My name is Nick Friedlander, and I’m a SWUG that studies comparative psychology in the dog lab, does lighting design for dance groups, watches RuPaul’s Drag Race religiously, spills the tea constantly, and enjoys talking about how crappy boys can be.

For me, Davenport has been a home over the past four years that has given me such wonderful opportunities to grow as a person and has lifted me up when I’m down. Being a first-generation college student, I feel like Davenport has been the community I’ve needed to really thrive here at Yale, and I can’t imagine a life without all the wonderful people I’ve met because of it.

I’ve also had an amazing opportunity to be a part of Davenport in so many ways. Up until my senior year, I was a college aide, where I got to meet the ever-wonderful Linda, learn about what goes in to all of the amazing events that Davenport puts up (holla at the Louisiana Soiree and the seniors events), and be a part of the reason that the college has fantastic activities. I was also the Dive manager, for what is obviously still the best buttery on campus thanks to Haley Mitchell-Adams ’18 and Reed Srere ’17. It was one of the best times of my Yale career – I loved being able to bring all my friends from various sections of Yale down for a quesadilla and being part of building a community that I loved so much. I’ve also been lucky enough to be a FroCo, and I can’t think of a better way to spend my senior year. I get to be the big gay in charge of all the baby gays, and I get to know some of the newest batch of Gnomes very deeply, which warms my jaded heart.

Overall, what I’ve loved most about my Davenport experience is being able to serve a community that has given me so much, that has lifted me up when I’m down, and has pushed me to grow in a loving community. I have been so fortunate to be involved in Davenport in such unique ways – even though they’ve been very different and have pushed me in various directions, they’ve all had a common bond of community and love. I’ll miss Davenport so much next year, but I hope that I will find a similar community wherever I go!