The fall season is cloaking itself over Boston once again. The foliage, the changing seasonal menus in restaurants, and the city’s general unpretentious atmosphere are presenting great opportunities.
Meanwhile, there are so many of us who are merely cloaking
ourselves in our (insert favorite cartoon character) blankets and staying inside our safe cocoons.
Why is the inside of a Little Building dorm room more appealing than roaming through the Esplanade on a midnight crusade? I’m positive LB doesn’t offer as much oxygen...how can it? Its windows barely open!
But I digress. Despite the numerous food trucks planted conveniently in our area, despite the sunny days, despite the free park concerts, and even despite numerous events held in the Cabaret, people seem to want to stay inside.
I notice this especially in underclassmen. Now, I obviously cannot speak for everyone, but I think I know why some people are hesitant to get out there.
Just a few years ago, back in the odious corridors of our high schools, some of us were encumbered by the sheer mass of expectations put upon us by authority. Everyone always has something to say. We were so anxious about
standing out, but scared of blending in, too. Ignorant people passed judgment in the slickest and most hurtful of ways. The constant dirty looks, a few snickers, mean secret messages being passed along on behalf of third parties. It all adds up.
We didn’t have enough freedom to be fully confident, so routines of introverted processes became a sort of comfort. We relied on ourselves most of the time, didn’t we?
Now, it’s like we have too much freedom. Some people can’t acclimate to it just yet. Hey, when life hands us lemons, don’t expect us to come up with a lemon butter cream just yet. I get it. I’ve been there, done that, backwards, forwards, upside-down and inside-out. But now I see things differently.
Here’s what I want to address to those who are unsure: Boston and Emerson are your territory. It is just as much yours as it is the rest of ours. Don’t let anyone make you feel any differently.
The special thing about Emerson is that mostly everyone has had a hard hand dealt to them at some point. We have all had events that have shaped us forever in some way. But everyone here is alive with a special kind of electricity, possessing a spark of desire to create and explore. The area is rich with empathy.
Go out there and introduce yourself to as many people as you see fit. It’s not as intimidating as it may seem. We are all ready to move on from those doleful high school days. Don’t take it out on your clean slate...you can’t be here
forever.
We’re lucky to be in an area where fun possibilities are everywhere. Boylston Street is one of the most lauded in the whole city and we live on it! The T goes to just about anywhere and is right here! Newbury Street is just a couple of blocks away; you don’t have to buy anything, just sightseeing is often enough. You can even sashay to the Boston Public Library by yourself and guzzle wacky trivia to your heart’s content - and you don't need to feel nerdy about it, bizarre truths are the lifeblood of Emerson students!
Even still, you don’t have to step outside for too long if outdoor spaces aren’t your thing. I suggest attending at least one Emerson comedy show with your roommate(s). Everyone bonds over humor and you can even wear your pajamas if you want to.
Boston is the perfect magnet for those of us who love people-watching, trippy, hippies in the park, running to underground art-house shows, hitting fabulously colorful clubs, and finding true value in going to great museums. It isn’t going to shove you away. It’s inviting you to engage with it.
Take a deep breath. Fill your lungs with that classic city air It’s better than dorm mold. Open that door, swing it wide. Get on out there and see this city. Immerse yourself in this incredible place. Go ahead and bend some rules. I promise you’ll be noticed as one-of-a-kind in some shape or form. Be truly you in your experiences and in this you will find that that is more than enough.
Mimi Walker is a junior journalism major. Some of her interests include skin care, Turner Classic Movies, belly-dancing, international cuisine, writing (of course), old re-runs of Whose Line is it Anyway?, and empowering young girls and women.
Meanwhile, there are so many of us who are merely cloaking
ourselves in our (insert favorite cartoon character) blankets and staying inside our safe cocoons.
Why is the inside of a Little Building dorm room more appealing than roaming through the Esplanade on a midnight crusade? I’m positive LB doesn’t offer as much oxygen...how can it? Its windows barely open!
But I digress. Despite the numerous food trucks planted conveniently in our area, despite the sunny days, despite the free park concerts, and even despite numerous events held in the Cabaret, people seem to want to stay inside.
I notice this especially in underclassmen. Now, I obviously cannot speak for everyone, but I think I know why some people are hesitant to get out there.
Just a few years ago, back in the odious corridors of our high schools, some of us were encumbered by the sheer mass of expectations put upon us by authority. Everyone always has something to say. We were so anxious about
standing out, but scared of blending in, too. Ignorant people passed judgment in the slickest and most hurtful of ways. The constant dirty looks, a few snickers, mean secret messages being passed along on behalf of third parties. It all adds up.
We didn’t have enough freedom to be fully confident, so routines of introverted processes became a sort of comfort. We relied on ourselves most of the time, didn’t we?
Now, it’s like we have too much freedom. Some people can’t acclimate to it just yet. Hey, when life hands us lemons, don’t expect us to come up with a lemon butter cream just yet. I get it. I’ve been there, done that, backwards, forwards, upside-down and inside-out. But now I see things differently.
Here’s what I want to address to those who are unsure: Boston and Emerson are your territory. It is just as much yours as it is the rest of ours. Don’t let anyone make you feel any differently.
The special thing about Emerson is that mostly everyone has had a hard hand dealt to them at some point. We have all had events that have shaped us forever in some way. But everyone here is alive with a special kind of electricity, possessing a spark of desire to create and explore. The area is rich with empathy.
Go out there and introduce yourself to as many people as you see fit. It’s not as intimidating as it may seem. We are all ready to move on from those doleful high school days. Don’t take it out on your clean slate...you can’t be here
forever.
We’re lucky to be in an area where fun possibilities are everywhere. Boylston Street is one of the most lauded in the whole city and we live on it! The T goes to just about anywhere and is right here! Newbury Street is just a couple of blocks away; you don’t have to buy anything, just sightseeing is often enough. You can even sashay to the Boston Public Library by yourself and guzzle wacky trivia to your heart’s content - and you don't need to feel nerdy about it, bizarre truths are the lifeblood of Emerson students!
Even still, you don’t have to step outside for too long if outdoor spaces aren’t your thing. I suggest attending at least one Emerson comedy show with your roommate(s). Everyone bonds over humor and you can even wear your pajamas if you want to.
Boston is the perfect magnet for those of us who love people-watching, trippy, hippies in the park, running to underground art-house shows, hitting fabulously colorful clubs, and finding true value in going to great museums. It isn’t going to shove you away. It’s inviting you to engage with it.
Take a deep breath. Fill your lungs with that classic city air It’s better than dorm mold. Open that door, swing it wide. Get on out there and see this city. Immerse yourself in this incredible place. Go ahead and bend some rules. I promise you’ll be noticed as one-of-a-kind in some shape or form. Be truly you in your experiences and in this you will find that that is more than enough.
Mimi Walker is a junior journalism major. Some of her interests include skin care, Turner Classic Movies, belly-dancing, international cuisine, writing (of course), old re-runs of Whose Line is it Anyway?, and empowering young girls and women.