Jessai Flores

By the time Aug. 18 rolled around, I had probably heard the phrase, “College will be the best four years of your life,” a thousand times. It was usually said to provide me with some sort of assurance after I awkwardly blanked whenever I was asked if I was excited. While I wouldn’t personally say I peaked in high school (at least I hope I didn’t), I clung to that era of my life. 

Somehow my immigrant grandmother knew more about Yale through translated Gilmore Girl episodes and the pond of Yale TikTok influencers (never forgiving you guys for catfishing Commons food so hard), than me. Unlike a surprising majority of my peers who had pulled a Blair Waldorf and had known for years that they wanted to attend Yale, I decided during my AP Environmental Science class two hours before the deadline to click “yes” on the Yale portal. 

Basically, what I’m trying to say is that I did and still do miss the memo on all things Yale. While I’m not proud of this, it allows for a pretty YOLO-esque review of my time so far as a Yalie. 

So here’s a rundown:  

Category: Academics 

Feeling: Underwhelmed 

Okay look, for context, I’m an economics major, so to the pre-med, computer science, and DS kids, please don’t kill me. I know I am going to look back on this in a year and probably also hate myself, but I honestly expected to be more academically suicidal than I am at the moment. 

I came from a pretty hellish, academically rigorous high school, which may explain my bliss, but going from three screaming and crying all-nighters every week to maybe one every couple weeks has me feeling on top of the world. I’m not taking the most interesting of classes (Professor O’Dea close your eyes for this part) but at least the workload has been bearable. 

To my mother’s delight — and I say this sarcastically — I have even taken up a first-year architecture class. While I have no intentions of pursuing architecture (which is probably for the best, in light of public safety), my friend convinced me to try and make it into the class roster. Let’s just say I was very desperate to find something to replace my post-communism history class. Don’t get me wrong, the class seemed interesting on Coursetable, up until I showed up on the first day and my professor made everyone else clap for me for being the only first year. 

One critique I do have is that I absolutely hate using Canvas. Can we bring back Google Classroom? 

Category: Food 

Feeling: Grateful

In the many moments when I was in the deepest of trenches, the only thing that actually made me feel better was telling myself: at least the food is good. It’s actually so much better in comparison to the food at home that the “Freshman 15” has already destroyed me midway through first semester. While some days are better than others, Yale food is definitely always edible. Coming from a no-dessert and fend-for-yourself household, the access to three prepared meals a day has been a blessing. 

On the other hand, it has gotten to the point where I now must train myself to stop eyeing the dessert whenever I enter the dining hall. That chocolate cream pie is my weakness. My only complaints are that falafel day seems like every day and dinner hours end way too early. Oh, and so far, I think Benjamin Franklin is the best dining hall. 

Category: Social Life 

Feeling: Hopeful

Alright, I knew to some extent not to expect too much from the party scene at Yale. Coming from a big city, I’ve had my adventures and I preemptively gave Yale some slack. That being said, I can’t say I haven’t opened UMiami’s transfer application once or twice after another underwhelming weekend. Parties have definitely already gotten old and post-Halloweekend, I am a bit disappointed because it didn’t live up to all the hype. The issue is not the amount of parties — as there is always somewhere to go — but the uptightness in the atmosphere at these functions. Since when is everything now embarrassing to do and side-eyeing is the new norm? While I have an amazing group of friends that are always down to side quest till chaos, I wish the same mindset would reach the general Yale population. Maybe if we all come together, even Woad’s could be saved. In the meantime, I’ll continue to harass the DJ at BD to play better music.

Hey, Boola Boola… right? 

I still have no idea what that means.