Halloween at RIT: Celebrating Grad Life One Costume at a Time

Halloween as a graduate student at RIT was a great way to mix school and fun, and it really showed how important community and creativity are. This year, I got to celebrate with friends, dress up, and take some great pictures with costumes inspired by pop culture. I embraced both my technical side and my love of cultural experiences.

Celebration and Costumes

One of the best things about this Halloween was getting dressed up. My friends and I chose a fun theme and dressed up as characters from Toy Story. Our costumes were bright and easy to spot, like a cowboy hat and bandana or Buzz Lightyear's famous space gear.

Picking out, putting together, and wearing these costumes made an otherwise busy semester more fun. Even though I had to meet project deadlines and go to my everyday lectures, taking time to be creative felt good.

The Experience of Graduate Students

It was interesting to see how life works here when I had to balance my graduate classes at RIT with a fun Halloween party. I usually spend my days working on algorithms, writing technical stuff, and getting ready for FAANG [(Facebook (now Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google (now Alphabet)] interviews. But Halloween was a break, a chance to catch up with friends, laugh about our costume choices, and share stories from our programs. Taking pictures, entering costume contests, and trying themed snacks were small pleasures that helped break up the stress of studying.

People and Memories

The most important thing about this Halloween was the feeling of belonging. As a master's student, it's easy to get lost in school and work. Halloween made me think about how important these lighthearted times are. Everyone at RIT, from students to teachers, got into the spirit of the event. There were group costumes and friends exchanging treats all over the place.

Taking pictures of these memories, like our Toy Story duo or group celebrations, helped make the experience a highlight of the semester.

Thinking About the Past and the Future

This Halloween was a mix of fun and friendship, even though graduate school is hard. It made me believe even more that getting out of my comfort zone, dressing up, and having fun with friends is not only enjoyable but also important for staying connected and energized. As I move on with the semester and work on hard projects and prepare for interviews, memories from this night will remind me of the balance that makes grad school at RIT rewarding in every way.

Halloween at RIT is proof that celebration and scholarship can go hand in hand, making memories that will last a lifetime and bringing the community closer together, one costume at a time.