Castle Culture
I lived in Grey Towers Castle my first year of college, and the experience was one I will never forget. When I first saw the message that told me I was living in the castle I was in disbelief; I chalked it up to being an error on the computer or housing systems. I was proven wrong in the following days though, when I arrived and found out where I was living with complete certainty. The walkways to my room were decorated with tapestries and varnished wood, and the inside of my room was vast. I was the first to move in, and I noted that it was more spacious than the average dorm. My bed was in the turret, the rounded tower on the top floor– and I was surrounded by a window on each side of the room. The walls were old, and the room was decorated with a wall sconce. There was a great feeling of awe that accompanied living in the castle.
It took me a while to get used to that feeling of awe. At night I wandered out to look at the interior architecture of the whole thing. Especially the filigreed ceilings and lights, and when it was empty it was often more enjoyable. The mirror room and the rose room became late night study spots when my room was too loud. When I wandered outside at night I could always see the castle from almost any angle, and more specifically I could very easily see my room. I spent a lot of time writing in the nook of the windows, and so I often glanced at the people and things occurring on the green below. For a lot of events I only had to look out the window to see when they’d be happening, or what was happening.
Living in the castle secured me a place of serenity and luxury. While living there I decorated my walls with my own paintings. My part of the room was always scented with pumpkin spice coffee and cologne. We set up Christmas lights across the ceiling and there was a constant atmosphere of good vibes.
The castle was more than just a living space; it offered career and social opportunities as well. I encountered many alumni and professional connections through generally just being around the castle. It was a prominent place for professional gatherings and events, and spending enough time walking in and out would eventually garner some attention. Beyond my career, I had many social connections because of the castle. It was something that created its own social group and following, and more so it was a place where people could hang out. I still think of my first year and how the castle changed and influenced me. I remember my TV setup and the lighting that accompanied it. How the wall became flooded with abstract and expressionist paintings, and the closest window to me looked directly at Murphy Hall. I mainly remember the things I did though, the things that I enjoyed. Like watching the ending of Stone Ocean before winter break, and watching Nope with my friends before summer break. Everything about the castle is like a golden memory that stands out from the rest, and at Arcadia, this symbol is inescapable–as the school’s architectural mascot.
