Tufts Blogs

As I prepare for my final year at Tufts studying Studio Art and Human Factors Psychology, I’ve become increasingly grateful for my first two years living on the Medford/Somerville campus as an art student. Whether it was late-night chats in common rooms or simply running into friends on the way to class, living on campus was a really lovely way to build relationships and begin to feel connected to the community around me.

During my first two years at Tufts I lived in Tilton Hall and Harleston Hall. Looking back, some of my favorite college memories happened in those buildings. That, for me, has meant tons of movie nights in my residence hall with friends, tea parties and study nights in common rooms, and making hot chocolate and cookies together during the first snow of the year. In a residence hall as large as Harleston Hall, you really get to make friends naturally. You just start recognizing people from the laundry room, run into classmates on your way downstairs, and before long there seems to be familiar faces around every corner. So many of the friends that have really defined my college experience began simply because we happened to live in the same building.

Living on the Medford campus also makes it easy to participate in the clubs and student organizations that are such an important part of student life. Many of the clubs at Tufts, from service organizations like the Leonard Carmichael Society to performance groups like Torn Ticket II, meet on the Medford campus. Being able to walk home after an evening meeting makes it super easy to stay involved and build relationships outside of the classroom, which is especially important in your first couple years. 

Many of these organizations are also deeply connected to the surrounding community. The club I lead, Project Linus, brings students together to make handmade blankets that we donate to children experiencing illness or other difficult circumstances. This semester, we donated tons of blankets to Mass Eye & Ear Hospital so that young patients could have something soft, colorful, and comforting during their stay. One of my favorite parts of the organization is how we build friendships as we make the blankets, while contributing something meaningful to the broader local community.

Another thing I love about living on campus is how connected Tufts feels to the neighborhoods around it. Sometimes that local community even exists right on campus! One of my favorite Tufts traditions has been the Saturday morning dog meetups on President’s Lawn. Local residents—some affiliated with Tufts and many not—bring their dogs to campus, and tons of students gather to pet the adorable dogs, chat with neighbors, and enjoy a relaxing start to the weekend. It’s become my favorite way to get to know people beyond the university. Through those Saturday mornings, I’ve met countless dogs and their owners, and have even gotten to enjoy some dog-walking outside of Saturdays along the way.

I think that intermingling between the Tufts community and the surrounding community is what I most appreciate about living in this area. Students aren’t isolated within a college bubble, we regularly interact with local residents, through volunteering and community events and festivals. Somerville Porch Fest, for example, transforms the neighborhood into a music festival! Musicians perform from their front porches, tons of folks gather to enjoy the live music and community, and it’s hands-down the most popular local event among students. I have friends that live nearby in Boston or Malden and come into Somerville for the day, just to enjoy the music. I also love Somerville Open Studios, which happens annually and involves local artists opening up their studios to the public. If you’re into art, as I am, it’s a great way to build a creative community or talk shop with folks as interested in a creative practice as you. Tufts even hosts Community Day, which is an annual tradition that invites our neighbors onto campus for a day of performances, activities, and food.

So, as I get ready for my final year, I’m reflecting on how these friendships I’ve built in dorm lounges, the clubs I’ve joined, the local events I’ve attended, and even the dogs I’ve met on Saturday mornings have all shaped my experience at Tufts. While I spend plenty of time in Boston on the SMFA campus for classes, work, exhibitions, events, and more, the sense of community here in Medford has truly made this area feel like home.