When I first got to Barnard, I was homesick.

Okay — correction: I was blubbering like a baby. I got there and couldn’t figure out how to use the phones. I wanted to call my family, friends and boyfriend. So I was on the payphone on the first floor of Reid, sobbing like an idiot. I will never forget what happened when I finished all my calls (the boyfriend was already out and on the prowl — ugh!): I was waiting for the elevator to go back to my room. When it opened, it was filled with all these excited freshmen girls. Bubbly is the only word that could describe their demeanor. This one friendly red-head (who ended up being a close friend — Cindy Wilson), immediately reached out to me: “Hi! I’m Cindy and I’m from Oklahoma!”

I just started to sob and gasped, “I’m so hooommmmmesiiiiiick.” Was anyone reading this in that elevator? Please tell me no one remembers this low moment for me! The most embarrassing part of it all is that I’m from Long Island — which is, super close!! Here was this confident girl all the way from Oklahoma, totally groovin’ and making new friends. And I’m from 5 minutes away and I’m crying in my soup. LOSER!

So there you have it — my most vivid memory of Day One at Barnard.

Part of what contributed to my homesickness was the culture clash I felt there. As I’ve mentioned before, I’d grown up very sheltered — but I never realized that I’d grown up sheltered until I got to Barnard and met girls from New York City, girls who’d gone to boarding school and girls from totally different kinds of backgrounds that I didn’t even really know existed. I showed up to school armed with my Bon Jovi posters and acrylic tips and was immediately disarmed by the array of people that I encountered. And despite the fact that ultimately I ended up feeling a great sense of inclusivity at Barnard, I felt really alienated at first. That was really frightening . . . but it melted away as soon as rushed my sorority.

I was in Alpha Chi Omega. I pledged first semester of my freshman year. Any Alpha Chis out there?? It was a great choice for me because I’m a very shy person. I didn’t naturally make friends the way some girls (like Cindy!) did. Joining Alpha Chi actually introduced me to the girls who would end up being some of my closest friends at Barnard — and one of my closest friends in life (Melissa Goldstein now Melissa Dormer). Freshman year, I also auditioned for the Clefhangers, the a cappella group. I made a friend through the Clefhangers (Jamie Obstbaum now Leonhart) who continues to be very special in my life. She actually sang at my wedding. It still amazes me that many of the people that I continue to be friends with today are ones that I met first semester freshman year.

As I’ve said before, my best Barnard moments revolved around my friendships and my worst moments, the same. All together, it gave me a really powerful education beyond academics.

Do YOU have any funny memories from our first day at Barnard? I’d love to hear!

xx
atoosa