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 Christian Fellowship (PCF), Manna Christian Fellowship, 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 favorite places 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 Action orientation 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.

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 Dillon Gym 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 Firestone Library and Murray-Dodge Cafe, 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!

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.

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!

Image

​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.

Image

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.

Image

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.

Image

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.

Image

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.

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.

Image

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.

The most valuable aspect of Princeton is the community, because the people you meet and friendships you form are what truly make the college experience meaningful. In addition to my living and breathing friends, however, are several non-living ones located in various spots around campus. Here is a roundup of several of my favorite inanimate companions at Princeton.

1. Guyot Dinosaur

Image

This Allosaurus resides in Guyot Hall, home to the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department, the Geosciences department, and the High Meadows Environmental Institute. I have two classes in Guyot Hall this semester, so I get to wave hello to my largest friend on campus several times a week. He appears to perpetually be in a chipper mood.

2. Bronze Tigers

Image

The two bronze tigers standing in front of Nassau Hall are perhaps the most iconic Princeton statues, and nearly every student takes a photo with them at some point. They're decorated in the photo above for Orange and Black Day, the university's anniversary on October 22.

3. Car Lab Mannequin

Image

This mannequin is a constant presence in the car lab of the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department, where juniors in ECE take a lab course building and racing their own vehicles. I haven't taken the course, but the car lab is the first stop on my tour of the E-Quad, so the ECE man helps me graciously welcome campus visitors.

4. Dillon Gym Gargoyles

Image

Keeping watch over Dillon Gym are four gargoyles. I can't say with certainty what each one is, but I believe the one on the right (unpictured) is a football player, and the next one in might be a monkey. Don't quote me on these identifications. Dillon Gym is currently undergoing a renovation and expansion, but I'm almost certain they'll keep these loyal guardians in place.

While these inanimate friends are very dependable in that I always know where they'll be, I would have to say that my human Princeton friends are even more loyal and reliable. They are the real stars in my campus experience, but I still appreciate my daily sightings of my non-living companions.

As a break from my regularly-scheduled sad/nostalgic blog posts, I decided to write this month’s post about my favorite beverage, matcha, and where to get it on and around campus. I have tried matcha at most of the places around Princeton, with a staple being Coffee Club, where they also have seasonal variations of the beverage—the current (Spring 2024) variation is the mango matcha lemonade. So here are my favorite places to have matcha! 

• Junbi
  • Admittedly, Junbi is not my favorite place to get plain matcha, in part because I like sweeter drinks and Junbi’s matcha is not the sweetest. However, getting the strawberry matcha latte with boba is an unparalleled experience, where you can indulge in a light dose of strawberry, the sweet chewiness of tapioca pearls, and the freshness of Junbi’s matcha all at once. 
• Wawa
  • This might be an unconventional take, especially since Wawa and matcha does not seem to make that much sense. However, the vanilla matcha at wawa, while certainly with a bit of an artificial flavoring, is the perfect mix of sweetness with a hint of matcha flavor that makes it a perfect afternoon treat. I tried the matcha at Wawa on a complete whim, and honestly, I haven’t been able to stop going. 
• Sakrid
  • Truth be told, I have only had Sakrid matcha once. But the one time that I did, it was SO good. It had the lightness of Coffee Club, the sweetness of Wawa, and the freshness of Junbi, all in one. I would highly recommend it. 
• Coffee Club (our student-run on-campus coffee shops)
  • Coffee Club at both locations, while might not deliver the sweetest matcha you have ever had (sad news for someone with a large sweet tooth such as myself), gives you the flexibility to customize your own drinks (I love getting the strawberry and/or raspberry matcha, or if they have it, the honey matcha). Also, the matcha here is very consistent. I always know what I'm getting into when I am getting Coffee Club matcha, and it is also very light, which is perfect when I don’t want a particularly strong dose of matcha powder in my drink. (And the baristas are always so lovely to chat with!)
• Small World
  • If I am being honest, the oat-y flavor of Small World does not speak to me that much, and I think the matcha is a bit overpriced for what you are getting. I would honestly recommend the coffee at Small World over the matcha there. However, this is also a personal preference, and the matcha does not have the artificial taste that some of the alternatives on this list may have. 

Even if you asked me to, I would not be able to give a definitive ranking of all of the matcha spots around campus, in part because I seek them all out for different reasons. I hope you are able to look at my comments and make a decision for the matcha you want to have for the day!

If you’re anything like me, then you’re often finding yourself hungry between the wee hours of 9 PM and 2 AM (especially if you’re pulling the occasional all-nighter!). With all the dining halls on campus closing for dinner at 8 PM, I’ve become quite familiar with all the spots to grab a bite at unconventional hours. Here are my rankings of the best places to find food on campus when you need to satisfy that late night craving:

1) Wawa

I’m originally from northern New Jersey, so I was no stranger to Wawa coming to Princeton. But if you aren’t familiar, Wawa is a local convenience store chain—though, not your typical one. Apart from your standard drinks and snacks, they also have made-to-order hoagies, quesadillas, pizza, and a host of other sides and drinks. Located right in between our Dinky train station and Forbes College, the store offers a great option for both a quick bite or a full-blown meal. And it’s 24/7! That’s right, all day everyday. (P.S. One of my favorite things to get there are their Wawa donuts!) 

2) Studio ‘34

Studio ‘34 is one of campus’s hidden gems. The mini-convenience store is located in the basement of Butler College and operates at the following hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 9 PM-2 AM. It was closed down during my freshman year, but as soon as it opened back up when I was a sophomore, Studio ‘34 became one of my most frequented hang out spots. It was the perfect place on the weekends to refuel with friends after a late night out on the Street, or even for a snack-and-study session during the week at one of the common spaces nearby. Definitely a go-to place for both eating and socializing!

3) U-Store

The U-Store located at 36 University Place (right by beautiful Blair Arch!) is another great option for late night snacking. It’s half merch/dorm furnishings store, half grocery store, and totally awesome. They have all your basic grocery store items, as well as fresh produce and even packaged meals from local restaurants like Tiger Noodles (a great affordable option if you’re craving food from Nassau Street!). For students who opt to be Independent, or for any students who like to cook, this is an especially convenient spot to grab ingredients. My junior year dorm is only a few feet away from the U-Store, so I’ve definitely gained a newfound appreciation for it this year. 

4) C-Store

Finally, the C-Store is a must have if you’re in a grab-and-go situation. Its options aren’t as plentiful as the first three, but since it's located within Frist Campus Center—the hub of student life at Princeton—many people pass through it on a daily basis. I’ve often found myself snagging a bottle of Coca Cola or a bag of Welch’s Fruit Snacks while I’m at Frist to study. However, the C-Store does close at 9 PM on weekdays and 11 PM on weekends, so if you’re up super late, you’re better off heading to one of the other stores! 
    
Honorable Mention: Late Meal at Frist

As an avid Late Meal enthusiast, I have to give a shoutout to one of my favorite Princeton pastimes. Like the C-Store, Late Meal is located within Frist Campus Center. It’s essentially another little cafeteria, intended for students who aren’t able to eat meals at the normal hours or in the dining halls. And if you’re a freshman or sophomore, then you can automatically get food here for free up to $9.50 everyday! They have a ton of different stations: grill, pasta, pizza, salad, Asian cuisine. The only reason it didn’t make my top four rankings is its time restrictions. Late Lunch is offered Monday-Thursday from 11 AM-4 PM and Late Dinner is offered Monday-Friday from 8:30-10 PM. But when it is open, it’s a student-favorite spot to grab food and hang out! (Be warned, though, it can get super busy during peak hours. I recommend ordering ahead for the grill station using our new TigerDash website!)

There you have it! For all of my fellow snack enthusiasts and night owls, these are my go-to spots that I definitely recommend you check out next time you have that late night craving!

One of the biggest highlights of my Princeton experience has been meeting and collaborating with Evelyn Howe '25. We met my sophomore year on the Civic Leadership Council for the Pace Center for Civic Engagement. We quickly bonded over our love of the club's focus on using design thinking principles to create sustainable and responsible social impact projects in the local Princeton community. We focused on Health and Hunger & Homelessness projects.

We both have high energy levels and quickly asked each other to get lunch in Whitman dining hall. On just our second lunch, Evey told me about her idea of exploring impact-oriented career paths through a broader channel such as a podcast. She thought I would be the perfect co-host to build this project together from the ground up. Fast forward to today, together we have built and are celebrating two years of our work on The Impact Agenda podcast! Princeton has been instrumental in it all, from finding mentors, financial support, and most importantly access to the incredibly welcoming Princeton alumni network, many of whom have been our most fantastic guests.

Kicking off the initial planning in February 2022 wasn't easy. We were both brand new to the podcast space and had to learn how to do everything from crafting a unique podcast mission statement, learning how to define and find target guests, figuring out the best podcast recording and editing platforms, and so much more. We had to scrap our first few episodes and start fresh because we realized we needed to invest significantly more time in building relationships with our guests before the official recording to obtain the highest quality episodes.

We gained our footing with Season 2 and are thrilled to have just released Season 3 on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. We have built an incredible team containing two additional Princeton friends, Kendall Jeong '25 and Christina Wu '26, who spearhead our design and marketing efforts.

Evey and I agree that the best part of this project is learning how to build something new from scratch and engaging in conversation with the most innovative impact leaders globally across all disciplines. We're super grateful to the Princeton community for bringing us together, helping us develop our team, and creating the environment for our success. Evey and I have become lifelong friends - I was able to travel to Hong Kong for 10 days over winter break to enjoy Evey's hometown (and of course meet with potential podcast guests, such as a Hong Kong Olympic swimmer focused on mental health initiatives in HK). We can't wait to see where our podcast goes!