The second week of school is over, I already held my first hall tea (which I am marking as a success), and I just spent the weekend in New York watching Matilda on Broadway with one of my best friends.

Alizeh Amer ’16 (L), moonlighting as helpful candid photographer

I am currently writing this while back in Bryn Mawr, listening to the Matilda soundtrack because clearly, I am not ready to let go of the magic yet.

These past few days were everything that I wanted them to be, and Matilda was wonderful and beautiful and soulful and so many more adjectives that writing any more seems supremely redundant. I am really hoping that this sets off the tone for the rest of the year: more fun, more friends, though maybe less poorly structured photographs.

(someday I’ll realize that film is my thing – not polaroids. until that comes however, this is what the world will be subjected to.)

We got to New York through the NJ Transit, got amazing sushi from a place called Ageha Sushi, where they didn’t mind us overstaying our welcome to rest our my poor tired feet, and then got lost trying to find a place to get bubble tea so I could get my weekly fix (admitting that I have an addiction is the first step).

How delicious does that look? But also – go to Vic Sushi in Philadelphia because more sushi for cheaper prices. Advice from your friendly neighborhood Scrooge.

After that we headed to the Shubert Theatre, spotting a familiar friend replacing the tittle in the word Matilda. Try clicking on it and zooming in 😉

The musical itself was amazing. First off, I am one of those people who consider musicals some of the most amazing artistic endeavors of the world. I have been in two film classes (too many, I say!) where the professor would mention musicals with a derisive tone and I won’t stand for it anymore, no sir! Musicals are happy, and wonderful and I am already itching to see another one soon. (Next week? Anyone up for that?)

I’ll bring the sour patch kids. But I’ll give you this look if you ask if we can share.

Matilda was about girls being strong, girls being smart, powerful, moving on from their past and forging a new future. It said a lot of things I wanted to hear – now and always, but especially as a senior who isn’t sure of her future, as someone who is anxious and nervous and sometimes feels lacking – in so many ways.

Songs like Pathetic are about how someone can still have a hold on your life when you’re younger, and into adulthood and trying to break from that. The adults singing When I Grow Up was inspiring – we are all constantly growing. The kids’ yard stick for what it means to be a grown up are still things that excite me as an adult (adult, pshaw). School Song, which contains the lines “you will soon C, there is no escaping trageDy,” but show the characters [spoiler alert!] overcoming their fears and worries.

The overall theme of finding a new family, of different types of love and relationships, was a wonderful thing to think about in a place where I am constantly making new friendships and consider a second home (I think I’ll be writing more about that next week!).

I leave you with these final words from “Naughty”, a little song about the necessity of childhood rebellion:

We’re told we have to do what we’re told but surely
Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.

Just because you find that life’s not fair it
Doesn’t mean that you just have to grin and bear it

attempting the Matilda pose – not sure if I succeeded!

Bryn Mawr College’s Student Activities will be offering very reduced price tickets to Matilda  in Philadelphia sometime soon, so be on the lookout for that and be sure to see it; its very much worth it!