I never thought I would say this, but I think I became a city person in 2022. After spending a summer interning in New York City, and then the following semester studying abroad in Seoul, I quickly grew to love city life. I loved the endless number of things to do on any given day. When I had free time, the possibilities were endless: I could grab a matcha latte, go to the museum, take a pottery class, or catch a show in the evening. I also loved the feeling of anonymity that the city offered. I found liberation in doing things alone, like sitting next to a stranger during a show or venturing to a new place all by myself.
When I came back to UMass in the spring, I predicted that perhaps the rural lifestyle would now feel confining and less magical compared to life in a big city. I was very wrong.
I soon realized that any place is what you make of it. People naturally assume that I must have experienced some incredible places while I was abroad. Although this is true, studying abroad also made me realize that I can have fun wherever I am. While abroad, my friends and I have gotten lost and found ourselves in some random places, but we always managed to make a good experience out of it. I carried this same mentality back to UMass, and since being back, life at UMass is suddenly way more exciting and colorful than I remembered. These are my favorite solo activities to do on campus at UMass that make me feel like I’m back in a vibrant city.
- Sit in on a Random Class
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Is it weird to say that one of my favorite classes at UMass is a class that I’m not even signed up for? Because that’s the case for me. At such a big school as UMass, we not only have loads of classes to choose from, but we also have the gift of anonymity. A few weeks ago, I randomly sat in on a forensic psychology class in a big lecture hall, and I loved it so much that I now attend it every week. UMass has tons of niche and fascinating classes like this one occurring at any given hour. We’re paying tons of money to be in college to learn, so take advantage of this opportunity and sit in on a class that purely interests you.
- Take a group Fitness Class
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Group fitness classes at the Rec Center are always so fun, and now, I try to challenge myself to try a new class now and then instead of sticking to what I know. My favorite classes so far are spin, barre, and pilates.
- Go to the Campus Art Museum
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I’ve been to some super famous art museums around the world, and I believe the University Museum of Contemporary Art (UMCA) here at UMass is truly one of the best I’ve seen. It is no joke. I’ve seen works by Picasso, Andy Warhol, Edvard Munch, and other incredible artists there. The collection is also constantly changing, and it boggles my mind how UMass is able to get all of these coveted artworks. If you still haven’t gone to UMCA, you are missing out. There’s no reason to head to a city when there is stuff this amazing on campus.
- Take a Break at the Durfee Conservatory
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Some of my friends have never been to the Durfee Conservatory, and I can’t believe it. It is basically a rainforest on campus. We are really lucky to have a sanctuary like this to take a break in between classes.
- Try all the food Spots on campus
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The crazy part about attending a huge school like UMass is that even though I’m a second-semester senior, there are still many nooks and crannies on campus that I haven’t explored. I have been having a lot of fun trying to hit up all the hidden food places on campus before I graduate, such as Greeno Sub Shop and Earth Foods Cafe.
I distinctly recall feeling bored out of my mind on a few Saturdays at UMass in the past, wondering what there was to do when we were located in farmland. Now, I feel like there are endless things I want to do at UMass before I graduate next month.
After all, my brother (who doesn’t go to UMass) once described UMass as looking “like a city.” From far away, especially at night, the bright lights of Southwest and the tallest academic library in the world do resemble skyscrapers in a city. UMass is filled to the brim with opportunities and activities. Let’s take advantage of all of them.
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