Tufts students spend upward of 200 days each year at school. While it often feels like so much is going wrong in our world, both near and far, we want to make your time here more enjoyable by drawing attention to some of our favorite parts about life on the Hill.
Our outdoor campus is interspersed with grassy patches and lovely seating like the stools behind Bendetson Hall or the terraces next to Paige Hall and Miner Hall.
In the winter months, for those who venture out into the snow to sled, ski or slide on President’s Lawn, they’re buffered from dangerous collisions by haystacks that are placed by trees or poles — thanks to the staff who so graciously anticipate students’ behavior and want us to be safe while we have fun.
Each spring, after battling the cold and the horrors of midterms, the Medford/Somerville campus blooms with tulips, daffodils and lilacs. As the days get longer and we finally leave the basement of the Tisch Library, the colors that sprout all over campus are a beautiful sight that almost makes us forget how long the winter has been. Remember to take a moment to thank the Tufts Facilities team for all the preparation and upkeep they do to make our campus so stunning.
The area surrounding Tufts is beautiful as well, and we want to remind readers to take advantage of its walkability. Depending on which side of campus you live on, you probably have easy access to communities like Davis Square, Medford Square or Ball Square. Our regular shuttle can help shorten the distance too. For some fresh air, the closeby Alewife Greenway Bike Path and Somerville Community Path offer some more natural solace. And maybe take a dip in the Mystic River, just a long walk or short bike ride away.
When all that walking tires you out, stop by fan-favorite Kindlevan Café for a smoothie. The smoothies are consistently good, take no time at all to pick up and are served with so much care from the ever-kind and patient workers — a perfect pick-me-up for your midday slump. It’s no wonder they sell out every day.
Most of all, we are so appreciative of how friendly the Tufts community is. It’s amazing to see our peers show up to support their friends at all sorts of events, from dance performances that draw lines outside Cohen Auditorium to off-campus gallery openings where a friendly face can make all the difference. It’s incredible to have a community at Tufts where our friends are there for us and take an interest in the extracurriculars we dedicate our time to.
Students here are driven, but not overly competitive. We support each other in our classes. We even teach each other about our niche — and oftentimes unconventional — interests through the Experimental College. We make clubs and activities open to anyone, regardless of who they are or their experience. From a myriad of bands to club field hockey, whatever you’re interested in is open for you to join. Love permeates the Tufts community — you can sense it as students, staff and faculty warmly greet each other on campus, or as someone quickly serves you food at a campus event.
To everyone graduating, a huge congratulations, and to those with a couple more years left, we hope that Commencement will serve as a reminder that your journey at Tufts may fly by quickly, so remember to savor the journey and take a moment to smell the roses.
