We are about halfway through Term One and I’m starting to feel very settled and comfortable on campus! I think a big concern for everyone (both on campus and remote) as we began the new school year was how we would all stay connected and foster community. Fostering community has looked very different this year, but nonetheless I think we’ve found creative ways to connect with one another.
While I am on campus for this semester, several of my close friends at Wellesley chose to study remotely this year. It has definitely been strange to experience Wellesley without them, but we have managed to stay connected through texts and late night FaceTime calls to replace our midnight conversations in each other’s rooms that would normally take place!
On campus social life also looks very different this year. With safety measures in place and travel to Boston very discouraged, Wellesley’s campus and the surrounding area have been the new spots to hang out and explore. We have recently been enjoying the nature on campus and taking lots of lake walks and strolls around campus. As today is the first day of fall, the leaves are just starting to change color, and I’m so excited! Wellesley is absolutely beautiful in the fall, and I will be sure to upload some pictures once we reach peak fall foliage! The Ville (town surrounding Wellesley) is a good spot to walk to on weekends for some ice cream (JP licks and Truly’s), Thai food, or a CVS snack run! There’s also several grocery stores and shops a bit further down if you continue walking or bike! We’ve also established the tradition of Friday movie nights at Acorn’s (an identity based space on campus for Asian, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ students) which has been lots of fun! So far we have watched a few Bollywood movies, Charlie’s Angles (2019), and On the Basis of Sex (following the passing of RBG). I’ve also been eating lunch and dinner outside socially distanced with friends and that’s always a great way to catch up with each other during the day! There have been a few socially distanced in person/ virtual events put on by the college that we all try to attend to together. Last weekend we went to a trivia night and this week we will be painting by the lake!
I have also found a great community with my block group and dorm. I live in Pomeroy Hall this year, and the POMmunity has been so welcoming and vibrant! This year we have all been placed in blocks of about 3-6 people who all live near each other, and we had the option to pick our block mates. I’m living near several of my close friends, including those that I became friends with my first year because we were floormates! As a dorm we also have lots of fun events, like last week’s talent show outdoors (Pomchella) and this week’s shrinky dinks craft floor activity!
a beautiful sunset seen from behind a window screen in Pomeroy hall 🙂
For me, orgs that I am part of have always been my home away from home and where I have made my strongest community. It’s been so strange having most of the upperclassmen not on campus this semester, and we’ve had to find creative ways to bring everyone together, whether they are remote or on campus. I’m on the Eboard of a few different orgs (Al-Muslimat, QuestBridge, and Pakistani Student Association) and so we’ve been going through the process of brainstorming fun, safe, and remote friendly activities. We’ve had lots of weekly virtual game events, an in person picnic, virtual movie screenings, and LOTS of Zoom meetings! We also have virtual big little events planned and hopefully a fun door tag making event! It’s great to have these established and strong systems of support and community, and it’s also been a great way to meet first years! I’m also hoping to explore a few other orgs/ programs this year to make new friends and widen my community, because there are so many incredible people at Wellesley!
These are just some of the ways I’ve been trying to foster community and siblinghood on campus and virtually! Reach out or comment below if you want to connect!
Signing Off,
Ilma