December and January are arguably the busiest and yet most tranquil times on campus.

During reading period, there are no classes, so there are fewer people mulling about on campus. Some don’t even come back until Dean’s Date, the day when all classwork and essays are due. People go into hibernation during this time period and tuck themselves into cozy places on campus to start getting serious about studying.

My favorite study places include anywhere with lots of sunlight. The nook in the second floor of Frist Campus Center is always quiet and offers a beautiful view of the campus through a floor-to-ceiling window. The second or third floor of Firestone Library is also lovely because you can look out at the holiday festivities on Nassau Street.

My favorite place to study on campus during this time is the Chancellor Green Rotunda, a library tucked next to East Pyne, the building designated for languages and the humanities.

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Normally, the area around East Pyne and Chancellor Green is bustling with visitors and students and professors speaking in any language taught here. As a Comparative Literature major, it’s my favorite building. My friends joke sometimes that I live there.

The Chancellor Green Rotunda has a certain extra charm about it around reading period, though. It’s quiet. I can just settle my things into an empty carrel and spend hours thinking about Danish Dogme film and Thomas Mann.

Campus is typically a lively, exciting place. But December and January are months of contemplation and serenity where you can spend precious, uninterrupted hours delving into the things that you love.

After shopping for some classes my first-year fall, I decided to add “Chinese Politics” to my very standard engineering curriculum. Although physics, math, a writing seminar, Mandarin and Chinese politics can sound like an unusual combination, that first semester really started a trend for me.  Ever since then my semesters have been, for the most part, a similar combination of mechanical and aerospace engineering and East Asian studies classes. Although, two years ago, I would have not imagined myself following two academic interests so different from one another, I am now used to switching between writing an essay about Zheng He’s expeditions in the 15th century and doing my space flight problem set in the same evening.

I actually did not come into Princeton knowing that I would like to pursue a humanities certificate along with my engineering major. However, after sitting in on my first “Chinese Politics” lecture, with it explaining so much of my own experience in China during Bridge Year, I realized that it was important for me to also explore other personal interests in an academic setting. Since then I have not only taken language, history, comparative literature and politics courses in the East Asian Studies Department, but I have also been able to further explore my interest in China’s political reality by working as a research analyst with Prof. Truex in the Department of Politics. It is exciting for me to see how I quietly sat in on that first “Chinese Politics” class two years ago amazed at how little I knew, and how I now write scripts for a YouTube Channel to empower public discourse on Chinese politics as part of an initiative through the National Committee on U.S. - China relations. I still find myself lost often as I try to write scripts on whether China is still communist, or what the latest Party Congress can tell us about the future of the Chinese Communist Party. But I know that being lost, confused and outside of my comfort zone is part of the learning process that can make such different interests compatible. Now, I just need to convince my “China’s Frontiers” professor that space exploration has a lot to do with frontier expansion!

One of my favorite times of the year is when it is time to decide what to do with my summer months. I jump from website to website imagining myself all over the world pursuing different programs! I come from a different educational system where summers are not meant to be "productive," and I was used to relaxing by the beach for the past 18 summers. As a first year student, I was extremely excited to see all the places Princeton could take me during those three long summer months.

Unable to pick just one program to participate in among the many Princeton summer offerings, after my first year, I decided to attend two Princeton language programs. I was fortunate enough to spend a month in Munich learning German followed by two months in Beijing learning Mandarin. These programs are just two examples of the many intensive language programs the University offers in places all around the world such as Spain, Argentina, France, Japan, Russia, Brazil and Tanzania. They normally offer intermediate and advanced language classes while also including a variety of cultural activities so that we can better understand and explore the country. Many of them are also "total immersion" programs which means that during the duration of the program, the students can only speak the language they are learning. This, of course, can be really challenging but also a lot of fun! People develop different personality traits and senses of humor when speaking in a foreign language so it is a great way to meet new people or further develop existing friendships in a completely different context to Princeton’s campus.

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My experiences participating in both programs were great and also very different from one another. Princeton in Munich was just one month, and German is an easier language to learn in a more casual context. We had three hours of language class per day at the Goethe Institut in Munich and then spent a lot of time just exploring the city and other places in Bavaria. On the other hand, Princeton in Beijing is jokingly referred to as "Prison in Beijing" because there is a lot of work during the whole two months of the program’s duration. On top of the four hours of morning class, each student has a one-hour individual tutorial session in the afternoon, daily quizzes and weekly exams. While it is a lot of work, I found the program extremely rewarding because it helped me greatly improve my Mandarin in a short period of time while being in constant contact with awesome Chinese instructors. During the weekends we also had time to explore Beijing, which is a wonderful and incredibly historically rich city. It was great to have the opportunity to experience the country that we were learning about first-hand. If you are interested in learning a new language, these immersion programs might be a great option for the summer.

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Every drop of snow,

has a thousand winds behind.

In the spirit of holiday cheer and the snow falling outside my window, I thought that this microlyric was the most appropriate one for the occasion.

I never thought that I would take a poetry class at Princeton. As a prospective neuroscience concentrator, this class did not fall under my required courses. But I like writing poetry. I like using metaphors to decipher my thoughts. I like describing things in short, choppy phrases and long, run-on sentences. And I like doing so in my free time.

That’s where a liberal arts education comes in. I love how it encourages you to take classes that interest you but have nothing to do with your major. I found myself enrolling in “Creative Writing (Poetry)” my sophomore fall. It was a refreshing fifth class, an escape from the STEM classes that are required of my concentration. It also satisfied one of the two distribution requirements for Literature and the Arts.

The class met every Monday for three hours. The weekly assignments alternated between writing a free poem and a more structured poem. Before taking the course, I had only written in free verse. This class forced me to explore mimic poems, odes, quatrains, etc.

One of the most interesting assignments was titled “Lost in Translation,” where we received a poem in another language. We had to translate the poem without looking up the meanings of the words, relying on sounds, shapes and our imagination. The process was mentally exhilarating. Words that I would’ve never used came easily to me. Everyone’s end product was ridiculous, but we had a great time sharing our poems.

Another experimental aspect was that every week we workshopped the previous week’s assignments. We came to class with notes on everyone else’s poems and discussed parts that we really liked or found confusing. At first, it felt intimidating. I had always written poems only for myself, so I was hesitant to put my poems out there. But the workshops taught me a lot about my writing style and the way that I convey messages.

For our last class, the 15 of us submitted about three poems each, only one of which was written by that person. Our goal was to guess who wrote which poem. We had spent months scrutinizing each other's poems, but would we be able to recognize them? The final class was three hours of plot twists filled with false alarms and imitation.

There are so many classes and not enough time. For next semester, I’ve enrolled in “Introduction to Art Making.” This class spends two weeks each on music, theater, dance, creative writing and visual art. I’m really excited to see where this course will take me and can’t wait to share my experiences in the spring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

PAA – Peer Academic Adviser.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Woolworth Music Building

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

Lewis Center for the Arts Complex

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

Fall of junior year has come in full swing, and what a big swing it's been. Gone are the days of merely struggling to balance just classes and social interaction, as Princeton adds on to the workload with junior papers (JPs) and summer job recruiting season. As an Economics major, I was bombarded even as early as July about recruitment events taking place in the fall as well as internship opportunities for next summer! I had heard that these events started early, but wasn't aware of how early.

At this point, I've gotten through a month of classes and various internship-related events, and there are a few pieces of advice I'd like to impart onto you, dear reader:

1. Become very friendly with your calendar: In previous years, I never really relied on a calendar to help me plan out my tasks for the day or week. I would typically type them into my "Reminders" application or just write them down on a sticky note, but that certainly hasn't been enough this semester. Now I almost always put my series of meetings into my computer's calendar; it's been a life-saver. 
2. Prioritize your time: While this piece of advice may sound like I'm stressing time-management skills, I actually like to think I'm making a slight distinction between the two. When I say, "prioritize your time," I don't mean that you should plan out set times in your calendar (see above) to go to every event, because that simply isn't possible (believe me, I've tried). What I do mean is you should selectively choose which of these events is the most important to you, and attend those ones, as it'll save you from the stress of feeling like you can't do it all.
3. Do not take rejection personally: This piece of advice might arguably be the most important one. As Princeton students, whether it's intentional or not, we tend to be accustomed to receiving positive praise for anything we've worked on or strove for (that's how we made it here, no?), and that can lead to feeling "less-than" if things don't go our way. Remember, a rejection means nothing about you as a person, it just means that perhaps your qualities just weren't quite the right fit for that organization. The best thing I've done is to take rejection "on the chin"—to keep moving forward and to keep applying, thinking that the law of averages should eventually work in my favor. After all, you only need one of them to say "yes," right?