When I was younger and visited Hayden at Williams, I never imagine that a decade later, I would be walking through the same library doors as she. The opposite of never imagined, actually. I never wanted to go to Williams when I was really young. Unlike Hayden who dreamed of attending the school since she was 8, I imaged a life with much less schoolwork.
I remember visiting her at Williams from the time I was 6 years old until I was 10. I would sprint across the quad, Tunnel City Coffee cookie in hand. I would punch in the code to her room and admire my artwork that was plastered on her cork board. A drawing of a chicken that I was very proud of and a pipe cleaner heart. Bounding down the marble stairs in Sawyer Library and through the stacks on every floor. Hayden pretended to close the stacks slowly, but I always knew she was joking. I watched her and her friends sail across the lake during sailing team practice on beautiful spring and fall days. There was a giant purple cow on each mast---Hayden told me they're called "ephs."
Our Williams visits were some of my favorite afternoons. As I got older, I became obsessed with Williams and began making everything purple and gold. Drawings for Hayden, my hats, backpacks, everything Williams. "You're my baby eph!" Hayden would yell from across the quad, laughing to her friends.
Hayden advised me that it could be dangerous to become so invested in one school once the college process rolled around, in case things didn't work out. But I couldn't help it. This place was magical. Exceptional.
Pictured: Playing in the stacks, Spring 2019
Pictured: Wearing my favorite Williams mascot hat (which I still own!), November 2016
Pictured: Hayden at her first official sailing regatta at Middlebury College, Spring 2018
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