My First Love
Lara Fernandez
This is not an article about my first love with a boy (since I haven’t gotten there yet), nor is it about my undeniable love for my pups (Whiskey and Martini, my parents named them I swear) but rather my love for what my life revolves around today, Tulane. The place that makes me so happy I can never stop smiling; the place where I feel most myself; the place that has engraved itself into my heart; my home, my love, Tulane University. We have now been together for a little over six months and I can truly say this love of ours is eternal. That sounds overdramatic but really, I fit the checklist of being in love according Wikihow and let's be honest it's always right.
First, I can’t picture a future without Tulane or at least without NOLA in my life. When I think about the idea of one day having to move on, it breaks my heart. Sorry Mom and Dad, I may just never leave college. Second, I think about Tulane everyday and every minute of the day. I reflect on how beautiful the university is and how grateful I am to have ended up here, in this picturesque campus, inhabited with diverse wonderful people. When I am separated from my love, I catch myself drifting off, fantasizing about Tulane and how I wish I could just be back there. Third, Tulane and New Orleans’ imperfections are what make them so flawless in my eyes. The authenticity that they have is made up by several factors such as the beautiful Spanish moss’s roots breaking into the sidewalks and the Tulane buildings being historic, at least in my youthful perspective. For example, Sharp Hall, the Freshman dorm I reside in, has been here since my Grandfather graduated in the 1960s (don’t worry. improvements have been made). The history of the city and school reminds of why people keep coming back, because it was as amazing then as it is now. Together the city and University have survived a variety of controversy over time, but that has only made them stronger. When I am back home in Miami and discussing college with my friend,s the subject of negative qualities of our universities arises and I have no way to respond but to shrug my shoulders and say in a questioning tone, “The doors are heavy?”
I love Tulane and I know it loves me, but I also gladly accept that it’s not a monogamous relationship. Each student and faculty member shares the same relationship with Tulane as I do. Tulane and its "Tulanians" create an aura that can be felt all around the campus, even by outsiders. It is a non-judgmental, optimistic, and exciting vibe that inspires and motivates individuals.
