Fall Ball: Reflections

In this post, 2 underclassmen reflect on their 2011 Fall Ball experiences.  What did Ashley, the senior, and Sarah, the freshman, have to say about their experiences?

 Sarah: The Freshman

I first heard about Fall Ball from a few upperclassmen who were eagerly informing us clueless freshmen about their own Fall Ball experiences. Though the general consensus was that it was definitely a night to remember and something you wouldn’t want to miss out on, an equal number were quick to tell us otherwise, explaining their night at Fall Ball wasn’t anything special, and something they actually could have gone without. Therefore, it was understandable that I was left in a state of indecisiveness about all things regarding Fall Ball. So, while the majority of the freshmen class sat by their computers that Monday, preparing to get one of the limited and coveted tickets, I still hadn’t made up my mind and instead just chose to think about it a little longer. Deluded into believing that I had enough time to make up my mind, it was a big wake up call to find out from a friend that tickets had sold out almost immediately.
 
As soon as I heard that I couldn’t get a ticket, it’s as if my mind had flipped a switch. I wanted to go to Fall Ball, but instead, I was drowning in regret for my hesitance. I was left envious of my friends who had tickets and I spent the few days leading up to Friday night miserable. So, when my roommate told me the day of that her friend had an extra ticket she was willing to give me, I went crazy. There must  have been hallelujahs chorusing in the background because my prayers had been answered!  Completely eager, I went with my roommate and a few people she knew, determined to have a great night. Though we were only vaguely aware of what awaited us, we were all ready to party. And let me just say that we were not disappointed in the least.
 
Being the little froshies that we were, we were immediately impressed by the lights and smoke and music. Coming from high school, where dances were only good for the last 20 minutes and the DJ was always disappointing, we can’t be faulted for our awe. And let me just say that Fall Ball was as far from a high school dance as they can get. By the end of the night, I had a taste of what the partying scene at college was all about. My friends and I had a good time; we danced till our feet killed us, laughed at all the stumbling drunks, got our grind on with an assortment of cute guys (and the occasional creeper), and so much more. I couldn’t understand how the upperclassmen I’d talked with didn’t love Fall Ball! Though I was jealous of the people up in the VIP section, I left Fall Ball 2011 with no regrets.
 
A friend told me that Fall Ball is basically a rite of passage for freshmen, and I’m glad that I didn’t miss out. I ended up meeting some really cool people and having a great time, all of which would not have happened had I stayed in my room being anti-social. Though a few tweaks with how tickets are sold might be in order, the night was a success. Word of advice to anyone thinking of not going to Winter Bash: if it’s anything like Fall Ball, don’t miss it!

Ashley: The Senior

It’s the night of Fall Ball, and I’m running unfashionably late. I had already planned on not arriving at the dance until 11PM – but it is now 10:45 and I am stuck on the Joey, wearing jeans, entirely sober, waiting for the driver to get out of Dunkin’ Donuts and resume his job of transporting students to campus.
 
With every passing minute, I receive a text from my friends that revolves around the same theme of “hurry up.” I would be annoyed that I’m missing the fun, but even the fact that it’s my last year at Tufts isn’t enough to get me terribly excited about the prospect of Fall Ball. The last time I attended, I was a freshman. And even then, I barely spent any time at the dance because I forgot my ID and had to walk home, AND found the whole idea terribly embarrassing for a shy, self-conscious 18 year old like myself.
 
But at 21, I am no longer shy. I am a little jaded though. The event is hot, I can hardly find people I know, and the room is filled with doe-eyed freshmen looking for dance partners. I spend most of my free time standing off to the side with friends, trying to shout to each other over the music. I no longer hold the delusion of running into a cute guy and forming an actual connection – this isn’t a John Hughes movie and in my four years, I’ve learned that these kinds of events are hardly the place for romance.  
 
Eventually, my friends and I make it to the sauna-esque center of the dance floor. As I’m standing towards the front with my two friends, I feel someone grab on to my waist and begin “dancing” – more like gyrating – against me. I quickly grab his hands off my waist, spin myself around until he’s facing me, and push him away along with an exclamation somewhere along the lines of “What do you think you’re doing?” Okay – so my reaction is a little extreme. But think about it, in every circumstance other than a school dance, if you came up behind a girl who you didn’t know, in the dark, and started rubbing against her, you would be arrested. And as a senior, I have little to no tolerance for meeting a hook up buddy in the midst of a sweaty, sloppily drunk crowd.
 
We finally leave around 1 AM after very little successful dancing, and even less success in maintaining a conversation. The rest of the night is much more my style – a small after-party with friends and a few new acquaintances, playing card games, and having actual conversations. I don’t regret attending Fall Ball – as a senior, it felt like a rite of passage to endure one last dance in the gym – but at the end of the day, I only went to reassure myself that I was making the most of my college experience, not because I particularly enjoyed what it had to offer.

Your Turn

What did you think of Fall Ball?  Do you agree with Sarah or Ashley?  Let us know in the comments!