By: Jamie Thompson
Updated: Aug. 2, 2016
Originally Published: Sep. 30, 2005
“Is it necessary to bring this?” I inquired of my mother as we loaded the car in our driveway.
“It’s rather large. Are you sure you need it?”
It was August of 1983, and I was preparing to embark on my college journey. I pleaded with my mother to allow me to bring along that oversized bulletin board. While it obstructed my father’s view from the backseat, I skillfully managed to slide it in anyway. It rested atop an eclectic assortment of belongings—milk crates filled with warm sweaters for the brisk New England winters, my down comforter (a deep purple to align with the college colors), and a mauve bucket brimming with toiletries. In the backseat, I cradled my boombox and a Ziploc bag filled with cassette tapes, including hits like Flashdance, Synchronicity, and Thriller. That day marked the beginning of a series of adventures in my college life.
Equipped with a shiny Disc brand camera—now considered “vintage” by eBay—I was eager to document my transition into adulthood. At 18, I was determined to capture every moment. Initially, I decorated my bulletin board with photos from home—family snapshots, high school events, and my long-distance boyfriend. Gradually, I began taking pictures as visitors entered my dorm room. What began as a lighthearted photo-op evolved into a treasured collection that would encapsulate significant moments. Those pictures allowed me to freeze time, a concept that resonated deeply with me even back then.
“You can’t enter unless I take your picture,” I would declare to my dorm visitors. Both acquaintances and newcomers obliged, striking poses that I still appreciate today.
As time passed, the bulletin board transformed into a vibrant display, with only a few traces of cork remaining visible. I named it The Wall. It became a symbol of status, a light-hearted badge of honor, and soon, everyone wanted their moment on The Wall. While it functioned as a rudimentary form of social media, it was a tangible collage of memories—an enduring chronicle of my college experiences. I spent that summer developing film rolls and savoring the rediscovery of those moments.
The Wall served as a historical record, showcasing our fashion inspired by Madonna and documenting our collective adventures. It captured memories like our stormy drive from Worcester, Massachusetts, to Manhattan for a Neil Young concert, where we ended up sleeping in a friend’s car. It remembered the weekend we lost our friend, Liz, only to find her making new friends at a nearby college. And of course, it held the memory of our senior week booze cruise, where I met a classmate who would later become my boyfriend. If The Wall could speak, I might have had to pay it off for its secrets.
Three years ago, a fellow student reached out via email, requesting college photos for our 25th reunion slide show. I sent her 60 images I had unearthed during a power outage while searching for a project. Selecting photos from sticky pages brought a smile to my face as I relived each story. College truly felt like a four-year sleepover. I chose images from toga parties, first dates, quad gatherings, school dances, and Halloweens past, capturing friendships that either faded or lasted.
Set to a backdrop of ’80s rock, the reunion slide show was a hit. One particular photo stood out—of a couple known as the class sweethearts, all smiles during our freshman year. They had married and faced serious health challenges but rallied in remission to attend the reunion. Another memorable shot featured the Blind Date Ball, where my roommate introduced me to a freshman named Jake, who has since passed away. I wore my hair in a French braid and donned a shoulder-padded silk dress, posing with my date against a backdrop of bunk beds. Favorite professors and joyful graduation moments peppered the medley. The final image captured the campus at sunset, a memento I had purchased during a yearbook clearance sale in my last week of college.
Each photograph evoked emotions in the room—some eliciting wistful sighs, others bursts of laughter as we reminisced about our youthful selves. The iconic ’80s certainly lived up to their reputation. The contents of The Wall left everyone in awe, and the slideshow even made its way to YouTube.
Long into the night, my friends and I shared memories of The Wall, reflecting on our college antics and younger selves. In an age where photos can be easily edited or erased, I cherish my Disc camera and the physical proof of our shared journey into adulthood.
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In summary, The Wall of Memories I crafted during my college years serves as a time capsule of youthful exuberance, lasting friendships, and the adventures that shaped my early adulthood.
Keyphrase: College Memories in the ’80s
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