Finding your Community at Tufts
Upon my first day at Tufts I was severely overwhelmed. I wasn’t acquainted with a single soul unlike my peers who completed a pre-orientation program. I managed to get acquainted with some of my peers who completed a pre-orientation program and they introduced me to other students who completed a pre-o as well. Instantly, I was introducing myself to many Tufts students from every walks of life. Despite this odd feeling of exhaustion due to meeting so many people, I felt more secure in the idea that I would find my community at Tufts.
Within my first week at Tufts I went to the students organization fair. I explored many of the student organizations and within the first month at Tufts I was a member of Tufts Running Club, History Society and the Caribbean Student Organization. I enjoyed the running club because it made me discover my love for running. The last time I professionally ran was during 3rd grade which was practically ages ago but despite my lack of experience I was still accepted in the club. Through the club, I made some friends whom I still talk to as a sophomore. I also enjoyed history club because it was a warm environment where I was able to express my love for history.
The Caribbean Student Organization played a very significant role in my time at Tufts thus far. I believe that finding a community of people you can relate to is a very important thing that many of us long for. Throughout my first semester at Tufts I was postponing attending a meeting held by the Caribbean Student Organization. It wasn’t until the final end of the semester, at the dawn of finals season, that I decided to attend the first meeting.
The meeting took place in the Africana Center which was a place I was already well acquainted with. During this meeting
we talked about our experiences growing up in Caribbean households. Although this was my first time meeting these other students who share the same identity as me, I realized that I wasn’t alone. From that meeting forward, I regularly attended meetings hosted by the Caribbean Student Organization and now I am currently one of the events coordinators for the club.
My exposure to all these clubs prompted me to join another student-led organization. During my winter break I decided to apply to Strong Women, Strong Girls, which is a club consisting of Tufts students who mentor children between grades three to five in the Medford/Somerville area. At the start of the second semester of my freshman year I found out that I got accepted to the club. Strong Women, Strong Girls is another club where I was able to find my community at Tufts. What I greatly appreciate about Tufts is the fact that as students, we aren’t placed in a box or one community we belong to. Due to the number of resources and opportunities presented at Tufts, any student will find it possible to belong to a place where they fit in at Tufts.