Ericka Henriquez
Many new Yalies matched via QuestBridge on Dec. 2, and the Restrictive Early Action decisions came out almost a year ago for the class of 2028. I have noticed many of us are feeling nostalgic for the versions of ourselves that existed before we came to Yale. I often think about that version of myself and how she would not have believed so many of the things that have happened since arriving here — the good, the bad and the unspeakably embarrassing. I feel like I have lived about seven lives since moving in on August 18. Wow, I had so much to learn, and I still do. I in no way feel qualified to give anyone advice about Yale — I have not even finished my first semester here — so instead here is the best advice that I have received.
From Dean Haliburton: “Do not neglect sleep.”
He is right. I tried to neglect sleep. I promptly caught an astoundingly bad case of the Yague. Sleep. Embrace naps. Anywhere can be a nap room if you have the right mindset. Some of my favorite impromptu spots are the HQ lounge, the Saybrary and the ancient chair in my friend’s suite that has probably been there since before I was born.
From a fellow WKND writer: “Nothing is that deep.”
This was such liberating advice. College, especially college at Yale, inevitably contains embarrassing yourself repeatedly: club rejections, humbling grades, awkward social situations, waiting outside Sig Nu for an unspeakably long time, need I go on? At the end of the day, it is not worth the energy to dwell on whatever you did, rest assured someone at this school has done it too. However, if you do need to reconnect with nature after committing an especially embarrassing action, I recommend the Yale Farm or a walk up to the Leitner Observatory.
From the absolutely incredible human being who made the Yale Menus app: Chicken Tender/Grilled Cheese Thursday.
So many of my friends did not know that this existed. For those of you who are still not on the Chicken Tender/Grilled Cheese Thursday hype train, the dining halls serve grilled cheeses and tomato soup one Thursday and chicken tenders the next. Thursday lunches are genuinely the joy of my week.
From a friend: Get lunch with everyone and anyone.
Keeping with the lunch theme, a friend that I really admire makes it her goal to ask as many people to lunch as possible. She says that there are so many interesting people at this school and she loves hearing about their life stories. She is so right. You never know, you could meet your next best friend by asking someone to get lunch with you!
(We did in fact meet when she asked me to lunch…so I am not at all biased here.)
From a professor: “It is all going to be okay.”
We are on the cusp of finals season, so I do not know if any of us can truly believe this advice right now. But hey, Cs, or more fittingly, credit/Ds get degrees!
From my mom: Heidi the Police Dog.
At the beginning of the school year, my mom stalked Heidi on Instagram and told me I had to go find her. She was worried that I would miss our dogs at home too much. When I tell you this dog is just the most beautiful bundle of love and joy ever… sorry Handsome Dan. If you have the luck to run into her and her lovely handler Officer Simons, consider your day made.
Well, there you have it. The best advice I have received about Yale. The only thing I would add would be to go ahead and get a Jitter Bus punch card. You think you will not go ten times but trust me… you will. Other than that, I think the magic of college and growing up in general is that you have to figure it out for yourself. And we will — that is if finals do not kill us first. Good luck, everyone!