1.

To enter the world of Wesleyan University is to dive headfirst into a sea of nuance and seemingly limitless possibility.

There are students, there are faculty, there are professors, and there is President Michael Roth – here is the general stratigraphic makeup of the institution. Here are all of the entities that bring value to the relatively small university. There is importance within each category – all designations promise a fruitful experience, a life investment – but the bounds between them are rather rigid, and not to be crossed. A student remains, for the duration of their undergrad education, a student, and so on. 

It is not compulsory, but certainly ideal to take a well-rounded courseload and fulfill the general education requirements. A student here often takes a variety of courses – maybe even double majors – in the seemingly irreconcilable subjects. Theater and Biology. Religion and Computer Science. And so on.

To foster a sense of community, all students, even those of the senior class, are required to live on campus. The school employs a gradual-independence housing system: freshmen start in the dorms, but more possibilities open up for them as they rise through the class years. It is generally understood that a twenty-one-year-old could live independently in a house, and therefore, they may enter the housing lottery for senior year. The houses are old – some have cracks in the ceilings – but they have a charm that is somewhat endearing. It is, ultimately, a blessing that students must live on campus; this carves out a slice of convenience for any person wishing to walk to class within fifteen minutes of its commencement. 

2.

It is generally seen as beneficial for students to take part in extracurricular activities. These come in a vast array of forms: sports teams, acapella groups, knitting clubs, and so on. This devotion must come with the caveat of balance, though. It is detrimental for any student to throw themselves wholly into one singular passion – academic or otherwise. Learning to make time for oneself – to find fulfillment without a social activity as the main source – is crucial in college and beyond. This skill cannot be gained if one is never alone. 

3.

Classes that marry lecture and discussion are often seen as some of the most favorable. While there are courses that fall neatly on either side of the spectrum, a class that incorporates multiple learning styles will likely appeal to a larger demographic, checking off a variety of boxes in the midst of one lesson. 

This is not to say that the two extremes do not bear any benefit, though. A lecture is nice when one feels that they do not have the capacity to contribute, and a discussion proves enjoyable when one would rather dissect information rather than write it down. I have taken classes in all categories, and have found them to be helpful in different ways at different times. 

One may also take a course pass/fail if they do not anticipate total success in the course, or if they wish to relieve some of the pressure from their already aching shoulders. I, too, have done this, and I do not regret it.

4.

Locking oneself out of their dorm with no phone and inadequate attire is embarrassing, but it is also inevitable.

5. 

The Olin Library is one of the most beautiful buildings on campus. It has white pillars and red brick, and it is four stories tall with a basement floor. The building has been modified since its erection, with a semicircular wall added to the back – this is to say that none of the building was destroyed, rather a section was built atop a part of it. This is a nice way to go about a renovation: amending without destruction. It preserves both the aesthetics and integrity of the structure. 

There is an unspoken rule about noise in the Olin Library – it is a silent library. There should be no talking, no crinkling of chip bags, and minimal coughing when one is sick. If this social norm is violated, one will receive angry looks and might be gossiped about online. 

A solution, though, is the Science Library in the Exley Building. Despite its name, the space is not exclusive to students studying STEM – I, as an English major, prefer the Science Library because I can only be productive amongst noise; silence discomforts me. The Science Library welcomes talking and the overheard annoying phone conversations. It is for this reason that much of the student body loves it, and it is for this same reason that much of the student body hates it.

6.

It is a smart thing for a freshman to keep their prospective major in mind; that way they can prioritize relevant courses as they explore the larger options. Progressing in one’s major earlier on will surely make their latter years more manageable. 

7.

Going on walks around campus, assuming the weather is pleasant, will always prove beneficial. In the fall the trees are alive – the leaves slip into a warm gradient that feels somewhat like an embrace. The grass is mostly green, but even the dryer spots turn a sweet yellow that welcome your footsteps. 

You should also veer slightly off campus, perhaps taking a stroll in the Indian Hill Cemetery – which is probably not haunted – or journeying a little farther to, say, the Wadsworth State Park, a friendly woods that holds multiple winding trails. 

8.

Students should study what they are passionate about because they are more likely to excel in those subjects.

9.

It is said that there are tunnels beneath the campus. Some say they are haunted, some say they have asbestos. It is probably both.

10.

A man named Mike White went to Wesleyan, and he went on to be successful in the film and TV industry. He created the award-winning series “The White Lotus,” which was actually inspired from his time on Survivor that ended with him earning 2nd place.

11.

This school is small, which makes romantic fraternization complex. Someone’s ex might end up being the boyfriend of their best friend, which will likely ruin the friendship. I’ve seen certain relationships come about and fall apart while the two parties were in the same social circle. This circle thus broke apart into many fragments. 

It is almost impossible to avoid people here. A friend of mine told me that avoidance is a mental state; that if one thought about it enough, then the person of interest would disappear from their sight. This is a nice sentiment – maybe it is even a nice idea to believe in – but it is not true on any logical basis. The only way to avoid someone is to stay home all of the time, unless that someone is your housemate.

12.

Inconveniences – a class in the film building when one lives on the opposite side of campus. A long line in The Red and Black Cafe. A parking lot perpetually unavailable to students, even when empty. An essay due on the same day as a stressful exam. Too many people in the aptly named Espwesso, so that there is not a single seat available.

Things that are not as inconvenient – going to office hours if time permits and circumstances deem that doing so is necessary. Walking behind a student who sings to himself aloud, fortuitously deterring strangers from approaching, especially at night.

13.

Once, a scientist fed students beer and other carb-rich foods and asked them to ride stationary bikes in the basement of Judd Hall. This is how and where the calorie was quantified. It is said that he locked them in this basement, but that detail is often omitted from the story.

Never trust a man who leads you into a basement, even if he promises alcohol and bread.

14.

There is a building called North College, and a smaller building to its right that is called South College. North College is a wide building, one of the bigger ones on campuses, and holds offices like that of Residential Life. When students arrive on campus for move-in day, they will pick up their keys in the basement of the North College building. When they leave campus, they will drop off their keys in a mailbox adjacent to the building’s side entrance. 

South College is a smaller, thinner building. It holds some classrooms, and some offices. I have heard that this is where President Michael Roth has an office, but I have not seen this office myself.

It is confusing as to why these buildings are named as they are – the designations of North and South seem inaccurate considering that they are on the same part of campus, and that they are buildings as opposed to general areas. One might think that North College would represent the northern half of campus acreage, while South College represents the southern half. It is therefore clear that sometimes names are misrepresentative and should not always be trusted to guide one in certain directions. 

15.

You might plan to write your essay two weeks before it is due, but the chances of this occurring are slim. You will surely find yourself a victim of perfectionism and procrastination – sometimes these prove synonymous – and will put off the paper because of the anxiety that these two things cause. 
The hardest part of a paper is coming up with the thesis or main idea, and the most tedious part is the bibliography. When one types up the concluding sentence to end the arduous process, the last thing they want to do is figure out how to cite their sources properly. They must not neglect to do so, however, because without proper citations their work could be viewed as plagiarism, which makes them vulnerable to extreme consequences. This makes sense, as plagiarism is lying, so it is best to avoid anything remotely similar at all costs, since it is an expellable offense.

16.

At Wesleyan, one will see the leaves change, the snow fall, the flowers bloom, and the sun shine harshly. Do not be afraid when the leaves start to fall or the flowers start to die because they will surely return in the coming year.

17.

Often people will have friends that are above and/or below their particular class year. It is not discouraged for a freshman to become good friends with a senior, but it is looked down upon when a senior pursues a freshman romantically, so it is a rare occurrence.

18.

If someone has a car on campus, it is more likely than not that they are a sophomore, junior, or senior. Freshmen are typically not allowed to bring cars onto campus, unless they acquire a note from a health professional deeming it necessary. 
This rule is likely in place so as to limit the number of cars on campus – parking can really be rather tedious given the high concentration of cars.

19.

One person’s worth should never be measured by their level of academic achievement, though people often fall victim to this occurrence, nonetheless. This makes me wonder, though, what should we encourage people to measure their worth by? Unless, that is, worth is intrinsic and inherent. Still, though, it would be nearly impossible to convince a dedicated pre-med student that a bad grade does not define them.

20.

When I was a freshman, I befriended a senior, who is now one of my closest friends. This senior taught me one of the most valuable lessons for college and for life onward: 
The best time to leave the party is when you are having the most fun, so that is how you remember it.

Reflection

As Donald Keene writes in “Finding Wisdom in Asian Classics,” Yoshida Kenkō’s Essays in Idleness can be categorized within the Japanese tradition of zuihitsu, which translates to “following the brush.” My understanding of this style is that it encompasses a stream-of-consciousness writing pattern, something that, say, a diarist would employ. This designation does not necessarily mean that the contents spill out of the writer in unkempt, unregulated ways: it is clear from Kenkō’s rhythmic, somewhat pithy writing style that he maintains organization and authority within his narrative voice. For example, in essay 15, he writes, “Going on a journey, whatever the destination, makes you feel suddenly awake and alive to everything.” He makes this statement with a matter-of-fact tone, and pairs it with second-person narration. These two facets lend the voice command, and also establish that he must have had some sort of audience in mind. Still, the content and randomness of the essays do evoke that stream-of-consciousness feeling. I, as a reader, had the experience that he wrote these thoughts down as soon as they came to him, accumulating the essays through a long period of time, which is generally true. This was the first thing that I factored into my creative process: adopting a voice that is opinionated, free-thinking, but also one that does not need to defend its opinions. In Evelyn Moore’s understanding of Max Frisch’s analysis of these essays, she writes that “an objective detailing of facts is not more truthful, and therefore more valuable, than a subjective view.” Truth need not be established or justified. Whatever he states can be taken at face value. Therefore, in analyzing both the actual essays and these articles detailing their contexts, I aimed to replicate style and also content: small anecdotes, musings about the seasons, architectural observations, advice, and the social and aesthetic makeup of Wesleyan. 

I wrote a few small statements about what a student should or shouldn’t do at Wesleyan, which were primarily inspired by the essays that Kenkō wrote about how a man is supposed to behave (Kenkō’s essays 3, 4, 5, etc). Just as Kenkō’s essays revealed a lot about Japanese and Buddhist culture, I wanted to write pieces that reflected Wesleyan culture and “doctrine.” Doing so was not nearly as easy as I thought – like Kenkō, I was sure not to force these thoughts, but instead let them come to me. I realized, throughout the process, that it was also somewhat reminiscent of Zen practice – noticing thoughts without judgement, and watching them pass by as I wrote them down. I did not overthink the content of any entry, but I was precise with how I wrote and conveyed them – finding this balance was tricky, and actually removed any intense introspection to make room for the actual craft. When I first read Essays in Idleness, I was surprised by how much he spoke about material things, thinking, at first, that this didn’t reflect Buddhist belief. In crafting my own, though, I recognized that the act of writing in this particular manner removes the aspect of internalization that would otherwise be dissonant with Buddhist practice. 

While I did not write Haiku for my project, I noticed some similarity in the process (I’ve written Haiku in the past and am using that as a point of comparison). The words need to be carefully selected – there is not room for anything superfluous – to convey a certain message, feeling, or anecdote. I felt like these essays employed the same principles, something I learned solely from composing them myself.

All in all, I found this to be a rather mindful, grounding process. I find that the best way to learn and analyze someone’s writing process – in conjunction with research – is to replicate that process. The timing of this final also proved rather beneficial, considering that I was able to indirectly reflect on much of my Wesleyan experience halfway through my senior year. By indirectly I mean to stress that although I am the author, these essays did not feel individual or personal, and they were helpful in separating me from myself. Even when employing the first person, I felt as though my “I” were a sweeping, all-encompassing narrator, and I am guessing that Kenkō felt similarly.

Bibliography

Keene, Donald. “Kenkō’s Essays in Idleness.” Finding Wisdom in East Asian Classics, edited by

Wm. Theodore de Bary, Columbia University Press, 2011, pp. 257–64. JSTOR,

http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/deba15396.25. Accessed 10 Dec. 2025.

Mckinney, Meredith, et al. Essays in Idleness and Hōjōki. London, Penguin Classics, 2013.

Moore, Evelyn. “Aesthetic Records: A Comparison of Max Frisch’s ‘Tagebuch 1946-1949’ and

The Diary of Kenkō, Essays in Idleness.” Comparative Literature Studies, vol. 25, no. 2,

1988, pp. 167–81. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40246530. Accessed 10 Dec. 2025.