#tipression

Any TIPster anywhere 

When I got that letter in the mail telling me I could go to the Academy sites, I was stoked. Immediately, I knew I wanted to go. I couldn’t go the first year. The second year, I went. I was dealing with some personal issues at the time, so I chose to leave early. It was the worst decision of my life. As soon as I got in my mom’s car in the parking lot, I knew what I left behind. It wasn’t just a summer camp, or a nerd camp. Everyone there, even the ones I didn’t know, had become family. I started counting down the days for when I could go back. Sadly, I got wait listed my third year. But this passed term has been the absolute best three weeks of my entire life. I’m not even kidding. I went in that first day not knowing what the hell I had gotten myself into. I knew no one and no one knew me. I was terrified that it would be a repeat of the last time I went. It was no where near close. The friendships that were made are worth more than the $4,000 that it cost to get there. I’ve never experienced such a place where learning isn’t just a chore, but something everyone there wanted  to do. Being yourself didn’t mean putting on a mask and being the part that everyone else wanted to see. I heard someone say that they couldn’t be gay and be accepted back home. But at TIP, being gay is totally fine. No one cared if you were a Christian or an Atheist, if you had dark skin or the palest skin, you were always accepted. And at TIP was the first time I had experienced such a place where no one didn’t tolerate differences. Duke TIP means so much more to me than what I can put into words. It has become synonymous with family. If you are a Tipster, you should go. I know that it might be a financial burden on your family, it was on mine, but if there is a will, there is a way. My best advice to you is to experience everything TIP has to offer. If you are a first year fourth year, or a fourth year fourth year, make the most out of it. Kiss someone, take advantage of your fourth year privilege. Sneak into people’s rooms. Have fun. It’s not just a learning camp, but a place to have fun. Yes, there are rules to follow, but still, have fun. Have the best three weeks of your life. Trust me, you will want to go back. So while you are there, make the most of it. And if you need to talk, message me. I’m always here. If you have questions, I will do my best to answer. If you need advice, feel free to come to me. But to every single TIPster out there, thank you for making TIP become family. You are truly the best people I have met. See ya’ll around:)

So this summer I went to this camp my home and the moment I left campus it’s felt like my soul was gonna fall out. I cried all the way to the airport and for the two hours that we waited there I was numb. By the time we actually got back home, I had composed myself and I was fine. I was fine for two days. The second night that I was “home” I was listening to music and American Pie came on. Now, before TIP, I had known the song. It was a happy song that my family sang at barbecues and on long car rides. But the moment that song started playing, in my dark room at 10:37pm, I missed my family. Not the people that I lived with, who took me to school and watched my softball games, but the people that held my hand while walking to lunch at Summit, the ones that sent boxes of food and pizza down the hall for free, the people who knew my secrets before they knew my name. My family. I know it may be silly (At this point I had to stop writing because Watch Me (The Whip Song) came on and I cried) but these people, that I only knew for three weeks, have had a larger impact on who I am and how I feel about myself. Before I went to Tip, there were people that I hung out with, we laughed and spent all of our time together, but it was all so superficial. I love them, they are still my friends and they are amazing people, but the people I met at TIP, opened my eyes to a world that I didn’t even know existed. I was in a majority gay class. My mom was like 4′11, I had a dozen and a half siblings, I met a wombat, my room mate was Catholic with Buddhist tendencies, I found out what love is. Love is having a place to belong even if especially if, you feel like you’ll never fit, love is walking out alone and being surrounded by family when you arrive at your destination. Love is moving your bed to the floor so that you and your room mate can talk until 2am without getting your door knocked on. TIP is love. TIP is life. Tip. is. home.

thank you!