If you’re like me, whenever you’re stressed, your go-to comfort drink is bubble tea. The sweet, chewy texture of boba and aromatic, milky tea always hits the spot for me. Incoming tigers, you might be wondering where at Princeton you can find boba – fear not, I’ve got you covered! Here’s a list of five places to get boba at Princeton:

1. Junbi

Junbi is a favorite amongst students. It’s located just a few minutes walking away from campus and it’s a great place to work or hang out with friends. Junbi primarily does matcha, with their Madagascar vanilla matcha latte being one of their most popular drinks. They also sell other drinks like lattes, dirty matchas, other milk tea flavors, soft serves, and rice balls. I typically go there to get a lychee oolong and to get a matcha soft serve as some of their matcha drinks are not as strong as I’d like. However, lots of my friends rave about their matcha drinks. Junbi is a must try at least once in your Princeton career!

2. Kung Fu Tea

Kung Fu Tea is a chain that you can find all over the East Coast, but the one at Princeton is a popular spot too. KFT is located on Nassau Street, the main street located right outside FitzRandolph Gates, Princeton’s main entrance. They sell a broader variety of milk teas compared to Junbi, such as yogurt teas, slushes, and punches. You can also choose to eat at KFT as they have a wide range of Asian-style dishes to choose from including ramen, pho, and other types of noodles. I don’t come to KFT too often, but do remember getting pho there during a cold winter day and loving the taste of the noodles. KFT is a good option if you are looking for a specific flavor of milk tea. 

3. FICUS

FICUS is located a bit further down Nassau Street, but is also a popular option for students. FICUS is primarily a restaurant with a “boba tea bar,” so the boba is a bit more elevated compared to Junbi and Kung Fu Tea. It’s still a popular spot to study and hang out, a bit more away from the hustle and bustle of main Nassau Street. I’ve tried their Thai Tea, and quite liked it, so I recommend visiting FICUS for its vibes and more upscale boba drinking experience. 

4. MTea

MTea is a recent addition to the bubble tea scene at Princeton, and is located only a few shops down from Kung Fu Tea. If you’ve tried boba in Asia, this is the store that’s going to be the most similar to that experience. Their teas range from fresh fruit teas, creme brulee teas and classics like brown sugar milk tea. Their teas are a bit more on the expensive side, but if you’re looking for high quality teas, this is the place for you. They also sell desserts like cakes and mochis, and dishes like sushi and poke bowls. The inside is a bit small, but very comfortable for a one-on-one catch up conversation. I’ve really enjoyed their grape tea in the past. 

5. Fruity Yogurt 

A more unconventional entry into this list, Fruity Yogurt primarily sells frozen yogurt, or froyo. They do sell bubble tea, along with juices, smoothies and milkshakes. While I’ve never been to fruity yogurt for their bubble tea, (I quite like their froyo!) some flavors that my friends have gotten include taro, thai milk tea, and coconut milk tea. If you’re ever tired of the other boba shops around campus, this could be a great place to switch it up. 

If you’re scared of burning too much cash, also fear not! Clubs at Princeton often hold events where they give out free boba. There’s been a week where I’ve been able to get three free drinks from three different events. Also, all freshmen get $150 of credit to spend at certain shops off-campus. As of now, you can use these credits at Junbi to buy however many drinks you want. I hope that you get to try some of the places that I’ve listed in the article – don’t be chai, I promise you they’re all tea-licious!

I’ve lived in the same house all my life and have always had the same bedroom. Over the years, my room became somewhat of a sacred space to me — the place where I was the most comfortable. Moving into college, living — for the first time — in a space away from my childhood home, I was terrified that I’d be unable to replicate the comfort of my childhood bedroom.

However, upon arriving at Little Hall — the home of my first-year dorm within Mathey Residential College — my fears were quickly whisked away. As my mother and I unpacked half of my life into the room that would be my new home for the next nine months, a kind-eyed woman and her curly-haired daughter poked their heads into my spanking new dorm. “Hi!” the woman said. “This is my daughter, Marlie.” And with a grin from Marlie and a handshake, this new and strange building began to feel more like home. As the first few weeks of the fall semester passed, I got to know my other neighbors, and we became friends. We often exchanged complaints about the heat or our new workload as we passed each other in the hall. We’d discuss our courses as we brushed our teeth in the mornings. We’d knock on each other’s doors when we discovered a bug that was too scary to kill ourselves. Although the beginning of college was scary, living near friends put my mind at ease. 

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Simultaneously, I was beginning to create the creature comforts of home within my dorm room. I filled my wall with photos of friends, family, and hometown memories. I organized a bookshelf of all my favorite books. I set up a speaker where I could listen to music as I prepared for the day. I stocked the room up with all my favorite snacks. Slowly but surely, my dorm room became my favorite place to be. After a long day of classes or socializing, I was always most excited to return to my cozy dorm. I had made it feel like home.

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I had also learned how to manage my own space. Cleaning my room and refrigerator weekly became a fun and cathartic ritual. When I found that the lights weren’t working correctly or the door was squeaking unnecessarily, I became accustomed to seeking out the facilities resources that could remedy these problems. I learned to kill bugs by myself (a huge accomplishment for a girl with a massive fear of insects) and would host friends from out of town in my new space. I began to feel very independent.

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However, after the fall semester concluded, as I returned to my childhood home for a month for winter break, I worried that all of the comfort and ease I fostered would disappear by the time I returned to Princeton in January. But this was not the case. Coming back to my dorm after a month felt like coming home in a different way. All the independence, memories, and comfort I had created over the fall semester washed over me as I stepped through the door. Undeniably, my dorm room was my favorite space on campus. I looked forward to hallway and bathroom chats with my neighbors, hosting friends in my dorm, decompressing from a long day with a good movie and the comfort of my bed, releasing the week’s stress as I cleaned, and more. Saying goodbye to friends and professors at the end of the spring semester was difficult, but saying goodbye to my first-year dorm felt impossible. It had become the space where I was the most comfortable.

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Looking back, I know now that although my first-year dorm room was indeed a magical space, what made it most memorable to me were the things I learned about myself living there. The comfort, independence, and memories I had gained residing in this space would not disappear as I moved into a new dorm the following year. They will always be a part of me. What I’ve learned now is that living in a new space allows you to become a new version of yourself, meet new people, and have new experiences. Thus, I’m genuinely ecstatic for the new magic my sophomore-year dorm will bring.

When winter break rolls around at Princeton, you have several options for how to spend it. You could stay at home with your family, and come back to campus at the end of January (when the Spring semester starts). Or you could be like me, and return to campus two weeks early for Wintersession. 

Wintersession, organized by the Office of Campus Engagement, is a free opportunity for students and faculty members to take classes on anything they want. Past offerings include playing Dungeons and Dragons, decorating cakes, and going on day trips to Broadway. The best part about Wintersession is that there are no grades. What matters is that everyone has fun.

Anybody can teach a Wintersession class. You simply visit the online application, and provide the name/description of your Wintersession offering and your bio written in the third person. You also need to provide details such as your technology needs, your ideal number of participants, and your budget for purchasing materials. If this sounds overwhelming, don't worry, the small but mighty Office of Campus Engagement team will always be there to answer your questions!

I taught my first Wintersession class entitled "The Feeling Power of Mental Health Journaling" my sophomore year. I got the idea from working as a Community Action Fellow with the Pace Center for Civic Engagement.

As part of my CA groups learning about creativity and mental health, I asked poet Topaz Winters '23 to teach virtual journaling workshops. My first year students felt lighter dumping their anticipatory anxiety onto paper, rather than tucking away their heavy baggage. I wanted to recreate this same safe space. Hence, I capped my workshop at twenty people to keep it intimate. I also wanted to get back into journaling. And what better way to hold myself accountable than by journaling in community?

Fast forward to January 16, 2024: the scheduled day of my workshop. Thick snow piles covered our campus, making me wonder if my participants would show up. But despite the snowstorm, ten students and faculty members joined me inside Frist Campus Center. 

I walked my participants through examples of different types of journaling — gratitude journaling, reflective journaling, and manifestation journaling — through ten minute guided prompts. My favorite part was hearing what everyone wrote. Some participants were using Winter Break to get back into old hobbies, like writing a novel. Others, instead of using words, used pictures to express their emotions. There were even participants who disliked writing, but who opened their minds up to my workshop and ultimately fell in love with journaling. 

All in all, “The Feeling Power of Mental Health Journaling” was a powerful way for students and staff members to validate each other's experiences. It's why I’m thrilled to announce that for its second year, "The Feeling Power of Mental Health Journaling" will be offered during Wintersession 2025. I look forward to once again spreading my passions for writing and mental health to the rest of the Princeton community!

Last summer, following my first year at Princeton, I had the opportunity to take part in an International Internship Program (IIP) for a Medellín-based renewable energy startup called Solenium. As an ardent traveler and renewable energy enthusiast, I had very high expectations. Even so, I could not have imagined the vibrant, transformative, and gratifying experience I was about to have. 

As a fresh-out-of-high-school first-year student, I was amazed by the international opportunities supported by Princeton. Learning I could have an international career opportunity fully funded by Princeton was staggering: I had to take advantage. What stood out to me most about the IIP program was that it didn’t ask students to sacrifice life experience for career or vice-versa. As someone who is curious and passionate about not only academics but also the greater world, IIP offered me an avenue to explore all passions. In life, and particularly in the U.S., I believe students often become weighed down by career expectations too early. At Princeton, programs like IIP offer us the ability to maintain an edge in career pursuits while still exposing us to cultures and experiences that define the way we operate in and view the world. 

What did my experience actually look like? My IIP – through the thoughtful and organized help of advisers and an internship organization – funded a two-month internship as a software engineer at Solenium, a renewables startup in Medellín. As a student who literally came to Princeton for opportunities in renewable energy, this was a chance to work in my dream field while also exploring Colombia and work on my Spanish. Suffice to say, words cannot express how much I loved my time there. My supervisors and coworkers at Solenium were equally passionate about solving the problem of climate change and helped me grow as a software developer, problem-solver, and worldly person. The environment of the company was that of a family: multiple times a week the office would go play soccer against teenagers at the park, get dinner at delicious street vendors, or hold late night brainstorming. Outside of work, I explored the “city of eternal spring” (the weather in Medellín is undoubtedly the greatest I have ever experienced). I went on IIP organized tours, met local friends at the park, tried hundreds of different food stands and restaurants, watched soccer matches, and immersed myself in the culture. On weekends, I traveled Colombia: I saw jungle and ocean, got my hair cut – and had an incredible conversation – with a Venezuelan immigrant on his way to the Darién Gap. I stayed on a floating hostel, laughed with locals while trying fruits I couldn’t pronounce, and tried – miserably – to salsa dance. 

I worked hard every day to take the opportunity awarded to me and make the most of it. By the end I had – in the most cliche way possible – been transformed. I worked conversationally in Spanish, learned Django and Flutter to build a functioning prototype of a smart EV charger, and had made dozens of close friends – fellow interns and Colombians alike. I was able to see the passion and innovation with which people all over the world tackle the same climate problems I hope to fight. I experienced a completely new culture and grew as an academic, traveler, and person. It is for these reasons and so many more that I can’t even think of my time in Colombia without cracking a smile; my experience in Medellín was, and will remain, one of the best experiences of my life. 

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It’s always been you. But why?

Throughout my years at Princeton and even before then, people have asked me why I chose psychology as my major. I wish I had a perfect response that would provide some clarity, but the only thing I can say is: it just felt right.

I’d like to preface my journey to choosing a major by saying it was in no way conventional. When I was in high school, I racked my brain trying to figure out what I should major in. My dad wanted me to major in architecture, which I wasn’t totally opposed to. I was really leaning towards a major in English or Creative Writing. I always loved reading and writing but didn’t see myself making a career out of it because I wrote for fun and wanted it to stay that way. One day in biology class, someone mentioned they were going to major in psychology and I don’t know how, but it felt right for me too.

One thing to know about me is that once I decide on something, I stick to it. So I took a deep dive into the field of psychology, not really knowing what I was looking for, but I loved how I could do anything with it. Psychology is one of those majors that can be applied to most fields. I could go to medical school, work in advertising, or even continue with a life filled with research. I loved what seemed like endless possibilities, and while I was deciding on one thing now, I knew I would have multiple options to choose from later on.

Coming to Princeton, I wouldn’t say I was close-minded to other majors, but the more I learned about psychology, the more I fell in love. My first psychology course was Cognitive Psychology with Professor Tania Lombrozo. This course remains one of the best lecture courses I have taken at Princeton; it was so engaging and sparked my curiosity. I was one of two freshmen in this course, and while it was challenging, it solidified that I had made the right choice.

I can’t say I didn’t explore my options. I thought I might be interested in philosophy, so I took an Ancient Philosophy course. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a meeting of the minds when I read the ideas of Aristotle and Socrates. Then, I thought anthropology could be something interesting, so I took “Empire of Debts,” an amazing course taught by Prof. Julia Elyachar. While I loved the course, I had a strong preference for the discussions over the dense readings. Even though some psychology courses can have dense readings, I find myself enjoying them. A few honorable mentions are “Zen Buddhism” (a religion course), “African American Studies and the Philosophy of Race” (an African American Studies course), and “American Television” (an English course). Most people find general education requirement courses annoying but I loved all of the ones I took, even if they weren’t going to be what I chose to study.

So, when sophomore spring came and I had to choose my major, it was an easy choice. Every step was both exciting and nerve-wracking. Finding my junior paper advisor, joining a lab, submitting my junior paper abroad – all of these things weren’t easy, but I was happy doing them. Even now, my last summer at Princeton, it was an easy choice to work on my thesis research. I had the support of my advisor, the support from the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), and my own volition to create something special. Now, I’m working on a longitudinal project that I created with my lab titled “First Year Narratives,” where we recruit First-Generation Low-Income (FGLI) students across different institutions in NJ. In the midst of creating flyers, sending emails and preparing survey items, I find myself so happy with the choice I made.

This blog honestly could’ve been pages long with all the reasons I chose psychology, from fMRI studies to the amazing courses I have taken. When choosing your major, there are so many ways you can come to a decision. But I hope at the end of the day, you love it.

I hate to break this news to any incoming first-years, but Princeton is littered with construction. Our campus is quite beautiful, and most of the quintessential corners have been left untouched. However, it seems that Princeton is in a never-ending era of construction.

Even as I write this blog, my desk overlooks what should be a beautiful view to Poe Field—a grassy, well-kept lawn which welcomes the New Colleges. While Poe Field is commonly occupied by our frisbee team or by students taking in the sun, all of the grass has been uprooted due to recent construction. From my 7th floor view to the field, cranes and bulldozers look like small yellow play toys. Orange construction cones look like specs of candy corn amidst a bowl of worms and dirt.

Construction is not confined to Poe Field. Princeton is in the works of constructing a new art museum, residential college, Equad extension, and expanded gym all amidst implementation of more sustainable technologies. While this change promises an exciting future for Princeton, it unfortunately promises me noisy bike rides up Elm Drive. I distinctly remember one morning, the haze was so strong that I was coughing amidst the dust and abrasive sounds of progress.

While construction has its downsides, it’s important to see the bigger picture amongst it all.  Many students complain about our current surroundings, but forget that construction surrounds us because Princeton is trying to improve itself. We go to a school that strives for excellence - and so it’s interesting that we are often so uncomfortable with the sounds and looks of progress. Princeton has reminded me that progress is not always a pretty picture. 

As Princeton is in a seemingly endless era of construction, I have found some interesting parallels within myself. I, like many other students here, strive for excellence. We like to push ourselves in every dimention. And while this is often seen as a strength, I don’t think we view ourselves enough as we view campus—as a construction sight. Just as Princeton is always under construction, let this be a gentle reminder that we too, are always under construction. 

Amidst all of our goals and accomplishments, our internships and LinkedIn posts, we are all constantly trying to improve ourselves. From time to time, it’s okay if you find yourself coughing amidst the dust, if the haze makes it hard to see, if progress doesn’t always sound pretty. It’s normal for this to happen. While at times you may feel lost within your own construction site, never doubt your own foundations. Be your biggest supporter. Be conscious enough to put down the orange cones. Know when you might need some reconstructing. But also know that while you place the orange cones, you also wear the orange hat. You are the builder. You are the architect of your own life. 

If Princeton’s construction sites have taught me one last thing, it’s that sometimes, a bit of perspective is needed. Like my rooftop view of Poe Field, sometimes the bulldozers should be viewed as toys and the orange cones as candy. I believe that as people, we are all in an era of never ending construction. While this can sound intimidating, no one said construction has to be scary—it can be a positive process. You wear the hat after all. We all see what Princeton is constructing, now the question is, what are you? 

Returning to Princeton after a semester abroad, I was looking forward to conducting my senior thesis research over the summer. Princeton, where everything feels familiar. But I quickly realized that, like people, places frequently change over time. In honor of one of my favorite romantic comedies of all time, I decided to write my own version of 10 Things I Hate About You: Princeton Edition. 

I hate the hill. (There is steady incline from Yeh College to Nassau Hall) It's simple: going up this hill every time I want a cup of coffee or have a work shift on campus is an absolute pain.

I hate the weather. As a New Jersey native, you'd think I'd be used to it by now but I live farther north where we don't have this kind of humidity. The heat wave hitting Princeton this summer, with temperatures in the high 90s, is something I'm not particularly happy about.

I hate leaving Rocky, my residential college. For my summer research, I'm staying in the newer residential colleges, NCW and Yeh. I miss the charm of Rocky, the greenery and the peacefulness. Seeing people walk around or taking photoshoots, it's a distinct environment I've grown accustomed to. NCW and Yeh feel like I'm in a small isolated world.

I hate that my friends aren't here. Most of them are off in different parts of the world or the country working on amazing projects. I miss having people I'm close to nearby, especially after being apart for so long.

I hate all the new construction sites; every day, there's literally a new roadblock. But with each detour, I'm led to a new path I've never taken. I see a new side of Princeton that I wouldn't have seen before because I stick to the same routine. So, while it can be frustrating each day, I'm learning to be grateful for each new place I discover. 

I hate how much I love my lab. We have so many new people over the summer but that comes with the quick reminder that their presence is only temporary. So with each moment I grow closer to them, I know how much harder it's going to be to say goodbye.

I hate how much I love crocheting. I've picked up a hobby I've wanted to pursue for years but never had the time for. Crocheting is such a great, mindless activity and I know that soon I won't have countless hours to spend on my different projects.

I hate how much I love working on my thesis. These two months simultaneously feel like I've gotten so much and nothing done. Running a longitudinal study across different institutions takes a lot of preparation and organization. While I'm close to being where I want to be, I know I still have a lot to do. But I enjoy it because it's work I'm passionate about—work I feel is important.

I hate how time flies so fast here. I only have a few weeks left before the summer session ends and I'll be going home. I'm trying to soak in every moment, every time my lab comes up with a new topic to debate, like grapes vs. cherries or what constitutes a cake. These are the moments I won't forget.

So, in the wise words of Kat Stratford, “But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you. Not even close. Not even a little bit. Not even at all.” Just like with growing pains, I come to see everything from a new perspective. I see how change can be good and bad, but most of all, how I'm changing with it.

Somehow senior year is already coming upon me, so here is a list of a few things I want to do before I leave Princeton:

1. See the stars at Peyton Observatory. I actually wrote about wanting to learn how to identify constellations at the Peyton Observatory in my application to Princeton and even made it to a public observing a while back, but just as I was making my way up the steps to the telescope, it became cloudy. It looks like the next public observing is in a few weeks, so maybe I can cross this off the list this summer! Another event I hope to attend is a Stargazing Night, held every semester in the Forbes backyard by the Princeton Astronomy Club.

2. Climb up the Grad College Tower. The Grad College is across the golf course behind Forbes, about a 10-minute walk from the rest of campus. You can see the beautiful tower, which I just learned is called Cleveland Tower, from a distance and hear the bells every Sunday. The Grad College, in my opinion, is by far the best dining hall on campus, and I think most undergraduate students have never gone! I have been wanting to climb the tower since freshman year and even spontaneously joined some senior friends who wanted to climb it before they left in May, but it sounds like you need to go when the Porter’s Lodge (the main office) is open to get a key. It looks like you can even request songs to be played on the carillon and get a free carillon lesson if you go on a Sunday afternoon!

3. Swim at DeNunzio Pool. This one isn’t anything too special, but I brought a swimsuit freshman year and still haven’t gotten around to using it. We have two pools: Dillon Pool, which is in Dillon Gym and reopened this past semester, and DeNunzio, which is further from the center of campus but a really nice facility used by the Swimming & Diving and Water Polo teams. Hopefully I can make it to a recreational swim or two!

4. Try aerial silks with Princeton Aerial Arts. The theme of this list seems to be things I’ve been wanting to do since freshman year. I got really excited when I found out about the Aerial Arts Club when looking through the clubs at Princeton but I wasn’t sure how to join. Hopefully I can try it out next year but if not, I’d love to attend one of their performances!

5. Walk across the Swinging Bridge in the Institute Woods. I often run down Mercer St which leads to the Institute for Advanced Study (where much of Oppenheimer was filmed) and the Institute Woods (which even have their own Lonely Planet page!). I haven’t yet made it to the Swinging Bridge because the woods are sometimes muddy and I’ve been too lazy to figure out precisely how to get there, but this is another one I could try to cross off the list this summer.

6. Run the Princeton half marathon. If you told me freshman year that in two years, I would be running half marathons, I probably would’ve laughed in disbelief. I plan on writing a blog about starting to run recreationally (and celebrating my birthday this past May by running the Brooklyn Half Marathon in New York City!) but long story short, now I’m the one trying to convince my friends to run the Princeton half with me. I just registered for the race in November and I’m excited to run some familiar routes and celebrate with my friends afterward!

7. Visit illy Coffee At Earth’s End. I’ve seen this little cafe a couple of times but haven’t gone in yet. After hearing good reviews from my friend who met a woman from church there and reading Odette’s blog, I’m inspired to check it out when I’m looking for a warm drink or a pastry.

8. Sled down the Whitman hill. Elementary schools back home in Alberta, Canada have stores of carpet sleds that we used every recess in the winter. I was surprised when my friends here couldn’t relate, but I guess that makes sense in a place that doesn’t see much snow. Hopefully this winter we’ll get enough to sled down the hill by Whitman College, whether it be on carpet sleds or cardboard boxes.

I look forward to reporting back on how many of these I’m able to finish by the end of senior year!

Work hard, play hard. It’s a phrase we’ve all heard, but is Princeton a place where “work hard, play hard” is alive and well, or perhaps, where does Princeton lie on that spectrum? Work hard, play hard. It’s a phrase we’ve all heard, but is Princeton a place where “work hard, play hard” is alive and well, or perhaps, where does Princeton lie on that spectrum? 

For starters, you often see students lock in during the week and let loose—in many forms—during the weekend. Of course, it depends on the crowd that you gravitate towards. You will meet many students who only “work hard” and only occasionally meet the opposite side of the spectrum. Princeton definitely skews closer towards the work end—not necessarily surprising for the Ivy League. 

The emphasis on work is quite apparent here. Princeton students are passionate about their studies, projects and research. That said during the school year, I’ll admit it’s often hard to feel a separation from school and life. Work often dominates my mind; it’s a priority, and so during the school year most students work, and work hard, sometimes without a second thought about a healthier life balance. Queue, the “Princetonian work ethic.”

But when Princetonians aren't plugged in for the semester, where do our priorities fall? It’s the summer of 2024 and my time off this summer has led me to wonder if this intense “work hard play hard” mentally is a healthy balance. During summer especially, I notice that I struggle when this finely tuned balance between work and play is thrown off. I struggle to enjoy time off without some sense of academic productivity. This leads me to question if Princeton wires us to chase high intensity experiences? Are all Princetonians wired this way? Is it just me?

While I haven’t found the answers to these questions yet, I find them fascinating to explore. During this summer at Princeton, I decided to survey my friends to find some answers. On the work side of the spectrum, I have two friends that come to mind who work hard, and pretty intensely. These friends sleep 4-5 hours a night and are consumed, passionately or stressfully— I’m not sure—with work, projects, and competitions. On the other side of the spectrum, I have several friends who enjoy time off without a second thought. One friend told me “tomorrow is not guaranteed,” so why consume your summer with work? 

With all these different perspectives, the real question is where do I want to lie on that spectrum? I recently realized that it’s very easy for your mindset to conform to the environment that you’re in. That may explain why so many Princetonians feel a need to work all the time: this environment is conducive to it. While I’m still trying to find my own balance between work and play, I admit that part of me is still drawn to that intense balance—partly because I feel it allows me to live life to the fullest. And that’s a theme I see at Princeton. Whether students work hard or play hard, Princetonians have a certain discipline and passion in everything they do. Life is lived to the fullest. 

And while this mentality may serve my college years, I admit that this certain binary scale may not serve me forever. Is my work ethic—my Princetonian Work Ethic—a lifelong thing? I’m not sure. Maybe the wiser of us knows the answer, but all I know is that I’m going to live life to the fullest. Whether that's work, play, or something else, the only thing I can do is keep trying to figure it out. 

Many Princetonians find themselves on the east or west coast, whether through an internship during school or a job after graduation. As part of a larger trend, the middle of the country is often overlooked, flown over, and forgotten. This sentiment has been valid in my mind up until now. Thanks to one of Princeton’s Center for Career Development’s job/internship fairs, I found an opportunity hidden in an overlooked place: Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

When I first walked up to Atento’s booth, I had no clue who or what their company was. It turns out, they are a venture capital firm out of Tulsa, OK, looking to do good by unlocking unsung potential in marginalized founders. Their mission is to provide capital to groups who are often overlooked. There is no better place to do so than Tulsa. 

When I first heard that I got the internship, I was excited, but then I realized that I’d be in Tulsa for the summer—essentially the middle of nowhere. Oh, how wrong could I have been? Since coming to Tulsa, I have been pleasantly surprised. Although the city is nowhere close to the likes of NYC, San Francisco, or other coastal metropolitan cities in terms of size, it is still a city with its own unique culture. This culture is what makes Tulsa amazing. 

Tulsa is growing, and growing fast. In the past, Tulsa was the ‘Oil Capital of the World’ and home to what was known as Black Wall Street, both of which are no longer, but it is now trying to become great again. My internship has given me some insider knowledge on this mission, and it seems to be coming into fruition, thanks mostly in part to the philanthropy of George Kaiser. 

George Kaiser, in short, is a philanthropic billionaire who made his money from his family's oil and gas company as well as the Bank of Oklahoma. He acknowledges the life he was born into and has pledged at least half of his wealth to charity upon his death (the giving pledge). He also has a foundation, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which is committed to reversing the generational cycle of poverty in Tulsa through early childhood education (among many other initiatives). He is fully committed to making Tulsa a better place, which is symbolized in how much he has done for Tulsa, including his flagship park, the Gathering Place, and what he plans on for the future. With this backing, Tulsa will be a great city once again, included in conversation with other large cities. 

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You may be wondering what the point of this blog is, well, it is to encourage my fellow Princetonians and others alike to take a chance and explore opportunities in ‘unknown’ places. It is hard to find those hidden gems, if you aren't open to looking for them. Maybe moving to a city you never pictured yourself in could be an amazing opportunity. If venture capital has taught me anything, it's time to invest in a small city!