Navigating Spring in Somerville
Earlier in my tenure as a blogger, I wrote about my adaptation attempts in the Boston winters. Snow, sleet, hail, no matter the weather, Boston winters are tough. Well, it comes as no surprise then that spring in Boston is no easier—here is how to survive spring in Somerville.
In my experience, the third most challenging thing about spring is the pollen. With everyone out and about, it seems like all the allergens are whisked into the air immediately in front of your nose. Moreover, as your peers emerge from their study dens, they will start to pick up the sniffles, cough, or puffy eyes—eventually, everyone is getting sick. At Tufts, masks are available at locations like the Campus Center. If you prefer to forgo the mask in favor of a bare face, the bookstore has allergy medication at the ready. Either way, springtime brings life—bacteria sometimes hitch a ride. Of course, if allergies boil over into fever or worse, Health Services at Tufts are prepared to care for your needs.
The second most challenging thing about spring is the weather. In the wintertime, the weather infrequently fluctuates between gloomy and cloud—except for when the snow falls, when the campus turned crystal white for a few weeks. While it's cold and windy, the pretty views bring a bit of respite. In the spring, snow finds itself replaced by rain, and gloom finds itself replaced by wet. Tufts manages snowfall very well—driveways and sidewalks cleared, concrete stairs salted, but there is little that can be done about rain. Nevertheless, the dining halls, for instance, designate spaces for umbrellas dripping with rainwater. I have seen an umbrella rack at SMFA before as well.
The final, and most challenging, thing about spring is preparing for summer—many applications are due towards the end of March and early April: grants, graduate programs, department awards, etc. Combined with the stresses of the end of the semester, following through on deadlines can be difficult. I admit that I am not a frequenter of the career center at Tufts and SMFA; however, many of my close friends highly regard the centers. Not only can students receive assistance with resumes, cover letters, and other professional practice tools, but they also work with counselors to identify potential jobs or internships, strategize an application process and timeline, and then execute accordingly. Identity centers, professors, departments, among other areas in the Tufts community offer countless opportunities to discover potential programs that can ease the springtime stress of work in the summer.