To be honest, the first year at Rollins isn’t easy. Regardless of how long you’ve been out of school, where you’re from, or what program you’re in, there’s a lot to learn and only two years to learn it. Adjusting to this new environment was tough, but one thing kept me excited to come to campus every day: the chocolate chip muffins from Kaldi’s.
Let me tell you a little story about this beautiful creation. One day, my friend and I were walking around campus and decided to finally take a stroll to the Kaldi’s by the railroad tracks. We didn’t think much of it; we just wanted to grab some matcha before finishing some work. I couldn’t just order a drink, so on a whim, I decided to order their chocolate chip muffin. That’s when my whole world flipped upside down.
Kaldi’s chocolate chip muffins are moist, chocolatey, and decadent. It is truly the perfect pre-study pastry. I felt like I was floating after my first bite, but little did I know I would continue to have that same feeling throughout the semester.
On days when I had pages of biostatistics homework to do, a chocolate chip muffin from Kaldi’s made the work more bearable. On days when I had four to five meetings and class, I looked forward to that delicious, indulgent pastry. But the point of this story isn’t just that these muffins are amazing, it’s about finding the little joys in life while at Rollins.
If I hadn’t gone on that initial walk with my friend, I would have never discovered the muffin. School can be overwhelming, and on top of being students, we’re still human—we deal with life’s general stressors. Finding moments of joy, even the small ones, and amusement can keep you going, and sharing those moments with people who make you happy makes it even more worthwhile.
That’s why I say these muffins saved my life because if I hadn’t found that little source of joy, my mental health would have taken a serious hit. So much feels doable when you have something that reminds you to keep pushing forward, whether it’s a funny conversation on the walk to Kaldi’s or the comfort of a favorite treat.
Kaldi’s muffins reminded me that life is bittersweet—though, thankfully, the muffins themselves were only sweet, haha! Now, I’ve ventured out to explore other parts of Emory’s campus and have started trying other treats at Kaldi’s, like their cookies and cinnamon rolls. But whenever I want that nostalgic feeling, I go back to my old faithful—the pastry that started it all: Kaldi’s chocolate chip muffins.
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