How Fenway Park Eased My Transition to College Life in Boston
The fall semester of my freshman year at Northeastern was filled with many firsts, but most notably, it was my first time moving to a new city. Naturally, this came with feelings of unfamiliarity and lack of belonging. I am from Boerne, Texas, a rural town outside of San Antonio with an environment starkly different than that of Boston. I wasn’t originally convinced that Boston would ever feel like my new home, but through engaging with the city’s vibrant sports culture, I found myself feeling like a Bostonian.
When I moved into my International Village dorm room in the fall of 2021 the week before classes began, I was met with a variety of opportunities to engage with the city, all provided by Northeastern. I remember getting free tickets to the New England Aquarium and a Duck Tour, but the most impactful experience was the opportunity to watch the Red Sox with Student 9’s. These are $9 student tickets to Fenway Park for Red Sox games throughout the regular and post-season.
I took advantage of this opportunity to see the historic Fenway Park twice before my fall classes even started and close to a dozen times throughout my first semester. My $9 student ticket and a Fenway Frank for dinner were all I needed for the perfect night in Boston. My roommates and I would walk the 15 minutes to Fenway Park together and find our place among the thousands of rowdy fans. I was thrilled by the bright lights and easy-to-follow baseball entertainment. Throughout my first year, I became more and more acquainted with the Red Sox lineup and I slowly grew a collection of different colored baseball caps to rotate through for my cheap trips to Fenway.
I even had the opportunity to see a Yankees @ Red Sox Wild Card game. The most famous rivalry in sports was heightened in this game played to determine which team would take the last playoff spot. I remember feeling that sense of belonging while sitting with a crowd mixed with students and die-hard Red Sox fans who did not care where you were from as long as you weren’t wearing a Yankees cap. My frequent trips to Fenway for the Red Sox games solidified my love for the city of Boston. It allowed me to feel like a true resident of Boston and a fan of the Red Sox. The Student 9’s undoubtedly eased my transition to this new stage in my life and welcomed me as one of Boston’s newest residents. While I may always be an Astros fan at heart, I consider the Red Sox to be my team and will cheer them on at any opportunity I can get.