Starting over your thesis less than three months before it is due is, needless to say, not ideal. And yet, that is exactly the situation I found myself in at the start of this semester.

In early September, I had set out to research the immigration policy preferences of Latinos born in the United States. I applied for funding from the Politics Department to carry out paid interviews in order to learn more about participants’ political views and immigration backgrounds. To make a very long story short, however, due to complications in the timeline of my interviews and limitations surrounding the sample size I was able to secure, by late January, it was clear I would have to scrap the nearly forty pages I had written to change my thesis topic—and change it fast.

The day that I realized this would be the case, I started frantically sending out emails to my thesis advisor and the relevant faculty members in the Politics Department. By the next morning, I was on the phone with my thesis advisor discussing possible next steps, setting up office hours with my professor who I view as a mentor, and chatting non-stop with my close friends about what I should do. A billion worries and ideas swirled around in my head non-stop for these first twenty-four hours until I finally accepted that changing my topic would be the best course of action. After what seemed like dozens of conversations with the people around me, I settled on expanding my junior paper topic.

From the moment my thesis advisor and I settled on this decision, I spent every single day in the basement of Firestone Library compiling the research I would need to bring a new thesis together. I started the now familiar process of compiling a literature review and the possible primary sources that I would be using. My advisor helped me establish a new timeline for myself with realistic internal deadlines, and the faculty in my department reassured me that I’d have their support.

During all of this turmoil, I was not alone. I spent every day receiving support from—and giving support to—my friends. Although we were all at different stages of our writing at this point, being in each other’s company gave us not only the morale, but the accountability to do what we needed to do. This meant scheduling breaks to go get coffee or takeout, and changing locations every time we got tired of the same four walls. It meant staying up until late at night, but getting to leave the building and walk back to our dorms together. By the end of spring break, I had four out of seven chapters written. By April 13, after two months that now feel like a blur, I submitted my completed senior thesis in the tower of Firestone while surrounded by some of my closest friends and my family on the phone.

For any prospective students reading this, I want you to know that the purpose of sharing my story is not to freak you out, or to scare you away from the possibility of having to write a senior thesis while at Princeton—starting over is not by any means the norm. But if you take one thing away from my experience, it’s that even if things go wrong, the key to surviving the senior thesis is an incredible support system—one that you are guaranteed to find here at Princeton. 

Every part of my thesis journey has proven this much. From having an advisor and a department that were immediately willing to communicate with me when I started considering changing my topic, to having other professors on campus to lean on for advice and support during the process, to having friends that never stopped believing in me, to having loved ones back home that were always willing to answer the phone when I felt like crying—despite the enormous obstacle that I faced, I made it through as a testament to the support system I had around me. In the end, I submitted a thesis that I am proud of given the time that I had, and I feel excited about the prospect of doing research again in the future. I know the thesis seems intimidating, but believe me when I say that you will always find people who want you to succeed—and you will.

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The school year is officially coming to an end. Reading Period is underway, finals are approaching, and most importantly, summer is right around the corner. Although classes and lots of activities seem to be winding down, I have found that opportunities for me to try something new definitely have not! Over the past several weeks, just from trying new things, I have gained a better appreciation particularly for trivia, my residential college, and the arts at Princeton. 

One Wednesday near the beginning of April, I tagged along with a friend to PSEC, or Princeton Student Events Committee, Trivia Night at Frist Campus Center, and let me just say, we did not leave empty-handed. Upon arriving, we spontaneously ran into a few other friends and created a team with them. Our team name was the definition of intimidating: Tra La La. As each round passed, we “Tra La Laud” our way to victory, finishing in 3rd place overall. Such meant that we not only earned bragging rights but also got to select from a range of prizes, from a heated blanket to a box of cupcakes to an edible arrangement — I got a dope beach towel! PSEC Trivia Night was honestly so much fun, but the fun did not stop there. 

Every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m., Rocky College holds its own Trivia Night — all students are always welcome, regardless of whether they are affiliated with Rocky — and since PSEC Trivia finished just as Rocky Trivia was about to start, we victoriously made our way toward the Holder arches to keep the trivia fun going. Now, I do have to confess: I am a proud Rockyite, but I had never actually gone to Trivia Night before. I had always wanted to go but just never gotten around to going. Thus, I was grateful for the chance to finally try out a long-held weekly tradition of my residential college with some good friends.

After the first round, though, I quickly learned that PSEC Trivia Night was child’s play compared to Rocky Trivia Night. At Rocky Trivia, if a team gets more than three questions of each ten-or-so-question round correct, then they are doing really well. Nonetheless, that is what trivia nights are all about: you and your friends can be completely clueless together and still have a great time. At the end of Rocky Trivia, Tra La La was far from 3rd place, but nothing will ever stop the Tra-La-La trivia spirit! Besides, the winners of that night’s Rocky Trivia did not get a beach towel or an edible arrangement; so, I think we are the real winners here ;). 

Nevertheless, I have not just become more appreciative of trivia and Rocky, but by attending various performing arts events, I have also gotten to celebrate the beauty of dance and music at Princeton. Before Princeton, I could probably count on one hand the number of dance shows I had been to, but over the past few weeks, as many campus dance groups have their annual or semester show in either March or April, I feel like I have danced the night away! I know many Princetonians who like to bust a move: my Residential College Adviser, or RCA, is the President of Más Flow (Latin dance), one of my closest friends is a part of the Black Arts Company (BAC, hip-hop), and a number of my Christian Union Nova peeps are members of Six14 (Christian/liturgical dance, contemporary to hip-hop). Throughout March and April, I went to performances for each of these groups, and they are all beyond talented — if you ever want to join a dance group, there are definitely plenty to choose from that will be glad to have you. Just like with dance shows, however, I could also count on one hand the number of musical performances I had seen before coming to Princeton. The other week, I went to the senior piano performance of my Peer Academic Adviser, or PAA, who is majoring in music. Saying that she is “good” is an extreme understatement. She has such a love for music, which radiated during her entire performance. I was simply blown away by all the events I went to, ultimately gaining a stronger appreciation for the performing arts in general, not just those at Princeton. 

Let this be an encouragement for you to try something new! Anything from trivia to performing arts to taking a class outside of your academic comfort zone to dabbling in a new hobby can be a great avenue for discovery, and honestly, some good fun — as long as whatever you are trying is legal, ethical, and wise… be smart, and make good choices ;)! Trying something new does not have to be scary, as taking risks is oftentimes what helps us grow the most. 

When I first heard that Princeton requires all A.B. students, or those who plan to earn a Bachelor of Arts, to obtain — at minimum — a 107/108-level proficiency in a foreign language, I just felt bummed out and a little frustrated. Up to that point, I had already taken three years of elementary Spanish and thought my foreign-language time had peacefully come to an end. Well… I was wrong. So, after taking Princeton’s Spanish placement test during my pre-frosh summer, I grudgingly signed up for Spanish 101 and sighed at the thought of the three long semesters ahead of me — side note: I actually placed into Spanish 102, but that was just because of my lucky guessing skills! ;) 

Spanish 101 was my very first class at Princeton. As I walked into that McCosh Hall classroom, I honestly felt like Dorothy experiencing the Land of Oz for the first time, not just because I was entering my first class on my first day of college, but mainly due to the daunting narrative I had created in my head: “This is Princeton-level Spanish; this is not rural high-school Spanish where you may spend a whole month or two trying to master a set of vocabulary or reviewing one verb tense.” Needless to say, I was hesitant of “Princeton Spanish,” having no earthly idea of what to expect and not really knowing if I wanted to find out.

Upon meeting and getting to know my professors and classmates, though, all my fears were thrown out the window. My Spanish 101 class consisted of two professors, with one in charge of teaching the first month of class and the other one leading from then on. Both of my professors were from Spain and did a phenomenal job at teaching us beginners the foundations of Spanish, like the alphabet, common verbs, and common cultural customs. They were well aware of our toddler-like level of comprehension and were always very encouraging of us, helping us to not only notice our mistakes but to also genuinely learn from them. Thus, as my classmates and I grew to embrace our imperfections, we simultaneously grew closer to one another. In Spanish 101, most conversations revolve around personal interests and day-to-day routines, so as classes went by, my classmates and I gained a stronger understanding and appreciation of both Spanish and each other. By the end of the semester, I had developed a real desire to know Spanish, not just seeing the language as a “requirement” but rather as a radiant world of growth, and I know that is largely thanks to the wonderful professors and classmates who continually challenged and supported me. 

Now, as freshman year comes to a close, so does my time in Spanish 102. Spanish 102 has been just as impactful and family-like as Spanish 101 and more! Because we are now no longer toddlers, our Spanish 102 classes are taught solely in Spanish. I can gladly say that my ability to both comprehend and speak Spanish have substantially improved through the immersive environment of Spanish 102. Every week, we take part in an “improvisational exercise” where each of us is assigned a role and has a one-on-one 10-minute conversation in Spanish with another classmate who has an opposing role — role A with role B. The role-A students do not know the situation of the role-B students — and vice versa — so there never fails to be lots of laughs! I always enjoy these exercises because they enable us to practice recently-covered vocabulary and grammar in a fun yet instructive manner. As a result, just like Spanish 101, I have so much love and gratitude for my Spanish 102 peeps! My outstanding professor is from Mexico, and my classmates are from diverse backgrounds and are involved in a range of activities across campus. I am beyond grateful for the progress and memories I have made through my Spanish 102 class. 

So, if you cannot tell, my perception of Spanish has changed drastically since arriving at Princeton. What I once saw as “three painful semesters,” I now see as “three transformative semesters.” I have enjoyed my Spanish classes so much that I am even considering studying abroad next year in a Spanish-speaking country or possibly minoring in Spanish! Who would have thought that a language requirement of all things would open up a whole new avenue of interest?

Learning a new language, as my professors say, is a “productive struggle.” I still have a great deal to learn, and regardless of where I end up in my Spanish journey, I will always be thankful that Princeton helped me reconsider an area of interest I was ready to leave behind. 

“I just got into Princeton,” a sentence I repeatedly uttered aloud in pure astonishment and bewilderment the night decisions were released — and those feelings still have not worn off! Opening my Princeton-acceptance letter will always be one of my most cherished memories, but I cannot gloss over the many uncertainties and ambivalent emotions that led up to and followed that letter. 

All throughout the second half of my senior year — and even while I put together my application — I had kind of convinced myself that there was no way I would get into a school like Princeton, often thinking, “Tens of thousands of amazing people apply every year. The acceptance rates are very low. Once in a blue moon does anyone from my high school go to an Ivy League school.” In spite of my doubts, though, there was always a slimmer of hope. I prayed about my college decisions, and I knew that wherever I ended up would be where the Lord called me to be, ultimately resting assured that I had done my best and He would do the rest. I applied to a few top schools just to see what would happen, and I had confidence that everything was going to work out according to His perfect plan. 

Well, after decision day and internalizing the fact that this whole Princeton thing was actually happening, my family and I signed up to attend Princeton Preview, which is a full day dedicated to introducing admitted students and their families to the beauty of Princeton. I remember the first time I set foot on Princeton’s campus was the evening before Preview. As my family and I walked through FitzRandolph Gate — NOT through the one big gate in the dead center! — and took in ol’ Nassau Hall, I looked to my parents and aunt, who spontaneously tagged along with us because she was off from work for a few days, and said, “I cannot believe I got into this school….” 

Overall, Preview was fun and really helped me envision what my life at Princeton would look like, but there was still one important question that needed answering before I could seal the deal on Princeton: How much is this school going to cost? About a week after Preview, my family and I received my financial-aid package from Princeton. Well, let me just say that when we saw the amount, we were so grateful that we could have probably done backflips off of each other. Words cannot express how generous Princeton is — do not let finances keep you from applying! In the following days, I officially committed to Princeton. 

Amid all the excitement surrounding my acceptance and enrollment into Princeton, though, there was just as much fear and nervousness. I was fearful of the unknown and nervous about what was to come and how people might engage with me, especially as a small-town Southerner going to an Ivy League school more than 10 hours from home and all the worries that entails. During this time, my faith definitely played a crucial role in dealing with all the thoughts, emotions, and decisions with which I was wrestling. The Lord never leaves us and is always there for us throughout the good, the bad, and all that is in-between. As Carrie Underwood would say, I just had to let Jesus take the wheel, realizing that He has a plan and a purpose for me attending Princeton. Although I was undoubtedly scared and completely clueless of what to expect, I knew I could find security in His everlasting peace and presence.

This blog is kind of a general summary of my “Princeton process” —  I will probably go more in depth on individual parts in future blogs — but I tell it to you in hopes that you may be able to relate to some of my experiences and can find some clarity despite all the chaos you may currently be facing. I said this in a previous blog and will say it again because it is so important to remember: everything is going to be okay. Your college decisions may or may not have turned out as you liked, but I hope you can find some solace in the fact that God has a plan and a purpose for your life — you just have to choose to give Him control and to trust Him. I know it is not easy, and disappointment definitely stings. Nonetheless, never forget that you are loved and will be able to overcome any obstacle that comes your way.

You may not share the same beliefs as me, but I would like to leave you with a Bible verse that has always brought and continues to bring me comfort and reassurance:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

• Jeremiah 29:11

   

Wishing you nothing but the best with your college decisions!

One of my favorite pastimes is going for a walk around campus. Regardless of whatever is going on, I have found that a stroll through campus is always nice, never failing to present me with an opportunity to notice features I never had before and to take some time to reflect. 

As I go on each walk, I get to appreciate all of my surroundings. Outside Henry Hall, which sits along Blair Walk, there is a stone engraving of George Washington crossing the Delaware — it may seem kind of random but is very cool and intricate! I discovered this engraving pretty early on in the school year, so anytime I made my Blair Walk trek to my Writing Seminar in New South last semester, I tried to remember to give Washington a shout-out :). You may have also noticed there are two tigers forming the frame of Washington’s Crossing, so I cannot forget to mention all the engraved tigers across campus. Certain entrance doors to McCosh Hall and 1879 Hall have engravings of tigers that are engaging in a variety of activities, from roaring and prowling around to sleeping, and there are 100+-year-old tigers that welcome those who walk under the archway of Campbell Hall. However, tigers continue to dominate their architectural presence apart from engravings, as there is also a tiger weathervane at the top of each corner of Holder Tower. These are only a few of many small details I have observed from my walks, but I will leave it to you to find other little hidden gems! 

The buildings of Princeton have not just challenged my observational skills but also enabled me to appreciate the different seasons I have had here so far. When my family and I first set foot on campus — around the time of Preview — one of the first parts we saw was the area of New South, which neighbors Whitman College and is, as mentioned earlier, where my Writing Seminar was. If you have not been near New South before, there is a circle of animal-head sculptures right outside of the building. This art piece is really impressive and fascinating, but it definitely caught me off guard when I first saw it. I remember thinking to myself, “Where am I? Why are there just random statues of animal heads on a college campus?” So, when I walk by this art piece now, I cannot help but think back to this funny yet skeptical first impression of Princeton’s campus I had. Additionally, as I pass by the buildings I had my fall-semester classes in, I often reflect on the emotions I felt at the time and some of the lessons each class taught me: somewhat anxiously walking into New South for Writing-Seminar conferences, learning Spanish vocabulary in a classroom of McCosh Hall, getting to know other freshmen and more about literature in my freshman seminar in Blair Arch, to name a few. I laugh at how frequently I find myself falling into nostalgic episodes as I go on my walks — I am only a freshman, so there is really no tellin’ how much nostalgia I will be feelin’ when I am a senior!

With final college decisions being released, I am sure many of you are going to be walking around different college campuses, trying to see which one feels most like home. Whether you are here for Preview or not, I know that the campus of whatever school you go to is going to be even more beautiful because you are a part of it. The buildings and surroundings we walk by on a college campus may strike our attention and leave impressions on us, but what truly makes a campus great is its people. So, as you tour different schools, try to appreciate their architectural surroundings, but also remember that the people are what make the places special — and that you will end up where you are meant to be!

To put it plainly, any type of midterm week can get hectic. I have experienced two midterm weeks at Princeton so far, and these two specific weeks have taught me some valuable lessons that apply to not just academics but life in general. 

Lesson #1: Time management is key. At Princeton, midterm week differs from finals week in that classes are still operating as usual. When finals week rolls around, classes are already done and over, and you have an entire week dedicated to preparing for your final assessments, which is called “Reading Period.” However, classes are in full-swing during midterm week, so you have to balance your regular day-to-day classwork with midterm preparation.​​ This balance can undoubtedly get tricky at times. One helpful hack I have learned, though, is to start midterm preparation early AND finish classwork early. Doing so not only gives you a head start on midterm studying but also provides more room in your schedule for you to focus directly on your midterms. Believe me, not having classwork looming over you is always a plus, especially during midterm week! So, starting early and finishing assignments early is very important!

Lesson #2: Surround yourself with supportive people, and be one of those supportive people. If your midterms are ever making you stressed, the good news is that everyone else around you is likely feeling the same way. Reach out to your friends if you feel overwhelmed, and likewise, encourage your friends. I have found that study sessions with friends are great refreshers, as surrounding yourself with friends who are also doing work is not just motivating but also gives way to some fun conversations and laughs! Midterm week can feel crazy, but surrounding yourself with friends and being a friend can always help keep you grounded and uplifted. 

Lesson #3: Take breaks, and know that everything is going to be okay. For me, I cannot do good work when I am tired. If I feel sleepy or just simply unmotivated, I know there is no point in me trying to complete something complicated because I will likely lose focus and have a harder time understanding whatever it is. Thus, I love taking a rejuvenating break! Whether I am taking a nap, going for a walk/jog around campus, or chatting with friends, I always enjoy a break that helps me “refuel” and stay motivated. Additionally, I have learned to not obsess over midterms or exams. Yes, it is important to prepare and to do your best, but at the end of the day, do not sacrifice your health or well-being for a good grade on an exam — you are a person before you are a student. It is much easier said than done, but as long as you put in your best work, that is all you can do. Just know that you are still amazing regardless of what a grade on an exam says. 

Although it can seem frantic, midterm week is a great way for you to see and to show off what you have learned so far in your classes. They are meant to be “check-ups” on how well you are understanding your class's content and growing as a learner. They are not meant to stress you out, but even if they do, always remember to manage your time well, surround yourself with good people, and rest assured that your best is enough. 

“I’m going to Silicon Valley!”

Back in November, I grabbed a yellow sticky note, wrote down these five words, and stuck it to my wall like they do in the movies. Flash forward, I somehow got myself a seat on Princeton’s Silicon Valley Tiger Trek, a 10-day trip to San Francisco, organized by the entrepreneurship department. Twenty students are chosen to have one-on-one, private interviews with 30 CEOs, founders, and head executives of tech and VC firms. My trip to Silicon Valley felt nothing short a movie script.

When we arrived in early January, the Bay Area was stunning. It’s a stark contrast from the cold, dark winters we see at Princeton. Palm trees and rich blue coasts welcomed us to the mecca of entrepreneurship—and we were there to meet the top players. While every person on the trip had something to teach us, they all had one thing in common: success. And what I took away from these different conversations was that the path to success is often more serendipitous and non-linear than one might expect.

Personally, I’ve never quite known what I wanted to do. I’ve always struggled to settle on a singular career path due to my disparate interests. As a junior, I've been feeling the pressure to apply to linear, corporate engineering roles, but these types of positions have always made me uneasy—worried that they won't leverage my diverse background. So venturing to California, I didn’t have a clear vision of what I wanted to do—and I was uncomfortable with that. 

However, I left California with a widened perspective. All the founders we met described unexpected paths to where they got to today. These conversations helped me realize that success is not always methodically planned, sometimes it’s a result of brilliant minds creatively exploring, at the right place, at the right time. Not only did the pressure to decide my career vanish, but Tiger Trek completely opened my mind to different paths like finance and venture capital; coming from a family of engineers and professors, I didn’t know much about the financial world until I became interested in entrepreneurship.  

I feel extremely privileged to have had this opportunity. I can now acknowledge that it might take me several years, or decades even, to find my dream job. And it might also take me some time to find what we conventionally call success. But until then, I’ll celebrate my small wins, including that yellow sticky note on my wall—that I'll keep for just that reason. 

When I was a Freshman, everything at Princeton was exciting. There were always activities to do, places to go, and events being held. But by the time Sophomore year rolled around, the novelty wore off and I found myself constantly escaping to New York City. 

Despite my love for the school, I quickly found that there wasn’t much to do in the immediate area. I would frequent the same three coffee shops, cycle through the same six study spots, and end up back where I started: bored. Three coffee shops expanded to four, and six study spots expanded to eight, but still, there was nothing new, exciting, or anything to look forward to for the weekend.

Spoiler alert: there still isn’t much to do, but in my attempt to combat boredom, I found some not-so-hidden gems that I try to take advantage of whenever I feel that inkling to flee. Here are some of those gems:

1. The Graduate Hotel: Nested next to Sakrid Coffee Roasters, the Graduate Hotel has been a relatively new study spot that I enjoy spending time at whenever I want to feel the quintessential - dare I say - Princeton experience. 
2. Belle Journée: Located across from the Graduate Hotel is a new bakery offering iconic twists on classic pastries. From cookie croissants to coffee buns, the bakery presents exciting options when I’m craving a classic study-break but don’t want to frequent my usual croissant and coffee suppliers.
3. Jazams: Though Jazams has been around for quite some time, I’ve recently found myself obsessed with board games. Every now and then, I’ll host a game night with friends, which not only is a nice reprieve from studying, but also is a relatively easy way to try new activities. We’ll have beverages, snacks, and occasionally play some music in the background and it’s always a fun time.
4. New College West’s ceramics studio: Though only open to students, the ceramics studio is a great way to pass some time. Despite lacking skill in pottery, trying to create new dishes and trinkets in the ceramics studio is a good way to teach myself how to be more creative. Plus, I get to leave with a keepsake. 
5. Hoagie Mail: Though not a place, Hoagie Mail is a gem that has helped me combat the depths of my boredom when I’ve exhausted all else. There are always sales of some kind and it is interesting to see what I can find on rare occasions. From printers to lamps, to sweaters to shoes, you’ll never know what people are selling, and it offers a nice opportunity to find something new. 

Though sometimes it may feel like there might not be much to do, there is always something happening – even if you have to dig for that gem. These are the few that I’ve managed to find, but if you have any others, please feel free to send me an email so I can add them to my list. (Seriously, please).

     Ever since I was admitted to Princeton, I have felt so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to attend such an amazing institution. When I first got in, I remember thinking: what will Princeton do for me? It has taken a while for me to realize this, but that train of thought was so wrong; I should have been thinking, what can I do for Princeton? The magic in Princeton is not the place, academics, or even resources, but the people who utilize these tools to move the world forward. Princeton isn't a place, it's a people. After all, a place cannot be “In the Nation's Service and the Service of Humanity,” only a people can be.

     I bring up this point to shed light on the importance of perspective in understanding the value in being a part of certain communities. At the end of the day, communities are defined by the people who make them up, not the place or anything else. Sure these other factors can influence the people and their way of life, but like I said, at the end of the day, the common denominator across communities is people. This distinction is important because it gives power to you - you can be the difference that you want to see in this world, regardless of what hand you're dealt.

     I’ve come to this realization after having the privilege of visiting my old high school and speaking with a few classes of students. I was in their shoes four years ago, so I knew exactly what they were thinking - ‘Hooray! We get to skip actual class today and listen to our classmate’s brother talk about college.’ While I knew this is what they were thinking, I hope that I was able to get through to some of them and provide some good advice about college. On a more subliminal level, I wanted to inspire them to take a simple message away: make the most of every situation. Many of them will go on to college, so I told them, 1. it doesn't matter where you go but what you do once you're there, and 2. if you don't try the answer will always be a no automatically. I believe this advice applies to anyone and everyone.

     The link between this realization and the broader understanding of Princeton being a people is that people (aka you) are in charge of moving the world forward. It took me a while to realize that an extractive mentality isn't the most productive; instead, to get the most out of a situation, you must give back to those who have helped you get there (including yourself). Change and opportunity do not begin when someone else gives them to you, they begin with you. For me, asking what I can do for Princeton has led me to helping deliver on the informal motto of being “In the Nation's Service and the Service of Humanity,” and I still have a long way to go since this is a lifelong journey. For you, ask not what the world can do for you, but what you can do for the world. 
 

Dinner is served every day at 6:30 pm. However, on special days like today—when we’re preparing Chipotle-inspired burrito bowls at Scully Co-Op—we post a quick update on Discord: “sorry, food at 7 pm”. People often monitor the daily cook shift channels to catch a sneak peek of what’s for dinner before it’s officially posted. Meanwhile, we rush to finish labeling the food as a line of hungry members forms in the dining room.

After studying abroad last spring, I discovered just how much I love cooking with friends and sharing a meal together. I cherished the familiarity and collaborative spirit of cooking with people in a kitchen. One of my close friends had been part of Scully Co-Op since junior year, and she kept encouraging me to join. I finally signed up this year and it has quickly become one of the best experiences of my time at Princeton. Every Monday, I cook with an amazing group of people and we all get to decide what to make. We’ve prepared a wide range of dishes—from Cajun pasta and chicken pesto to chicken parmesan and more!

As a co-op member, my weekly responsibilities include one cooking shift (about three hours) and one cleaning shift (one hour). Dinners are provided every day and we even have brunch on weekends. For other meals, we have complete access to a fully stocked pantry and fridge, plus the option to place orders for ingredients or foods we’d like to cook during our shifts or for our own meals. With around forty members, Scully Co-Op is the perfect place to meet new people.

Beyond the scheduled shifts, it’s also fun to simply have a place to bake or cook with friends. My friends and I constantly use the kitchen to whip up cookies or any kind of sweet treat. Sometimes we even meal prep together so we feel prepared for the week ahead. I love running into people at the co-op—whether it’s a quick late-night strawberry snack or catching someone digging into our bulk vanilla bean ice cream container. Often, I’ll even start chopping fruit like pineapple and these spontaneous moments just add to sharing a space together.

I also get to try a variety of different foods. Some of my favorite dishes that members have cooked include chicken teriyaki, shrimp tempura, lemon blueberry loaf, and cheesecake cookies! I love seeing everyone’s creative ideas and the joy of making food for others. While cooking for a large group can seem daunting, it’s incredibly rewarding. On my cook shift day, I’m extremely busy, but on other days I get to relax, eat, and chat with fellow members. I’m truly grateful to be part of such an amazing community during my time at Princeton, and I can’t wait to see what we’ll create next.