For me, the hardest part about transferring has just arrived. The first semester was difficult because I was finding my footing on top of this hill, but now the dust has settled and yet I feel as if the toughest part has just begun. In the fall, my transfer friends and I were one big group of inexperienced kiddies. My friends and I reminded me of the group of anchovies from the very first episode of SpongeBob – we followed each other mindlessly and could only communicate by saying “meep”. Like the anchovies, we were amateurs, but there was still a strong sense of security and comfort associated with belonging to this group. As the semester progressed, we began using our other resources including: our advisors, teaching assistants, and the advice of other non-transfer students. As we reached out to the Tufts community, the transfer bond began to vanish and we metamorphosed from our transfer cocoon into capable, seasoned Jumbos.
As winter break approached, we were no longer introduced as transfer students. Instead, we became known for our writing for her campus, and for our Sunday evening radio show, or even for our participation in the Korean Students Association. Instead of texting the transfer group chat in search of meal companionship, we would now sit with our fraternity brothers, our mountain club family or our club tennis teammates. The time had come where us transfers became serious contributors to the Tufts community.
But as I write about the changes, I look forward to the next time my first group of friends will get together. Unlike in the beginning, our schedules are now filled with club events, team meetings and Greek life functions, but that makes group reunions even more special. It is inspiring to see the once lost anchovies, grow to embody core characteristics of the Tufts community: involvement, persistence, grace and integrity.