Our next segment of Modern Love transports us to the hallowed halls of Pupin.

Rihanna once poignantly said, “We found love in a hopeless place.” In my case, I found my best friends – Laura, Luca, and Gary – in the very hopeless Pupin 329. We congregated there many Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:10 to 12:00 for Accelerated Physics – although Gary and I attended a handful of lectures fewer. Our Professor, Norman Christ, “taught” us physics ranging from basic kinematics to special relativity to quantum mechanics. Trivial, right? 

Initially, they were mere names to me. Gary was the guy who I’d walk to class with from Ferris. Luca was just Gary’s roommate with the bleached-blond hair who sits in the front row and vigorously nods at Norman Christ. It wasn’t until Laura had heard me loudly state I hadn’t started a problem set one week very soon before it was due that we made plans to do it in Butler together. When we met, I started complaining about my roommate, and Laura offered that I move in with her. Having really only interacted with her then, I was beyond surprised. “Surely, there must be something wrong with her,” I thought. But, I decided to take the offer anyway out of desperation. Turns out, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. 

After finishing a problem set one week, Gary and I had decided to commemorate the pain Norman Christ bestows with alcohol. Of course, as one of the first few encounters I’d had with Gary and Luca, I decided to say, “Doesn’t Luca kinda look like a heroin addict?” The rest is history from that point on. 

Hours were spent on Luca and Gary’s tiny blackboard (Hagoromo only) deriving things like the gamma factor. Much time was spent in Laura and my room just talking, grinding out work, or playing Cards Against Humanity. We even traveled to Laura’s home together in Denmark this past summer, one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. 

We have been through hell and back together. They are by far the smartest, most inquisitive, funniest, wittiest people I’ve ever met – and the list goes on. Gary for sitting through me bawling my eyes out for hours, Luca for always listening to my qualms with men, Laura for constantly being supportive, and so much more. I’m happy to report that surviving Norman was absolutely worth it. 

To Luca, Laura, and Gary, love you guys so much <3.

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Norman Christ via Tal Bloom