Why Trinity?

Bella Chirkis ’27

Editor-in-Chief 

As someone who had no idea where I wanted to go to college, I ended up just fine. I never had a “dream school” that I had been obsessed with since I was twelve, but I knew what kind of school I was interested in: small, academic, gothic buildings, strong community. So, naturally I applied early decision to Vassar College. That didn’t work out, and after having a complete crisis over it, I decided to do the next best thing which was to Google “schools that are just like Vassar College.” Hence I applied to Trinity! I was feeling defeated about my college applications, and although I was getting into other ‘good’ schools, a part of me still felt like a failure (because, I was a complete failure at 17, obviously.) I remember being at my high school job, when I got my acceptance letter to Trinity. I can still find the text message I sent to my Mom, “I GOT INTO TRINITY” right before my manager yelled at me to get off my phone. My parents encouraged me to continue to wait for all of my other applications to go through, and tour all of the colleges I got into, but deep down, I was set. 

Thinking about that memory being almost four years ago is crazy. I have experienced so much at this school, and have learned so much about myself and through my education. Next year I am going to be a senior, and I can’t comprehend the way I used to think I would never be happy at a different school (also, I probably would’ve hated Vassar.) Going into school, I always knew that I wanted to major in English and eventually go into publishing. I have had many opportunities to improve the skills I need for post-grad through the career center, the Bantam Connect program and I get a good amount of experience being the editor in chief of the Tripod. Who would’ve known that the classes I took at Trinity would ignite a passion that I have for Medieval Literature (thank you Professor Staples). 

The moral of the story is I have tried things and loved things at Trinity that I never, ever thought I would. I joined the school’s cheer team, I had never done cheer before in my life and I always thought I would be too weak to do it (I kind of am, but we’re working on it). But through the club I met my best friends, my future and current roommates and found a place where I can just relax. I joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority through the continuous open bidding process when rushing was something I never thought was in my future. There I have made a ton of new friends, gained experience in leadership roles and learned so much about the importance of girlhood. I have also had the opportunity to continue dancing at college, something I never thought I would be able to do by choosing a school that is ‘more academic.’ I grew up doing ballet and sobbed my eyes out at my senior solo because I thought I would never dance again. Turns out I was wrong about a couple of things during high school (shocker!).

If I could go back in time, I would choose Trinity over and over again. Between the relationships I have made, the new things I have tried, and the opportunities to come, I am forever grateful that I made that Google search and ended up at a place I can call home.