My Favorite Purchase Memory
November 20, 2023
Open gallery
I’m going to graduate in about six months. This semester is my last fall semester at Purchase College. As I have been thinking about my favorite memory at Purchase, I keep coming back to last year’s Thanksgiving.
I had finally found a friend group that I loved, and I lived with two of my favorite people. Like many friend groups, we decided to have a Friendsgiving party before Thanksgiving break. We invited our closest friends to come and enjoy the night with us. My roommates and I spent the whole day cooking and prepping for our dinner. Ovens were on, all the stovetops were being used, the kitchen was crowded, and Christmas music was playing. Once 6:30 came, our friends began to arrive. Rice, beans, chicken, mac and cheese, focaccia bread, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and so much more food was brought by our friends. In the end, I think we had about six pies, too! We had the best night. We talked about our semesters, danced to music, and watched Christmas movies and Spongebob episodes. It was what I thought college should be. For a while after coming to Purchase, I felt like I was trying to find my footing, and this one night made me realize that I’d found exactly what I was hoping for. We ended the night sleepy and full, with many leftovers.
The next night, though, I wasn’t feeling very well, and seeing as I would be traveling the next morning, I decided to take a Covid test. At 2am, I called my mother back home and told her I tested positive for Covid and would have to stay at school the whole break. I cried because I was so upset that I’d miss seeing my family. I texted everyone who had been celebrating with us and told them to test, too. I was worried I had ruined everyone’s Thanksgiving, but surprisingly I had only given it to my two roommates and my boyfriend (sorry, guys!).
I apologized profusely, but we made the absolute best of it. Our non-Covid friends waved goodbye to us through our windows as they left for home. But the four of us spent time together in the living room watching even more Christmas movies and eating the many leftovers. On Thanksgiving Day, it was just me and my two roommates, one of them whose birthday was that day — her 21st! We ordered cheesecake and Domino’s pizza. We got all dressed up and took pictures together. When we went to sing Happy Birthday to our friend, we realized we had candles but no lighter. We downloaded a candle app on our phone, and she blew through the microphone to blow out the candle! Even though it was not how we had imagined our break would go, it was such a fun time and a memory I hope I never forget.
-Ambassador Kiana