Today I sprinted out of Capen house and tore up the side of the hill adjacent to the Tisch library. All the while muttering under my breath, “so late, so late,” and completely disregarding the raindrops pelting my Tufts 2020 shirt and the history paper crushed under one armpit .This is my life now, a constant uphill and downhill run punctuated by unpredictable New England weather and a shameless tendency to stay in the Dewick dining hall longer than I should. Yet I couldn’t possibly love it more.
I never visited Tufts before applying (again Zimbabwe), never came to Jumbo days or got a big blue rubber jumbo – disclaimer: I may or may not be salty about this. Instead I took a blind leap with Tufts. A reckless chance driven by a love I hadn’t known before. I threw caution to the wind and went after my passion. Everyday is a reward for taking that chance.
Tufts did not wow me. Don’t get me wrong, Boston took my breath away; it’s a beautiful, beautiful city. Tufts instead fulfilled me. Not at all did I marvel for thirty seconds at how different everything was. It’s been a thirty day moment of appreciation. Every single day is bursting with new discovery, daring adventure, inspiration, laughter, work and a quirkiness that shines from everyone here. I'm one of the lucky ones, my college is a perfect fit for me - in fact it is the glass slipper to my Cinderella. Tufts is an extension of who I am - and a definition of who I want to be.
Romance aside, classes have begun and days are turning into deadlines. My Facebook timeline lies desolate, neglected for days on end. The summer is gone now, replaced by fall. The laughter is still here though. The Dewick still hits me with its warmth when I go in for a snack (which may or may not be a whole pizza). The Steve Tisch fitness center still buzzes and shakes to the rhythms of the feet of Tuftsonians running on its treadmills. A lot is changing, but the one statement that has held true since my first day here holds true today.
I am happy.
Photo Credit 09kszabo, Digital art, Deviant art.