Saying “this is so cringe” while smiling the whole time.
SAYING “THIS IS SO CRINGE” WHILE SMILING THE WHOLE TIME.
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Remember those first few weeks? The bewildering blur of orientation, a seemingly endless parade of mandatory fun. We were fresh-faced. Then came the traditions. The awkward icebreakers, the forced enthusiasm for chants whose origins were surely lost to time. The bizarre group activities designed to forge instant bonds, often succeeding only in forging instant shared discomfort. We’d look at each other, eyebrows raised, maybe mouthing 'this is so cringe,' yet a smile would creep onto our faces.
It’s a peculiar phenomenon, isn't it? That initial resistance to the peculiar rituals meant to induct us into our new academic homes. We scoffed, we whispered, we rolled our eyes. But somewhere between the communal singing of questionable anthems and the solemn participation in seemingly arbitrary ceremonies, something shifted. These weren't just quirky rites of passage; they were the very threads weaving us into the fabric of a new community. The shared ‘cringe’ became our first inside joke, our first collective memory, a silent pact of belonging.
For those navigating it now, or those who look back with a fond chuckle, these moments are foundational. They are the stories you'll tell, the experiences that bind you to generations of scholars. That primal scream during finals? Absurd, but profoundly cathartic. Secret society whispers? Intriguing, ridiculous, yet undeniably part of the mystique. We hated them, we loved them, but most importantly, we did them together. And in doing so, we became part of something larger. So, keep smiling through the cringe. It's building your legend.