I’ve been back in Rochester just about a month and I couldn’t be more pleased with the current state of affairs—weekend treks off campus, evenings cooking my own food in the dorm kitchen, classes filled with lively discussion with my brilliant professors, a surplus of free time with my friends, and it’s even beginning to feel like fall.
Of course, it won’t last forever. As classes and extracurricular activities get going, my unusually balanced and stress-free world will undoubtedly transform into something busier and more studious. Nevertheless, I’m determined to take full advantage of the wonderful freedom of the back-to-school season while it lasts.
For me, getting the most out of my less-busy schedule means getting around to some of the things I couldn’t quite squeeze in last year. It seems that everyone here has their own personal Rochester Bucket List—a mental (or physical) checklist of all the things they have to do before they graduate. I am no exception and am happy to say that in the few short weeks since my return, my list has shrunk (if only slightly).
Here are a few of my bucket list items I’ve completed since getting back on campus:
See Niagara Falls/Visit Canada:
While Niagara Falls is neither in Rochester nor on the Rochester campus, it is something every Rochester student should visit sometime during their four years in New York. The world-famous landmark is only an hour-and-a-half away and is every bit as awe-inspiring as its reputation suggests. This year, my dad came with me to Rochester to help with move-in. We decided to get into town a few days early so we could take a day trip to Niagara—a new experience for us both. While there, we even had the chance to walk the bridge over to the Canadian side (yes, it’s better) and spend a whole thirty minutes “abroad.”
Have a meal at Jay’s Diner:
50s-style and constantly buzzing with customers, Jay’s Diner is a favorite among Rochester students. While my intro to Jay’s Diner was breakfast with my dad, Jay’s has won the hearts of many a Yellowjacket for its 24-hour service and famous chocolate milkshakes. I’m determined to make it back one of these days to taste test the coveted beverage for myself.
See a movie at The Little Theatre:
A Rochester fixture since 1929, The Little Theater is well known as the best place around to catch an indie film with a few friends. It’s cozy, they sell carrot cake at the counter, and they even give a student discount. After going an entire year without making it to The Little for a single show, I went two nights in a row my first week back in town. Magic in the Moonlight was charming andBoyhood was absolutely brilliant. In both cases, The Little was more than accommodating to my movie-watching needs and I can’t wait to go back and catch a showing of Skeleton Twins.
Paint the tunnel under the Eastman Quad:
Tunnel painting has been on my bucket list since I first glimpsed the magnificent channel that lies beneath the Eastman Quad. Since the early 1970s, Rochester students have participated in thistradition, applying layer after layer of paint to the walls and ceiling of the tunnel—advertising upcoming events, showing their artistic skills, and occasionally announcing “The Chamber of Secrets has been opened.” As an Orientation volunteer, I arrived on campus early to attend training and help the rest of the staff prepare to welcome the Class of 2018. Between training sessions and stuffing backpacks with Orientation schedules, we took an afternoon to paint the entire tunnel Dandelion Yellow in honor of the new school year. While my arms were a bit sore and my head a bit fuzzy from the paint fumes, tunnel painting was certainly an experience I’ll never forget.
Shop at the Rochester Public Market:
It wasn’t until I arrived at the Public Market on a rainy Saturday morning a few weeks ago that I discovered how much I’d been missing. The Public Market is a paradise of fresh produce, flowers, cheese, bread, and just about anything else you could imagine at your ideal farmer’s market. Huge canopies cover table after table of locally grown foods all for sale at extremely affordable prices. For less than $10 I was able to purchase eleven apples, four cucumbers, two onions, four bell peppers, five bananas, and a bag of grapes before catching the bus back to campus. Unsurprisingly, all my purchases were delicious.
Take a walk in Mt. Hope Cemetery:
In addition to the Genesee River, the Rochester campus is bordered by the 196-acre Mt. Hope Cemetery. I’ve therefore walked past the cemetery countless times, both on the way to class and during excursions to the nearby shops and restaurants on Mt. Hope Avenue. It wasn’t until very recently, however, that I took the time to pass through the gates of the cemetery and behold its majesty up close. Since its founding in 1838, Mt. Hope Cemetery has become the final resting place of over 350,000 individuals, including Susan B. Anthony, Nathanial Rochester, and Fredrick Douglass. In addition to being a unique and historically significant landmark, the cemetery’s grassy hills and accumulation of stoic trees make it a beautiful and peaceful refuge just five minutes away from the bustling campus.
So far, my second year at Rochester has been incredible and I have every reason to believe that the trend will continue. I feel luckier than ever to be here and I can’t wait for all the bucket list experiences (new and old) that I’ll have this time around.
Check out Natasha’s bite-sized bucket list!