Making the most of Boston as a Tufts student
The Tufts campus has a lot to offer. Whether it’s study nooks or just places to catch up with friends and relax, Tufts provides a cozy, tight knit environment to nurture both academic and social life. When studying, I often find myself in Tisch’s quiet, homey first floor, Barnum’s snug lower level by the windows, or the top floor of Ginn Library facing the courts, a perfect place to appreciate the fall sunsets on campus while simultaneously being productive.
When I want to catch up with friends, however, I will either meet them at their dorm rooms, at the quaint Danish Pastry House over coffee, or have a thrift and bubble tea date. While all of these places have been a vital part of my Tufts experience as well as to other Tufts students, in order to fully appreciate the campus and the things that Tufts and the neighborhoods it resides in has to offer, I found that going off campus and experiencing other parts of Boston helps to contrast and highlight its unique qualities.
Recently I have been going to independent nail technicians for my nail appointment, and nail techs that I have been going to consistently this semester are all located in Dorchester, an area that I was largely unfamiliar with until now. The train ride out to Dorchester is about 30-45 minutes from Tufts, however, the ride usually goes quickly with the right playlist. Instead of leaving immediately after my appointments or taking the train to arrive just in time for my appointment, I’ve learned to give myself a bit of a buffer before and after my appointment to explore more and familiarize myself with the area.
Before my latest appointment in Dorchester I went to grab a drink, and it is here that I’ve had among some of the best bubble tea in Boston so far at CoCo Akoko, a Vietnamese pastry and dessert cafe a short walk from Fields Corner. While I have to explore much of Dorchester and all it has to offer, I’ve realized exploring Boston and its different niches is so crucial to gaining more perspective on what makes Tufts and Medford/Somerville unique.
As a member of the class of 2027, I am now more than halfway through my Tufts education, however, I intend to use as many opportunities as possible to take advantage of not just what Tufts has to offer, but also Boston as a whole.