From shoestring fries to well-adorned study spots, here’s what Tufts students are thankful for this semester.
The President’s Lawn
The picturesque green hill sandwiched between the library and President Monaco’s house, nicknamed “The Prez Lawn,” is a beautiful place to spend time during any season! From dressing up to have a fancy picnic under the trees in the fall, to screaming with laughter as we hurtle down the snowy hillside on sleds in the winter, or to blasting music and throwing a Frisbee in the spring, there’s no better place to be with friends.
—Emma Wolfe ’20
Payback in Kind
I am thankful for the kindness that encapsulates this community. It sounds hackneyed, I know. Implausible even, that of the 5,500 students on our campus, you can count on every single one of them being a genuinely nice person. I know it baffles my parents every time they visit. Even I didn’t believe it prior to coming here. Now I consciously remind myself not to take for granted that my friends, classmates, and even people I don’t know go out of their way to help and uplift one another.
—Jacob Shaw ’21
Midnight Mac ‘n’ Cheese
If there’s anything you should know about college students, you should know they love to eat. Sadly, as much as we would love it, the dining halls are not open 24/7. However, on almost every Friday and Saturday night throughout the school year, Tufts opens up Carmichael Dining Center and the Commons Marketplace from about 9 PM to 1 AM, providing a space for students to eat and hang out. Thank you, late-night dining, for satisfying my cravings with some tasty shoestring fries, mac ‘n’ cheese, pizza, and not to forget, some great veggie trays.
—Nkem Aduka ’21
A Place to Cocoon
Ginn Library feels eloquent, like I shouldn’t be there studying in sweatpants at 11 PM. However, it’s in no way pretentious—its long rows of tables, gorgeously high ceilings, and cozy atmosphere are all incredibly welcoming. Ginn is my home for my heaviest nights of studying and my lightest afternoons of reading. I couldn’t be more thankful for it.
—Chris Panella ’21
Spiritual Life
Besides being light on classes, Fridays are a day of spiritual recollection. I’m thankful for being able to meditate in Goddard Chapel at noon with the Buddhist Sangha, pray Jumu’ah at 1:30 PM with the local Muslim population of Somerville and Medford at the Interfaith Center, attend 6 PM Shabbat services at the Hillel Center with my Jewish friends, go to a reunion of my interfaith pre-orientation program (CAFE: Conversation, Action, Faith, and Education), and finish the night with board games at the Muslim House just down the street. After a week heavy with quizzes and deadlines, the spiritual uplift is more than welcome.
—Hasan Khan ’22
Free Admission to the MFA
A spontaneous escape to different worlds both old and new is made easy for students thanks to Tufts’ free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts. A mere 20-minute shuttle ride and 5-minute walk from the SMFA at Tufts campus transports students from familiar lecture halls to stunning galleries. The MFA proves itself to be a fruitful getaway to a new learning environment, where students can freely explore new parts of the world through the perspectives of diverse artistic styles.
—Keesha Patron ’21
Social Engineering
Despite the myth that all engineers are illiterate shut-ins, our engineers are a rather social bunch. My first big project here at Tufts was to construct a miniature golf course. We did this in groups of threes, so it was super nice to have someone to make the building process go by quicker, sanity check all of my ideas, and have engaging conversations with to pass the time. At the end of the project, not only did I have a miniature golf course that took up a ton of space in my dorm room, but I also had two new friends to be thankful for.
—Carter Silvey ’20
'It’s About Time'
I’m thankful for the vast amount of resources that are accessible to students on campus. More specifically, the Academic Resource Center (ARC) has helped me tremendously in improving my time management skills. I’ve found that an excellent way to help facilitate the transition to a college schedule is to book an appointment with one of the many ARC tutors and plan out a study schedule for that week. Not only is it a way to hold myself accountable, but it’s taught me important skills that I will use throughout my time at Tufts.
—John Mattson ’22
Best of All Worlds
I am very thankful for the family I have found at Tufts. When I first got to the university a year ago from Spain, I was rather scared to be so far from home. However, I met a vibrant community of people from different backgrounds, and I have learned so much from them. I loved learning about Bengali culture from my roommate and her family while visiting them in Florida, trying Brazilian food with my best friend from Porto Alegre, and the long conversations about our cultures with my friend from Pakistan.
—Marina Rueda Garcia ’21
One Cohesive Neighborhood
As I walk to class, listening to the laughter and banter that simulates background music, I reciprocate the kind-eyed smiles of passersby. Students’ lives here are also intertwined with the families that live in the vicinity, the couples that walk their dogs and push strollers past the textbook-laden individuals. Simple moments of gratitude allow for a revelation: On the Hill, I am both a student and a community member.
—Isabel Davis ’22