Tufts Blogs

Since the semester has started, I’ve had two of my high school friends come visit me at Tufts. Since I hadn’t seen them since winter break ended, I was super excited to reconnect and was counting down the days. Having my childhood friends meet my new college friends truly does feel like one of those Disney Holiday Special crossover episodes. And it has been so much fun.

Especially now that the semester is in full swing and we are approaching the start of midterm season, it’s easy to get sucked up in a monotonous routine. But as a freshman, I know that there is still so much to explore at Tufts. Having a friend stay for the weekend ended up not just being a wonderful reunion, but also a reminder for me of all the wonderful things that exist on this campus! As I wanted to make the most of our weekend together, I was forced to shut my laptop off and really stay present in the moment. Especially as I was giving them a tour, I realized that I was proud to be able to call this beautiful campus my home… even during this time of year, when the trees on Prez Lawn are barren and the campus is dark by 5pm. We reflected on our different college experiences, reminisced about home, and had a great time exploring all my favorite spots on campus! 

For any future long weekends, I can not recommend it enough. Of course, be courteous and check with your roommate(s) that having a guest is okay with them. And definitely don’t overdo it, at least for the sake of your roommate—after all, all good things come in moderation! 

And there are a few other things to keep in mind: I would recommend planning out sleeping arrangements (Sleeping bags? Air mattress? Tough it out in the Twin XL?), making sure you have enough guest swipes for the dining halls, and having some basic agenda. Personally, our plans were on the looser side but we still made time to visit Boston sights in Newbury Street and the Museum of Fine Arts. In fact, it was actually my first time going to the museum also! We also went to Cambridge for dinner with other high school friends who go to surrounding colleges—BU, MIT, Northeastern… one of the perks of Boston is that there is such a wide network of students! But also leave room to just catch-up at the Sink and to introduce them to your friends here! Watching these connections come to life and being able to bridge the old with the new was the most beautiful experience. I’m super grateful for my home friends for being willing to make the trek up to Boston, and to my college friends for being so welcoming. These weekends have honestly been some of the highlights of my semester. And who knows? Maybe I’ll be the one paying the visit next time!

Photo Credit: Almer Yu