Reflecting on My First Year
It is hard to believe my first year is already over. I remember getting accepted to Tufts and then applying for Civic Semester. It feels like yesterday that I found out I was going to Thailand for my first semester of college.
That semester was truly a life-changing experience. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and immersed myself in a completely new culture and environment. I gained hands-on experience through an incredible NGO and learned about Indigenous issues in Thailand. Civic Semester is an amazing way to immerse yourself in a new language. I never thought I would be able to be conversational in such a complex language in a matter of weeks, but with my host mom I was speaking every day. My homestay experience was truly special. I know I’ve written about it often, but my host mom was a very special person who made Thailand feel like home. My instructors did an incredible job making sure we all got the most from the experience. No matter how many pictures you see, they never live up to the experience. Civic Semester was a special experience and one that changed how I will travel for the rest of my life.
Coming back to campus I was nervous — everything seemed new and I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, looking back I had worried for nothing. I truly enjoyed all of my classes, especially my Arabic class. My professor effortlessly made class engaging and fun, and I always looked forward to it. I joined the club women’s rugby team, which gave me the opportunity to meet new people and try something different. I had no clue how to play rugby but found myself loving the sport more and more after every practice. I also became a writing fellow and will help tutor and review students’ writing during the fall. It wouldn’t be a semester without some fun events: a friend and I went to a Boston Symphony Orchestra concert because Tufts students got in for free, and we often found ourselves at New City Microcreamery in Central Square (definitely the best ice cream around!).
My first year was truly special and a time when I pushed myself out of my comfort zone in a good way. Especially after my first semester, I was no longer afraid to try new things and apply for opportunities I was interested in. My first year flew by, and I’m excited to see what my sophomore year holds.