Christopher Halbohn
Your college experience will undoubtedly be the most amusing, most terrifying, and most clarity-producing four years of your existence. It’s a time of loving, learning, and growing that life and your parents have allotted so that you can become a responsible, productive member of society. Further, it’s a time that could not be better spent anywhere else but Tulane. Four years ago, I found myself in your exact place—high school senior, good grades, involved in loads of extracurricular activities—wondering where it would be that I spend the (arguably) most important years of my young life. I know what a harrowing process this situation truly is, so let me provide you with some wise words from the perspective of a Tulane senior. The following five adages are a collection of things I learned over the course of my time here that each of you could look forward to.
1) There is such a thing as a free lunch.
I’m sure your parents have told you numerous times that “nothing in life is free.” I grew up hearing that ominous phrase almost daily as my mom and dad worked hard to prepare me for the “harsh realities” of the real world. One of my proudest moments as a Tulanian was stumbling upon a lunch hosted by Tulane’s Latin American Studies department, staying for the delicious quesadillas and nachos that seemed to be never-ending, then calling my parents right after to inform them that they were indeed wrong—free lunches do exist! You’ll learn quickly that the amount of opportunities for free items at Tulane is limitless. From your first day on campus, you’ll be inundated with ice cream socials, t-shirts, pizza, water bottles, hats, sunglasses, and really any other random item adorned with the words “Tulane University” that crosses your mind. College kids love free things, especially food. Know those opportunities exist in every corner of campus and seek them out.
Serving beet burgers during Finals Week my sophomore year at Cram Jam, when Bruff serves free food to all Tulane students!
2) Using “y’all” is cool.
You don’t need to be from the South to start using the conjunction “y’all.” First off, it’s super convenient. It’s the English equivalent to the French “vous” and allows your speech to be a little clearer. When you ask a group of friends, “What are you doing tonight?” who are you actually referring to? It’s a bit unclear. “What are y’all doing tonight?” makes your question a little clearer. Fewer people will be confused! Second, it allows you to further embrace the Southern culture. Leaving New York, I knew I wanted an experience different than the one I had growing up in the Northeast. Almost immediately, I embraced the Southern lifestyle. Now, don’t get me wrong—I was no impostor by any means. But I slowed my pace down a bit and appreciated life’s little things. This wasn’t something that I found New Yorkers to be particularly good at doing. Little by little, the South will creep into your soul just as quickly as the humidity in New Orleans forces you to sweat. And that leads us to the next thing:
Nothing says Louisiana more than holding a baby alligator; you'll have plenty of chances to do this!
3) Everyone sweats. Some people do it a little prettier than others.
Face it: you’re considering (or have already decided) that Tulane is the perfect fit for you, so you’re well aware of Tulane’s location in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the heart of the Deep South. Simply said, it gets warm here, but mainly in the summer months. The humidity acts as a blanket that keeps you a little too warm even when you don’t want it. The climate will probably be most shocking for those from drier parts, those unfamiliar with the idea of constant moisture in the air. As a Long Islander, the summer weather here was not all that surprising; summers on Long Island are often hot and humid too! No matter what your experience is though, everyone is going to sweat. Some glisten; others drip. That’s just the way it is. I was (and still am) a dripper. But a little sweat never hurt anyone and plus, the heat breaks in October and you’ll have eight glorious months of unbeatable weather. Think about those amazing Snapchats you can send your friends in Boston or Chicago, who are freezing as they walk to class, while you study on the LBC quad in a bathing suit. The weather here makes everyone a little more cheery and a whole lot more willing to celebrate life! The warmer months are the months that see the most outdoor festivals in New Orleans: Ponchatoula Strawberry Fest, Freret Street Festival, and Jazzfest are just three examples of celebrations that get New Orleanians outside to soak up the sun!
Check out Oak Alley Plantation about 40 minutes from New Orleans and escape the heat under the oak trees that line the walkway to the front door!
4) Expect all of your beliefs to be challenged. ALL.
In short, this is how you learn best. I’m sure each one of you has your own opinion about anything and everything. That’s wonderful; however, you will take classes at Tulane across numerous different departments that will teach you concepts you’ve never covered before. If you identify as Republican, take James Carville’s class. Learn about democracy and the political climate of the United States from one of the foremost Democratic strategists in the entire nation. Or, if you have covered those topics before, you will discover certain nuances about them that redefine your paradigm. If the classes at Tulane don’t challenge your set of beliefs, then your newly-made friends sure will. One of my best friends at Tulane admitted to me after months of knowing me that he assumed Long Island was just another name for Manhattan. Of course, I was shocked about this! I thought everyone knew New York. I thought everyone knew Long Island. But I was wrong. That’s a small example, but a very representative one at that. You will meet people from all walks of life: children of celebrities, students who’ve been on television shows, students who are the first in their families to attend college, and more. You’ll also meet people from all fifty, incredibly unique states. Breaking down the mental blinders you may have placed on yourselves over the years is the only way to truly understand people. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone!
Canoeing through the creeks of southern Mississippi during my freshman year was not something I'd ever imagine doing!
5) Not four years, for life.
The friends you will inevitably make during your time here will be your best friends for the rest of your life. Four years may seem like a short amount of time, but the relationships you build will not disappear and become void when you leave Tulane. The thought of graduating in merely two weeks is sobering and mildly horrifying; it would be even scarier if I did not meet the people I did when I came here. When I arrived at Tulane a week before classes started in 2011 (wow, I’m old) for the Explore program, I was alone. I came without knowing anyone from home and quickly realized, wow, I’m 1300 miles from Long Island. A few hours later, I found myself in rural Mississippi on a campsite where I was unknowingly hanging out with my two best friends in the entire world. Yes, it’s scary. And yes, we all think that. BUT DO NOT WORRY. Surviving awkward encounters at the Boot, rallying through the marathon that is Mardi Gras, eating pizza at weird hours of the night, and simply exploring the city of New Orleans will undoubtedly bring you closer to whoever it is you meet. It’s not just the relationships that you’ll keep when you leave Tulane. You’ll also maintain a love for service, the network of alumni, and each of the lessons you learned that will define who you become.
Samantha and Lauren, my two best friends since Day 1 of freshman year, during Voodoo Experience music festival!
