Amor Fati. It means “love of one’s fate” in Latin.
While a phrase I’ve studied well through stoicism, I’ve unexpectedly come across this phrase again through a conversation with a friend. It’s made me reflective about my time here at Princeton, and my “love of fate” thus far.
So where am I on my Princeton journey? I’m currently writing this blog post at 11:18pm on May 1st, 2024 - it’s the start of reading week which means a tremendous amount of work for most students here. My days recently have been void of classes yet filled with the slow and often frustrating pace of studying. It’s the end of my sophomore year, and the only word I can use to describe this year would be: unpredictable.
This year has been filled with struggles I never encountered during my freshman year. My COS (Computer Science) classes have gotten harder. I’ve started to have more anxiety. Socially too, friends and groups have shifted. And that’s not something I expected - however it is part of fate that things change.
All of this is to say that my sophomore year has been overwhelming, and quite the contrast to the blooming, beautiful first year when I arrived at Princeton. I thrived my first year - socially and academically. Initially, this dichotomy between my freshman and sophomore year worried me. I wondered: “Am I not enjoying my time here?” “Am I getting the most out of Princeton?”
I share this because I’m sure many students feel this way. But my perspective changed when I remembered the words of an alum that I heard during my orientation two years ago.
“Everyone moves through Princeton at their own pace, and on their own path.”
It is normal for things to change. And it’s normal for your path at Princeton to look vastly different from your friends, or even the path that you had the year before. It’s important to remember that Princeton will be unpredictable. You will likely face challenges you didn’t even conceive of facing. And that’s okay! I don’t actually believe in “fate”, but I believe in it as a general concept of the things given to you outside of your control. I find myself grateful for the fate I’ve been given at Princeton - whether the experience was positive or negative. And that is Amor Fati. A true love of one’s fate - a love for the good and the bad that happens. Because from each of these experiences, I’m given an opportunity to grow. And with this, I hope any incoming students can take something from my perspective. That the challenges you will face are valid and unexpected. But you must embrace it all, and simply go along on this wild ride.
Partying on a Lawn?: A Favorite Princeton Tradition
If you ask a handful of Princeton students what their favorite Princeton memory is, the odds that at least a few of them will say “Lawnparties” is incredibly high. Now, what is Lawnparties you ask? A party on a lawn? Well, yes, but it’s much more than that! A beloved Princeton tradition, Lawnparties is a once-a-semester event filled with food, fun, and music. Let me take you through what it looks like:
The day starts off with students lining up in McCosh Courtyard in the morning to get their wristbands, a necessity for accessing all the events of the day. People will also be getting brunch with their friends at one of the dining halls or on Nassau Street (they also have bagels at the wristbanding tent!).
From there, students usually make their way over to the SPIA fountain area, which has become the go-to site for Lawnparties photoshoots every year. Friends and clubs will take group pictures together and sometimes even jump in the fountain! We also have awesome professional photographers that make their rounds on campus throughout the day, capturing all the fun and posting them for us to access later (check them out here!). And because of all these photo ops, it’s worth mentioning that students do tend to get a little dressed up—sundresses, nice shirts, etc.—but everyone ultimately wears what they’re comfortable in!
Afterwards, everyone starts heading to 'the Street,' which is our nickname for Prospect Ave and the home to our 11 eating clubs. There, students enjoy celebrations at all the different clubs and free delicious food from various food trucks. In past years, we’ve had everything from Nomad Pizza (a local favorite!), Taco Bell, Rita’s Italian Ice, and even an empanada truck. The day can get pretty long, so students are always grabbing a bite to eat and fueling up. There’s also water stations all over the Street so that people can stay hydrated.
Then, towards mid-afternoon, students will begin walking over to the main stage at Frist North Lawn to watch the opening acts. One thing that I love about Lawnparties is that we almost always have at least one student opener each semester, so it’s a great way for student artists to promote themselves and gain experience performing in front of a bigger crowd. And, vice versa, the community also gets to check out all their talented peers and cheer them on!
Finally, after the opening acts, what we’ve all been waiting for: the headliner comes on! Every year, the headliner announcement is highly anticipated. Our USG Social Committee works hard to get us well-known, well-loved performers. Since I’ve been at Princeton, we’ve gotten to watch the following artists perform live for us on campus: A$AP Ferg, Flo Milli, Hippo Campus, Waka Flocka, and, most recently, Loud Luxury! I was especially excited about the last of these, who headlined our Lawnparties on September 10th earlier this year—“Body” by Loud Luxury is definitely one of my go-to party songs. The fact that we essentially get to have all these amazing, famous artists give us a private concert for just our community is honestly really cool and really special; I look forward to it every year!
It should be noted that the past three semesters, it has actually rained on the day of the event. Now, of course, it’s always nicer to have Lawnparties on a day with great weather. It makes for better pictures, parties, and just overall better energy. But in my experience, Princeton students have really chosen to embrace it. The parade of rain ponchos over everyone’s Lawnparties fits is always a sight to see, and a concert in the pouring rain can be legendary. All this to say, it’s a rain or shine event, and the weather has never stopped students from having a good time!
I only have three more Lawnparties left while I’m at Princeton, so I’m trying to savor every last moment of them. I can’t wait to see who our headliner will be in the Spring (when we'll hopefully have some better weather)!
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Loud Luxury performance during Lawnparties Fall '23!
A Weekend in My Life Featuring Easter Festivities
Happy Spring! It’s hard to believe it’s already April, but that also means we are entering one of my favorite times of the year at Princeton, when the flowers are in full bloom. I had a busy Easter weekend, but I appreciated the opportunity to celebrate with friends, soak in the beautiful weather, and enjoy a change of pace from my schoolwork. On Good Friday, I attended a service organized by students in Princeton ChristianFellowship (PCF), Manna ChristianFellowship, and Christian Union Nova which I had been looking forward to all week. The service included beautiful strings and vocal performances, worship songs, a message from a Manna staff member, and a time of prayer. Following the service, we enjoyed apple cider donuts and fellowship in Murray Dodge, the home of the Office of Religious Life. I caught up with some friends about their week, met a few new faces, and even ran into a friend from the Class of 2023 who made a surprise visit from Boston.
On Saturday morning, I had the luxury of sleeping in until I was woken by the sunlight. I went for a 7 mile run, my longest run yet, as part of training for my first half-marathon. I am really happy with how it went and am excited to continue running longer distances in the coming weeks! Afterwards, I headed to my co-op, 2D, which has become one of my favoriteplaces at Princeton. Co-ops are groups of students who take turns cooking one meal each week. To be honest, I think I am eating as well as I might ever eat in my life! I am constantly surprised by the diversity of delicious food which the other students prepare, from dal to mapo tofu, and focaccia to cardamom buns.
My cookshift is Saturday brunch, and I usually like to make a tofu stir fry in our wok, which is large enough to cover four burners. After a delicious meal of mushrooms, spicy tofu, salad made with hydroponic lettuce and vegetables from the Forbes garden, squash soup, and cornbread, I headed back to my room to do some schoolwork.
A few hours later, I got ready for my dear friend Mirae’s bridal shower. Mirae was actually my Community Actionorientation leader and one of the first people I met at Princeton. She and her then-boyfriend, now fiancé, helped one of my first-year roommates and I carry a free couch we found a mile off campus all the way to our room, even though she had only met me the day before. The bridal shower was beautifully executed by her friends in Princeton Christian Fellowship and beyond, and I was also able to catch up with another good friend from the Class of 2022 who came down from New York City.
(Photo credits to Katherine Roegner)
After the bridal shower, I headed to the International Food Fest organized by our Class Government, which featured food from around the world and was a great chance to catch up with a friend who I studied abroad with last semester and discuss a book we both recently finished.
My friend and I went back to my room, where I did a reading for my Psychotherapy class before heading over to Richardson Auditorium to watch my first Naacho show. Naacho is Princeton’s premier South Asian dance company. I had always wanted to attend one of their shows, and this year a first-year student from my hometown was performing, so I had an extra reason to go. I was blown away by the dancers’ infectious energy and excitement, the intricate and clean formations, and the diversity of styles they showcased, and I cannot wait to attend another one of their shows next year. Being in Triple 8 has shown me just how much work goes into putting together a show, especially the week leading up to it, so I had a lot of respect for the dancers and choreographers who spent many late nights rehearsing and poured their hearts into the performance. I have never seen so many dancers evidently having so much fun on stage, and the audience was hooked.
After a packed day, I was ready for a good night’s sleep. The following morning was Easter Sunday. I was happy to see the sun was out again, and I headed to the U-Store to catch the bus to Stone Hill Church. Usually, we have approximately 10-15 students on the bus, but this week the bus was completely full, and so was the church sanctuary, which was such a blessing to see! The service was filled with joyous music from our worship team, brass band, and choir, and our senior pastor shared an engaging message which had the entire congregation laughing. After the service, students headed to various Easter brunches generously hosted by PCF staff members and local families. I attended brunch with my “adopted family” from Stone Hill. It was very special to eat an incredible home-cooked meal prepared with love and enjoy the warmth of a home together with other students.
After returning to campus, my friend Grace and I remarked how beautiful the magnolia trees were and took advantage of the sunny weather to take a few photos.
Next, I headed to DillonGym for a Triple 8 rehearsal for a spring choreography video (stay tuned for our video releases this summer!), after which I finally sat down to do some work. The events and celebrations of the weekend were very meaningful and brought me a lot of joy, but I certainly had a lot to catch up on. I spent the rest of the evening working with a friend in FirestoneLibrary and Murray-DodgeCafe, where we grabbed free cookies to fuel our brains.
What a weekend! Most of my weekends are not nearly this busy, and I did have some catching up to do the following week, but I wanted to share this special weekend in the life and prove that it is possible to relax and have fun even in the midst of a crazy semester. Thank you to all those who organized these events!
Relationships at Princeton
There’s a common misconception about Princeton that students are so busy that it’s difficult to balance your academic life and your social life. While it’s true that academics require a lot of attention, I’ve never found it to be the case that my work significantly detracts from my interpersonal relationships. In fact, I think Princeton is a wonderful place to nurture lasting relationships.
I met my boyfriend of two years in my Community Action group during freshman orientation. Coming to Princeton without knowing anyone was intimidating at first, and I was initially worried about how difficult it might be to meet new people. Sebastian and I, however, immediately clicked, and throughout the weeks of freshman orientation, he quickly became my closest friend. Despite our different academic interests and personalities (he’s concentrating in economics and I’m studying classics) it was relatively easy for the two of us to get a game of ping pong in after late meal in Frist or to hang out together at sporting events
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Sebastian and I at a Princeton football game
Navigating Princeton with a partner has been a wonderful aspect of my student experience that caught me entirely by surprise. There are plenty of fun spots in the Princeton area that make for fun date night activities. Last year, we were able to go axe-throwing at Stumpy’s and we visited a pumpkin patch at Terhune Orchards, both of which were a short bike ride away. Our eating club, Tower, throws Formals every semester, where members get to dress up, eat fancy dinners, and dance the night away. I cherish the memories we have been able to create together at all of the fun events Princeton has to offer.
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Tower Formal
I cherish all the relationships that I have been able to form at Princeton with friends, teammates, and classmates. It’s so important to me to be able to share my time with amazing people having different backgrounds and perspectives. Sebastian and I are taking a philosophy class together this semester, and have been able to have so many enriching conversations about the material. In the midst of all of the hustle and bustle on campus, I feel so lucky to have a partner by side who supports me.
Live, Love, Brown Co-Op
At Princeton, all first- and second-year students are enrolled in the unlimited dining plan. This plan gives students unlimited swipes to enter into any of the dining halls on campus, as well as a daily allotted $9 allowance for “late meal” at Frist Campus Center. As upperclassmen, however, students may choose to sign up for a meal plan, join an eating club or go independent, meaning students are responsible for cooking their own meals. As an independent student, you may also join one of several dining co-operatives (“co-ops” for short) on campus.
Each of Princeton’s five co-ops has its own menu specialties. For example, 2D is all-vegetarian and International Food Co-Op specializes in—you guessed it—international cuisines. Although various dorm halls have public kitchens for all students to use, each co-op has its own private kitchen and dining space that every member has 24/7 access to. Every co-op varies in its structure and duties, but members can generally expect to have one cook-shift per week during which they cook alongside two to four other students, as well as one chore per week.
I joined Brown Co-Op this year, and it has been one of the best decisions I have made while at Princeton. The co-op serves dinner every night of the week and brunch on the weekends. At each meal, there are both meat and vegetarian options, various sides, and typically some sort of dessert. Another huge plus is that there are always leftovers available for lunch the next day. I help cook dinners on Sundays, help with the clean-up after our cook-shift, and am responsible for unloading and putting away our grocery deliveries every Wednesday morning. Our pantry and several fridges are always stocked with fresh produce, dairy products, breads, and really anything you might need for an impromptu meal at two in the morning.
Lately, I have gotten into the habit of baking every Friday night with my friend, Anki. Every Friday after dinner, we’ll assemble all of the ingredients and materials necessary for whatever recipe we have decided on. One time, this involved us going on a hunt for walnuts and dark chocolate bars, ultimately finding them at the nearby CVS. Our baking ritual gives us a space to unwind from our stressful weeks.
Joining a co-op can offer students greater flexibility in their schedules, and can be a much more budget-friendly option when compared to other dining alternatives. For me and my own dietary needs, going independent was the best option as I knew I’d have more control over what exactly I was eating at each meal. With how busy Princeton life can be, though, the co-op provides the best of both worlds, as we all share many of the responsibilities associated with cooking and cleaning. I love making myself breakfast and lunch each day—cooking provides me with a grounded moment of normalcy amongst the rest of my busy schedule, and it’s something I always look forward to. Best of all, Brown has given me a warm community of people brought together by our mutual love for food and cooking, and I would not want to have it any other way.
One night, Anki and I brought in a few of our friends as guests into the co-op to bake cookies—all 30 of these cookies were gone within 24 hours.
A Love Letter to Princeton in the Snow
One of the things I was most looking forward to when I committed to Princeton was experiencing the four seasons. Although it doesn’t snow too frequently during the school year, the few days that it does each winter are always some of my favorites.
My first time seeing snow was the spring of my freshman year when my roommate and I stayed up later than we meant to. We lost track of time working on our assignments, which meant that by the time the big snow storm of the season rolled in at two in the morning, we were awake to greet it. I remember opening the window of our small dorm room and feeling the cold air and snowflakes hit my outstretched hand. It wasn’t long before my roommate and I were rushing out the door bundled up in our coats and scarves. We walked around leaving some of the first footprints in the snow until the intensity of the snowfall got to be too much.
In the past week, I’ve gotten to experience a snow-covered campus once again. Ready to walk back to my dorm after an evening of catching up with my close friends, I stepped out to a peaceful snowscape. Because we were leaving at the same time, my friend Tara and I stood there in silence together for a few moments, taking it all in.
We turned to each other with big smiles on our faces—want to go for a walk?
It was three or four hours past my usual bedtime, but I couldn’t pass the opportunity up as I looked back at how special it had felt to leave behind my footprints on untouched snow two years prior. So, we split ways to layer up more and eventually met up near Whitman College. Residential colleges at Princeton often let students borrow sleds on snowy days, so when we saw a few of them laying around in the snow at the bottom of the “hill” near Whitman, we quickly grabbed them and rushed to the top. Of course, I’d never gone sledding before, but after a quick “How to Go Sledding” Google search (not our brightest moment), we were off.
A great item to add to any Princeton bucket list, by the way, even if I did fall out of my sled twice.
One short, two-person snowball fight later, we finally went on the walk we initially intended on taking. At Nassau Hall, we made a small snowman next to the iconic tigers, even though our hands were going numb and my hair was getting absolutely soaked. We waved goodbye to our snowman, whom we affectionately named Jerry, and made our way back to our dorms, chatting about everything and nothing all at once.
There’s something eerily beautiful about how silent campus is when it’s snowing in the middle of the night. With how chaotic this semester has been, this nighttime snow was the relief that we needed, and the sort of night I’ll be thinking about fondly long after I’ve left Princeton.
An Honest Reflection of Junior Fall
By the end of sophomore year, I felt confident as a Princeton student. I’d already been through several semesters and I had gotten used to Princeton’s social and academic environments. But as junior fall approached, I felt increasingly nervous. I didn’t know what to expect out of Junior Independent Work, I was nervous to be taking mostly department courses for the first time, and I was worried I had taken on too many new leadership positions.
When junior year finally started, a lot of my nerves persisted. Although I was taking the standard four courses as an A.B. degree student, my workload quickly piled up in a way that it simply hadn’t before (which was saying a lot). I’d enrolled into each of my classes with great enthusiasm, but as the semester progressed, I felt let down by certain aspects of a few of the courses, whether it was the way class discussions were organized or the general selection of readings each week. On top of dealing with a variety of personal matters and other extracurricular responsibilities, I often felt extremely overwhelmed.
Now that the semester has ended, though, I’d still refrain from dismissing junior fall as a “bad” semester.
Writing my Politics Research Prospectus was, as anticipated, a different kind of challenge. For a while, I struggled to find a topic because I was afraid to pick the “wrong” one, but I quickly learned this simply was not possible. Although I struggled with not receiving frequent feedback on my project, in the end, my research prospectus became the highlight of my fall semester. I decided to study migrant caravans through the lens of social movement theory, and I am beyond excited to continue developing my research during the spring.
I also took one of my favorite classes in the Politics department last semester, POL360 Social Movements and Revolutions. In terms of structure, it was a pretty standard Politics class: a midterm, a research paper, and a final. However, Professor Beissinger was an engaging and knowledgeable lecturer, and his selection of readings was always great. I had never looked at social movements from a theory-based perspective before, and it was actually this class which helped inspire my independent work topic. I’m looking forward to studying contentious politics more during the rest of my time at Princeton.
And of course, my semester was far from devoid of good memories and times with friends. I love the communities that I have found within my co-op and extracurriculars. Among some of the highlights of the semester are celebrating my 21st birthday, taking a day trip to NYC funded by our student government, and eating from way too many cheese boards with my friends. I discovered I love cappuccinos, and I continued to be amazed by my peers.
Even amidst the chaos of deadlines and responsibilities, I was pleasantly reminded that Princeton can always surprise you—and that’s a good thing.
The Last First Day
A chilly morning in late January, with gray but otherwise clear skies, marked the first day of classes of the spring semester. For the class of 2024, this first day was particularly special, as it was our LFDOC (last first day of classes). There is always a photographer on McCosh walk at the beginning of each semester to take FDOC photos, but our class government organized a special session with a unique poster to celebrate the particularly significant LFDOC.
This is indeed my last first day of undergraduate classes, but it's not quite the end, since I will continue to have first days of classes as a graduate student. Even when I'm no longer a student, though, there will continue to be first days: a first day at a new job, followed by a first day in a new position, and then a first day at a new institution or company. There are first days outside of career as well, like your first day in a new apartment or first day in a new city. While the LFDOC marks the end of the student era of your life, there will continue to be first days, in one form or another, throughout life.
To me, it is reassuring to know that there will continually be opportunities for fresh starts throughout my professional and personal lives. A new beginning signals a chance to break out of a particular rhythm, shake up your routine, and learn new habits. It's a chance to meet new people, learn new strategies and information, and expand your horizons of what you're capable of. Some aspects of a new role will be improvements from before, maybe a better schedule or more independence, while others will be less welcome, like a longer commute or a difficult boss. The novelty of the new challenges, though, is exciting in and of itself, and you may surprise yourself in your ability to handle the elements that are more difficult than those in your previous position. There is always hope for the future when you know that things can change over time, and that there can always be another first day.
Huzzah for the LFDOC, and here's to an auspicious start to the last semester!
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A Tour of the Renovated Gym
Phase 1 of the Dillon Gym renovation was completed just in time for the beginning of the spring semester. On opening day, Campus Rec hosted tours of the new space, and the Princeton Tiger made an appearance. Here are some highlights of the updated fitness center, as well as a preview of what's expected in Phases 2 and 3.
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The exterior of the building remains the same, with its elegant Gothic façade and gargoyles. The interior has been updated with modern amenities, but you still get to sweat in a castle.
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Once inside, you swipe your prox to check in, and then head down a hallway to reach the main fitness center. The new space is larger than before, and it features brand new machines and weights.
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There's a row of ab machines in front, followed by free weights and pull-down machines (pictured above), and then several rows of squat racks and bench press bars. On the right, there's an array of new cardio machines (below). There are stair-steppers, rowing machines, treadmills, ellipticals, and even a set of Peloton bikes. On the edges of the main floor area are places for students to use yoga mats for floor exercises, stretching, and free weight reps. In the rear are desks and chairs for students to gather before or after working out.
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Exercising in this updated facility is really nice, since there's more space, high ceilings, and brand new equipment. And while the previous fitness center would sometimes take on an unpleasant odor, I'm quite happy to report that this new space has continued smelling fresh even at peak hours. One of my new year's goals is to add more strength training to my fitness routine, and I think the new gym will help motivate me to do so.
The new pool is scheduled to open in a few short weeks. This is only Phase 1 of the Dillon Gym renovation, and Phase 2 is scheduled to open in the fall. The lobby will be renovated and have an accessible entrance, and there will be a new adjacent building with two levels containing group fitness rooms and more cardio and weight machines. The eventual Phase 3 will bring more space for functional workouts, according to The Daily Princetonian. There's much to look forward to in terms of the future of fitness at Princeton.
Appreciation for the University Chapel
The University Chapel is a beautiful Gothic building across from Firestone library in the center of campus. The title "Chapel," conferring the image of a small worship house, is a bit misleading for this vast hall that can seat two thousand. It's where Opening Exercises and Baccalaureate are held each year, and both denominational and ecumenical worship services are held there throughout the week. A small number of Princetonians also return to the Chapel for their marriage ceremony, and it's always exciting to see a wedding party taking their photos in front of the Chapel or on the steps of Whig Hall.
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The Aquinas Institute, the Catholic ministry on campus, celebrates daily mass at 12 p.m. and Sunday mass at 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the Chapel. The Aquinas Institute is part of the Office of Religious Life, which encompasses at least 15 chaplaincies for various faiths and denominations. Several student groups, chaplaincies and affiliated chaplaincies include the Center for Jewish Life, Episcopal Church at Princeton, Hindu Life Program, and Muslim Life Program. For those wishing to continue or deepen a religious practice at Princeton, there is certainly an appropriate group for you to do so, with services held either in the Chapel or elsewhere on campus.
I consider my faith an important part of my beliefs and identity, and I attend Sunday mass at my local Catholic church when I'm at home with my family. During the hectic semester, though, I sort of allow myself a special pass from attending mass. While I don't take the time to attend a formal service, I do sometimes try to stop in to either the Chapel or St. Paul's on Nassau Street for a brief moment of prayer, even five minutes. In addition to the services held each week, the Chapel is simply open to the public for reflection from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. I can discreetly enter and kneel in the back, just taking a few minutes of quiet time alone. You may find a meaningful role as an active member of one of the many religious groups on campus, which could become an integral part of your Princeton experience. Even if you don't though, the Chapel is there to welcome you for whatever small moment of your day you can carve out for prayer or reflection.