During the University of Rochester’s 158th commencement ceremony, the legendary Arthur R. Miller ’56, receiving an honorary degree from his alma mater, said to the University of Rochester’s newest graduates, “When I came here, I was a kid from Brooklyn, Brighton Beach, an ethnic ghetto. I was thrown together with people from all walks of life.” “My field of vision,” this legal genius pronounced, “has been made much wider by the University of Rochester.”
Being a first-generation college student who attended a high school with a graduating class of well over 1,000 students, I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived here. What I did know was that I could not wait to arrive. In the few weeks that I have spent here, that mental widening that Arthur R. Miller spoke of has already begun to materialize.
Over these past few weeks, the beauty of this institution has become so apparent. The diversity of this school, in every way possible, has struck me as incredible. In a school where nearly a quarter of the previous class comes from abroad, I find the lounge of Hoeing 3 constantly inundated with an assortment of languages. At any given time, one can hear Arabic or Mandarin being spoken by students, and to witness firsthand the etherealness of this school’s diversity is nothing short of amazing. In this short time, I’ve come to realize just how fortunate I am to be able to attend this school.
The one thing that has quickly become my favorite thing about the University of Rochester is its student body. Here I have met people from all walks of life—people of different races, incomes, religions, and the like—and in my short time here, I have already learned so much. It’s become the norm in my hall staying up until 3 in the morning, debating economics and politics with people who I can already call my close friends. Here, I can have a riveting conversation with any student. Everybody I’ve taken the time to speak to has manifested their passions, their dreams, and their experiences to me; to be exposed to the unique viewpoints and experiences of every single person here is to become cognizant of how remarkable and rich the world is.
Here, I’ve become friends with people who live halfway across the world, but nevertheless share the same passions of mine. Here, through the extracurricular activities that are extensions of my passions, I have already found a second family. Here, by making use of my professors’ office hours, I have gained insight into the minds of scholars who have testified in front of Congress, argued in front of judges, and stood in the center of the most challenging debates that intellectuals have had.
In my short time here, I have discovered a new home and family. To read incessantly about the research opportunities, the academic strengths, and the diversity of an institution may very well be underwhelming, as near the end of the college process I found myself numb to the platitudes uttered by college admissions staffs; to experience all of that first hand, however, is something life-changing altogether. It’s been less than a month, but I am already so eager to trek through my next four (or maybe even five!) years at the University of Rochester. I encourage you to come here so that you can do the same.
And I must add that we have the cutest groundhogs and squirrels constantly roaming the River campus. I spend far more time than I’d like to admit trying to get as close to the groundhogs as possible, but invariably, they notice me and run away in their chubby, adorable bodies. And regarding more miscellaneous facts about the University of Rochester, if you choose the unlimited swipe plan, you get a free meal from Blimpies every day after 8:00 p.m. No, that’s not why I think this place is so awesome.