I am a first-generation American and a first-generation college student. Coming to college was not an easy process; while my parents offered me unconditional support, they could not advise me based on previous experience. All of my friends’ parents had gone to college and were therefore able to give their children detailed accounts of what it was like, providing them with an easier transition to their new lives. I started noticing my friends pulling away as they adjusted faster to the college atmosphere; meanwhile, I found myself unable to be as independent as everyone else. I hadn’t realized that growing up with only my sister and parents in America had made me incredibly dependent on them.

I am sure each first-gen student has a unique experience; I can tell you a little bit about my own. Going off to college is a huge shock for most people, and it’s even more of a shock if you’re unprepared and alone. One of the most interesting parts of being a first-generation college student is that my parents are along for the ride, but from a different perspective. They are fascinated with anything and everything to do with the American collegiate system, because they’ve never been through it themselves; thus they are completely invested in my experience.

Since my parents aren’t able to give me experience-based advice, I was a little worried coming into my first year that I would be at a complete disadvantage. To my delight, I found that Princeton has so many resources for students like me! I joined a group on campus called Scholars Institute Fellows Program (SIFP), which provides me with a weekly mentorship group to talk about my life as a Princeton student. Through this, I’ve gained access to wonderful students and faculty that have been able to open many doors for me that I wouldn’t have even known existed.

My first year with SIFP was so valuable that I decided to pay it forward by joining the Princeton University Mentoring Program (PUMP). Only this time, I am the mentor, not the mentee. This has been such an incredible program so far, and it has enabled me to meet other first-generation and/or low-income students and provide a helping hand.

When I got to Princeton last year, I was pleasantly overwhelmed at the idea of finding new activities and organizations that I would grow to love. I was intrigued by the chaotic activities fair that featured hundreds of club members shouting at me, trying to explain the premise of their group in the three seconds I had before being whisked away by a different club. I became so involved that I started worrying if “in with the new” really meant “out with the old,” or if I could potentially do both; there were a few activities from high school that I just wasn’t ready to part with yet.

So I decided to keep the old, too. Aside from joining new groups like Spoon University, Princeton Hidden Minority Council, Princeton University Peer Mentoring Program, Princeton Latinos y Amigos and more, I looked for ways to keep doing what I had been so involved with before Princeton: music.

Joining the Princeton University Orchestra (PUO) as a double bass player was the start of what has been an incredible journey thus far. Not only has it been a springboard for many close friendships, but it has also given me the opportunity to travel to and tour new countries every other year. For example, last year PUO toured through Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Prague during break. Here’s a sneak peak of the bass section at the top of a bell tour in Prague:

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Amazingly, the Princeton music experience is about to get even better. This year marks the opening of the new Lewis Arts Complex, a humongous building complete with performance and rehearsal spaces, additional instrument lockers, and numerous practice rooms and studios with advanced acoustic systems. Early this fall the music department put on a performance featuring several of the major performing groups on campus, such as PUO, to commemorate the opening of this new, fantastic building. I was completely blown away by the impressive array of talents on display the entire night, ranging from the Glee Club, percussion, the Chamber Choir, to jazz, classical music, and everything in between. The purpose of the concert was to have nonstop music; in other words, when one group finished, another would immediately start playing. The groups were spread out around the performance hall, and colorful spotlights illuminated the musicians while they played.

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For me, the most beautiful part of the evening was the coming together of many musicians from different disciplines of music. The various genres and styles formed part of the face of the music department, and they reaffirmed my belief that music really is a universal language.

When you first get to Princeton you are inundated with acronyms. Don’t forget to listen to your RCA and PAA’s advice. Did you go to the SHARE panel? What about the ODUS discussion? Did you ask OIT for help with wireless connection? Do you have a JRC?

There are so many names and positions that it’s hard to keep them straight. That’s why I wanted to focus on one of these acronyms so that hopefully you as a reader can gain a better appreciate for what it is other than a few letters smashed together in a phonetically appeasing way.

PAA – Peer Academic Adviser.

A PAA works closely with an RCA (residential college adviser) to mentor a group of first-year or sophomore students. PAAs are typically juniors and seniors who have volunteered their time to offer advice and guidance to younger students. While PAAs often focus mostly on the academic side of things (hence the name), that doesn’t mean they are limited to the academic realm.

I serve as a PAA for a group of first year students in Mathey College, one of our six residential colleges. Since my primary role is to provide academic guidance for my "zees" (what we call our group of students, since they are our advisees), I often find myself at meals with them discussing classes for the following semester or what major to consider. As a first-year, I took advantage of this resource and constantly went to my PAA for advice, so now it is my chance to give back to the community that helped me so much. In addition to academic advising, I also work closely with my RCA to host fun study breaks for my zees. This year, we’ve held a Halloween makeup design workshop, a summer application and resume workshop and many fun weekly study breaks featuring some kind of exciting food (Qudoba and sushi are always a hit). We also have a family dinner every Sunday evening in the Mathey dining hall where all of our zees are invited to get a meal together and catch up with one another.

My role as a PAA also extends outside of my zee group. Any time there is a first or second year student interested in ecology and evolutionary biology, my director of studies forwards their information to me. Over coffee or meals, I get to meet other students who are interested in my major and offer them advice regarding curriculum and opportunities within the department.

The PAA system is spectacular and is one of the special aspects of the Princeton experience many visitors do not always learn about. Therefore, I hope this provides an idea of what PAAs do and how great of a resource they are for first- and second-year students.

It’s not unusual to find yourself learning just as much outside the classroom as when you are inside. While the two kinds of learning appear different, the value is ultimately the same.

In school, the agenda is set and the same materials are presented for each student. However, experiential learning is more personal. It lets you take control of what you learn and how you learn it.

I’ve come to realize that some of the most important revelations in life can only be learned through the latter kind. My most recent experience was volunteering at the Princeton Disability Awareness (PDA) Fall Carnival. Each fall and spring, PDA puts on a carnival where children are invited to spend a day on campus while being buddied up with a Princeton student.

The carnival was a whole day affair, starting at 9 a.m. in the morning. Despite it being bright and early on a Sunday, the place was already bursting with activity when I entered the room. While volunteers were getting breakfast, the main coordinators were putting on finishing touches to the decorations. From one look, I could tell that there was no shortage of activities. The sun room had paints, crayons, stickers and 3D crafts. Toys and puzzles littered the sitting room and the front lawn had sports balls and sidewalk chalk. Each volunteer was given a schedule of events throughout the day, from a capella to magic performances.

Around 9:30 a.m. the kids started streaming in. The excitement was tangible.

I spent the day with my buddy, going from room to room. We started upstairs, in a quiet setting, reading books and having a snack. By the middle of the day, he got more comfortable with me. We went downstairs and he became mesmerized with the toy cars, spending almost an hour with them. We also painted and played with the balloons.  

But truthfully, it wasn’t all that easy. As volunteers, we were there to ensure that the children have a great time, not to parent them. So it became hard when there was a clear disparity between what my buddy wanted and what I knew was the right thing. In one instance, my buddy became fascinated with the elevator, not wanting to leave and move on to another activity. This made it hard for other children who needed to ride the elevator.

Nevertheless, the day was a success. Although I could only speculate for my buddy, I definitely had fun. The experience also provided me a look into the lives of these parents. I knew it was difficult beforehand but I physically felt the exhaustion after only six short hours. It gave me a new understanding and sense of urgency of what raising awareness for people with disabilities meant.

And as for the carnival? It’s definitely something I would do again.

Whenever a school break is approaching, students start asking one another what their plans for the upcoming break are. As an international student, my reply is always met by noticeable surprise. If I say I am going home people are both shocked, because they think Spain is too far away for just a two week-long break, and extremely excited, because they think I am doing I kind of Eurorail exotic trip when, in reality, I am most probably just going to spend most of the break back in my bed sleeping way too many hours because of my ever-persistent jet lag.

Oftentimes though, when the break is really too short for me to fly back, I stay back on campus. To this news, local students almost always sympathetically react with sadness. I find this funny because, even though I would like to go home more often, many of these breaks are new traditions for me, so it is not like I am extremely homesick or yearning home. For example, most of my friends find it especially desolating that I stay back for Thanksgiving. It was unimaginable to them that I wouldn’t be eating turkey (even though I am vegetarian!) and that I wouldn’t be spending this fourth Thursday of November with my family (although I would just be going to school if I were back home). Yet, I very much enjoy my time on campus during these breaks. For the spring break, Princeton offers local internships through Career Services, group excursions into Philadelphia and New York City through the residential colleges, and on-campus writing groups for seniors who want to work on the thesis together.

One of the aspects of living abroad that I enjoy most in general is having the agency to choose in which activities and traditions you want to partake. Because one has not been brought up in that certain culture or society, it is easier to distance oneself from certain customs or practices that might be problematic without having to completely reconsider one’s national identity. Staying on campus during break is a great opportunity to reflect on one’s experience as a foreigner in a new country because normally it is mostly international students who stay back so it is a great time to reconnect with friends who we met during International Orientation and share our common experiences so far. The International Davis Center normally prepares other activities and events such as movie screenings to bring the international community dispersed across campus a bit closer together. Overall, I find breaks on campus very enjoyable because they give me time to appreciate what goes unnoticed during the busy times school is in session. I get to enjoy campus more and discover the town better. It is a great time to learn how to cook better dishes and take extra work shifts at my library! It would also be a great time to catch up on work but I take the ‘break’ part very seriously.

Midterm season is perhaps the most stressful time of the year. Unlike finals, midterms are not accompanied by a gracious reading period, which is the final week before exams when classes are not in session.

As a result, students fight the universal battle of effectively managing regular coursework, extracurricular activities and test preparation. On top of everything, there’s the need to practice self-care, including eating regularly and getting enough sleep, for peak performance on the day of the test.

It’s a lot to ask from anyone. But there’s something unexpected about studying that comes from all the chaos.

I like to study in public places. There is a sense of camaraderie in a crowded study room, knowing that everyone is going through the same experience and working towards similar goals. However, with more than 5,000 undergraduates scrambling to find study spaces, popular locations fill up quickly. In the early days, this left me stranded with no place to go.

So, I started exploring, stepping into uncharted territory, visiting buildings that I would normally never have a reason to enter. Over time, I’ve collected quite a list of nontraditional study spaces. But for now,  I’ll just give you a couple of examples of what I believe to be the most underrated study spaces on campus.

Woolworth Music Building

If you’re not a music major or an arts student, chances are you didn’t even know this building existed. Nestled under the shadow of the Frist Campus Center and among the trees near Prospect House, Woolworth is a perfect space if you’re looking for a smaller crowd. Inside the Mendel Music Library are cubicles and, though not many, spacious tables. This is my favorite study spot when I need room to lay out all my work.

Lewis Center for the Arts Complex

This brand-new building on campus channels a contemporary look. Although the place wasn’t designed to be a study space, Lewis Arts Complex has artsy and comfortable seating areas, perfect for the kind of work that only requires a laptop. Make sure to check out the small library on the 6^th floor of the Arts Tower. This space, which looks like it came straight out of the Disney movie "Beauty and the Beast," boasts a legendary view with an intimate feel of being surrounded by books.

The whistle sounded behind me as I retraced my steps from the train station to Whitman College, lost in memories of a magical weekend.

For two days, my younger sister, Angelina, had stayed with me on campus. During that time, there was no such thing as homework—the only item on my agenda was to have fun with my best friend. Together, we explored the Delaware & Raritan Towpath, laughing as turtles periodically popped their heads out of the canal. We toured the University Chapel, mesmerized by the colored light that filtered through the stained glass windows. We ate dinner at my favorite local sushi spot, Sakura Express, then got ice cream from Halo Pub and people-watched and squirrel-watched on the lawn in front of Nassau Hall. At sunset, we reclined in Adirondack chairs as the sky over Whitman College was painted cotton candy pink. We played foosball in the basement of Butler College—then immediately challenged each other to a rematch. Come nightfall, we lay side by side on the giant sundial beside East Pyne Hall and stargazed, connecting constellations in Princeton's dazzling sky. Afterward, we dropped by Murray Dodge Café for a late-night snack, lured in by the scent of freshly baked cookies. During the walk back to my dorm room that night, we had an impromptu arch sing of our own, allowing our favorite songs to fill the autumn air. Finally, on Angelina's last day here, we ran through the pouring rain to Nassau Street for an early-morning breakfast at Jammin Crepes. We laughed so hard our stomachs ached. We walked so much our feet were sore. It was the best weekend, with the best company, at the best place of all.

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There’s something so special about sharing the place you love with the ones you love. Seeing Princeton through my sister’s eyes made me appreciate my campus anew. No Gothic spire or stained glass window went unnoticed. Angelina’s visit reminded me how important it is to take the time to enjoy where you are—to enjoy the sky above you, the earth below you, and the company beside you.

It made me recognize just how lucky I truly am to call Princeton “home.”

If you're interested in finding out what events are happening on campus and the surrounding area, then this might be the post for you. In terms of performing arts, Princeton's famous Triangle Club performs the musical-comedy "Spy School Musical" at McCarter Theatre at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov.11, with an additional matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. However, if you feel like watching some dancing, the all-female contemporary dance group, eXpressions, is performing their show "FUNHOUSE" in the Frist Theater on Friday, Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m., and twice on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. All tickets can be bought at the physical Frist Ticket Office or online, and students can get tickets to various shows for a reduced rate. Also, students are given two free tickets per school year for any events that are "student events eligible."

Perhaps you're leaning towards more visual stimulation? Be sure to check out the University Art Museum for a range of collections and exhibits, such as: "Making History Visible: Of American Myths and National Heroes," "Hold: A Meditation on Black Aesthetics," and "Rouge: Michael Kenna." There are also free "Highlight Tours" on both Saturday, Nov. 11 and Sunday, Nov. 12, from 1- 2 p.m. where you can receive a guided tour of the Museum's premier collections "from antiquity to contemporary."

These are only a small fraction of all the various events happening in and around Princeton, so if you'd like to get a full list of the events, you can visit the Frist Ticketing Office website, the Princeton University Art Museum website, as well as the McCarter Theatre website. Princeton has so many worthwhile events. I encourage you to take advantage of them!

During the semester I had the privilege and opportunity to work as a veterinary intern at the Princeton Animal Hospital (PAH). PAH is only about ten minutes from the University and handles various medical cases for dogs and cats.

At the clinic, I see a wide range of medical cases, since you truly never know what is going to walk through the door. While at first I was mostly observing and learning the ropes, now that I’ve been there for a few months, I’m able to do much more in the lab. I help with blood samples, prepare injections, pull medications, as well as assist during physical examinations. I have learned so much from the time I have spent in the hospital. The vets are incredible and always try to explain the case to me.

While I’m not in a lecture learning material as with traditional university classes, this internship is teaching me the practical skills that will prepare me for veterinary school. I am learning by doing, which is exactly the type of preparation I need. I am verifying this is the field I want to go into, and I am so thankful that I was able to coordinate the internship with my class schedule to make it happen.

Plus, I have to admit, it’s nice being able to get off of campus twice a week and pretend I am in the real world. Oftentimes, I find myself caught up in the Orange Bubble (how we fondly refer to campus), unable to get off campus and explore the surrounding area. Though I am only traveling ten minutes from campus, it is still a nice way for me to engage with the local community.  

This internship is just one of the many examples of ways in which Princeton students are engaging with the local community. I have friends who tutor off campus, work for the hospice at the nearby hospital, babysit for professors and other townspeople, and intern at other local companies. It is definitely feasible to have an off-campus job if you are willing to put the work into it. For some, that may not be of interest, but if there is an organization or company that you really want to work with, it is possible and 100% worth it.