Take it back now y’all

Now that this new spring semester is underway, let’s take a moment to appreciate what brings us all back. The Tribe.

At the time of my last post I was writing from my desk in Cardiff, Wales and now I write to you from a first floor computer of Swem.  It’s amazing how quick you can travel these days–whether it’s physically crossing oceans or mentally surfing the web, the world is at our fingertips and that much closer because of William & Mary and its study abroad office. It feels like yesterday that I was preparing to leave W&M behind for 4 months, and here I am ready to take on this semester with a different perspective and new experiences.

I have many friends that loved going abroad (in summer programs and semester programs alike) and look forward to returning one day to their favorite places. This is something you’ll find all over campus, many people you know will go abroad and return a little sad, a little nostalgic, and a little excited to see what comes next.

I am all three, but mostly excited to be back on campus and back in the Tribe. Despite our tough classes, or the Sadler food we complain about, or the pouring rain, or sweltering humidity, we all continue to come back. And we continue to come back even after we graduate, for many, many years. It’s because of our Tribe and the care we have for it. It draws us back, this community of carers and scholars and friends.

Sometimes we forget how much it means to us. It’s certainly easier to forget when you’re away for a while in different countries and time zones. But as soon as I took my first look around campus since being back, I remembered, and the bricks looked familiar again. This time, however, they shone a bit brighter, welcoming us back for another great semester and for even more wonderful memories.