The Dream
I was walking home from my first in-person tap dance rehearsal of the year, happily sloshing through puddles in my rain boots, when I realized that tap is my absolute favorite thing in the world. There is nothing I like better than choreographing and teaching tap numbers, and as I mounted the slick Memorial Steps, I imagined myself choreographing a big tap production number for a Broadway show, like Anything Goes or 42nd Street. Knocking myself out of my fantasy world, Barney Stinson’s voice ran through my head, saying, “That’s the dream.”
So my far-fetched, never-going-to-happen, dream is choreographing a tap number for a Broadway show, but that got me thinking, everyone at Tufts is so interesting. What is “the dream” for them?
Meghan Schroeder, an economics and political science double major, has a somewhat similar dream to mine. If she could, she would perform as Glinda on Broadway. While that certainly may not seem to line up with her interest in economics and political science, her tendency to plan ahead and analyze comes through in the second part of her dream, which is to live in a New York City brownstone with a big window, where she can sit each morning, sipping tea and eating toast, before walking her golden retriever in Central Park. I hope the dream comes true for her, because it sure does sound Wicked.
Kaycee Conover, an English and history double major, imagines herself reading Tolstoy under a tree in the English countryside. If she can’t have that, she’ll settle for owning one of those home libraries with the moving ladders, like in Beauty and the Beast. Kaycee hopes to study abroad next year, where she may get the chance to complete her dream. If you have any good book recommendations for Kaycee and me, be our guest, please share!
Aidan Chang, a film and media studies major, is a very talented artist. She dreams of using her skills to create her own animated show. When she isn’t working, she’ll be found at home with her dogs and family in her house that looks over Hollywood. Next to the house, there will be a large oak tree she can sit in to watch the Fourth of July Fireworks. While she is sitting in her tree, you will find me watching her show!
Julia Shufro, a history, French, and IR triple major, dreams of being the U.S. ambassador to the UN or to France. She hopes to live in Geneva, and travel to Paris on weekends. If that doesn’t pan out, she may pursue a career as a lawyer or a historian for the Hague, working for the ICJ or ICC in the Netherlands. While it is sad to think that Julia may never step foot in the U.S. again, I like to think that she will mail me a baguette.
My point in writing this is to show a) how interesting the students are here, and b) that what you study doesn’t need to relate to potential career choices or the dream. I am most likely studying history and psychology, but I do hope to choreograph for a local high school production or teach at a dance studio in my free time as a part-time gig. The opportunity I have to teach for Tufts Tap has allowed me to develop my teaching style and choreographic skills, preparing me to follow my dream (although probably not to Broadway).
There are many ways to achieve “the dream,” and many ways to follow your passions here at Tufts, whether they are related to your field of study or not. My advice to you, is that no matter what “the dream” is, make sure it is legen...wait for it...dary.