Here at Fairfield, when we see tours walking through Barone or the library we can’t help but reflect on the tedious process of college searching. The endless applications, tours and interviews, all in hopes of finding that one college that is ‘you.’
After a while, the pros and cons of each school seem to mesh together, and it’s like you were right where you started; frustrated, confused, and stressed.
What is it about 1073 North Benson Rd. that made you finally say Fairfield is where I want to be?’ Was it the variety of clubs? A sport? A scholarship?
Regardless, for the majority of the students here, it was that one unique aspect of Fairfield that made us say, ‘This is my home.’
However, when looking back at your tour of Fairfield University, was it everything you thought it would be? Maybe it was when your tour guide led you through the beautiful quad or the state of the art science center that it all settled in.
Or maybe, it was the complete opposite. Maybe the tour turned you away from Fairfield.
Which leads me to an interesting proposition for the entire student body: If you could stop a tour group now and tell them what your tour guide never told you, what would you say?
Taking a tour only gives you an idea of the school’s atmosphere, but it is not until you are actually a part of the community that you feel on the inside ‘- hopefully.
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Would you tell them that the library is not only a place to study and meet with class groups but is also considered to be an ultimate place to socialize?
Or that no matter what happens, it is inevitable that on the weekends you will end up at the infamous beach at least once.
If you’re a girl, it is almost safe to say that you will not graduate from Fairfield without owning at least one item that has the name Vera Bradley, Longchamp, Jack Rogers, or David Yurman.
As for the guys, you will be caught walking around campus at least once wearing your Top-Siders and/or Vineyard Vines Shep Sweatshirt.
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For the most part, the ‘labels’ listed above, are stereotypes that exist here on our very own campus. Some may be offended and some may laugh at this conformity.
The truth is, no matter where you go, stereotypes exist. Just as there are pros and cons with each college you toured, there are pros and cons within the community you chose as ‘the best.’
Will these stereotypes ever be broken, so that in the near future the prospective students will have a different general idea of Fairfield’s atmosphere, or will the same categories exist?
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It is up to us to diversify the community here at Fairfield, so that if we were ever asked to give a random fact about Fairfield to a tour group, it would not be these automatic stereotypes but instead be that one thing that sets Fairfield apart from the rest.
So next time you walk past a tour, think about what you would tell them.
You never know, your random fact could be what makes or breaks their decision about Fairfield.
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