Reid Palmer was originally attracted to Tufts for the rare opportunity to combine art, a liberal arts education, and football.
Palmer (LA '04) began his career as a Jumbo as a student of the five-year combined degree program, which allows students to graduate in five years with a B.A. from Tufts and a B.F.A from the Museum of Fine Arts. In addition to handling five-course semesters, Palmer played football all four years as an undergraduate student at Tufts.
Though his performance on the field as defense end was impressive, Palmer downplays his individual success as a football player at Tufts. "I've played on some really great teams," said Palmer, who was elected team captain his senior year. "[That's] much better than any individual success you can have because you're part of something larger than yourself, which is ultimately more rewarding."
Palmer eventually left the five-year MFA program during the spring of his junior year, after realizing his desire to continue with art wasn't as strong as it had been during high school. The decision gave Palmer more time to pursue football, and he has few regrets. "I think it's a really important thing to be able to explore all your interests," Palmer said.
Last year, Palmer graduated with a Bachelor's degree in American Studies. Now a graduate student at Tufts, Palmer still manages to balance academics with athletics.
For Palmer, working in Tufts football department as a graduate assistant is the result of a natural progression.
"I thought about what I wanted to be doing with my time, and the thing I enjoyed most here was playing football and being a part of that team, so it's a way to stay connected to it," Palmer said.
Currently, Palmer is "pretty focused on working with the football team and trying to make it a positive experience for the guys, because it was such a positive experience for me." Through his position as a graduate assistant, Palmer is exploring whether he might be interested in pursuing football coaching as a potential career path.
Palmer would like to see Tufts students being more supportive of the athletic department. "I think the kids who are involved [with athletics] spend a hell of a lot of time trying to be successful at something, and it makes it easier for them when they know they have support from the student body," Palmer said.
Palmer suggests attending fall sports on Saturdays, or spending a couple of hours at a basketball game during the week. "I think that would also help foster a better sense of community on campus," Palmer said.
One of Palmer's older brothers made it a priority to attend all Palmer's home football games. "It doesn't seem like much, but it means a lot when you're putting in all that time and effort to try and do well at something and there are people there who care and are supporting you," Palmer said. "It makes it that much easier."
Palmer is thankful for the support of his family. "My parents were the ones who encouraged me to look at a school like Tufts, to be in tune with what my own interests are so that I would pick a place that was right for me and not necessarily what they wanted," Palmer said.
Now, Palmer's days are usually "tied up doing football stuff and then classes." Still, he keeps it all in perspective. "I like to have a good time - there are things that are sometimes more important than getting straight A's and studying all the time," Palmer said. "There are good times with friends that are going to mean more than [that]."
Last winter, Palmer spent some time skiing with friends. "We would wake up early and go skiing, blow off school." He paused. "I don't promote blowing off school, but stuff like that meant more to me than being in a classroom, taking notes, doing well on a test."
Palmer attributes his "[appreciation] that life isn't all about work," in part, to the host family he stayed with during Tufts' seven-week study-abroad summer program in Talloires, France.
"You eat French meals with French families the way they eat their meals - you don't just sit there, rush through the dinner, and run off to do something else," Palmer said. "If ever I was home for lunch, the father of my house would come home for lunch - he's a doctor, a surgeon - but he'd come home for an hour and a half, two hours, and sit down, eat a meal, talk."
Palmer noticed that the people he met in France were "a little more relaxed and just enjoy being here, as opposed to always looking for something better."
In the future, Palmer is considering moving to the West Coast, which he thinks might contrast the fast-paced life of the Northeast that he is so used to, having grown up in upstate New York.
He also plans to travel. "It's a big world," he said. "Being 22, I feel so young, like there's so much to see. It's pretty crazy to think you can see it all, but you've got to at least want to."
Palmer has enjoyed his time at Tufts. "Tufts is one of the best schools in the country - if not in the world," Palmer said. "Overall, the amount of opportunities to explore your interests at Tufts is awesome. There are just so many different things students can do here, both in and out of the classroom."
Palmer has advice for students with years left at Tufts: "Meet some of the great people that are here and enjoy spending time with them," he said. "That's what you're going to take out of here more than anything."
Palmer strives continuously to be proactive in his life. "[Taking charge of your own life] is really important," he said. "You have to deal with yourself every day. If you can't deal with [yourself], I don't know how you can deal with other people."
