My block mates (a group of up to eight people that are guaranteed to be placed into the same house) and I had been waiting for over thirty minutes on Housing Day.

Housing Day is an annual celebration when first year students find out which of the twelve upperclassmen houses they will be a part of for their next three years on campus. We then heard a mob of footsteps heading in our direction, chanting words that we could not completely make out. Moments later, the mob burst through our door chanting, “LOWELL! LOWELL! LOWELL! LOWELL! LOWELL!”

Lowell House was the most hoped for by the class of 2022 because it is the latest house to be renovated, meaning all the facilities and amenities of Lowell House are brand new. 

Fast forward five months to a week before sophomore year starts, I’m walking through the front gate of newly renovated Lowell. I was met with the breathtaking courtyard and the wonderful scenery within it.

Throughout the week,  I took time to explore all that Lowell had to offer. I started with the amenities that I had heard so much about: there’s a movie screening room, a lounge area, a game area with pool and ping pong tables, a gym, a squash court, a maker space with equipment such as 3D printers, a dance studio, and an art studio. I even had the opportunity to go up to Lowell House’s bell tower and saw the beautiful view from the top.

House life has been fulfilling so far. The house community brings together people that I probably would not have met throughout my four years here. Some houses also have weekly social events that provide an opportunity for students to interact with house tutors (graduate students who serve as residential assistants), house deans, and other administrators. For Lowell House specifically, every Thursday from 5 to 6 pm is an event called Lowell Tea. It’s a weekly study break at which members of the community sip on tea, have yummy homemade baked goods, and are able to catch up with one another. 

One of my favorite parts of house life is intramural sports or IM’s. Each of the 12 upperclassmen houses competes for the highly coveted House Cup. Each part of the year brings its own season of sports. This fall, there has been ultimate frisbee, soccer, volleyball, and even water polo! IM’s are a great way to distress and get some exercise in a few times a week. It’s also a great way to express house spirit and feel a sense of camaraderie with your fellow housemates.