simfinite hopscotch! by Ellie F. '28
hippity hoppity blue tape grandiosity
MIT is about risk. It’s a place where you put yourself out there, face possible criticism, to realize your full potential. In my case, I sent my very first email to dormspam, a mailing list that reaches most of the undergrad population, making myself vulnerable to starting a flame war (or worse!!). This was all in order to reach my highest goal, my dream: to make a hopscotch down Vassar St, or the Simfinite. Anyways, here’s the email I pored over for so long.
my undergrad reputation is riding on this
I ordered a 64 pack of chalk, which would definitely be enough, unless someone got really hungry. Around 2pm, my roommate, a few other friends, and I descended to begin the odyssey. We started brewing up strategies, designating some people to squares, and others to numbers. I was on number duty, and as it turns out, counting upwards is pretty damn hard. What comes after 33? My roommate Anoushka and I agreed that there’s literally no way to tell.
About an hour in, the ogs had to leave, but a revolving door of chalkers started helping out. I made peace with the dust that would forevermore inhabit my mouth and throat. We started running out of chalk faster than free food disappears on campus. Still, we kept the sad chalky nubs of what had been to decorate milestone squares like 100, and then 200, and then 300, and then…
In the 800s, we encountered a dilemma. Should we continue down Vassar St., or cross to the other side, where most students turn towards the Z Center? After holding court, the jury decided to cross. We created a very accurate pair of Portals of hit vi🅱️eo game fame, as well as a warning to cross safely.
After five hours, nearly 64 sticks of chalk, and about a quarter mile, we made it to the 1000th square! We decorated it with a giant finish line, and Wyatt and Caroline both did runs. After basically doing squats nonstop for so long, I declined hopping it for the time being.
Unfortunately, the rain washed our creation away just three days later. But entropy destroys everything in the end, and hopscotch is inherently ephemeral, a wisp of joy and beauty that can only be there for a weekend, and then gone…
…
JUST KIDDING LMAO HOPSCOTCH IS FOREVER
Tape is notable for being sticky. Josh decided to put this principle into use by buying 144 rolls of quarter-inch blue tape. It was a total of $14, and each roll was 55 yards. Josh wants to note that one week after his purchase, the price of blue tap doubled, so clearly the sellers realized the true worth of their product.
It took a while to figure out a good taping time, but about a month after the original hopscotch, we got together on a Sunday morning and started work. It went much slower than chalk, but we got into a groove much faster this time. Much experimentation was carried out regarding the best way to make each number.
two different styles of 6 in the same square by the same person. and in the end, we converged on a different style of 6
We went for a brunch break, and upon returning, resolved to get to square 256, which would be about 2.5 total hours of work. We got to our goal faster than any of us expected, and spent the rest of our time nerdifying select squares.
That weekend, there were so many kiddos on campus!! So, we got the joy of seeing our hard work being enjoyed by toddlers wrapped in bright puffy coats. Cue a collective awwwwwwweeee <3 One dad was even explaining to his kid all the nerd things, like what pi or a summation is!!
We soon discovered that not all of us were as adept at hopscotching as the mini-humans. While I, a natural, finished it in 55.12 seconds, a few of us… struggled. Not to name any names of course :)
Oh look! We got some reviews!
“Seeing kids do it was very fun. In a world in which mit promises us that we will change the world and yet by its very nature stops us from acting like human beings this is a very welcome respite” – steph
“I do it every time I go down there” – ian
“Hopscotchhh!!” – logan
“Joyful screaming” – child
I agree. MIT is psets and club meetings and emails and midterms that never abate. Sometimes you have to go robot mode to stay afloat. But then again, sometimes there’s hopscotch!!! <3