New Haven, CT

Freshman Year’s All Done

What’s happened to me since I started this crazy journey back in August? A lot. Probably a lot more than can be written (or read) in one sitting. So I think I’ll just name a few of the most important things. 

1. A kid who I knew in my Differential Equations class committed suicide - I’m starting with this because it happened very recently, about 2 weeks ago. His name was Zach and he was a great kid. He always wore a neon orange hoodie and his hair could only be described as a jew fro (although he wasn’t jewish). The entire Yale community was pretty caught by surprise and I especially, was blown by it because I had just seen Zach two days before he did. What did I learn from his death? Life is hard - it really is - and everyday that you’re breathing, laughing, crying, etc. is a blessing (in all around spiritual way, not in a specific “God-is-my-savior” kind of way). It might not be much but Zach taught me that and for that, I thank him and wish him well in whatever it is that’s beyond this earth. 

2. I’ll break up the depressing tone here and say, I REALLY EFFIN LIKE SCIENCE - THIS. Science is awesome. The things that our bodies do and the things that our minds can create is almost limitless. There’s a big difference between learning about this stuff in high school and learning about it in college. Here, it’s so much more in-depth, so much more interesting, and so much more complicated. Science is hard. No one will refute that, but it can also be rewarding. I spent last night studying Molecular Biology with a friend until 3 AM (we had our final today) and by the end of it all I was dead tired. Like down in my bones kind of dead tired. But I think back on it now (after taking the final and finding it pretty reasonable), and that study session was AMAZING. There were multiple moments where we’d write down a complicated reaction on the board and stare at it for minutes without understanding it. Then there would be “EUREKA!” moment and it would finally make sense. THIS. This is what is awesome about science. Those moments, no matter how sparse they are, are what will keep me going in the next 3 years as I get even more into it. 

3. People are incredible - It might be because I go to a crazy place like Yale, but human beings are really fascinating creatures. I say this not because I’ve met people who have done incredible things (although I have), but because all the social interactions I’ve had this year have always been wildly entertaining. I’m not sure if I’ll remember all the late night talks I’ve had, but I will (once again) remember the immense feeling of content that they provided. Plus, as a side note, people are hilarious at parties. 

So that’s it for now. I’ve got a couple more days to think and contemplate on everything as I slowly pack and prepare myself to return to Easton. But, I can say without a doubt, it’s been a wild (and enjoyable) ride.