With the halls buzzing with novelty, Taft is an entirely more lively place on revisit days. You may remember yours if you attended one, but by now, you have probably forgotten most of the associated emotions. When my brother came for his revisit day, his experience was nothing short of invigorating, and if any part of it was static or boring, it was having to take a break from the activities to eat lunch with me. He’s a busy guy, so I couldn’t persuade him to sit for an interview, but I will write this review from his perspective after hearing all the stories he told me.
My brother has had numerous excuses to visit and spend time on campus in the past, but none could possibly have felt as exclusive as this: this time, he was clutching a ticket. He prowled the halls like he’d been there a million times before, which isn’t even the case; he just has a great sense of direction. When his programming ended, I waited in the throng outside Potter Gallery to meet him, only to find that he wasn’t there at all, but instead on his way back from my locker after having gone to drop off his jacket. You would think he was the current student, not I, if you hadn’t seen him glowing with pride. Every little quotidian task that we do begrudgingly or take for granted made him feel ten times happier, more mature.
There was nothing he enjoyed more than the rhino-shaped cookies that turned his lips blue (totally worth it). He heard all the latest gossip and discussed all the latest pop culture with the friends I introduced him to. He was happy to even be given a sheet of his host’s notebook paper and a spare pen to solve math problems in an algebra class. And he just wouldn’t stop pestering me about playing ping pong in the Jig. He was enjoying himself because everything that was exciting seemed to be at his fingertips. It wasn’t just the difference between middle school and high school that he was enamored with, but also all these unique things that Taft had to offer.
In addition, he was completely convinced that he knew more people here than I do, which might just be true, but I’m reluctant to believe it. It seems a little absurd, doesn’t it? (Please get back to me on that if you have an opinion; I might be the crazy one.) Anyway, if a lanky blond kid approached you to thank you for your hospitality and you didn’t remember him at all, don’t worry about it. He’s just a little overzealous, though for great reason. He was in awe of how many people stopped to greet him or ask how his day was going.
When my brother and I were reflecting on this experience, I was reminded of how intimidated I was when I first visited Taft. I am so glad he wasn’t so much intimidated as impressed. I think we can all learn a thing or two from him. If you take even a minute to consider where you were before Taft, you’ll find that you’ve come a long way from that wide-eyed kid you once were. But you’ll also find that you still attend the same school that once seemed so imposing: these are the same archaic halls, poised students, and memorabilia of accomplishments. All of these same opportunities and thrills are still at your disposal. Now is the time to attend a college fair, applaud your peers’ concert, or learn the rules of squash. I remember that when I first visited Taft, the advice I heard everywhere was “try something new at Taft because there are so many opportunities here.” And this could not be any more true. For me, and hopefully for you too, seeing Taft through someone else’s eyes is all it takes to remind you of how special this place is and how lucky we are to attend it.
