On the night of Dec. 21, 2023, I conducted my usual routine. I took a shower, brushed my teeth, did my skincare, cried hysterically and crawled into bed to watch TikToks until my eyes burned from exhaustion, or what some call “winding down.” That was until I remembered what my dad told me earlier that day about taking some time off of social media.

When I got accepted into BU, I expected that feeling to continue and perhaps transform into something new and more powerful. Surprisingly though, I was wrong and have had the privilege of feeling so welcomed and accepted by all the people I have met.