My friend recently wrote a column for The Daily Princetonian in which he reflected on the meaning of community during an online semester. He notes that what makes the Princeton experience so special are the shared experiences we have with others. As he discusses, the Princeton community is more than just our close friends; it also includes the people we wave to on the way to class, and the people we end up studying near every night.

Now, almost halfway through the semester, I realize that the strength of the Princeton community has been what’s sustained me in this unusual period of college, even if making connections online takes a little more planning.

Community can be formed in Zoom breakout rooms, for example. While they can sometimes be awkward, I enjoy them because they allow me to talk to other students in a more personal setting. I’ve made connections with others by learning about my peers in our small group discussions.

While we can’t recreate the experience of whispering thoughts to the friend sitting right next to us, I’ve enjoyed group conversations in the Zoom chatbox filled with inside jokes or smart insights. I probably shouldn’t admit this publicly, but my friend and I often live-text each other during one class, reflecting on the content or laughing at our amazing professor’s extensive use of animal-based idioms.

Professors also enjoy the opportunity to connect with students virtually. By now, I’ve met with almost all of my professors for office hours. One professor remarked that these one-on-one interactions with students were what she enjoyed most about teaching. The shift to an online setting does not reduce the value of these conversations.

Outside of class, my eating club Tower held a speed-friending event where we got paired with another member in a private breakout room. I thought those minutes alone in a room would pass by slowly, but I really enjoyed these intimate conversations with people who I may not have met otherwise. 

I miss gathering together to watch political events with Whig-Clio, but I thoroughly enjoyed the political commentary my friends and I shared during the first presidential debate. The Class of 2022 and many other student groups communicate on the platform Discord now, providing even more opportunites to connect with one another. Whether through text or Facebook message, FaceTime or Houseparty, I know my friends are only a click away.

It does take more effort to make and sustain friendships right now, but I’ve found most people to appreciate any sort of communication. You never know the impact you can have on someone by just texting out of the blue to check in. The support and camaraderie of the Princeton community truly does extend far beyond FitzRandolph Gates.

Before classes went online, I didn’t fully appreciate just how wonderful some of my lectures were. But now, as I sit in my room for yet another month, I find myself reflecting back on the classes that I’ve had and hoping fervently that one day, long before I graduate, I’ll be able to experience that again. 

I think about walking up the spiral staircase to McCosh 10, a lecture hall, after a filling lunch in the RoMa (Rockefeller/Mathey residential college) dining hall with friends, and sitting in a cushy chair to listen to a survey of music through the centuries, dubbed after the Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix by my Marvel-loving professor. I think about my wonderful Children’s Literature class last semester, taught by the inimitable William Gleason, who is one of the most engaging lecturers I’ve ever had. I think about walking past dinosaur bones on my way to my Asian American History class, and learning more about my history in 50 minutes than I’d ever known. Just sitting next to classmates and friends, and hearing the small things, from the rustling and click-clacking of note-taking to the small pop as a water bottle is opened. Planning a day ahead, anticipating a trip to Dillon Gym or checking TigerMenus to see what each dining hall has in store for dinner.

As I sit in my room, far away from Princeton for so long, I cannot help but miss my classes. But I also have been struck by an appreciation for my professors as they too adjust to this virtual semester. I know, by their passing comments laden with hope, that they too anticipate the day when we can safely return. And I see during each lecture that they’ve been putting in a lot of effort to make this semester okay. My heart goes out to my Microeconomics professor, who re-recorded the same lecture five times just to get it right for her students. Everyone has put in so much thought and effort to make this digital transition a smooth one. 

Though I may not have appreciated in-person lectures until they were gone, I will appreciate these online ones. And I look forward to the day when I walk that spiral staircase in McCosh once again, and hear the sounds of students in those old lecture halls once more. 

When this semester started, I was full of uncertainty and no small degree of sadness. Every online class, Zoom meeting, and hour spent in my room reminded me of what I thought my junior year of Princeton would look like. As a Residential College Adviser (RCA) for a group of first-years, I had to put aside my plans for fun study breaks in my room and what interacting with my “zees” (advisees) would look like. It was hard to reconfigure my perception of Princeton, and difficult to overcome how devastated I felt about the state of the semester and the world.

While I don’t think I’ll feel truly settled again until we are all back on the campus I’ve come to call home, I’ve been finding a little happiness in this semester again. Despite being scattered across time zones and oceans, my friends and I have managed to persevere and have fun. In maintaining connections even through these challenging months, our bonds have grown even stronger. And Zoom, despite its imperfections, has made it easier to meet and become closer with more casual friends from when we were on campus.

I’ve also become more deeply aware of the limited time I have left on campus. More than ever, I’m striving to make the most of the opportunities I have around me. I joined a theater group, because what is college without at least one theater memory? I take time to practice basketball in my driveway every day, something I couldn’t always do on campus, so that the next time I play intramurals in Dillon Gym, we’ll win. And I’m trying to get my required classes done this semester, so I have time for that painting class when we’re back. 

This is a semester we all have to work through, but I’m hopeful that we’ll come out the better for it.  

This is now my fourth semester tutoring "MAT 104: Calculus II" at Princeton's McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning. Hearing this often comes as a shock to my friends given that I'm an English concetrator, but that's part of the reason I love Princeton: we are encouraged to pursue interests outside of our concentration. I took MAT 104 during my first semester, and I visited McGraw every other week or so for support on problem sets and exam studying. That's why, when I finished the class, I knew right away that I wanted to tutor for the course the following semester. 

McGraw is one of Princeton's many resources for support on campus, offering peer tutoring in math, chemistry, biology, physics and much more. Students can sign up for individual tutoring or just drop in for group sessions. Last semester, I worked individual tutoring shifts, where I had recurring appointments with several students. I always had a passion for math, specifically calculus, as well as teaching, so I looked forward to these sessions each week.

Image

The fall 2020 semester at Princeton is certainly different, to say the least, but I was incredibly impressed by how McGraw worked to shift their tutoring services to a virtual platform. This switch happened at the end of the spring last semester when we moved to virtual classes. Now having learned from their trial run in the late spring, McGraw made many changes so that virtual tutoring could feel as close to in-person tutoring as possible, utilizing Zoom breakout rooms, virtual white boards, virtual trainings for tutors and so much more. McGraw also recognized that schedules are constantly shifting during these unprecedented times, and students may need more support than they did in the past given that we are not on campus, so they now offer a lot more tutoring slots for students.

I am excited to tutor again this semester and work with students to support them through the course. It is the best feeling when a student comes back to me and tells me that they did well on an exam or that they feel more confident in class. I look forward to seeing how tutoring continues to help students virtually thrive at Princeton. 

One unique aspect of Princeton’s undergraduate curriculum is the certificate program. It is an opportunity for students to venture out of their primary field of study and take courses in a myriad of interdisciplinary subjects. Although the certificate program might sound confusing at first, you can think about it as similar to minors offered at other universities. 

Most certificates entail taking around four to five classes in the subject in addition to completing some type of independent work. From African American Studies to Sustainable Energy, there will be at least one certificate that will fit your interests and supplement your undergraduate education. While I recommend looking into certificate programs, do know that they are not compulsory. Nonetheless, many students benefit from them, myself included.

As a history concentrator, I discovered an interest in Latin America so the first certificate I enrolled in was Latin American Studies. To fulfill the certificate requirements, I have to take four classes on Latin America, demonstrate language proficiency in either Spanish or Portuguese, and write a senior thesis with a focus on the region. My second certificate is in Entrepreneurship, for which I am taking five classes and completing a practicum during my senior year. The entrepreneurship classes are incredibly enriching because of the guest lectures from famous alumni and leaders in the industry, in addition to the hands-on assignments. 

Image

The certificate program is flexible and allows you to tailor your undergraduate education at Princeton. I know of friends that have supplemented their STEM concentration with humanities-oriented certificates and vice-versa. In my case, the two certificates I am pursuing have immensely expanded my critical thinking skills and have also influenced my career aspirations. When choosing your primary field of study, be assured that you can still acquire knowledge in other fields through the certificate program! 

There are four places where you can consistently find me studying when we’re on campus. While it’s hard to do these amazing study spots justice, I’ll try my best!

#4: Café Night in Wucox

Wucox is the abbreviated name for Wu and Wilcox, the Butler and First dining halls. Every night, Wucox is open for studying and chatting with friends beginning at 9 p.m.. I think other dining halls do this as well, but Wucox has something special on Wednesday night: Café Night. In addition to the usual cereal, bread and fruit available during study hours, the dining hall also features coffee and pastries from Small World Coffee on Café Night. It’s a nice way to fuel up with yummy treats before finishing my assignments for the night.

#3: Murray-Dodge Cafe

Murray-Dodge Hall houses the Office of Religious Life, but hidden in the basement is another of my favorite study spots, the café. Murray-Dodge Café is a great place to study because you can get cookies for free! Students get paid to bake cookies — it’s one of the most highly coveted jobs on campus. One of my friends works there, so she tells me what cookies she’s making and I come when my favorites are served. You can also get milk or tea to accompany the cookies. The café has several tables where I often set up my laptop or notebooks to work while I eat. Sometimes, there are poetry readings or musical performances in the café as well.

#2: Firestone Library

While I love the previous two locations, sometimes I need some place quieter in order to really focus. Firestone Library is the main library on campus and definitely one of Princeton’s most beautiful buildings. The library has such a variety of study environments that everyone can find the right place for them. I often go to my favorite wooden carrel on the second floor because it’s secluded enough to remove distractions, but also has enough natural light and an outlet for when my laptop inevitably runs out of battery. Another great spot is the newly renovated Trustee Room, which you encounter right when you enter the building.

Image

#1: Chancellor Green Library

My absolute favorite place on campus is Chancellor Green Library, which is inside East Pyne Hall. This library isn’t a traditional library where you go to check books out; instead, it’s a beautiful, quiet study spot. The library has amazing leather chairs where you can often find me curled up with a book. The chairs are so comfortable that students often take naps in them! The library features stunning stained glass on the ceiling and windows. The upstairs portion has desks if you need more space.

Image

Image

These are my recommendations of where to study, but over time, you'll figure out your own favorite study spots! There’s truly a place for everyone.

Learning consultations, offered by the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning, are held with trained peer consultants to help you organize and plan your academic agenda. You can schedule and plan a semester, a day, a week, an assignment or even if you are just managing your workload for a class.. These consultations are completely tailored to your situation and what you need to accomplish. I’ve made it a habit to schedule consultations for “Reading Period,” the week before all final papers are due on “Dean’s Date.” Sometimes, I get a little anxious with a ton of reading to do and a little flustered with a lot of unscheduled time, so these consultations help me set up a general outline of what I'd like to achieve.

One semester, I was tasked with writing three dean’s date papers and a final exam.  It was an unfortunate scheduling situation, but I needed a plan to achieve working through all the reading materials necessary for the papers, as well as studying and preparing for my final. So, I scheduled a learning consultation. First, my consultant asked some basic questions to gauge my comfort with each assignment and how much time I needed to dedicate to them. We scheduled rest breaks and even food breaks. We scheduled a timeline for when to read and write for my essays and also an in-depth breakdown of when and how to study for my final simultaneously. Because I was the least comfortable with my final, we scheduled the most time for it!

I felt completely ready to attack my little chunks of daily tasks for my finals rather than the overwhelming idea of studying and preparing for everything all at once. The best part for me was after we scheduled everything, we went back and scheduled backup times! While this in-depth plan was so helpful during reading period, I’ve also had consultations where all I needed was a general direction for the month. I am very involved on campus, so this guidance is useful. One thing my consultant told me that really helped to uplift my spirits was, “This is only a guide. Go at your own pace; it is okay if you don’t achieve everything on your list for the day. You’re doing amazing and doing your best.”

When you arrive at Princeton, one of the first bits of information you will receive is a crazy statistic about the percentage of students who will change their concentration from what they had initially planned to study. I remember feeling relieved to know it was okay if I didn’t have a detailed academic plan all settled the first month of my first semester.

I came into Princeton with a diverse array of academic interests. I liked journalism, entrepreneurship, history, religion, politics and public policy. The only thing I had decided on for certain was that I was not interested in science or engineering. Still, as a first-year student, I felt the pressure to know what I was doing, to take classes in “productive” fields and to fill as many requirements as I could my first semester.

One of the most valuable pieces of advice I received that first semester was to take risks -- to take upper level courses with small class sizes and to sign up for classes in subjects I knew little about in departments I had never considered. I was initially dubious. Why would I want to put myself at a disadvantage versus more experienced juniors and seniors? Wouldn’t it make more sense just to take Econ 101?

Yet, as my first semester began to take shape, I saw that taking risks was the right choice. I loved my small seminars – one with six students, another with three. I loved the chance to connect with professors and engage with new topics. I gained new confidence in my ability to approach difficult material in creative ways. 

If I had not been pushed in this way academically, I would never have discovered my ultimate academic passion or been able to take the diversity of classes I have experienced at Princeton. It is for that reason that I chose to become a “Peer Academic Adviser” (PAA) for my residential college — First College. PAAs are upperclass students who are trained to provide academic advice to their peers. We work with specific “Zee” groups (short for “advisee”) within our assigned residential colleges and also serve as important sounding boards for the residential college community as a whole. 

As a PAA, I have the chance to advise first years and sophomores still in the early stages of their Princeton academic journeys. While their academic backgrounds and ultimate goals may differ from mine, and they almost always have different academic interests (I’m a Near Eastern Studies concentrator.), I still feel as if I can help them make informed choices. My experiences, positive and negative, can be leveraged to help students find their passion and take their own risks when setting out on their path.

I look forward to advising sessions during informal study breaks or in more focused settings. Whether it is advising first-years registering for courses for the first time or working with sophomores making final choices about a concentration, there is something very satisfying about acting as a sounding board and giving the kind of advice that has made my Princeton experience so meaningful.

Image

Like all Princeton students, I was devastated by the announcement that we would have to leave campus to finish the spring semester. So much of the magic of Princeton involves the engaging conversations in class, the accidental encounters with friends, and the beauty of the campus. Although the transition from an in-person class to Zoom has not been the easiest adjustment, it has made me even more grateful for my Princeton experience.

"Zoom University", as some people jokingly call it, hasn't been without its challenges, but I have been impressed by the ingenuity of some of my professors. In one lecture, we were regularly split into breakout rooms to discuss a proposed question, like we would in person, then representatives from each group would present to the class at large. Zoom made it easy for students in my history class to share their screen for their presentation during precept. The McGraw Center continues to help with my problem sets, and I can meet with professors and preceptors in virtual office hours. Last week I wanted to find a resource online through Firestone Library's collections, so I chatted virtually with a librarian. At the end of the day, I am still learning about the principles of microeconomics, the rise of the Civil Rights movement, and the dangers of climate change, just in a different format than I expected.

Various student groups have done a great job keeping the student community intact. The Office of Wintersession and Campus Engagement has offered regular virtual activities, such as discussion groups and virtual movie screenings. The Princeton Student Events Committee even hosted a fun trivia night. As an editor for The Daily Princetonian, I have continued to write and edit important news articles to keep the campus informed. 

Although I can’t be with my friends in person, I still talk to them pretty much every day. Over the course of the past few months we've planned a virtual meet up to officially declare our concentrations all at the same time. We even had a virtual formal, which was just an excuse for us to dress up and be together. Whether through a casual text or a scheduled FaceTime, I know my friends are always there for me.

In the end, the COVID-19 pandemic has made me even more thankful for the 1.75 years I’ve had on campus. When we do return to an in-person semester, I want to truly take advantage of all that Princeton offers us. This pandemic has reminded me to make sure that I don’t take my opportunity to learn and grow as a student and person for granted. 

Sophomore year has been one of personal and intellectual growth. With the help of the Office of Disability Services, I learned that I have generalized anxiety and it became a goal of mine, this year, to truly get to know myself.

Looking back to high school, my only goal was getting good grades, regardless of what mental strife I went through to get there. Through my time at Princeton, I learned that if you come to campus expecting perfection, you will be humbled very quickly. You’ll learn that grades are important but they aren’t the only thing of value here. At a school like Princeton, learning more about yourself and allowing yourself the space to do so is important, not only for your academic growth, but for  your mental health. 

Princeton is a rigorous academic institution, that’s a given, but something that is unique to the college experience is that by getting to know yourself on a personal level it can also contribute to greater academic success. In learning about yourself, you’ll discover your most effective study habits, what ways you best learn, are you a morning or night person, do you prefer to study in silence or with music, can you study in groups or do you need isolation, are you easily tired when reading large texts, etc.? You get to know which professors and students you work best with, which values you hold that are non-negotiable when working with others, how to approach large volumes of work, how to best study for different types of exams, when to rest and take a break, and whether you prefer to work in sections or work to completion.

At Princeton, you’ll also learn the importance of connecting with others and maintaining your own mental health. . It is necessary to go beyond just memorizing information in college; you will learn how to understand, analyze, and apply knowledge to contribute to a scholarly conversation or to progress thought as it relates to you and your unique perspective.  In your junior and senior year, the department you choose to concentrate in, the professors you work with, and the topics you want to research, relate heavily upon what YOU are interested in!

Ultimately, this year, I learned that in seeking academic success, it is important to get to know myself and put myself first. 

Image