"I’m just lucky."

Words I’ve found myself saying far too often.

Imposter syndrome is a pervasive feeling of self-doubt that leads people to question their accomplishments and believe they don’t deserve them. When we think about imposter syndrome, we often associate it with feelings of distress or fixating on mistakes. But there’s another side to it—a quiet voice that says we’re just lucky. That we barely scraped by. That, for some inexplicable reason, we were chosen.

It took me a long time to realize these were the feelings I carried at Princeton. I thought I was lucky to be here, grateful for an opportunity no one around me had. That mindset subtly followed me through every aspect of my college experience, unnoticed. Oh, that professor must have been grading lightly—this wasn’t my best work. The internship pool probably wasn’t that competitive this year—I’m lucky I got in. With every step forward, I was unconsciously doubting my abilities, the effort I put in, and ultimately, myself.

Slowly, I began to see the truth. My professors’ feedback, the kind words from my dean, the encouragement from my advisors—they weren’t strokes of luck. They were reflections of my work, my dedication, and my growth. Bit by bit, I began to understand that it wasn’t just luck. It was me.

These small affirmations became stepping stones, reminding me that I could take up space and claim my achievements. I grew into someone who embraced new opportunities, tackled big projects, and found confidence in my abilities. I realized the same energy I used to doubt myself, could be redirected to reassure myself.

With early action decisions coming out, I want you to know this: you aren’t just lucky. You deserve it. You earned it.

Words I wish I had told myself back then: I hope you take up space. I hope you dream big. I hope you recognize that your success isn’t just about potential—it’s about you.

My time at Princeton has taught me that I deserve my accomplishments and more. It’s given me the drive to push myself further and the confidence to acknowledge what I’ve already achieved. Mistakes, successes, and everything in between have shaped this journey, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. As I prepare to leave, I carry the confidence I wish I had started with. My hope for you is this: don’t wait. Know that it was never just luck. It was always you.

Perhaps at some point or another you might have stumbled across Princeton’s beloved nickname of the “Orange Bubble.” For those unfamiliar with the term, the phrase refers to the relative isolation of Princeton’s campus. It is not by any means in the middle of nowhere—there is a small though lively town surrounding campus, and cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. are easily accessible by train. However, because anything and everything students might need is either on campus or a short walk away on Nassau Street, the student body tends to exist in this phenomenon of seclusion. In the middle of a busy semester, it is easy to forget there is life beyond campus.

And yet, the “Orange Bubble” is not the end of the story.

I try to make a conscious effort to get off campus or interact with the local community as often as feasibly possible. Whether it’s engaging in service activities, doing schoolwork in the Public Library, or taking day trips off campus, doing so always helps me feel more grounded as a student. That’s why when one of my friends sent a picture of a flyer for a nearby cow parade to our group chat, it did not take long for us to make plans to attend.

I know what you’re probably asking yourself: what is a cow parade? To be honest, I’m still not entirely sure. On a community calendar, Cherry Grove Farms advertised the event as follows: “At our annual Cow Parade, we celebrate and honor our cows who provide us with fresh milk daily, from which we make all our farmstead cheeses.”

I had no idea what to expect when we arrived, but I enjoyed every second of it. The farm itself was about a twenty-minute drive from campus in nearby Lawrence. After parking, we made our way to a large field where people seemed to be lining up along a fence. Eventually, a long line of cows wearing strings of flowers around their necks and heads emerged from the barn. Slowly but surely, the cows made their way to the other end of the field, at times stopping to eat some grass and eventually dispersing. Trailing closely behind them, a small group of people played some instruments while they walked. I would have never anticipated attending an event where the main attraction consisted of standing along a fence and observing cows in the distance, but it was one of the highlights of my fall semester.

After the cow parade, we stopped by the various booths set up closer to the farm’s small store. There were vendors selling soaps, raw honey, earrings, wood carvings, bread, cheese, and many more items—all made locally in central New Jersey. After taking some pictures with the cows, we made our way back to campus and finished the day with jazz night at Small World.

Maybe we aren’t located in the middle of a bustling city, but we are by no means isolated from fun opportunities and events. (I mean, how many people do you know that can say they’ve been to a cow parade?) My only wish is that I’d found out sooner about this local annual tradition.

With the holidays approaching, I've been thinking a lot about home. As a first-year student immensely new to campus, the holidays and the breaks that came with them were a refuge from the Princeton chaos and unfamiliarity — I could go home and escape campus-related stress. Now, as a sophomore, much more acclimated to campus, I approach the holidays with much gratitude for all the ways in which Princeton has become my home. And leaving it during breaks can even be a bit difficult.

Thus, in honor of the holidays, I devoted this blog to expressing my gratitude toward everything at Princeton that makes my life feel warm even as the weather becomes frosty with the holiday air.

1. Friends!

I'm grateful to finally balance academic life, extracurricular activities, and socializing this semester. When I get stressed, I tend to retreat into my own bubble. However, recently, I've found that I make better, more thoughtful contributions to my classes and activities after spending time with friends. Taking time to decompress from the chaos of campus life — laughing, going out, and even just chatting — has become as important to me as writing essays and attending meetings. This time with friends is often the thing that powers me through my busy weeks, and it's the place I come back to when academic stress gets too much. As excited as I am to leave campus and see my family this holiday season, I'm a little sad about the weeks I'll spend away from my friends here. It's a bittersweet feeling, but more than anything, I'm grateful to have something that makes saying goodbye hard. 

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   2. Art!

As a creative writer and theater maker, I'm grateful to live on a campus with many artistic opportunities. And the last few weeks on campus have exemplified this fount of creativity. I write and read gorgeous poems for my Advanced Poetry class every week. I even represented my poetry class at the Creative Writing department's Fall semester reading. I've spent the last couple of months assistant-directing a musical for the Lewis Center of the Arts (the home of Theater, Creative Writing, Dance, and Visual Arts at Princeton), which opened and closed in the previous couple of weekends. Saying goodbye to that production was hard, but the creative opportunities that came with it brought a lifetime's worth of fulfillment. I've attended friends' art exhibition openings, dance expositions, and play performances when I'm not in class. The artist in me feels so full of gratitude for all the creative engagement that the past weeks and months have fostered.

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  3. Supportive Professors

This portion of the semester can feel dizzying. In the coming weeks, before I can return home for the holidays, I'll have to navigate the chaos of writing several term papers and completing final exams. Fortunately, I have kind professors who make this process more comforting. I enjoy using Office Hours to talk to my African American history preceptor about which class readings can best inform my final paper. My French cinema professor always leaves thoughtful comments on my grammar assignments and encourages me to explore my West African heritage throughout my creative projects in class. My poetry professor always creates time to discuss and workshop my poems and recommend poems that speak to my lived experience — a nice break from my other academic work! My art history professor is always willing to help me look through dense scholarly sources so that I can craft a well-argued and engaging term paper. Even as the stress of the final weeks on campus set in, I'm grateful to know that these resources are available to me.

  4. A Warm Place to Come Back to at the End of the Day

At the end of long days, I'm grateful that my warm dorm awaits me. I've made my dorm a place where I can decompress from academics. So, when I come back to my dorm, I can rest, call home, hang out with friends, watch movies, eat, and watch the seasons change right outside my window.

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The holidays always bring bittersweet feelings, especially when you're far from home. This holiday season, however, I'm enjoying taking time to reflect and express gratitude for life and all its simple wonders.

SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, hit me my first semester at Princeton. Now it is a frequent friend I embrace once a year. 

Coming from California, where the sun never stops shining, the dark cold days of winter overwhelmed me with a profound wave of sadness that I wasn’t entirely sure how to describe; seasonal depression was a concept I was always vaguely aware of, but never fully believed I would experience. 

As the temperature continued to fall, I watched as the days grew shorter and the nights came sooner. The warm crisp days of the summer gave way to the harsh winds of the winter and I found myself desperately wanting to go home. Homesickness, coupled with intense work loads, worked in conjunction to render me absolutely miserable. The persistence of this feeling led me to eventually conclude that I had gotten SAD (no pun intended). 

However, I found ways to co-exist with this feeling. Rather than let this gloom consume me, I decided to embrace the melancholy of winter and took it as a time to recharge and to be present. Below are some techniques I learned to challenge SAD:

1. Romanticizing the seasonal change by getting into the spirit of the holidays – To me, this meant watching my favorite Christmas movies, baking cookies, and dressing warmly for the weather outside. 
2. Spending time with my friends – Rather than mull about not being able to see my family til break, I try to schedule activities with my friends and be present. Company is the best medicine.
3. Exercising – A healthy body = healthy mind. Being active and interacting with the environment gives me clarity and a sense of calm that grounds me amidst the chaotic season of finals.
4. Getting out and about – Taking day trips to New York or Philly always helps stimulate my mind as I take in the seasonal sights and decorations. 
5. Being kind to others and myself – I try to acknowledge that I might not always be in the best mood but that I should try to exhibit kindness to everyone around me and myself during this difficult season. By giving grace to myself and others, it helps me feel a little bit better on days when I might not have the energy to do anything, to interact with my friends, or to go to class. 

For someone coming from Barcelona, fall at Princeton is like stepping into a postcard. The campus is surrounded by red and golden leaves, cozy corners for studying appear everywhere, and there’s an almost magnetic pull toward the pumpkin-flavored everything on Nassau Street. But while the season brings all the classic fall vibes, it’s also when midterms, projects, and extracurriculars pick up pace. Finding balance is key—and I’ve learned that the best way to navigate a busy semester is by making space for both the cozy, seasonal distractions and the academic responsibilities that define college life.

Balancing the Cozy with the Coursework
The start of fall always tempts me to slow down. The idea of sipping a hot drink while sitting by a window and drawing or reading a book sounds perfect, especially when Princeton’s fall foliage seems like it’s straight out of a movie. But with a full schedule of classes and assignments, giving in to the seasonal appeal can be tricky. I try to blend the two: setting aside time in the mornings for a coffee run or a quick study session with friends. These small breaks make the workload feel lighter, keeping me recharged and motivated. Sometimes, even just a 15-minute walk outside between classes is enough to reset.

Finding Time for People  
Spending time with friends and classmates is one of the best ways to break up the week, especially as the weather cools and cozy indoor hangouts become more appealing. Whether we’re grabbing dinner after a long day of classes or simply studying together, I’ve realized that these connections are essential. With the heavy workload, I make it a priority to keep these moments part of my routine. Scheduling doesn’t have to be formal, but a quick “Want to grab a coffee?” text can lead to some of the best conversations—and it’s often these unplanned moments that make the semester feel more balanced and enjoyable.

Extracurriculars as Both Commitment and Escape
I’m involved in extracurriculars that give me a break from academics in a way that feels productive and energizing. Whether it’s rehearsing with Sinfonia or Triangle or working on designs for Princeton Racing Electric, these activities give me a chance to apply my skills in a hands-on way. They’re a break from the study grind while still keeping me engaged and focused. I make it a point to carve out specific times for these commitments, so they become a natural part of my week rather than a source of added stress. Extracurriculars give me a change of pace, which can make all the difference during an intense semester.

Setting Aside Time for Myself
Amid the classes, social time, and extracurriculars, I’ve also learned the importance of carving out solo time. Fall invites a sense of reflection, and I find myself leaning into it by journaling or taking short walks through campus. It’s my way of grounding myself, especially when things feel fast-paced. I’ve found that these solo moments help me process what’s happening around me and stay focused on my goals, even as the semester gets busy.

Fall at Princeton may be a season of pumpkin spice and problem sets, but it’s also about making the most of each moment—both academically and personally. With the demands of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, balancing all these elements can be particularly challenging. The MAE workload often involves intense problem sets, lab reports, and late-night study sessions, all of which require focus and persistence. But finding time to enjoy the season, connect with friends, and engage in activities I’m passionate about has taught me the importance of balance. It’s this mix of hard work and meaningful breaks that brings a sense of rhythm and purpose to my college life.

Embracing both the rigor of my studies and the joy of seasonal experiences has helped me approach each semester with a renewed perspective. I’ve found that this balance not only makes the workload more manageable but also makes each success feel even more rewarding. It’s a reminder that while academics are a huge part of my journey, so too are the moments of connection, discovery, and enjoyment that make Princeton feel like home.

Last weekend, I drove more miles in a single day than I’ve driven in my whole life leading up to that point.

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A friend had convinced me to come on a road trip to Niagara Falls, in upstate New York, and I was one of the designated drivers.

In a way, this road trip was a quintessential college road trip. We ate at 2 am in a 24-hour Denny’s, we talked about life on the long drive up, we pulled into rest stops looking for food and fuel.

The Falls were incredible! My friends and I took a boat tour that went just below the falls, and we strolled throughout Niagara Falls State Park.

Although my friend did all of the driving up to Niagara Falls, I was determined to cover at least part of the drive back.

“I can take the first shift of the drive back,” I told my friend over dinner on the last night.

“If you’re sure, then okay,” he said.

Was I sure? I just got my driver’s license last summer. The license wasn’t even three months old yet. Up until that moment, my driving experience amounted to twenty hours behind the wheel, two of which were on the freeway.

Interstates are long and unforgiving… was 2 hours enough to get to the other side? 

Was I out of my mind? That’s what I asked myself as I went to bed, and as I got ready the next morning.

Fun fact: Niagara Falls is close enough to Canada to have a chain of Tim Hortons. That’s where I drove my friends for breakfast.

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The parking lot of this random Tim Hortons… my comfort zone was here. It was time to get out: of Niagara Falls (literally), of my comfort zone (metaphorically). The little voice in my head that doubted my skills–it needed to go out, too. I’ve found that acquiring a new skill is equal parts learning and practice. I had done the initial learning, but practice was how I would get comfortable. “Use it or lose it,” is a saying for a reason.

So much learning happens inside Princeton’s classrooms, but why stop there? This was an opportunity for self-education! Getting comfortable with driving lay on the other side of driving back to campus.

It was in that parking lot that I decided I was sure. This was as safe an environment as any to practice, and this chance wouldn’t come again for a while.

Over the course of the next few hours, I would end up driving 145 miles. In those hours, I learned a lot about freeway etiquette: which lanes to speed up in, how to pass big rigs, the importance of matching other people’s speed.

As the miles passed, from one to ten to fifty, my apprehension gave way to focus. My comfort zone had expanded to encompass this difficult thing I was now doing.

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The miles melted, and I kept driving, and the sun continued its arc across the sky. And there I was, pulling into gas stations and changing lanes. Smiling, because I was proud of myself for getting out.

October has been full of some exciting times. The second month of the semester always proves to be my favorite: everyone seems to be getting back into the bustle of things, the seasons are changing, and newness is in the air! As a sophomore, October can be particularly meaningful. You're learning which classes you like and which aren't your favorite. You're reckoning that you'll select your major in the coming months. You're also reckoning with the fact that you've made an entire trip around the Sun at Princeton. You're quite acclimated and should be a pro at navigating life on campus. October means you've done it. You're no longer a newly minted Princeton student.

This past month has been particularly fun for me. It started with Nigerian Independence Day celebrations. It was amazing to get to celebrate my heritage amongst friends and peers. And then came midterms prep. For me, midterms week was full of lots of writing, with several long papers due before Fall Break. This year, however, I decided against isolating myself in a study room/cubicle to complete my midterms work. Instead, I studied with friends! There was a beautiful solidarity in knowing we were all working towards similar goals. And having that support while working made even the more difficult periods of the midterms week a little more bearable. By the end of the week, I felt proud of myself and my writing. I also felt full of love for my little community on campus.

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Another gem during this week was one of my favorite playwrights visiting campus for a Princeton Atelier-at-Large talk. After the talk, a couple of other theater students and I got to chat with her for a minute, asking for advice on our respective theater journeys, and she even signed her Pulitzer-prize winning play for us! This was a beautiful vignette in the week’s chaos.

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Fall break was a wonderful decompression from the first month and a half on campus. I spent it with family—on a cruise throughout the Caribbean. It was wonderful getting to re-hash my first portion of the semester while simultaneously gearing up for the second part of it. By the time it was time to return to Princeton from break, I felt ready and excited (unlike past semesters, where I was a bit apprehensive). I knew I could brave the obstacles that were coming my way.

And one of my first accomplishments upon returning to campus was voting for the very first time. Upon my return, I found that my mail-in ballot was waiting for me at my campus mailbox. I felt fortunate that despite being far away from home, I could vote both in my local elections as well as the presidential one — even from the comfort of my dorm. As a first-generation American, the act of voting felt very special to me. And my family back home were all super excited.

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And last but not least, Halloween festivities! To break out of the "Orange Bubble" — a nickname for the Princeton campus — my friends and I chose to celebrate the first weekend of Halloween in Philadelphia. A couple of us have family there and friends who attend college in the city, so it was beautiful to visit loved ones, share stories from campus, and see what social life is like at other universities. We all dressed up as the characters of the Scooby gang from Scooby Doo and had a truly wonderful time. And we're gearing up to do it all again — this time on Princeton's campus.

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While months at Princeton can feel very short and fast, they are filled with so much fun and so much love. I'm so excited to see what beautiful memories the next months of the semester bring.

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October in New Jersey is signaled by the changing of the leaves to vibrant hues of red and yellow, and the cool air that brings in the fall season. It means leaving your dorm room in the morning freezing, but regretting having worn so many layers by midday. I have always loved fall, but there is something special about the season here on campus.

There are a million ways to enjoy the fall in Princeton. Often, residential colleges host trips to nearby apple orchards where students can pick their own apples. The Student Events Committee (PSEC) hosts its annual fall fest with crafts and fall foods. Last week, our student government held a screening of Twilight in one of our lecture halls (the quintessential movie of the season), and for Halloween, the Garden Theatre across the street from campus will be playing Nosferatu. Additionally, Coffee Club—our student-run coffee shop—never disappoints with its fall drinks, and it's not hard to come by donuts and apple cider from Terhune Orchards.

Of course, National Hispanic Heritage Month also takes place in late September and early October. The Princeton Latin American Student Association (PLASA) hosts a variety of events throughout the month, including its annual "Festival Sabrosura" and flag photoshoot. In early November, PLASA always returns with more events for Day of the Dead. Although I did not attend any of PLASA’s events this semester, I took advantage of the many other events taking place on campus.

McCarter Theatre is not directly affiliated with the University, but students can receive free admission to several performances per year. As part of its Hispanic Heritage Month programming, McCarter hosted an intimate performance and conversation with Mexican singer and songwriter Natalia Lafourcade. Growing up listening to her music with my mom made this an extremely exciting opportunity, and it was a heartwarming night of music.

The day after the concert I attended an art workshop hosted by a local community member and artist where I learned the basics of the repujado art form—a traditional Mexican technique in which designs are created on soft metals, like aluminum. We received materials and instructions while enjoying tamales, flautas, and aguas frescas from a nearby Mexican restaurant.

As the semester continues crawling towards finals, I am looking forward to continuing to enjoy the fall, even if it also means inching closer towards the winter. I’m looking forward to more strolls around campus while the leaves fall around me, celebrating my 22nd birthday, drinking more cappuccinos, and finally getting to pull out my warmer sweaters from the depths of my closet.

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Senior year is flying by and with midterms approaching, I’m reminded just how fast this semester is moving. Between working on my thesis (which feels like a never-ending list of tasks) and juggling all my commitments, my friends and I thought it’d be fun to create a bucket list of things we want to do before graduation. We haven’t set a date to write it down yet because, of course, we’re busy but we’ve already crossed off a few items from our mental list.

First up was matching socks. We took a trip to Maruichi, one of my favorite stores on Nassau Street and picked out some cute pairs—Hello Kitty, Cinnamonroll and Kuromi. One of my friends is a big Hello Kitty fan, so we all decided to grab socks featuring those characters. It might sound silly but there’s something fun about wearing matching socks. Sometimes we don’t even plan it and we end up wearing them at the same time.

Next on the list is a trip together. We’ve been talking about going somewhere for our last year and after tossing around ideas in South America and Asia, we finally landed on London! I had hoped to visit Guatemala or Los Angeles but when we looked at flights, London just felt right. We booked our tickets that same day; it was spontaneous but we were all excited to have a plan for fall break. The thought of exploring one of my favorite cities with some of my favorite people is unreal.

Then there are our movie nights. I wouldn’t call myself a movie fanatic but we definitely love watching films together. From Iron Man to Saltburn and USG movie nights like Didi, we’ve been staying up late to catch movies almost every week. One of my friends brought her projector, which has turned our hangouts into fun movie nights. It’s one of my favorite ways to unwind after long days and it helps us catch up when we’re all free.

We still have plenty of items left on our list, like senior sunrise, visiting all the eating clubs, picnics and a nice dinner on Nassau Street. Honestly, the list feels endless and I find myself setting different goals with different people. While working on my thesis and applying to grad school are top priorities right now, I think it’s just as important to have this little fun list to look forward to. Each item gives me something to anticipate after long nights or early mornings and with every checkmark, I’m reminded of how grateful I am for my amazing friends as we wrap up this year together.

One thing that I was perhaps not so prepared for coming to Princeton was the amount of celebrities I would encounter on campus! Whether it be for performances, guest speaker panels, or movie shoots, the University often attracts famed figures—some of whom are even Princeton alumni. Here are a few that I’ve gotten to see firsthand:

1. SZA

I’ll never forget when Solána Imani Rowe, known professionally as SZA, came to campus. Students everywhere were lined up to attend her keynote presentation at the event titled “SOS: Race, Art, and Activism,” sponsored by Princeton’s Effron Center for the Study of America. The presentation, followed by a roundtable discussion, centered around Black activism and SZA’s experience as a Black female artist in the music industry. After the event, SZA was even kind enough to take a selfie from the stage with several of the attendees. Not only that, but she also gave free—yes, free!—tickets to her upcoming “SOS” tour to a few random lucky students! You can read more about that here.

2. David Zabel ‘88

This name may not be familiar to everyone, but it certainly was for me! David Zabel, alumni from the great class of 1988, visited the University in September 2023 to participate in the Tigers on Strike! Panel, which was about the SAG-AFTRA strike happening at the time. Zabel is currently the showrunner of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. As a huge fan of the whole The Walking Dead franchise and as a student hoping to work in the media and entertainment industry post-grad, it was insanely cool to get to see him in-person and hear his perspective on the strike and the current state of Hollywood. I even got to speak with him one-on-one after the panel, and he gave me some great advice about working in the industry.

3. Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Jack Quaid, and Christopher Nolan

In perhaps one of my all-time favorite memories from Princeton, I recall walking around campus one day in April 2022 only to find that there was a HUGE gathering of people around the East Pyne Building area. I’m talking about hundreds of students, professors, and Princeton townspeople alike surrounding both the inside and outside of the entire building. As it turned out, actors Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Jack Quaid, and director Christopher Nolan were all inside the East Pyne courtyard filming what would eventually become the award-winning blockbuster movie of Summer 2023: Oppenheimer. Though the scene that they filmed only ended up being about one second of the actual movie, it was nonetheless awesome to witness, especially for a film buff like me. Some students even got pictures with Matt Damon once they were done shooting!

These celebrities are just the tip of the iceberg. Rainn Wilson from The Office, Nick Offerman from Parks and Rec, Larry Owens from Abbott Elementary, and most recently famous singer and musician Laufey—the list goes on and on! Not to mention the many amazing musical artists that perform for us every semester at Lawnparties (which I talked about in another article that can be found here!).

I think this really speaks to the far reach of Princeton’s network, but also the diversity and creativity of the topics they’re willing to explore and the events that they’re organizing. That is to say, many of these celebrities don’t necessarily come to promote their major works but rather to participate in educational discussions. For example, we probably all know Rainn Wilson for his beloved character Dwight Schrute, but his visit to Princeton was actually so that he could share his recent book Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution in a discussion with Professor Ruha Benjamin through the Office of Religious Life.

Finally, besides getting to just see and hear them speak about topics they’re passionate about, these celebrity appearances also offer Princeton students the unique chance to network with industry professionals and, for some students, their idols. There’s much we can learn from their success and experience, and, again as someone hoping to work in entertainment after I graduate, I for one am definitely grateful for those opportunities to connect with such prominent figures!