I cannot give you an exact answer. But I can promise this. At Tufts, there is space for you to create it. And chances are, the people who become your people are just one conversation, one club meeting, or one late night common room chat away.