I remember the first time I visited Trinity College’s campus in Hartford, Connecticut. It was October of my senior year of high school and my mom, sister and I were on one final college touring trip up the East Coast. My high school guidance counselor suggested that I stop by Trinity on my way up. I had no expectations and certainly did not think that her suggestion would lead to my top choice school.
Hartford itself is an interesting city. Its downtown economy is deeply rooted in the insurance industry with companies like Travelers, Aetna, and The Hartford stationing themselves there. I would later discover that living in downtown Hartford would shape my overall view and understanding of the world, and the disparity between the luscious Trinity College campus and the poverty surrounding us, breaking me away from the Philadelphia Main Line.
We arrived on campus and I immediately loved the beautiful old buildings that in just over one year’s time I would take classes in, explore and come to adore. The chapel, the centerpiece of Trinity’s campus, rose off the quad as if it had been Photoshopped. It stood perfectly on the hill looking out over the city of Hartford and the rest of Trinity’s campus. Throughout the college selection process, I was told that there would be tours when I would get to a campus and know immediately that it was not the place for me and that there may be a moment where I would know for certain that I was standing right where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life. That happened at Trinity. It was a grey, cloudy, dreary day and I still found the entire experience to be magical. From the people I encountered to the actual campus, I was hooked.
Fast forward nearly five months and I am in the Orlando Airport with an email on my phone that contains the decision from the Trinity College Admissions Office. I was too nervous to open it in front of my peers who I was with for a high school trip. I decided to wait through the entire plane ride and 40-minute drive home to find out. I opened the email around midnight that night in my bedroom with my whole family right there and burst into tears as soon as I saw the word “Congratulations!” I was so beyond excited for what the next chapter held in store.
At the time, I had no way of knowing just how much those next four years would mean to me, the people I would meet, the experiences I would have, the classes I would take, and the ways in which I would grow from a young 19-year-old girl into a 22-year-old woman. My time at Trinity will go down as some of the happiest years I have yet to experience. I will cherish all of the memories, from late night studying in the library freshman year to the night after graduation staying up to watch the sunrise on the quad with the Class of 2019.
All of those amazing memories and moments would not have been possible without a few people who I would like to thank (cue Oscar music).
First off, Mom and Dad. Thank you so much for being my biggest supporters, biggest fans and always having my back through thick and thin. I know I can count on both of you for anything and I am so grateful for that. For going to everyone single one of my soccer games, band concerts, singing concerts, parent/teacher conferences, back to school nights and more. For pushing me to be my best, even if it meant me being upset that I had to take another SAT practice test on a snow day. For instilling in me a set of core values that have guided me and set me up for success in college and beyond. The compassion that you share for others, the enthusiasm to achieve goals, the belief that you should never take yourself too seriously and carry yourself with pride. I love you both and words cannot fully describe how much you mean to me.
Ally. Thank you for being my best friend. For being someone I can confide in about anything and everything and for having the biggest heart of anyone I know. We were close in high school but our time apart from Philly to Hartford to Geneva to Lancaster only strengthened that bond and I am so grateful to be able to say that. You truly are a ray of sunshine and the memories that we’ve made together in the last four years during your visits to Trinity will not be forgotten.
Blake. Someone who at the beginning of my time at Trinity I would not know I would be thanking. But thank you, for making me realize how much I can love someone, how happy I can be and how great a lazy Sunday with Chinese take-out is. Much of my time at Trinity is punctuated by memories of the two of us, from 6 am talks freshman year outside of Wheaton Hall to many trips to Bartaco, Trinity will always hold a special place in our hearts. I never went to college imagining that I would end up dating a guy from Dallas, Texas for the next four years but meeting you was one of my favorite things that Trinity gave me.
My friends/roommates. Here’s to the crazy nights we all shared and to the more low key wine nights watching the Bachelor. Here’s to Tap Tuesdays, Psi U basement, hockey games, days on the quad, walks to class in the fall or in a blizzard haha and all of the songs that for years to come will teleport me back to our four years together. Only we will know the real emotions behind “Always Remember Us This Way” from A Star is Born. I’ll miss nights when all of us tried to cook dinner at the same time, nights getting ready, and adventures around campus and to West Hartford but I know we’ll be friends for a long, long time.
So thank you Trinity, for the people you allowed me to meet, the experiences you allowed me to have and the memories you allowed me to share. I am forever grateful.
