Remembering Kim Perez at Tufts University
by David Sussman
Hopefully this short essay represents some of Kim’s life at Tufts University (Fletcher) in Boston, MA from December 2002 to May 2003
I first met Kimberly Rosario Perez at the Tufts undergrad library, during finals of her second to last semester on campus. Arriving at the study hall with Khadija, a mutual friend, we found two open spaces at the table where Kim was studying. True to form, she was thinking one step ahead - to the PhD program she wanted to enroll in - and was deeply focused on prepping for an upcoming GMAT exam. With a baseball cap pulled low over her face, and headphones plugged into a laptop computer, Kim was a model of concentration, completely focused on her work. This image of her would be a common one over the next months, as I saw during the spring semester how dedicated she was to her studies.
The exuberance and freedom with which Kim approached new activities was apparent from our very first interaction, a skating trip with other Fletcher students on Boston Common. Arriving in the middle of the city we rented skates, laced up, and edged onto the rink, which was crowded with people of all ages. While Kim did not have much experience skating, it wasn’t long before her laughter filled the air and she zoomed around the ice, with no fear of falling, and her black hair flowing behind.
As her travels throughout her life have shown, Kim had an ability to live fully within the culture and place that she found herself. Boston, a city defined by cold and snow in the winter, was no different. When her roommate Iliriana bought a sled it became cause for an expedition to the main hill on campus, in front of the administration building. Kim jumped on the sled with abandon, and whizzed down the slope, oblivious to the library steps and metal railing below. At a college hockey tournament where she held no particular affiliation, Kim was one of the loudest fans cheering on the sidelines, encouraging the lower-ranked team to come back and win the game. Kim, it seemed, always pulled for the underdog.
Kim was fearless, a quality demonstrated in front of an audience, during classes, and in her personal relationships. She had no problem performing, and sang a duet with Malanie at Open-Mic Night, before many other Fletcher students. Though a bit off-tune, their performance was one of the most spirited. She tackled extracurricular activities whole-heartedly, and practiced a new dance for many weeks before a performance at Fletcher’s Asia Night cultural celebration. If Kim had a question, there was little timidity in asking it. In a course on economic development she sat in the very first row, directly in front of Professor Schaffner. At any point needing potential clarification, up went her hand. In her friendships, Kim did not hesitate to let others know what was on her mind, no matter what the subject.
Kim remained one of the most diligent students I have ever met. Where others tired of studying at 11 or 12 in the evening, Kim could push on until 1 or 2 AM. Though fatigued the next day, she would refuel with coffee and be ready to get back to reading. On the other hand, organization was not always her strong suit. Kim’s room was messy, with papers scattered around. Laundry? That could wait until she finished her schoolwork. At times Kim also skipped social events at Fletcher to write a paper, willing to sacrifice in order to do what was necessary to complete her classes. She staked out a specific on the third floor of the library and had a few special photos taped to the side of the cubby, along with a vase holding a fake flower. The path to becoming a professor was not always certain, but Kim was resilient, a competitor, and was going to achieve her goal of becoming a university professor.
In addition to Kim’s spirit, her compassion, and her drive, she was beautiful. She caught my eye – and that of others – from the first time that I saw her studying at the library, to the end of Fletcher and the school’s formal dance. Whether in red leather boots or jeans, she made an impression. At an exhibition of African fashion Kim dressed up in clothing from the region, and looked stunning. Kim’s beauty, however, was as much internal as external. It was also her care for others, her honesty, and the transparent way with which she approached the world that made her so endearing.
My overall Fletcher experience is firmly intertwined with my experience and memories of Kim. Thinking of her now I recall her ebullient laugh, and her terrific smile and radiant eyes are each firmly imprinted in my mind. Kim is and will be missed, but always remembered.