From History, With Love
On campus work is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when one counts down the days until they officially become a Jumbo. However, most of us Tufts kids will probably dabble with it once or twice during our college careers for a couple of reasons. Maybe you’d want to have a feel of the work experience, or save up for that Botanical Philosophy textbook for Professor Sprout’s class, or to simply associate yourself with the cool kids – and yes, the last one is an actual thing.
Working in the History Department’s main office has been a blast and a half. Mostly because I’m a big history head myself. I love learning and talking about history to my friends who do their best to pretend that they are half interested. (Bless them!) The Professors I get to work with are truly some of the quirkiest people on campus, and I strongly maintain that it does not get any quirkier than history.
However, the best part about working in History are my bosses Annette and Lori and my work – mates, let’s call them Jumbo, Babar and Corn (: such cute baby elephant names :). They light up my Monday and Tuesday afternoons with quirky office banter and the ever-brimming hot chocolate machine in the secret kitchen. Being in the office is always a blast, especially when Benji, Annette’s dangerously adorable dog pays a visit. And on top of that, we have a next – gen back to the future computer keyboard thingy THAT LET’S YOU SEE STUFF AS YOU TYPE IT! I think it’s called a type writer or something like that. Dealing with busy Professors and students who aren’t sure which concentration to pick has helped me to transform from an incredibly awkward person, to a warm, albeit incredibly awkward person.
So, as the financial aid letters start rolling out, and your mum won’t stop regaling you with swell stories about her first college job cleaning out rat cages in Professor Roof’s lab, know that work study doesn’t have to suck. In fact, in my experience, it can be one of the many highlights you’ll have on the Hill.
With love,
History.