Wow! Another year down. It is hard to believe that I am already halfway done with my time in Princeton.

As I pack for my first international internship through Princeton (or rather, totally procrastinate from packing … ), I want to reflect a little on when I arrived here.

I remember when I first thought of applying. There were a few seniors from my high school who were super happy here, and I recall being a little concerned that their good words would inflate my expectations.

I then visited and was truly astonished by the warmth of the Jewish community here, and further, the friendliness of the pre-frosh that I hung out with on Princeton Preview. Some of those pre-frosh ended up going to other colleges, as is to be expected, but many of the ones who opted for Princeton have remained close friends of mine.

Fast forward through my gap year (that will be the content of a post soon, I promise!), I was SO excited to get on campus. I arrived the Friday before move-in because of Jewish Sabbath and was able to spend my first night on campus at Shabbat Dinner at Chabad, one of the Jewish outreach groups on campus (the other is the Center for Jewish Life, or, CJL) where I enjoyed home-cooked food and a really vibrant atmosphere.

Then, classes. It was a bit of a crazy transition into my first college classes, actually. Considering that the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (day of atonement) both fell on class days early in the semester, I was faced with a lot of catch-up. Luckily, I easily got notes from people I contacted through my class email (you can send an email to the whole class through the online course system), and one lecturer even had OIT (Office of Information and Technology) film the lectures given on the Jewish high holidays anticipating that many students would be absent. It was really, really nice of him.

Well, since then I have acclimated much more, and gotten very used to the Jewish holiday-class make-up crunch that is the wonder of being a religious Jew on a secular campus. Among many other things, I have

-acted in three shows and directed (and acted in! see my earlier post about that here) another;

-become a student tour guide at the Princeton University Art Museum;

-joined the board of the Princeton Disabilities Awareness and the brand new Autism Awareness group on campus;

-been awarded a stipend to work at the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy this summer (leaving soon!);

- and declared a Psychology major.

And who knows what’s to come next!

For now, bring on summer and its new adventures. See you in the fall, Princeton.

Wow! Another year down. It is hard to believe that I am already halfway done with my time in Princeton.

As I pack for my first international internship through Princeton (or rather, totally procrastinate from packing…), I want to reflect a little on when I arrived here.

I remember when I first thought of applying. There were a few seniors from my high school who were super happy here, and I recall being a little concerned that their good words would inflate my expectations.

I then visited and was truly astonished by the warmth of the Jewish community here, and further, the friendliness of the pre-frosh that I hung out with on Princeton Preview.  Some of those pre-frosh ended up going to other colleges, as is to be expected, but many of the ones who opted for Princeton have remained close friends of mine.

Fast forward through my gap year (that will be the content of a post soon, I promise!), I was SO excited to get on campus.  I arrived the Friday before move in because of Jewish Sabbath and was able to spend my first night on campus at Shabbat Dinner at Chabad, one of the Jewish outreach groups on campus (the other is the Center for Jewish Life, or, CJL) where I enjoyed home-cooked food and a really vibrant atmosphere.

Then, classes. It was a bit of a crazy transition into my first college classes, actually. Considering that the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashana (Jewish new year) and Yom Kippur (day of atonement) both fell out on class days early in the semester, I was faced with a lot of catch-up. Luckily, I easily got  notes from people I contacted through my class email (you can send an email to the whole class through the online course system), and, one lecturer even had OIT (Office of Information and Technology) film the lectures given on the Jewish high holidays anticipating that many students would be absent. It was really, really, nice of him.

Well, since then I have acclimated much more, and gotten very used to the Jewish holiday-class make-up crunch that is the wonder of being a religious Jew on a secular campus.  Among many other things, I have...

• acted in 3 shows and directed (and acted in! see my earlier post about that here) another
• become a student tour guide at the Princeton University Art Museum
• joined the board of the Princeton Disabilities Awareness and the brand new Autism Awareness group on campus
• been awarded a stipend to work at the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy this summer (leaving soon!)
• declared a Psychology major

…and who knows what’s to come next!

For now, bring on summer and its new adventures. See you in the fall, Princeton :)

If you walk into the Princeton University Art Museum, climb the stairs to the second floor, and look across the gallery, you’ll find yourself standing across from George Washington himself.

From socializing with peers to participating in precept, speaking is crucial to everyday life at Princeton. But aside from the occasional class presentation and competitive organizations like debate, there aren’t too many opportunities to practice the art of public speaking. I believe college in general offers too few chances to actually stand up in front of a crowd and deliver a speech, much less receive constructive feedback on it.

As an English major whose academic work mainly consists of papers and readings, I’m really concerned with improving my verbal fluency. This is why I am part of a student-led initiative called Speak with Style, an organization dedicated to providing a supportive and effective environment to practice public speaking.

The idea behind Speak with Style is simple: practice delivering a 60- to 90-second speech in front a small group of people who then give constructive criticism on the performance. Each member contributes something unique to the organization, whether it’s an interesting perspective on public speaking or a special eye for pointing out weaknesses in speech delivery.

I was surprised how much my public speaking skills improved after joining Speak with Style. I’ve learned how to use facial expressions to my advantage, as well as gesticulate without distracting my audience. Better than everything else, I now feel much more comfortable giving speeches in front of groups of people. Public speaking has stopped being a fearful burden and has now become a fun activity to practice with friends.

I became an officer of Speak with Style this past year, and it’s been equally beneficial planning the practicums and leading the groups. In addition, it's been really cool meeting the several guest speakers we've had this semester, including University President Christopher Eisgruber and congressional candidate Andrew Zwicker. I’ve also had the pleasure of closely working with our advisers, John Weeren and Matt Eventoff, and learning more about communication skills from them.

Mastery of communication, whether it is written or oral, has turned into a never-ending goal for me. I’m fortunate to be a part of an organization like Speak with Style because it’s provided me a proper environment to practice public speaking in the midst of the academic year. No matter how busy I get, I always make time to stand up and speak.

Joining Team U has been one of the best decisions I have made at Princeton. I remember how surprised I felt when I discovered that Princeton had an organization like Team U that both raised funds for charity and participated in endurance events. As a long distance runner with a strong inclination for charity work, it seemed like the perfect fit for me.

This combination of passions has given me the motivation to re-evaluate why I run. Running, something I once considered solely a solitary and personal ritual, turned into a way for me to help others. Now not only do I participate in half marathons for my own personal gain, but I also raise money for Shoe4Africa. I feel like a better individual knowing that my running and fundraising has led to the construction of a children’s hospital in Kenya. Telling my friends about my efforts has spread word about the cause, which has inspired more people to further Team U’s dual goal of living a healthy lifestyle and supporting charity.

In addition to feeling like I’ve made an impact, my favorite part about being a part of Team U is the camaraderie. My fondest memories about cross country center on the strong relationships I formed with my teammates, and this has carried over to Team U. I have met extraordinary people through my involvement in the organization, and have yet to meet even half of the students who comprise the team.

This past fall, I competed in the Princeton Half Marathon with Team U. After recovering from a six-month injury, I felt like the race would be a humiliating and painful reminder of my period of inactivity. But what kept me going throughout the run was reminding myself about why I joined Team U in the first place. The race wasn’t just about me. I was about running for the team. I was running for charity. I kept these positive thoughts in my mind throughout the race, which I believe pushed me to finish. In the end, I finished within 10 minutes of my personal best, and I afterwards found out that Team U surpassed the semester’s fundraising expectation. The event was a success, and to this day the Princeton Half Marathon has remained one of my fondest memories of sophomore year.

While everyone has his own personal reasons for joining Team U, I think there is a common thread that connects everyone’s stories: the desire to make a difference, whether it’s in the community or oneself. Team U has allowed me to accomplish both.

A little look into my experience of Princeton in Beijing last summer. There were teachers and food, weather and adventures!

Hello again - so sorry for the long hiatus! Here is a quick recap of what I have been up to since March: I was away competing in the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI 2014), working on my thesis, and traveling to visit graduate schools. I am happy to let you all know that Princeton placed 3rd in the nation at CUPSI (shout-out to Ellipses!), I finished my senior thesis (yay!) and formally accepted the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in American Studies at Harvard University (Dr. Fonseca?)!

Now that things are finally starting to wind down, the nostalgia is kicking in. I am beginning to realize that graduation is just around the corner. I have been asking myself the following questions: What can I do to make the most of my last semester here? What do I wish I could have done when I was a freshman, a sophomore or a junior? What advice do I have to offer incoming and current Princetonians?

After being here for so long, I realize that we seniors have a lot of advice to share so I asked several members of the Class of 2014 for their help in compiling a couple of lists—one with things you should do before you graduate and the other with things you should keep in mind.

We hope you find these lists helpful as you navigate your unique undergraduate experience. There are definitely items to add to both of these lists so if you want, feel free to comment with your suggestions.

20 Things to Do Before You Graduate from Princeton

1. Eat at Hoagie Haven (at least once): What is good, bad and delicious all over? Maybe it’s the Dirty Sanchez, the Heart Stop or the Mac Daddy. Point is: you have to find out!
2. Try ice cream from all the local ice cream shops: Bent Spoon, Thomas Sweet Ice Cream and Halo Pub are the town favorites. Which one do you like best?
3. Check out the Princeton Record Exchange:This is one of the leading independent record stores in the country! Take advantage of their amazing collection.
4. Visit the Grad College: Thursday night dinners at the grad college are delicious; you are allowed to use a meal swipe, so you have nothing to lose. Also, if you get a chance, climb the Cleveland Tower; it will give you an awesome view of campus.
5. Go to the Princeton Battlefield: Princeton has an incredibly rich history. The Princeton Battlefield, for example, is where American and British troops fought in 1777. The site is now a part of the Princeton Battlefield State Park, which is adjacent to several trails that you can explore.
6. Visit the Institute for Advanced Study: Close to the Princeton Battlefield, this place is home to the smartest of the smartest. The likes of Albert Einstein, Kurt Gödel and J. Robert Oppenheimer lived and studied here. The Institute has a small lake in the back and is surrounded by plenty of walking/hiking trails that you can take advantage of during a nice day.
7. Run along Lake Carnegie: Enjoy nature with your friends. Lake Carnegie is used by the Princeton rowing team but is also open to everyone. It is a great spot to go ice skating, fishing and picnicking.
8. Attend a lecture by a Nobel Laureate: So many brilliant people present their work and deliver speeches at Princeton. Take advantage of the opportunity to listen to them and ask questions.
9. Visit the Princeton University Art Museum: This is one of the world’s leading university art museums and home to more than 90,000 works of ancient and contemporary art. As with most resources on campus, it is free, free, free.
10. Visit the Writing Center, McGraw Center, Career Services, etc.: These resources are here to help you do your very best. Make an appointment today.
11. Support your classmates: Attend their games, their dance shows, their poetry showcases, etc. Remember that we are each other’s home away from home. It means so much to have someone you love support your passions.
12. Visit your friends' hometowns: Take up a friend’s offer to visit their hometown/home over breaks, weekends or holidays. It’s great to be able to get off campus and see how your friends grew up. There might be some cute baby pics in it for you, too. 
13. STUDY ABROAD: Do it! Go over fall break, spring break, for a whole semester, or just for the summer. You will know why after you go.
14. Go on late-night Wa runs: No way you are a Princetonian if you haven’t been to the Wawa after 1 a.m. Food open 24/7. Yes.
15. Build a snowman: Princeton winters will come with a lot of snow so enjoy it before it turns to mush. I hear that it is really fun to slide down the hills next to the residential colleges, Whitman and Forbes.
16. Experience Holder Howl: Ever feel like you’re so stressed out with papers that you just want to scream? Well, Holder Howl is your chance. Every Dean’s Date at 12 a.m., Princetonians gather in Holder courtyard to “howl” as loudly as possible for a whole minute. Dean's Date is the Tuesday at the end of each semester when all written work is due by 5:00 p.m. This day marks the end of reading period and the beginning of final exams.
17. Relax at the Woody Woo Fountain: Formally known as “The Fountain of Freedom,” this fountain is a beautiful spot on campus. Whether it is daytime or nighttime, it’s a perfect place to sit, relax and people-watch.
18. Check out Reunions: There are many opportunities to work during reunions as an underclassman and being on campus during this time will give you the chance to see what the hype is all about. Rumor has it that ours are the best-attended college reunion in the world.
19. Get to know your professors: Professors are here for YOU! Make sure you go to their office hours. One of my favorite questions to ask is, “How did you get here? How did you know you wanted to become a professor?” You will be surprised and happy to hear their stories. Make sure to tell them about your own interests and aspirations; they will be happy to write you letters of recommendations when the time comes for you to pursue future endeavors.
20. Introduce yourself to the president of the University: Right now that is President Christopher L. Eisgruber. If you see him around, say "Hi!"or schedule an appointment to see him during office hours. It is important for University presidents to know the students they represent. 

 

14 Reminders

1. Asking for help is okay: College, in general, can be extremely difficult and stressful. Often, you might feel like you are supposed to do your best and feel your best at all times. This is simply not possible. You will have your ups and your downs. Princeton has a lot of resources that can help you work through a challenging course or a difficult time. Your mental health and safety should take precedence over your grades. Your learning will be optimal when you are well rested and taken care of. Please remember to ask for help and know that you are not alone.
2. Balance is key: You are going to be busy because Princeton has intense academic and extracurricular expectations. Since you live where you study and work, you will be tempted to think that anything you do outside of class or extracurriculars is a “study break.” You will often believe that you should be working 24/7. This simply is not possible. You should not feel guilty when you read for pleasure, watch your favorite TV show or go to the mall. Try to maintain a sense of balance and do what makes you smile. Go to Philly or New York City with your friends once in a while. Live your life.
3. Don't be afraid to try something new: This may be difficult at first but can turn out to be extremely rewarding if you give it a chance. It is easy to keep doing what makes us comfortable, but you might be pleasantly surprised if you decide to be a part of a performing arts group, volunteer group or a sport you never thought you would join.  
4. Do little things each day that make you happy: Have some ice cream, watch a funny video on YouTube, listen to your favorite song or grab tea with a friend.
5. Explore campus: You are at one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. Take some time out of the day to explore it and you might find a new study space (like the room surrounded by glass windows at the Art Museum or Frist 302, where Einstein taught). You also will find amazing sculptures scattered throughout campus. (Make sure to check out The Hedgehog and the Fox by Richard Serra. It is located between Peyton and Fine halls next to Princeton Stadium and the Lewis Library.)
6. Go for a walk in town: Take time to explore the area surrounding campus. Take in the scenery and the sights of some of Princeton’s big homes, which are absolutely beautiful and often unlike any you have seen before.
7. Don’t let the grading policy keep you down: You are here to learn, and while grades are important, they should not be the end goal of your time here.
8. People change, you will, too: You may be surprised at what four years can do. You may grow apart from people you thought you would be close to forever, have a change in music taste, dye your hair or change your major. Learn to accept and value people (and yourself) as the changes happen.
9. Take pictures: You will want to look back years from now to see what you looked like. Pictures make for beautiful memories down the road, so make sure to capture the special moments.
10. Don’t feel pressured to join any social circle: It is normal to feel like you don’t belong. Sometimes things take some getting used to; other times, however, you will feel like you simply do not fit in. In these cases, you should not feel the need to join any eating club or group if it does not make you genuinely happy.
11. We are family: During Princeton Preview, remember that you were in the shoes of a pre-frosh not too long ago. Sure, they have no idea what they are getting themselves into but isn’t that great? Talk to them about your experience and remember that they could be future members of our awesome Tiger family.
12. Take part in traditions, but also start your own: Princeton is full of tradition. From Bonfires to the P-Rade, you will learn that some traditions have been around for a long time. There is also always room for new traditions with your friends, so go out there and make your mark.
13. Do not worry so much about the junior papers or the senior thesis: By the time you get there, you will have the skills necessary to complete each of these milestones. Trust me. You can and will do it.
14. Say "Thank you": Write to your family and friends back home, thank them and your teachers and mentors who have helped you along the way. During senior year, thank your friends, your professors and your deans for all their support. Thank everyone who believes in you, who keeps you grounded, who sits with you when you cry, who reminds you to believe in yourself.

Overall, remember that one year builds on another. Days will go by and might seem routine, but try to think of each one as an adventure. Your time at Princeton will be filled with new and exciting things and at the end of it all, you will hopefully exit the FitzRandolph Gate with joy, confidence and memories that will last a lifetime.  

Love, 

The Class of 2014

A huge thanks to all of the seniors who helped me compile these lists! Go, Class of 2014!

 

 

A look into the workings of the Student Design Agency, plus a a backstage peek into the process that went into the Princeton Preview graphics!

And the next September, instead of beginning my first year at Princeton, I embarked on the most amazing experience of my life.

The arranged art of body motion known as dance, for some intangible reason, is immensely popular at Princeton. On campus, there are probably more than a dozen dance groups, with unique styles ranging from—get ready—traditional Mexican folk dance to breakdancing, to martial arts choreography to contemporary lyrical, to ballet to tap, to bhangra to technical hip hop, and so on. Needless to say, we have an impressively vibrant dance scene for such a small student body, and this is something I have always found to be incredible.

I joined a hip hop dance group, BAC (acronym for the Black Arts Company), the first semester of my freshmen year, and in the three years since then the group has not only helped me to refine a skill set but also to develop an identity and discover a family on Princeton’s campus (a "Purple Family,"  because of our ubiquitous color choice). I rank BAC among the top big four dance groups on campus, alongside Disiac, Expressions and BodyHype. These are (currently) the largest, most comprehensive and most rigorous of student organized dance groups who host performances and auditions every semester.

Though I chose BAC for my own stylistic preference, and because of their SWAG, perhaps one of the other big three or any of the many smaller, more niche groups could be better for a different student (though I still recommend BAC, haha). There is also the more competitive Chaos Theory crew, composed of elite dancers from various campus groups, which competed in the huge "World of Dance: New York" competition last year, and is rumored to have been offered a spot on "America’s Best Dance Crew." Regardless of style or skill, however, the great thing about dance at Princeton is that there will be some dance outlet for you if you decide to seek it.

As I’m studying abroad, I continue to keep up dance here in Seoul through another student group. At the same time, I want to shout out accolades and respect for all the dancers back in the Orange Bubble. BAC’s House Party themed show, the first that I missed, was April 10, and the spring shows of other groups followed shortly thereafter. BAC and all the other dancers work tirelessly to independently create, manage and promote their shows, and it all comes together when they perform it for their friends, families and the Princeton community.

With Princeton students, everyone has at least one dancer friend. While non-dancers at first may feel compelled or obliged to see a dance performance featuring their friend, the obligation is soon replaced by enthusiasm once they realize that the dancers, their shows and the vibes they bring to our campus are an irreplaceable component of Princeton’s culture. Our school is not only a great place to study, but it is also an amazing place to pick up, progress or perfect your dancing passion.

Note:

Some of you may recognize the name of this blog entry from this hilarious song, performed by Flynt Flossy of the Turquoise Jeep crew. They also performed at Princeton’s biannual Lawn Parties event two years ago, seen here with the DJ wearing customized BAC sunglasses that we handed up to him.