Welp … it’s arrived. My senior year, that is. For our first-day-of-class issue—a brand new edition to the Mirror print schedule—I’ve been asked to reflect on my time at Fairfield and give first-years an idea of what makes this place so special.
So, what makes this place so special? I could act like I’m right out of the Fairfield Marketing Department and say the proximity to both the beach and New York City makes this university special (even though I’ve been to both places less than 15 times in total.) Or I could plug Fairfield’s small class sizes, approachable professors and walkable campus (I mean, you can get from one end to the other in less than 20 minutes.) Wait, maybe it’s the glass-paneled Dolan School of Business? Or the often sticky Townhouses? Ah, I know, it’s the beach houses. Nope. Although they’re unique to Fairfield, with quirky names like Fishbowl, that’s still not what makes this school special.
It’s the people who go here that add depth and meaning to the university. Personally, I would be happy at any school; it didn’t need to have a thriving beach scene or magnificent buildings like Bellarmine Hall. As long as I found that one other person who gets me, I know I’d be able to make the most out of my four years.
Of course, I’d rather sit in the Dolan School of Business for my English, Spanish and Education classes; but at the end of the day, the building doesn’t matter, it’s who’s in the class with you.
Our school isn’t special because seniors host pirate-themed Naut parties or spend long nights at the Grape; instead, happiness will come from the people there with you. Every school has its campus bar, ours is just the best because we get to go there with Fairfield University students.
As we enter a new academic year and my final one as an undergrad, I hope we reach out to each other more. I hope people are less afraid of saying “Hi” first, or just waving to that person who sits near you in one of your classes.
So in truth, even as I walk around campus, taking in the lush and pristine landscaping, viewing the storybook buildings and frolicking in the apple orchard, more often than not, I’m scanning the people walking by, hoping to see someone I know.
As I look ahead to the end of my time at Fairfield, I know that in order to make your time here as special as it can be, you should do your best not to get hung up on what dorm you’re living in or what party you’re going to attend. Instead, focus on creating connections with everyone and anyone because that’s what makes Fairfield special. Sure, the tiny campus compacts us together, making connections quicker and easier—but don’t rely on that. Be the person to reach out first.
As I seek to create more friendships and meet even more people, I hope everyone can keep an open mind and see the humanity in all their fellow students. Especially given the volatility of this upcoming election season, I hope students will still be able to open their hearts and minds to everyone on campus, because it’s not the grandiose buildings that make a university special, it’s the people.
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