Branching Out: Discovering Connection at the Asian American Center

As a graduate student, I find that I’m exposed to my own cohort and my department but not the broader graduate student community as much as I’d like to be. I also don’t stray too far from the buildings my classes are in, due to convenience but also to not knowing where else to go. Because of this, I wanted to challenge myself to branch out a bit and see if I could find another community outside of my cohort. 

I recently attended a Grad Student Social at the Asian American Center and was pleasantly surprised by the strong sense of community that was actively being formed. I went in not knowing quite what to expect, but the graduate intern who hosted the event was welcoming and eager to talk with everyone. As people trickled in, we introduced ourselves and chatted while eating various snacks. I loved seeing the wide representation of graduate programs, some of which I hadn’t known existed. 

Talking freely about our experiences at Tufts and in our programs helped create instant connections, and conversations drifted to other topics such as our interests outside of school. I learned someone knows my advisor even though she’s in a different program and loves to chat with her as well. I met someone who is good friends with someone in my cohort. 

These kinds of small connections show me that the community is closer than I thought, and that spaces such as the Asian American Center can bring people together and create a deeper sense of belonging and community. 

Tufts grad students gather at the Asian American Center for an evening of community and conversation