When I first toured Stanford at the end of my junior year of high school, I remember the tour guide claiming that a defining feature of campus was the numerous fountains. I thought to myself, Fountains? Doesn’t every campus have a fountain? But then, she explained some of the various traditions that went with them, such as fountain hopping on a hot spring day and dyeing the water red in honor of Big Game Week. Okay, I guess they are kind of important, I thought.

However, she left out an important tidbit. So, let me tell you my favorite thing about summertime on campus. It’s something so Stanford that it’s bound to make you grin.

I invite you to first take a seat at the Coupa Cafe outside of Green Library. Grab a warm coffee (or my favorite: a mango smoothie) and perhaps a friend. A Saturday morning is the perfect time for this outing. Then, just sit and wait. It will come to you.

It might be in the midst of a fervent conversation or during the climax of a book or when you finally get to that one good reel (P.S. please do not be scrolling on beautiful summer days like these); slowly but surely you will notice it.

It starts with one innocent kid. He rolls up on a scooter wearing an oversized, blue helmet. You’ll be a little bit confused, thinking, Why is a kid coming to the Coupa Cafe at Green Library? Is he drinking coffee at this age? Is he already studying in the library at this age?! 

Soon, you will realize. More and more kids arrive. Quickly, it becomes a whole swarm. Finally, the parents stroll up. The dad’s wearing a big straw hat and tank top, and the mom is in shorts and a ball cap. Behind them is a big ol’ wagon full of gear. Again, you think to yourself, That’s odd. Why are they in beach clothes? And why are they pulling that wagon?

Then, the parents give the nod and you immediately understand. In a flash, the kids dash towards the big red hoop. Mid-dash, they throw off their disguises to reveal sparkling swimsuits. The big blue helmet is no more, replaced with swim goggles in a flash. The shoes come off too (if the parents are lucky). They take three huge steps down and splash into the “red hoop fountain” (formally known as Shumway Fountain). The big smile never leaves their faces throughout the process.

You come to realize that this is not a coffee chat or study exercise — it’s the local neighborhood waterpark! You can’t wipe away the huge grin on your face.

Next, you look to the parents as they start to sprawl out. Out comes beach balls, toy dolls, towels, picnic blankets and snacks galore. It’s like a beach trip or lake outing — but it’s at the Stanford water fountain!

Things slow down and the smile slowly fades from your face. You return to your conversation or book or doom-scroll. But then, something grabs your eye. You look up and it’s kids again. Then, you look down at the fountain. Wait. The kids are still at the fountain.

And, before you can finish your next thought, a new set of children dash into the water without a moment’s hesitation. The smile returns again — larger this time. Now you know to not take your eyes off. In a few minutes, another family comes, then another and another. Soon, you look down at the fountain and think Man, I didn’t know fountains could fit that many kids. The waterpark’s at capacity — it’s packed!

You watch kids splash, parents laugh and dogs bark, all intermingled with the beaming sunshine and cool fountain water. As you eventually depart, the smile on your face is here to stay. You’ve had too much joy for it to be leaving any time soon.

I have been asked by many people why I chose Stanford. Sometimes, I think I don’t really know why. But, today I can tell you with utmost certainty why I chose Stanford. It’s because of stuff like this. We are a community who is really smart, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Where else do you have geniuses from across the world gathering together to make a waterpark out of a water fountain?

As I write this article on a warm and breezy Saturday morning, I watch this beautiful event replay over and over again. Not just in my head, but in real life too. I watch as packs of families crowd around the fountain and splash in it. I watch as people think, talk and laugh together. And, I think to myself, What a wonderful world.