By Celeste Lim
With a school that boasts over 16,000 undergraduate students, there is no doubt that Boston University is an enormous school. Terriers come from every side of the globe – from San Francisco, California, all the way to Nairobi, Kenya. The BU population can certainly seem overwhelming at times and it might take awhile to feel like you’ve found your place on campus and in the community.
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend my second SPLASH. No, it’s not a water-park event (just for you non-BU students). It’s actually the event that many BU students most look forward to during Fall semester. This outdoor event showcases over 400 student groups here on campus, allowing BU students from all years to connect. Student meet with various group members and explore all that BU has to offer.
Similar to other universities, BU is home to a great number of community service groups. Sororities/fraternities, arts and theater groups, club sport teams, activist groups, academic clubs, and student government groups all pack themselves onto Nickerson Field for the annual recruitment fair. While walking around, I was in absolute awe of how many different interests, hobbies, and passions were being represented by all of these student groups.
I found myself spending most of my time with the cultural groups. At most, there were probably three cultural groups that actually corresponded to my ethnicity. Yet, I found myself speaking to members from the Italian Student Association, the Students of Caribbean Ancestry, Bangladeshi Students’ Association, the Mexican Students Association, the Singapore Collegiate Society, the Iranian Student Organization, and more.
Despite not originally belonging to any of these cultures, I found everything about them so intriguing – the food, the language, the holidays. Every person I spoke with was enthusiastic and kind, and every club welcomed me to join and become a member, despite my differing looks and heritage.
At Splash, I was reminded, by my own BU community, that I am so lucky attend such a diverse school. Boston University and its cultural groups on campus perfectly exemplify its openness and pure appreciation for everyone from everywhere. No matter what you look like or where you came from, you can find your home here. I’m excited to connect with more cultural clubs on campus, and I highly recommend everyone to explore and get involved with at least one group this year!
Get involved on campus – www.bu.edu/studentactivities/get-involved
Photos courtesy of Boston University.Â