As a junior this year, I have been reflecting on my growth, both as a person and as a student at Tufts. I think the best reflection of this growth can actually be seen in my schedules. My first semester at Tufts, I was all academics – I took four classes both semesters (a normal load), but I did not join any clubs and I did not have a job.
Contrast this with my second semester, when I joined Encendido (Tufts’ only on-campus Latinx dance group), attended two of United for Immigrant Justice’s general meetings, and got my first on-campus job. It was important for me to give myself time to adjust to the academics at Tufts and living on my own- so I do not regret not being super involved on campus right off the bat.
Fast forward to today, and some would say that I am overcommitted. I am enrolled in five classes (one of which is tennis, to get my fit on!), working three jobs, president of United for Immigrant Justice, and still in Encendido. Although my responsibilities (both academically and non-academically) have grown exponentially, I think my two years at Tufts have prepared me to manage my multiple commitments. My passion for my clubs, and the support that I receive from my community through the FIRST Resource Center (supporting first-gen, low-income and students with undocumented status) have given me systems and mechanisms to stay on top of things and ask for help when I need it.