On campus, I am a part of the leadership team for the Princeton Latin American Student Association (PLASA). PLASA is the largest of the many Latine student organizations on campus. The leadership team consists of eight different committees and elected officers who work together to host a wide variety of events for Latine students. These events range from professional development workshops to informal brunches and other exciting social events.

Although a large focus for PLASA has traditionally revolved around programming during Latine Heritage Month at the start of the fall semester, PLASA recently organized the inaugural Latine History Series. This series aimed to increase the number of events hosted during the spring semester, as well as to commemorate the work of Latine activists who have paved the way for current generations of student leaders.

The theme for this year was Women in Activism, and we organized three weekends of events. The first weekend centered around the role that storytelling plays within activism, particularly the power of sharing personal narratives within activist spaces. As the Chair of the Hermanitas Committee, my committee and I were largely responsible for planning and executing this weekend’s events. On Friday night, we hosted “Tiempo de Cuentos,” an intimate event that brought together students to share their own creative works related to the series’ theme. We listened to each other read poems and short stories while enjoying light snacks. The following day, we hosted “Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name?: A Performance by Irma Herrera and Panel Discussion.” We welcomed Irma Herrera and her one-woman show, coordinated a panel discussion between her and other local activists, and hosted a reception immediately after. It was lovely to be in community with so many other students and engage in discussions about our collective experiences with Latinidad.

The second weekend consisted of a panel discussion and reception with Latine alumni whose careers center on advocacy and activism. During the last weekend, PLASA welcomed American labor leader and civil rights activist, Dolores Huerta, to give a guest lecture. Some of us even had the opportunity to attend a small reception with her before the lecture.

Although there were many logistics to consider when planning the series, it was also extremely fun to work as a team and explore the behind the scenes involved in carrying out these kinds of events. For the Hermanitas Committee, this involved applying for funding from the University, purchasing food and ordering catering services, coordinating with campus theater staff, reaching out to networks of local activists, and working closely with our guest to secure her travel and lodging. This is a testament to the sort of resources and support available to student leaders interested in hosting all kinds of functions.

The Latine History Series represents only some of many opportunities to come into community with other Latine students. Joining the PLASA leadership team and getting to help create events for the broader campus community has been one of the most rewarding experiences during my time at Princeton and has greatly contributed to my sense of belonging on campus. I look forward to continuing to work with this team in the upcoming year and welcoming new first-year Latines to campus in the fall.

During my freshman year at Princeton, I would often find myself craving Asian snacks. Coming from Sydney, a multicultural city, I could easily find an Asian supermarket, quickly pop in, and find shelves filled with classic Asian snacks like Pocky and Hello Panda, and drinks like Ramune and Calpico. However, at Princeton, beyond the snacks that I stuffed into my luggage before coming here, the closest I could get to satisfying my wish for snacks would be Late Meal sushi or the bubble tea places scattered about the town. The only way I could get my hands on Asian snacks was via a drive to a mart far from campus – a journey that I would not have been able to go on at midnight, which is when my cravings often hit. 

This all changed last semester, the start of my sophomore year, when I came back to Princeton and heard whispers about a new Japanese food mart that opened on Nassau Street, the main street that students frequent to grab a quick bite. When I rushed to see this new store, I was greeted with a white, clean storefront with a big plaque that hung above the main entrance that had the words “Maruichi Japanese Food & Deli” in white against a black background. Going into the store, it was instantly hit with a wave of nostalgia. The first thing I saw was a shelf stacked with Asian snacks – from sweets like Kit Kats and Meiji chocolate to savory items like instant ramen and Shrimp chips – I was shocked at how much variety there was. Near the entrance, there were also specialty items such as matcha powder, matcha whisks and bowls, and fancy tins of tea. There was also a fridge section filled with drinks such as my favorite: Oi Ocha, a slightly bitter but soothing green tea. 

As I walked further into the store, I saw more grocery-like items: vegetables, fruit, frozen goods like gyoza wrappers, and condiments like Kewpie Mayo. However, the most impressive section had to be a stand that sells fresh onigiri (rice balls), and a counter with sushi, sashimi, and daily-made bento boxes. I distinctly remember a hectic day last semester where I was running out of time for lunch, grabbed a gyudon (beef bowl) from Maruichi, and sat on the bench outside, enjoying the savory and sweet flavors of the bowl. As well, the onigiri costs only $3 and the variety is unmatched – ranging from tuna mayo to spicy chicken to a rice ball called “bakudan” which contains a mix of vegetables and salmon. At 8:30pm, 30 minutes before the store closes, the onigiri and bento boxes become half-off – a great steal for yummy food. 

Beyond the food offerings, the staff at Maruichi are so friendly and helpful. It’s so easy to strike up a conversation with them – a recent example being when I saw a poster of fluffy Japanese pancakes hung up at the cashier. I was able to talk to an employee about the poster and found out that Maruichi actually opened a breakfast cafe called “J.S. Foodies” which serves Japanese soufflé pancakes and other breakfast items. Having tried the soft, not too heavy, fruit pancake there, I can testify that both Maruichi’s deli and cafe have delectable food. 

I can confidently say that Maruichi is my favorite place on Nassau Street. Whenever I find myself wanting a pick-me-up, I go to Maruichi and grab an onigiri. Even when I have nothing else to do, I find myself gravitating towards Maruichi, simply browsing its shelves and being in the store even if I end up buying nothing. Thank you Maruichi for opening your doors at Princeton! Future tigers who crave Asian snacks just like me, Princeton has a place just for you.

Amor Fati. It means “love of one’s fate” in Latin. 

While a phrase I’ve studied well through stoicism, I’ve unexpectedly come across this phrase again through a conversation with a friend. It’s made me reflective about my time here at Princeton, and my “love of fate” thus far.

So where am I on my Princeton journey? I’m currently writing this blog post at 11:18pm on May 1st, 2024 - it’s the start of reading week which means a tremendous amount of work for most students here. My days recently have been void of classes yet filled with the slow and often frustrating pace of studying. It’s the end of my sophomore year, and the only word I can use to describe this year would be: unpredictable. 

This year has been filled with struggles I never encountered during my freshman year. My COS (Computer Science) classes have gotten harder. I’ve started to have more anxiety. Socially too, friends and groups have shifted. And that’s not something I expected - however it is part of fate that things change.

All of this is to say that my sophomore year has been overwhelming, and quite the contrast to the blooming, beautiful first year when I arrived at Princeton. I thrived my first year - socially and academically. Initially, this dichotomy between my freshman and sophomore year worried me. I wondered: “Am I not enjoying my time here?” “Am I getting the most out of Princeton?” 

I share this because I’m sure many students feel this way. But my perspective changed when I remembered the words of an alum that I heard during my orientation two years ago.

“Everyone moves through Princeton at their own pace, and on their own path.”

It is normal for things to change. And it’s normal for your path at Princeton to look vastly different from your friends, or even the path that you had the year before. It’s important to remember that Princeton will be unpredictable. You will likely face challenges you didn’t even conceive of facing. And that’s okay! I don’t actually believe in “fate”, but I believe in it as a general concept of the things given to you outside of your control. I find myself grateful for the fate I’ve been given at Princeton - whether the experience was positive or negative. And that is Amor Fati. A true love of one’s fate - a love for the good and the bad that happens. Because from each of these experiences, I’m given an opportunity to grow. And with this, I hope any incoming students can take something from my perspective. That the challenges you will face are valid and unexpected. But you must embrace it all, and simply go along on this wild ride.

Access to the top can mean a variety of things; in this case, it means being able to speak with industry leaders. 

Princeton is home to a wide variety of opportunities, from study abroad and internships to performances and art shows. It is truly hard, if not impossible, to find a resource or opportunity that Princeton does not support. There are always super cool opportunities taking place each week. My favorite way to stay updated is via Princeton University’s instagram account where they make a story post at the start of the week informing everyone about campus events. Outside of these, I have found student organized events to be my favorite. 

This past semester I was granted the opportunity to become the Vice President of Professional Development for the club Scholars of Finance. The club focuses on promoting education and ethical practices within the finance industry. My role is to plan, promote, and execute events for the ‘Speaker Series.’ The focus of these events is to bring leaders in the finance industry to give talks available to the club and Princeton community. Just this year, we have hosted CEO’s and other C-suite executives from firms like Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, and Goldman Sachs, among others. These opportunities are hosted in a small to medium group setting and allow for direct access to these speakers. Being able to talk with successful individuals about your career aspirations and what advice they may have is truly invaluable. 

When I first came to Princeton, I could never have imagined the opportunity to connect with these types of leaders. Something I found out very quickly was that this is a regular thing here. The ability to network and connect with these individuals is truly unparalleled. Their overall willingness to help you out is also something that was unexpected. My original perspective was that a CEO would not respond to me or make the time to meet. Boy was I wrong. While certain people may be hard to reach out to/ get in touch with, generally speaking, people will make an effort to connect with you if you approach them. My advice is to not be afraid and be respectful. You never know how far a simple conversation can take you! 

In addition to clubs, the Center for Career Development hosts numerous networking/ information events with leading companies across many industries. I have personally gone to a lot of the finance/consulting ones, which have been super helpful in my career aspirations. While this happens at other schools, I wholeheartedly believe that Princeton does it best. Between club speaker events and the Center for Career Development, Princeton builds connections for students of all interests. 

If you ask a handful of Princeton students what their favorite Princeton memory is, the odds that at least a few of them will say “Lawnparties” is incredibly high. Now, what is Lawnparties you ask? A party on a lawn? Well, yes, but it’s much more than that! A beloved Princeton tradition, Lawnparties is a once-a-semester event filled with food, fun, and music. Let me take you through what it looks like:

The day starts off with students lining up in McCosh Courtyard in the morning to get their wristbands, a necessity for accessing all the events of the day. People will also be getting brunch with their friends at one of the dining halls or on Nassau Street (they also have bagels at the wristbanding tent!).

From there, students usually make their way over to the SPIA fountain area, which has become the go-to site for Lawnparties photoshoots every year. Friends and clubs will take group pictures together and sometimes even jump in the fountain! We also have awesome professional photographers that make their rounds on campus throughout the day, capturing all the fun and posting them for us to access later (check them out here!). And because of all these photo ops, it’s worth mentioning that students do tend to get a little dressed up—sundresses, nice shirts, etc.—but everyone ultimately wears what they’re comfortable in!

Afterwards, everyone starts heading to 'the Street,' which is our nickname for Prospect Ave and the home to our 11 eating clubs. There, students enjoy celebrations at all the different clubs and free delicious food from various food trucks. In past years, we’ve had everything from Nomad Pizza (a local favorite!), Taco Bell, Rita’s Italian Ice, and even an empanada truck. The day can get pretty long, so students are always grabbing a bite to eat and fueling up. There’s also water stations all over the Street so that people can stay hydrated.

Then, towards mid-afternoon, students will begin walking over to the main stage at Frist North Lawn to watch the opening acts. One thing that I love about Lawnparties is that we almost always have at least one student opener each semester, so it’s a great way for student artists to promote themselves and gain experience performing in front of a bigger crowd. And, vice versa, the community also gets to check out all their talented peers and cheer them on!

Finally, after the opening acts, what we’ve all been waiting for: the headliner comes on! Every year, the headliner announcement is highly anticipated. Our USG Social Committee works hard to get us well-known, well-loved performers. Since I’ve been at Princeton, we’ve gotten to watch the following artists perform live for us on campus: A$AP Ferg, Flo Milli, Hippo Campus, Waka Flocka, and, most recently, Loud Luxury! I was especially excited about the last of these, who headlined our Lawnparties on September 10th earlier this year—“Body” by Loud Luxury is definitely one of my go-to party songs. The fact that we essentially get to have all these amazing, famous artists give us a private concert for just our community is honestly really cool and really special; I look forward to it every year!

It should be noted that the past three semesters, it has actually rained on the day of the event. Now, of course, it’s always nicer to have Lawnparties on a day with great weather. It makes for better pictures, parties, and just overall better energy. But in my experience, Princeton students have really chosen to embrace it. The parade of rain ponchos over everyone’s Lawnparties fits is always a sight to see, and a concert in the pouring rain can be legendary. All this to say, it’s a rain or shine event, and the weather has never stopped students from having a good time!

I only have three more Lawnparties left while I’m at Princeton, so I’m trying to savor every last moment of them. I can’t wait to see who our headliner will be in the Spring (when we'll hopefully have some better weather)!

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Happy Spring! It’s hard to believe it’s already April, but that also means we are entering one of my favorite times of the year at Princeton, when the flowers are in full bloom. I had a busy Easter weekend, but I appreciated the opportunity to celebrate with friends, soak in the beautiful weather, and enjoy a change of pace from my schoolwork. On Good Friday, I attended a service organized by students in Princeton Christian Fellowship (PCF), Manna Christian Fellowship, and Christian Union Nova which I had been looking forward to all week. The service included beautiful strings and vocal performances, worship songs, a message from a Manna staff member, and a time of prayer. Following the service, we enjoyed apple cider donuts and fellowship in Murray Dodge, the home of the Office of Religious Life. I caught up with some friends about their week, met a few new faces, and even ran into a friend from the Class of 2023 who made a surprise visit from Boston.

On Saturday morning, I had the luxury of sleeping in until I was woken by the sunlight. I went for a 7 mile run, my longest run yet, as part of training for my first half-marathon. I am really happy with how it went and am excited to continue running longer distances in the coming weeks! Afterwards, I headed to my co-op, 2D, which has become one of my favorite places at Princeton. Co-ops are groups of students who take turns cooking one meal each week. To be honest, I think I am eating as well as I might ever eat in my life! I am constantly surprised by the diversity of delicious food which the other students prepare, from dal to mapo tofu, and focaccia to cardamom buns. 

My cookshift is Saturday brunch, and I usually like to make a tofu stir fry in our wok, which is large enough to cover four burners. After a delicious meal of mushrooms, spicy tofu, salad made with hydroponic lettuce and vegetables from the Forbes garden, squash soup, and cornbread, I headed back to my room to do some schoolwork.

A few hours later, I got ready for my dear friend Mirae’s bridal shower. Mirae was actually my Community Action orientation leader and one of the first people I met at Princeton. She and her then-boyfriend, now fiancé, helped one of my first-year roommates and I carry a free couch we found a mile off campus all the way to our room, even though she had only met me the day before. The bridal shower was beautifully executed by her friends in Princeton Christian Fellowship and beyond, and I was also able to catch up with another good friend from the Class of 2022 who came down from New York City.

After the bridal shower, I headed to the International Food Fest organized by our Class Government, which featured food from around the world and was a great chance to catch up with a friend who I studied abroad with last semester and discuss a book we both recently finished.

My friend and I went back to my room, where I did a reading for my Psychotherapy class before heading over to Richardson Auditorium to watch my first Naacho show. Naacho is Princeton’s premier South Asian dance company. I had always wanted to attend one of their shows, and this year a first-year student from my hometown was performing, so I had an extra reason to go. I was blown away by the dancers’ infectious energy and excitement, the intricate and clean formations, and the diversity of styles they showcased, and I cannot wait to attend another one of their shows next year. Being in Triple 8 has shown me just how much work goes into putting together a show, especially the week leading up to it, so I had a lot of respect for the dancers and choreographers who spent many late nights rehearsing and poured their hearts into the performance. I have never seen so many dancers evidently having so much fun on stage, and the audience was hooked.

After a packed day, I was ready for a good night’s sleep. The following morning was Easter Sunday. I was happy to see the sun was out again, and I headed to the U-Store to catch the bus to Stone Hill Church. Usually, we have approximately 10-15 students on the bus, but this week the bus was completely full, and so was the church sanctuary, which was such a blessing to see! The service was filled with joyous music from our worship team, brass band, and choir, and our senior pastor shared an engaging message which had the entire congregation laughing. After the service, students headed to various Easter brunches generously hosted by PCF staff members and local families. I attended brunch with my “adopted family” from Stone Hill. It was very special to eat an incredible home-cooked meal prepared with love and enjoy the warmth of a home together with other students.

After returning to campus, my friend Grace and I remarked how beautiful the magnolia trees were and took advantage of the sunny weather to take a few photos.

Next, I headed to Dillon Gym for a Triple 8 rehearsal for a spring choreography video (stay tuned for our video releases this summer!), after which I finally sat down to do some work. The events and celebrations of the weekend were very meaningful and brought me a lot of joy, but I certainly had a lot to catch up on. I spent the rest of the evening working with a friend in Firestone Library and Murray-Dodge Cafe, where we grabbed free cookies to fuel our brains.

What a weekend! Most of my weekends are not nearly this busy, and I did have some catching up to do the following week, but I wanted to share this special weekend in the life and prove that it is possible to relax and have fun even in the midst of a crazy semester. Thank you to all those who organized these events!

By the end of sophomore year, I felt confident as a Princeton student. I’d already been through several semesters and I had gotten used to Princeton’s social and academic environments. But as junior fall approached, I felt increasingly nervous. I didn’t know what to expect out of Junior Independent Work, I was nervous to be taking mostly department courses for the first time, and I was worried I had taken on too many new leadership positions.

When junior year finally started, a lot of my nerves persisted. Although I was taking the standard four courses as an A.B. degree student, my workload quickly piled up in a way that it simply hadn’t before (which was saying a lot). I’d enrolled into each of my classes with great enthusiasm, but as the semester progressed, I felt let down by certain aspects of a few of the courses, whether it was the way class discussions were organized or the general selection of readings each week. On top of dealing with a variety of personal matters and other extracurricular responsibilities, I often felt extremely overwhelmed.

Now that the semester has ended, though, I’d still refrain from dismissing junior fall as a “bad” semester.

Writing my Politics Research Prospectus was, as anticipated, a different kind of challenge. For a while, I struggled to find a topic because I was afraid to pick the “wrong” one, but I quickly learned this simply was not possible. Although I struggled with not receiving frequent feedback on my project, in the end, my research prospectus became the highlight of my fall semester. I decided to study migrant caravans through the lens of social movement theory, and I am beyond excited to continue developing my research during the spring.

I also took one of my favorite classes in the Politics department last semester, POL360 Social Movements and Revolutions. In terms of structure, it was a pretty standard Politics class: a midterm, a research paper, and a final. However, Professor Beissinger was an engaging and knowledgeable lecturer, and his selection of readings was always great. I had never looked at social movements from a theory-based perspective before, and it was actually this class which helped inspire my independent work topic. I’m looking forward to studying contentious politics more during the rest of my time at Princeton.

And of course, my semester was far from devoid of good memories and times with friends. I love the communities that I have found within my co-op and extracurriculars. Among some of the highlights of the semester are celebrating my 21st birthday, taking a day trip to NYC funded by our student government, and eating from way too many cheese boards with my friends. I discovered I love cappuccinos, and I continued to be amazed by my peers.

Even amidst the chaos of deadlines and responsibilities, I was pleasantly reminded that Princeton can always surprise you—and that’s a good thing.

A chilly morning in late January, with gray but otherwise clear skies, marked the first day of classes of the spring semester. For the class of 2024, this first day was particularly special, as it was our LFDOC (last first day of classes). There is always a photographer on McCosh walk at the beginning of each semester to take FDOC photos, but our class government organized a special session with a unique poster to celebrate the particularly significant LFDOC.

This is indeed my last first day of undergraduate classes, but it's not quite the end, since I will continue to have first days of classes as a graduate student. Even when I'm no longer a student, though, there will continue to be first days: a first day at a new job, followed by a first day in a new position, and then a first day at a new institution or company. There are first days outside of career as well, like your first day in a new apartment or first day in a new city. While the LFDOC marks the end of the student era of your life, there will continue to be first days, in one form or another, throughout life.

To me, it is reassuring to know that there will continually be opportunities for fresh starts throughout my professional and personal lives. A new beginning signals a chance to break out of a particular rhythm, shake up your routine, and learn new habits. It's a chance to meet new people, learn new strategies and information, and expand your horizons of what you're capable of. Some aspects of a new role will be improvements from before, maybe a better schedule or more independence, while others will be less welcome, like a longer commute or a difficult boss. The novelty of the new challenges, though, is exciting in and of itself, and you may surprise yourself in your ability to handle the elements that are more difficult than those in your previous position. There is always hope for the future when you know that things can change over time, and that there can always be another first day.

Huzzah for the LFDOC, and here's to an auspicious start to the last semester!

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​Phase 1 of the Dillon Gym renovation was completed just in time for the beginning of the spring semester. On opening day, Campus Rec hosted tours of the new space, and the Princeton Tiger made an appearance. Here are some highlights of the updated fitness center, as well as a preview of what's expected in Phases 2 and 3.

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The exterior of the building remains the same, with its elegant Gothic façade and gargoyles. The interior has been updated with modern amenities, but you still get to sweat in a castle.

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Once inside, you swipe your prox to check in, and then head down a hallway to reach the main fitness center. The new space is larger than before, and it features brand new machines and weights.

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There's a row of ab machines in front, followed by free weights and pull-down machines (pictured above), and then several rows of squat racks and bench press bars. On the right, there's an array of new cardio machines (below). There are stair-steppers, rowing machines, treadmills, ellipticals, and even a set of Peloton bikes. On the edges of the main floor area are places for students to use yoga mats for floor exercises, stretching, and free weight reps. In the rear are desks and chairs for students to gather before or after working out.

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Exercising in this updated facility is really nice, since there's more space, high ceilings, and brand new equipment. And while the previous fitness center would sometimes take on an unpleasant odor, I'm quite happy to report that this new space has continued smelling fresh even at peak hours. One of my new year's goals is to add more strength training to my fitness routine, and I think the new gym will help motivate me to do so.

The new pool is scheduled to open in a few short weeks. This is only Phase 1 of the Dillon Gym renovation, and Phase 2 is scheduled to open in the fall. The lobby will be renovated and have an accessible entrance, and there will be a new adjacent building with two levels containing group fitness rooms and more cardio and weight machines. The eventual Phase 3 will bring more space for functional workouts, according to The Daily Princetonian. There's much to look forward to in terms of the future of fitness at Princeton.