A Semester in Review
At the end of my third semester, I thought I’d take the opportunity to share my experiences as a sophomore here at Tufts. Going through my fall semester…
Wait...How Do You Spell That?
I’m sorry...How do you spell that again?
Perhaps I should enunciate more and place more emphasis on the T and S sound, but in my hometown, it wouldn’t make a difference. I’ve been asked if this university is pronounced “Tuffs”, “Tuft”, “Tusk”, and several other variations that don’t add up. As a midwesterner, Tufts isn’t a familiar university. It’s a school that sounds nice, but you have no actual clue as to what or where it is. In fact, my familiarity with Tufts only began in my senior year of high school. It wasn’t until I attended the Voices program that I could truly get a feel for what Tufts was.
The Voices application process and program immersed me into Tufts’ culture & community, and I gradually fell more in love. The Voices fly-in program served as a diverse and transformative experience that allowed me to experience college for a night: going to classes, meeting new people, navigating study spaces on campus, and eating in the dining halls. Outside of the fact that these hills killed my legs and my lungs, I loved every part of it. As I approached prospective and continuing students alike with questions and comments, I was surprised by the friendliness that I received. It was beautiful to see the diverse onset of organizations and clubs that Tufts has to offer. This experience truly made the Tufts experience more than I could have imagined.
Yeah, Tufts is rainbows and sunshine, but can I be real for a second? Initially, Tufts was a culture shock in more ways than one. In a city where beauty supply stores and fast-food restaurants are on every corner, Tufts is like a Sahara when it comes to these things. As a low-income student of color, I’ve struggled with finding places to buy natural hair care products for my 4c coils. My wallet also took a hit when I realized that the dining food wasn’t going to cut it. GrubHub & UberEats became my best friend and my wallet’s worst enemy. It was taxing trying to navigate this unfamiliar space. Nevertheless, I found friends, communities, and beauty supply stores that have become a safe haven for me. I have found a community of beautiful individuals that has made Tufts one of the best places for me. A place where my voice is heard amongst the herd appreciated and listened to.
Despite having made this place my home, I must provide a word of caution, don’t fall too deeply in love with a school. What I mean is, don’t put an academic institution on a pedestal without acknowledging some of their issues and red flags. Regardless of my admiration for Tufts, I also notice and address many of the concerns within this university. My qualms and concerns revolve around a multitude of issues such as the fight for dining staff, discussions about the masking of Jumbo, limited accessibility on this campus, and the list can go on. These are issues that the student body continuously tries to fight for. That’s one thing that I love about the students at Tufts. We are unapologetically at the forefront of it all, we call out the problems, and take actions to seek change. Tufts is a place for innovators, change-makers, risk-takers, and the curious - like you!
Without further adieu, Welcome to TUFTS.
P.S. to all my prospective students in the age of COVID, I hope that the virtual element of fly-in programs doesn’t deter you from applying as you will still be able to meet amazing students and faculty :)
