Journals

Officially Allowed to Offically Lead Unsuspecting Families Around Campus ;)

March 5, 2012   

As of a half hour ago, I am now an official tour guide (what makes it official is the super sweet fleece we get).  Look for me on your next visit to campus! I'll be here over spring break (lax lax lax), so hopefully I'll get a few tours in there.

I'm pretty pumped about it- the student web journals (this forum) and my own tour guide had huge impacts on my decision to come to Hamilton. In fact, I was dead set against Hamilton before I got here. (I tell this story a ton, so bear with me if you've heard it before.) Originally, I wanted a city school, with a campus, and lots of museums and places to go, people to see, things to do. Dad and I were doing a weekend tour of Syracuse, Hamilton (his alma mater), and Colgate. I was really only going to Hamilton to humor Dad. Especially after I saw Syracuse. Woooweee. That had instantly popped up to my top five after that visit.

The night before we went on the tour, dad drove me around campus, showing me his old stomping grounds and telling me stories of the shenanigans he and his friends used to get into. I tried to keep an open mind but as we drove around I had to be honest with him: "I can't do cows and cornfields for four years," I said.

"Just go on the tour tomorrow. Humor me," Dad said.

So I went, begrudgingly. As we were walking into the admissions building I was still doubtful. It was kind of cloudy out. I just wasn't super impressed. But by the time we walked outside for the tour, the sun was out, and our tour was on a roll. Our tour guide's name was Anoop and he was fantastic. He was funny, well spoken, and was telling stories about the tight knit community of Hamilton.  In particular I remember one story where he was talking about a friend who had missed class one day, and the professor called him from his friend's phone to see where he was and to give him a hard time. Stories about pizza being ordered directly to the Taylor Science Center for those long nights... he kept us laughing and amused the whole way.

If the stories weren't enough, the hordes of crazily clad students all over campus definitely gave me an idea of how awesome these students were. That was the day when all of the class of 2012-ers were arriving for their pre-orientation programs, Adirondack Adventure, and what was then known as Urban Service Experience (I think it's now Outreach Adventure). A student in a tu-tu holding a water gun, another in jean overalls and a clown afro holding a sign, "KOLLEJ STARTS HEER". And Anoop seemed to know everyone, and everyone was happy to see all of their friends and welcome in the new freshies.

For the first time I realized that I didn't want a city school like I thought. The only reason why that was so appealing to me was because, in reality, I had no idea what I wanted. It wasn't until I saw the fun loving students at Hamilton that I realized what I wanted: a community. The museums and plethora of activities weren't necessary (although our new Wellin Art Museum is going to be pretty fabulous next fall).

Long story short, I ended up at the right place. Despite my original misgivings. ;)

SO excited to start giving tours and wearing my shnazzy new jacket. The number of Hamilton items I own may now surpass any other kind of clothing, though....

Peace,

Dewi