Jane Smith*
Tufts University - Expected graduation date: December 2023
As someone whose college years were interrupted by an unexpected pandemic and global shutdown, Palo Alto High 2019 graduate and current Tufts University student Jane Smith* is eagerly looking forward to her college graduation in December. Jane is a political science major with interests in law, international relations and civic studies.
Looking back at her college years, Jane admits that she had quite a few challenges to overcome in the beginning. Moving across the country to a Boston-area university was not easy, says Jane, but “it made me much more independent.” Jane started at Tufts in the Fall of 2019, and, just as she was starting to adjust to life at an East Coast college, the COVID pandemic forced most students to return home. So, in March 2020, Jane came back to California, where she continued her Tufts education online. Although there was an option in the fall to return to Tufts and “Zoom” from the dorm, Jane decided to stay in California and continue learning remotely from her family home for the full 2020-2021 academic year. She took some time off the following year to work and then returned to campus in September 2022. At that point, more than two years had passed since she was last at Tufts, so Jane realized that she would have to get used to campus life all over again.
“I was lucky that I found on-campus housing when I returned in 2022,” recalls Jane. “I lived with five other students, and everyone was really nice.” Slowly, Jane adjusted to being back on campus and part of the Tufts community. “I joined a few clubs, but my closest friends were from my classes.” As a political science major, Jane found her classes to be engaging and enjoyable. “I loved reading and listening to my professors’ lectures,” says Jane, whose studies included both national and international politics. “My favorite class at Tufts focused on war and peace in South Asia.” With an undergraduate enrollment of just 6,600 students,Tufts offers many smaller classes, with generally no more than 40 or 50 students in the political science classes.
Jane says she is grateful to Rise Together Education for helping her through her college journey. “My mentor, Kimberly Schwan, was always so positive. She would check in with me from time to time, and was both helpful and available.” For Jane, the scholarship was important to help cover the cost of air travel and housing. For her last semester, Jane will be living in off-campus housing, which can be pricey in the Boston area.
When asked about whether her future plans might include living on the East coast, Jane says that Massachusetts and California are both possibilities. “I love Boston now, and am looking forward to exploring the city more during my last semester.” It’s a plane ride away, but, she adds, “six hours isn’t all that long!”
Jane, best wishes and congratulations on your upcoming graduation!
*Name changed for security reasons
Looking back at her college years, Jane admits that she had quite a few challenges to overcome in the beginning. Moving across the country to a Boston-area university was not easy, says Jane, but “it made me much more independent.” Jane started at Tufts in the Fall of 2019, and, just as she was starting to adjust to life at an East Coast college, the COVID pandemic forced most students to return home. So, in March 2020, Jane came back to California, where she continued her Tufts education online. Although there was an option in the fall to return to Tufts and “Zoom” from the dorm, Jane decided to stay in California and continue learning remotely from her family home for the full 2020-2021 academic year. She took some time off the following year to work and then returned to campus in September 2022. At that point, more than two years had passed since she was last at Tufts, so Jane realized that she would have to get used to campus life all over again.
“I was lucky that I found on-campus housing when I returned in 2022,” recalls Jane. “I lived with five other students, and everyone was really nice.” Slowly, Jane adjusted to being back on campus and part of the Tufts community. “I joined a few clubs, but my closest friends were from my classes.” As a political science major, Jane found her classes to be engaging and enjoyable. “I loved reading and listening to my professors’ lectures,” says Jane, whose studies included both national and international politics. “My favorite class at Tufts focused on war and peace in South Asia.” With an undergraduate enrollment of just 6,600 students,Tufts offers many smaller classes, with generally no more than 40 or 50 students in the political science classes.
Jane says she is grateful to Rise Together Education for helping her through her college journey. “My mentor, Kimberly Schwan, was always so positive. She would check in with me from time to time, and was both helpful and available.” For Jane, the scholarship was important to help cover the cost of air travel and housing. For her last semester, Jane will be living in off-campus housing, which can be pricey in the Boston area.
When asked about whether her future plans might include living on the East coast, Jane says that Massachusetts and California are both possibilities. “I love Boston now, and am looking forward to exploring the city more during my last semester.” It’s a plane ride away, but, she adds, “six hours isn’t all that long!”
Jane, best wishes and congratulations on your upcoming graduation!
*Name changed for security reasons