And be serious about it now. After this yearyou probably won't see most of these people untilsenior spring, when you reconnect with human lifepost-thesis.
I didn't want to do this, but here's morepractical advice (from here on too-cool types aredismissed). It's all sort of random, but so is thefirst year at Harvard. That, you will learn foryourself.
Sit in the bleachers during a warm-evening RedSox game and help your drunken neighbors start thewave.
If you live in Lionel and it snows, eat chipsand salsa for dinner at the Border. it's closerthan the Union and at least this "free" food isgood.
Don't watch Melrose. Unnecessary stress.
Play smashball in the Yard.
Explore your dorm. Find secret places whereHarvard stores it nice office furniture and"borrow" it for the year.
If you find something cool like a chair thatboth you and your neighbors across the hall want,don't let them steal it. Shed blood first. Takeadvantage of the fact that older people expectfirst-years to be immature, so fight it out nowbefore it's too late.
Don't bother with the butter past. They neverreally stick.
If you live in Lionel or Mower, don't saythings you don't want your neighbors to hearanywhere near the bathroom. Be very careful withthis. It takes a while to realize that you havemore roommates than you think.
Post an entry calendar. Cite occasionalsightings of your proctor.
Have tea parties.
Be you. And be nice. Remember, you are atHarvard. The world is watching.
Tara H. Arden-Smith '96 is associatemanaging editor of The Crimson. She secretly likesFenway Park better than both Sotheby's and YankeeStadium.