FOUNDATION- Finding my Footing Through Tufts Mock Trial
I’ve often heard the transition from high school into college summed by this metaphor: You get thrown into an ocean, and you’ve got to learn how to…
Applying as a transfer during my first year of college, I had to completely reassess my priorities in a school. I found that location was the root from which many important opportunities would grow. While Boston was a huge change for me geographically, having grown up in Los Angeles, its city status made it feel even closer to home than the small-town schools just a few hours’ drive away from LA. From the moment I arrived at Tufts, I knew that this city would play a huge role in my enjoyment and success here. Here are some of the reasons why:
Independence
At my first college, located in rural Pennsylvania, all too often I felt trapped inside the school’s bubble and limited by the boundaries of the campus. From orientation week onward, Tufts encourages you to get off campus, whether it be to the hub of Davis Square or across the river into bustling Boston. One of my fondest memories from O-week is heading over to Newbury Street with my fellow transfers and seeing the city for ourselves, learning to navigate and love what would become our new home.
Volunteer Opportunities
Being in a city encourages you to go out and take charge of your own personal growth, learning to make use of the ample experiences that await. Tufts has a club for almost every interest, and especially exceeds in the field of community service. Opportunities with these on-campus clubs are made possible by the relationship the school has with different organizations around the city and partnerships with the student organizations of other colleges. A tutoring organization I was involved in was able to devote one-on-one attention to over fifty students in the Greater Boston area through its affiliation with Tufts, Boston College, Harvard, and Lesley. Even when searching for opportunities that are not affiliated with Tufts, the city makes it easy to find a well-established organization for any of your interests. This past summer, when an internship went awry, I was able to find new and fulfilling volunteer work within days at the Massachusetts Historical Society and the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center.
People
I believe that in any situation it’s the people that make the place, but it’s an amazing place that draws in amazing people. Boston is a global destination, and people want to be here. As a result, the students at Tufts come from all over the country and other parts of the world, bringing memories about where they grew up and often sharing the desire to explore the city and beyond. I quickly met people that thrive on traveling and adventure, making memories such as driving up to New Hampshire to ski on our first weekend back from winter break and spending a summer day an hour north of Tufts at Singing Beach.
I’ll never forget my first night at Tufts, when I realized that I had a perfect view of the Boston skyline from my dorm room window, and standing outside on the roof with transfers and returning students discussing why we picked Tufts. Whenever I look out onto the skyline, the city lights are a constant reminder of how much more is beyond school, and the world that this university is training me to enter.
I’ve often heard the transition from high school into college summed by this metaphor: You get thrown into an ocean, and you’ve got to learn how to…
Hello Everyone :)
I am Cristina, a junior studying Human Factors Engineering, here at Tufts University. I was born in Arequipa, Peru but lived…
The lights dim in the concert hall. Silence fills the expectant air as the backstage door opens. Thunderous applause follows the maestro as he walks…