​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.

The University Chapel is a beautiful Gothic building across from Firestone library in the center of campus. The title "Chapel," conferring the image of a small worship house, is a bit misleading for this vast hall that can seat two thousand. It's where Opening Exercises and Baccalaureate are held each year, and both denominational and ecumenical worship services are held there throughout the week. A small number of Princetonians also return to the Chapel for their marriage ceremony, and it's always exciting to see a wedding party taking their photos in front of the Chapel or on the steps of Whig Hall.

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The Aquinas Institute, the Catholic ministry on campus, celebrates daily mass at 12 p.m. and Sunday mass at 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the Chapel. The Aquinas Institute is part of the Office of Religious Life, which encompasses at least 15 chaplaincies for various faiths and denominations. Several student groups, chaplaincies and affiliated chaplaincies include the Center for Jewish Life, Episcopal Church at Princeton, Hindu Life Program, and Muslim Life Program. For those wishing to continue or deepen a religious practice at Princeton, there is certainly an appropriate group for you to do so, with services held either in the Chapel or elsewhere on campus.

I consider my faith an important part of my beliefs and identity, and I attend Sunday mass at my local Catholic church when I'm at home with my family. During the hectic semester, though, I sort of allow myself a special pass from attending mass. While I don't take the time to attend a formal service, I do sometimes try to stop in to either the Chapel or St. Paul's on Nassau Street for a brief moment of prayer, even five minutes. In addition to the services held each week, the Chapel is simply open to the public for reflection from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. I can discreetly enter and kneel in the back, just taking a few minutes of quiet time alone. You may find a meaningful role as an active member of one of the many religious groups on campus, which could become an integral part of your Princeton experience. Even if you don't though, the Chapel is there to welcome you for whatever small moment of your day you can carve out for prayer or reflection.

The most valuable aspect of Princeton is the community, because the people you meet and friendships you form are what truly make the college experience meaningful. In addition to my living and breathing friends, however, are several non-living ones located in various spots around campus. Here is a roundup of several of my favorite inanimate companions at Princeton.

1. Guyot Dinosaur

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This Allosaurus resides in Guyot Hall, home to the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department, the Geosciences department, and the High Meadows Environmental Institute. I have two classes in Guyot Hall this semester, so I get to wave hello to my largest friend on campus several times a week. He appears to perpetually be in a chipper mood.

2. Bronze Tigers

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The two bronze tigers standing in front of Nassau Hall are perhaps the most iconic Princeton statues, and nearly every student takes a photo with them at some point. They're decorated in the photo above for Orange and Black Day, the university's anniversary on October 22.

3. Car Lab Mannequin

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This mannequin is a constant presence in the car lab of the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department, where juniors in ECE take a lab course building and racing their own vehicles. I haven't taken the course, but the car lab is the first stop on my tour of the E-Quad, so the ECE man helps me graciously welcome campus visitors.

4. Dillon Gym Gargoyles

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Keeping watch over Dillon Gym are four gargoyles. I can't say with certainty what each one is, but I believe the one on the right (unpictured) is a football player, and the next one in might be a monkey. Don't quote me on these identifications. Dillon Gym is currently undergoing a renovation and expansion, but I'm almost certain they'll keep these loyal guardians in place.

While these inanimate friends are very dependable in that I always know where they'll be, I would have to say that my human Princeton friends are even more loyal and reliable. They are the real stars in my campus experience, but I still appreciate my daily sightings of my non-living companions.

As a break from my regularly-scheduled sad/nostalgic blog posts, I decided to write this month’s post about my favorite beverage, matcha, and where to get it on and around campus. I have tried matcha at most of the places around Princeton, with a staple being Coffee Club, where they also have seasonal variations of the beverage—the current (Spring 2024) variation is the mango matcha lemonade. So here are my favorite places to have matcha! 

• Junbi
  • Admittedly, Junbi is not my favorite place to get plain matcha, in part because I like sweeter drinks and Junbi’s matcha is not the sweetest. However, getting the strawberry matcha latte with boba is an unparalleled experience, where you can indulge in a light dose of strawberry, the sweet chewiness of tapioca pearls, and the freshness of Junbi’s matcha all at once. 
• Wawa
  • This might be an unconventional take, especially since Wawa and matcha does not seem to make that much sense. However, the vanilla matcha at wawa, while certainly with a bit of an artificial flavoring, is the perfect mix of sweetness with a hint of matcha flavor that makes it a perfect afternoon treat. I tried the matcha at Wawa on a complete whim, and honestly, I haven’t been able to stop going. 
• Sakrid
  • Truth be told, I have only had Sakrid matcha once. But the one time that I did, it was SO good. It had the lightness of Coffee Club, the sweetness of Wawa, and the freshness of Junbi, all in one. I would highly recommend it. 
• Coffee Club (our student-run on-campus coffee shops)
  • Coffee Club at both locations, while might not deliver the sweetest matcha you have ever had (sad news for someone with a large sweet tooth such as myself), gives you the flexibility to customize your own drinks (I love getting the strawberry and/or raspberry matcha, or if they have it, the honey matcha). Also, the matcha here is very consistent. I always know what I'm getting into when I am getting Coffee Club matcha, and it is also very light, which is perfect when I don’t want a particularly strong dose of matcha powder in my drink. (And the baristas are always so lovely to chat with!)
• Small World
  • If I am being honest, the oat-y flavor of Small World does not speak to me that much, and I think the matcha is a bit overpriced for what you are getting. I would honestly recommend the coffee at Small World over the matcha there. However, this is also a personal preference, and the matcha does not have the artificial taste that some of the alternatives on this list may have. 

Even if you asked me to, I would not be able to give a definitive ranking of all of the matcha spots around campus, in part because I seek them all out for different reasons. I hope you are able to look at my comments and make a decision for the matcha you want to have for the day!

If you’re anything like me, then you’re often finding yourself hungry between the wee hours of 9 PM and 2 AM (especially if you’re pulling the occasional all-nighter!). With all the dining halls on campus closing for dinner at 8 PM, I’ve become quite familiar with all the spots to grab a bite at unconventional hours. Here are my rankings of the best places to find food on campus when you need to satisfy that late night craving:

1) Wawa

I’m originally from northern New Jersey, so I was no stranger to Wawa coming to Princeton. But if you aren’t familiar, Wawa is a local convenience store chain—though, not your typical one. Apart from your standard drinks and snacks, they also have made-to-order hoagies, quesadillas, pizza, and a host of other sides and drinks. Located right in between our Dinky train station and Forbes College, the store offers a great option for both a quick bite or a full-blown meal. And it’s 24/7! That’s right, all day everyday. (P.S. One of my favorite things to get there are their Wawa donuts!) 

2) Studio ‘34

Studio ‘34 is one of campus’s hidden gems. The mini-convenience store is located in the basement of Butler College and operates at the following hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 9 PM-2 AM. It was closed down during my freshman year, but as soon as it opened back up when I was a sophomore, Studio ‘34 became one of my most frequented hang out spots. It was the perfect place on the weekends to refuel with friends after a late night out on the Street, or even for a snack-and-study session during the week at one of the common spaces nearby. Definitely a go-to place for both eating and socializing!

3) U-Store

The U-Store located at 36 University Place (right by beautiful Blair Arch!) is another great option for late night snacking. It’s half merch/dorm furnishings store, half grocery store, and totally awesome. They have all your basic grocery store items, as well as fresh produce and even packaged meals from local restaurants like Tiger Noodles (a great affordable option if you’re craving food from Nassau Street!). For students who opt to be Independent, or for any students who like to cook, this is an especially convenient spot to grab ingredients. My junior year dorm is only a few feet away from the U-Store, so I’ve definitely gained a newfound appreciation for it this year. 

4) C-Store

Finally, the C-Store is a must have if you’re in a grab-and-go situation. Its options aren’t as plentiful as the first three, but since it's located within Frist Campus Center—the hub of student life at Princeton—many people pass through it on a daily basis. I’ve often found myself snagging a bottle of Coca Cola or a bag of Welch’s Fruit Snacks while I’m at Frist to study. However, the C-Store does close at 9 PM on weekdays and 11 PM on weekends, so if you’re up super late, you’re better off heading to one of the other stores! 
    
Honorable Mention: Late Meal at Frist

As an avid Late Meal enthusiast, I have to give a shoutout to one of my favorite Princeton pastimes. Like the C-Store, Late Meal is located within Frist Campus Center. It’s essentially another little cafeteria, intended for students who aren’t able to eat meals at the normal hours or in the dining halls. And if you’re a freshman or sophomore, then you can automatically get food here for free up to $9.50 everyday! They have a ton of different stations: grill, pasta, pizza, salad, Asian cuisine. The only reason it didn’t make my top four rankings is its time restrictions. Late Lunch is offered Monday-Thursday from 11 AM-4 PM and Late Dinner is offered Monday-Friday from 8:30-10 PM. But when it is open, it’s a student-favorite spot to grab food and hang out! (Be warned, though, it can get super busy during peak hours. I recommend ordering ahead for the grill station using our new TigerDash website!)

There you have it! For all of my fellow snack enthusiasts and night owls, these are my go-to spots that I definitely recommend you check out next time you have that late night craving!

One of the biggest highlights of my Princeton experience has been meeting and collaborating with Evelyn Howe '25. We met my sophomore year on the Civic Leadership Council for the Pace Center for Civic Engagement. We quickly bonded over our love of the club's focus on using design thinking principles to create sustainable and responsible social impact projects in the local Princeton community. We focused on Health and Hunger & Homelessness projects.

We both have high energy levels and quickly asked each other to get lunch in Whitman dining hall. On just our second lunch, Evey told me about her idea of exploring impact-oriented career paths through a broader channel such as a podcast. She thought I would be the perfect co-host to build this project together from the ground up. Fast forward to today, together we have built and are celebrating two years of our work on The Impact Agenda podcast! Princeton has been instrumental in it all, from finding mentors, financial support, and most importantly access to the incredibly welcoming Princeton alumni network, many of whom have been our most fantastic guests.

Kicking off the initial planning in February 2022 wasn't easy. We were both brand new to the podcast space and had to learn how to do everything from crafting a unique podcast mission statement, learning how to define and find target guests, figuring out the best podcast recording and editing platforms, and so much more. We had to scrap our first few episodes and start fresh because we realized we needed to invest significantly more time in building relationships with our guests before the official recording to obtain the highest quality episodes.

We gained our footing with Season 2 and are thrilled to have just released Season 3 on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. We have built an incredible team containing two additional Princeton friends, Kendall Jeong '25 and Christina Wu '26, who spearhead our design and marketing efforts.

Evey and I agree that the best part of this project is learning how to build something new from scratch and engaging in conversation with the most innovative impact leaders globally across all disciplines. We're super grateful to the Princeton community for bringing us together, helping us develop our team, and creating the environment for our success. Evey and I have become lifelong friends - I was able to travel to Hong Kong for 10 days over winter break to enjoy Evey's hometown (and of course meet with potential podcast guests, such as a Hong Kong Olympic swimmer focused on mental health initiatives in HK). We can't wait to see where our podcast goes! 

Over winter break, I had the opportunity to travel with the Princeton Debate Panel (PDP), Princeton’s only competitive debating group, to Ho Chi Minh City to compete in the 2024 Worlds University Debating Championship (WUDC). Held annually, WUDC is the largest debate competition in the world, with around 300 teams competing from universities from all regions of the world including Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Having only ever traveled an hour maximum for my high school competitions, flying all the way to Vietnam was a big step up.

When I landed, I was driven on a bus by the tournament organizers to a hotel at the heart of the city. The first thing I did was treat myself to a delicious dinner with the team that included fresh prawn spring rolls accompanied by a savory peanut sauce, a refreshing coconut and herbal jelly drink, snails, pho, and other classic Vietnamese dishes. Whilst the dishes tasted great, they tasted even better because Princeton was able to fully subsidize all of our meals on our trip! 

After exploring the city for a few days, it was time to start the first of four days of the tournament. The format of the tournament was British Parliamentary, where there are four groups of two debaters per room, who all give 7 minute speeches on a topic they receive 15 minutes before the start of the round. Whilst PDP sent 7 teams to debate for this tournament, we also sent 4 judges – including me. The judge’s role is to listen to every speech and come to a decision with two other judges in the room on the ranking of the teams, and the speaking score that every debater gets. 

During the first few rounds, I was just a trainee judge, meaning I was not able to enter any rankings onto the online tabulation system. But, during my third round, I was promoted to a panelist, which meant that I could input rankings and have a bigger say in the final decision. During my last day, I was finally promoted to the chair, or the person that has to give an oral adjudication (defend their rankings to the competing teams), and the person that leads the discussion with their panelists/trainees. I was happy that I got to chair a round at my first ever worlds competition, and really enjoyed the opportunity to judge with famous debaters such as the previous winner of WUDC.

Overall, Princeton did very well, with two of our teams breaking into octofinals (getting into the top 32 teams of the entire tournament), and one of our debaters getting 5th best speaker in the world. PDP will be heading to Panama City next year for the 2025 WUDC, and I can’t wait to see how we will perform there.

After a week, the tournament ended, and some of the team decided to extend our stay in Vietnam by booking an Airbnb. During these last few days, we did some incredible things such as cafe hopping (Vietnamese egg coffee is a must!), going to Hai Di Lao hot pot, and going on a one day tour to the Mekong Delta River. During this tour, we got to enjoy some local fruit, honey, lunch, biked around one of the islands, went on a boat ride down the river, and got to talk to an awesome tour guide. 

Whilst I was a bit stressed before the competition about how I would perform as a judge, I was happy with how everything turned out. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to travel with PDP, and would love to emphasize the importance of taking advantage of every resource that Princeton has to offer – both within and outside the classroom!

This winter break, I had the opportunity to travel to Sicily, Italy with a group of students who all took the Humanities Sequence (HUM Sequence for short) in our freshman year. The HUM Sequence is a one year course that explores around 50 seminal texts from the Western literary canon from as Homer’s Iliad to Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway. The course typically starts off with 60 students, and rotates between 12 total professors from different departments. Upon completion of two semesters of HUM, students have the option to partake in a university-funded trip in two different locations — the choice this year being either Greece or Sicily. I chose Sicily because it was a part of Italy I had never visited before — and because I love Italian food!

After a grueling 24 hours of travel from my hometown of Sydney, Australia, I arrived in Sicily’s capital, Palermo. From there, the group embarked on a trip through time, moving from the ancient to modern. We first headed to the ancient city of Segesta, and saw a Doric temple (a Greek-style temple that has an unembellished and simple design, especially in relation to columns) that was immaculately preserved, likely as it was never actually finished due to war. We then went to the city of Agrigento, where we viewed The Valley of the Temples, home to sites like the monumental Temple of Zeus and a bronze Statue of Icarus.

We continued on our trip by visiting Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site decorated with vibrant and mosaics; a medieval castle carved on the side of a windy rock face called Castello Sperlinga; Villa Palagonia, a beautiful Baroque mansion filled with grotesque and beastly statues. When we arrived back in Palermo, we toured ruinous Norman castles, gold and mosaic-covered Cathedrals with Byzantine, Arab and Classical inspiration, and dressed up for a rendition of Mozart’s Don Giovanni in Palermo’s Teatro Massimo. Throughout these nine days, I loved learning about Sicily’s history and how it has become a “melted pot” of different cultures and traditions. 

Not only did we get to see and explore Sicily’s culture, we also got a chance to taste it too. Sicily is known for its cannoli (which consists of a crispy outer shell and a creamy ricotta filling), granita (a refreshing ice dessert), and its arancini (fried rice balls). Whilst we got to try all these dishes, and other sorts of pizzas, and mains, one restaurant experience sticks in my mind. For one of our lunches in Palermo, we were treated to a decadent charcuterie spread of sweet honey, crunchy bread, three types of meat, and five types of soft, sharp, and hard cheese — only as a starter. We then had a plate of pomodoro pasta, a massive rotisserie chicken thigh accompanied with a mound of fries, and tiramisu, to top it all off. This absurd meal experience lasted about two hours — and so did most of our meals on this trip!

Beyond planned activities, we also got some free time to explore by ourselves. I loved sketching Sicily’s unique flora–such as cacti, eucalyptus, orange trees, and more–with my friend, window shopping citrus perfumes and souvenirs, feeling the cool ocean breeze on my face when we went down to a pier in Palermo, and ordering a cappuccino at a crowded cafe.

When it was time to leave, I was genuinely shocked at how quickly time had passed by this trip. Coming back to Princeton, I reflected on how none of this would have happened if I had not mustered up the courage to sign up for a year-long humanities course even before the start of freshman year. None of this would have happened had I let my doubts about my unfamiliarity with the course content and fears of getting bad grades hold me back. For all those thinking of applying to Princeton and even the HUM Sequence, I say: take the risk! Who knows, one day you might end up strolling down the roads of Sicily, breathing in the aroma of street food, and listening to the hustle and bustle of street buskers.

As an entering Sophomore at Princeton University, I cannot help but reflect back on my freshman year and the absolute awe that followed my arrival on campus. It felt like a dream come true. However as I reread my journal today, two particular entries reminded me of how my dream to of Princeton has evolved into my reality as a student. Like many high schoolers, Princeton initially was a dream come true. But I soon realized that Princeton placed me in an exhilarating environment with beyond talented individuals, challenging academics, and inspiring opportunities. Princeton turned out to be much more than I had dreamed of. 

October 12th, 2022: 

“Every time I walk past Blair Arch, I remember that I’m literally living out my dream of going to an Ivy League [school]. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The odds were not in my favor. The acceptance rates are so small. Yet here I am. I never thought much of that, but now I realize how momentous it is! “

A month into school, and I am very clearly enamored with the “idea” of Princeton. 

March 22nd, 2023:

“I got an iced coffee at Campus Club today. The weather is still cold outside, and the crisp air kindly reminds me every morning that I live on the East Coast rather than Texas. The old wooden doors of Campus Club welcomed me in as I ordered an iced coffee. As I sat down, I found it odd that I’m currently sitting inside an old mansion: the only way I can truly describe eating clubs to my friends back home. Dark wood frames the diamond patterned windows, and I feel cozy inside here. The room is quietly bustling with student activity, and I eavesdrop on other students discussing math and physics. I observe the room around me, wondering what's happened in this room, a room with 100+ years of history. It’s odd that this room used to only occupy men, and now here I am, occupying this space. Drinking my coffee, a young woman, bright and curious, diving into my electrical engineering homework. “

By my second semester, I found a more accurate dream of Princeton. I recognized the privilege of this education on a deeper level. Princeton is not just a name or the face of our iconic Blair Arch, is a school with complex history. I take pride in being a woman in STEM, continually contributing to Princeton’s history--while drinking coffee in Campus Club. Since my first year here, I’ve realized that my dream of going to an Ivy League school has not really come true. As a woman in STEM, in an amazing academic environment, rich with history, I've been given a spot. I believe my dream has just started. 
 

Winter has a funny way of feeling like fall right about now.

I think it’s just new-semester weather:

The brisk mornings give way to trees that snap in the wind.

The sun is out, and students study outdoors in brightly-colored lawn chairs.

After a winter break that rid campus of most signs of life, it is once again teeming with activity.

Returning to campus, I made the decision to look into joining an eating club. Here’s a diary snapshot of what my experience has been like:

What is Street Week?

Well, first, what is an eating club? 

Eating clubs are honestly a Princeton social construct. Think of a co-ed social group (not unlike a frat or sorority) except it also doubles as a dining hall for many upperclassmen.

Street week is a series of events tailored towards recruiting new members to join an eating club. Some clubs require you to undergo a process called bicker (the equivalent of rushing a sorority/fraternity) and some allow you to sign-in and join based on a lottery system.

Why Am I Participating?

Since returning from study abroad, I’ve felt disconnected from the other juniors on campus. Last semester, I was independent–meaning I cooked my own meals. As a result, I also ate on my own.

As my time starts to feel more limited, I want to spend less time on cooking while having more structured opportunities to reconnect with friends.

The Perils of the Street

In a way, the Street (where all the eating clubs are) is a fraught place. 

As someone who wears the hijab and does not drink, I often have to choose which activities to sit out of and how I want to show up on the dance floor. 

As a person of color, the Street is a place that confronts me with the predominantly white nature of Princeton. (Who is looking for the pretty Black girls on the Street?)

Throughout my experience of Street week, I continuously need to ask the clubs I’m visiting about their financial aid policies. The crux of my decision is reduced into a math problem: do I want to make friends or do I want to save money?

Hopes 

I have found my conversations with club members to be less draining than I thought they would be. I have been trying to be myself, whatever that means. 

I don’t know if I’ll get into an eating club, and that’s okay.

I let my identities prevent me from exploring the street for so long, so this is me trying to put myself out there. This is me being open to the experience.