Tufts Blogs

October is officially here, and I have two very important announcements! Number One: It’s Spooky Season my friends, and you best bet I already have a long queue of Halloween movies waiting to be binge watched! Number Two: I have officially finished my first month of college! As I continue through the fall semester, I reflect on my personal development- what’s been great so far, not so great, and things I’m looking forward to. 

The first thing that strikes my mind when I look back at the first month of college is my classes. One of the best things about university is that we have the opportunity to choose our own classes. I am genuinely interested in and passionate about all my courses. Actively engaging in my classes feels so much more natural at Tufts, compared to high school, because I can connect to the material. Even in my distribution requirement courses, I feel content with the curriculum, because I am being taught by faculty that have dedicated their entire lives to these specific subjects, and have an effective passion and methodology for teaching fundamentals. Another amazing aspect of education at Tufts, is the emphasis on participation and learning from other students through smaller class sizes. Though there are large lectures for popular courses here, I’ve found that the majority of my schedule consists of groups no larger than 25 people. This has truly helped me engage with lessons, and feel less isolated when I’m struggling. I specifically enjoy this, because I have gained confidence in my intellectual and academic capabilities. Active peer discussions help us realize that we are not the only ones who are struggling from time to time, thus forming tight knit and kind communities in all my classes. 

Something that hasn’t been going as great for me is socialization. Tufts has a wonderful community. It’s the type of place where people will hold the door for you, greet you, and be courteous no matter who you are. However, I acknowledge that I haven’t taken advantage of this kindness as much as I could have in my first month here. Though I signed up for many interesting club information meetings my first week here, I didn’t end up going to the majority of them. Though I’ve connected with amazing people in my classes, I haven’t made many efforts to hang out with them outside of school. I’m not necessarily angry with myself for this, because I know that adjusting to campus life was a difficult process for me, and took up a large portion of my first month here. Between acclimating to dorm life, the heavy workload, and being in Massachusetts for the first time, it's understandable that I had a hard time prioritizing my social life. However, I would advise any fellow introverted freshmen in future years to not avoid this part of college. Meeting new people is scary, but it’s inevitable and something that needs to be done. Instead of remaining in a state of uncomfort and uncertainty, I encourage you to get out there and have fun. It is never too late to meet new people at Tufts, so I am going to start putting in more effort in my relationships, and challenge myself to do better from now on!

My last point of reflection is something I am looking forward to at Tufts. Without a doubt, I have to say I’m most looking forward to my transition into adulthood. As much as I have enjoyed the spontaneous and chaotic life of adolescence, I am so excited to gain some independence and start taking on more responsibilities. Though I’ve definitely struggled with consistency so far, especially when it comes to doing chores I am confident that I will naturally find stability and routine in my future semesters at Tufts. I look forward to many more solo trips to Whole Foods, and returning to my dorm beaming with a sense of accomplishment for buying my own groceries. I am excited for more weekend deep cleans with my Swiffer, the world’s single greatest invention, and planning out my weekly to-do’s and schedule.

My first month at Tufts was a rollercoaster. But through all the ups and downs, I have found happiness, and know it will only get better from here. I can’t wait to share many more of my experiences with you all, but until then, take care!

Amba Raghavan