What surprises first-years about Brown
“Fuck. I’m here.”
This was the thought that dominated the minds of the Class of 2023 as we stepped out of our Ubers into lines that were far too long, claiming the keys to the rooms that would house our thoughts and trap our bodies for a year. Other notable thoughts included: “What is the Ratty serving tonight?,” “What are the unit meetings and are they mandatory?,” and “Damn, I forgot *insert ten thousand forgotten things*.”
We were consequently thrust into three days of orientation. Parents left in tears and in relief, and we slept through almost all of the presentations (what’s the Open Curriculum again?). Then the hell that was registration gave us a sense of real unity. It was a moment of clarification. Chaos? That would be our norm. Panic? An acquaintance with whom we would be soon wed.
These past few weeks have been weeks of mixed emotions. Brown has continued to surprise many of us, me especially. As someone who never toured (and applied ED), seeing the campus for the first time right before moving in (I’ll admit, I saw Harvard and MIT before I saw Brown) was jarring. I guess it never hit me that I was going to college. This mess of a confused girl who acts exactly like a toddler was going to be, yes, say it with me, INDEPENDENT.
So, what exactly surprised freshmen about Brown?
The first thing that really hit me was the parties (yes, did you know that Brown students party?). It was enough hearing that people get EMS’ed every weekend, but actually seeing the ambulances flash their lights in front of Keeney? It’s like a whole other dance party outside on the quad every Friday night. But parties aren’t really that surprising; what surprised me most was the polarity of the party lifestyle. The SciLi at 8 pm on a Sunday night really hits differently from 8 pm on a Saturday night. Who knew that you could physically feel other people’s depression on Sundays? Not only that, but damn, Brown students are students. Like, everyone here seems to study their asses off. Yeah, sure, you’ll always have those people who say “Oh, I barely studied” and studied ten hours each night before the midterm, or those that said “Oh, yeah, I feel good about this test” and haven’t even purchased the textbook, but overall, we are studious as heck! (And then the weekend hits and you find yourself studying the BAC chart instead, sitting in a health professional’s office.)
The next thing that, albeit, I wasn’t too surprised about, but was still a little shocked at, was how true the “broke college student” model is. Seriously. Buying ramen? That shit hurts me to my soul. I’ve figured out why #freshman15 is so real. It’s because we stuff ourselves to death at the VDub with burrito bowls every night we go, or get some of that ice cream to “round off” the meal; otherwise, is it really worth that $8.50 meal swipe? Also, Jo’s is a big problem for my health. It’s like I’d really love not to go to Jo’s after a long night of studying, but it also helps me use up my meal credits, which I already paid for so it’s just a waste of money if I don’t go. That justifies all the pooping I endure afterwards right? In addition, DAMN we are needy! The first few weeks of college have taught me nothing if not how to live minimally. The way I see it, there are two types of minimalism. The first type is the trendy, succulent, kale-eating lifestyle. The second is an animalistic, primal way of surviving. Seriously, hygiene goes way down in college, so I’ve learned. And so do your standards.
My freshmen friends noted some other things that surprised them about Brown: first, that they were being crushed by classes. They’re actually surprised they’re not being killed even more than they are now. When I asked for an explanation, I was met with a shrug. Then, they went back to studying. Ah, if that’s not the SciLi at night for you, I don’t know what is. (That is, except for Friday and Saturday nights). In addition, our group chat is always flooded with half-dead faces captioned with “Overslept again! Thriving!” I thought that 9 am classes would be easy to wake up for, given that we’ve been waking up for 8 am classes every day for practically our whole lives. But I was wrong. I marvel at high school me, who would wake up for always every 8 am class. Thanks, Mom, for never giving up on me.
Lastly, time passes so weirdly in college. Sure, the concept of time itself is elusive AF, but it’s been a little over a month since we got here. And somehow, through the time-warped portal of Brown University, it simultaneously feels like it’s been a week and also twenty years. We’ve already taken our first midterms (for some of us, we might as well not have taken them), and it’s practically winter for many of us, with the bone-chilling cold. The Dear Blueno post that asked “When is it socially acceptable to start wearing winter jackets?” was definitely penned by a freshman, and honestly, who can blame them? I’m cuddled up next to my radiator as I type this.
But this passing of time is probably a good sign. We’re being immersed into college, and as much as these surprises may have caught us, well, by surprise, we’re learning to cope. Or maybe if we can’t cope, to avoid. Because that’s what adulting is, right? Coping and avoiding.
God bless the weirdos at Brown. I’m starting to fall in love with all of you.
Images via, via, via, via
