On a beautiful Friday afternoon, I walked over from class to Cutlets Sandwich Co. for a bite to eat. The interior was modern and cheerful, lit up by both the front window panes and the friendliness of the staff. The airiness of the storefront complemented the upbeat Spring breeze of New York City streets– a welcome respite from a week full of long assignments and lectures.
First step inside!
Bright interior!
After perusing the (impressively) extensive menu, I decided to order their #3 on a roll. The sandwich was made up of their signature chicken cutlets, fresh mozzarella, broccoli rabe, balsamic vinegar, and basil pesto. I was excited to try this option, as I am an avid fan of all things broccoli rabe and basil pesto related!
The sandwich did not disappoint– there was ample filling and each ingredient was able to stand out on its own while still working with each other. Often, I find that sandwiches can be overwhelmed by breadiness. This wasn’t an issue though; I didn’t have to remove any excess, so it was certainly well balanced! I appreciated that it was warm too– I’m not quite fond of cold mozzarella when I order a roll. The chicken retained its crispiness and wasn’t dry! It was seasoned well and paired nicely with the nutty taste of the pesto. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was! I immediately was sad to have finished it when I took my last bite.
A friend who had ordered the #14 (cutlets, mozzarella, tomato, basil, and pesto) told me that they give the food a 10/10 and would certainly be back! We relished our Brooklyn Best peach tea and peach tea lemonade, a subtly sweet and refreshing way to cap off the meal.
#3
#14 and drinks
Cutlets Sandwich Co. is only about 15 minutes away from The New School– and I’m super excited about this! I look forward to heading over again soon to try some of their other options. Their food was a great way to end the school week and kick off a nice Spring weekend! If you would like to try their sandwiches, use the coupon below for $6 off your first order with the code CLIPPER!
By: Ehani Schneiderman
Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
On a rainy Spring day, a friend and I visited a restaurant south of Washington Square Park. Okinii, located on Thompson Street, offers a variety of sushi and grilled foods. Upon entering, the staff greeted us and asked if we wanted to be seated at one of the hibachi grills. Since it had been a while since either of us had this, we agreed and were escorted to our seats.
Cozy interior!
Green tea!
Soup and salad!
Our waiter, a friendly and attentive man, asked us if we wanted anything to drink. We ordered some green tea; it came out hot, perfect for a cold and windy day, and was steeped so that the elegant nutty flavour came through. Our waiter always made sure our cups were topped off with fresh tea!
Pondering over the menu for a while, we decided to both get the shrimp and steak combo. All hibachi meals come with either white rice or fried rice and a soup or salad. I ordered the soup and white rice whereas my friend ordered the salad and fried rice. The miso soup had a nice mild flavour, the scallions and tofu complementing it. The salad was crisp and fresh with a sweet dressing. Both were great light options to start the meal off with!
Our chef, Steve!
Soon after we placed our order, Steve, our chef, came out. His energy and friendliness were contagious and had us grinning as he prepared our food! He started with the fried rice and then moved on to the vegetables, and then the steak and shrimp. The entire time, we chatted and joked and marvelled at the way he expertly handled the food preparation and flames. It was certainly a great mid-week pick-me-up and Steve definitely knows what he is doing!
Shrimp!
Fried rice!
Steve’s hibachi skills aren’t just for show– the food came out perfectly! Steak and shrimp can be chewy and tough if over or undercooked, but both were on the grill for the right amount of time. They were also seasoned so that the salty-sweet flavour of the sauce came through– but they didn’t overwhelm the natural flavour of the meat! The fried rice wasn’t greasy or overly oily and paired well with the vegetables. Everything balanced out nicely, and I ended up cleaning my plate and leaving with a full stomach!
Okinii was an incredibly fun stop! I will definitely head back– especially with a group of friends. The staff are great and the food is tasty and always hot. If you would like to visit Okinii, use the coupon below for 15% off either your first online order or your in-house visit with your student ID!
As a gay South Asian woman, this is a very important question to me. As a writer, this question is, in a way, a central focus of my life. Representation is vital; as someone who grew up with limited representation, I want to help facilitate a different future for the children growing up today. As we take each step into an unknown future, we should at least know that we are trying to positively change things for the next generation.
There have been various books that have touched me, but there are three that truly impacted me in my adult life. Ada Limon’s The Carrying, Danez Smith’s Don’t Call Us Dead, and Kabi Nagato’s My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness all shaped my early college years. When I read each of these books, there was a certain point that I would have to set it down because my tears would be overflowing. It is through the words etched onto off-white pages that I felt seen by someone. These writers didn’t know who I was but had nonetheless found a way to reach out and remind me that I exist– that I’m alive with my own stories to tell the world.
Cover of The Carrying by Ada Limon
I’ve spent a lot of time wondering what it was that was in those books that jolted my emotions so vividly. Was there something notable about the vocabulary? Was there particularly elegant use of punctuation or cadence? Was the imagery intensely vibrant?
While these books do indeed have something special to them (to be a writer who can weave words is a talent), I found the answer to my wonder elsewhere. These writers wrote unequivocally, unapologetically, as themselves. They wrote from their experiences, their lived emotions, feelings, and truths, without leaving a shadow of insincerity. Their works are raw; they touch on difficult topics and experiences. They recount the beautiful, the dirty, the painful, the joyous, and the hopeful. This hope is something personal; from the ways they were treated in the world, these creators write collections that plants seeds for the future.
I want to write as myself. I want to write for myself. I want to write for others… But I don’t want to write for others’ approval.
I want to be the kind of writer who can be unapologetically me in my work; I want to record the macabre, the mundane, and the hope that ebbs and flows through my life. It was bits and pieces of Limon’s, Smith’s, and Nagato’s work that stuck with me; none of their life stories align completely with mine, but there were moments that fit in with moments from my own life. We are all made up of a myriad of identities, memories, and experiences. Even if we are not all the same, there are reminders, pockets of glimmering light, that can remind us that we are not alone… That there are others out there that have been through similar things and have felt similar emotions. I hope that from the various puzzle pieces of my own life, my future readers may find some kind of solace. To achieve this though, I’ve learned that I have to be free enough to put myself into what I write. In doing so, writers create stories that capture the realities of existing in this ever-changing world.
By: Ehani Schneiderman
Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
I’ve written about how I’ve had my dream—my dream of being a writer—since I was a child. Words have always flowed through my mind, my veins, and my heart… They’re what I’ve chosen to dedicate my life to. When someone has allotted so much time and energy to something they love, one might believe that they have all the confidence in the world. In reality, this isn’t quite true. If anything, loving something with all your heart can create uncountable pockets of self-doubt. A bitter feeling creeps up through unseen cracks, planting little seeds that sprout before you even begin to notice them. I’ve spent a lot of time wondering if I’m good enough, talented enough, or worthy enough to wield a pen. When something is important to you, there is a kind of ever-present mounting pressure to do it right—to do it perfectly.
Boats I saw a few years back!
So, how does one deal with this? I can’t say I precisely have the answers, but my years in college have taught me a simple lesson: be kind to yourself. Looking back, I realise now that I wasn’t helping myself by being harsh on my own work. If anything, I held myself back; by feeding my own uncertainty, I kept myself from doing what I loved. I worried myself into a kind of lull, a complacency, that kept me stagnant. It was here that I lay in a pool of self-made dread. I was waiting every day for a sign to keep writing– a sign that I should keep writing. I wanted to—an ache in my bones made me feel like I needed to—but I kept this desire dormant because of my lack of confidence. It didn’t matter that I got positive feedback on my work. It didn’t matter that I was encouraged to keep going. I simply kept telling myself that it wasn’t true and that I needed to prove something more.
What I didn’t need was an external sign. I didn’t need to hear someone else’s validation. What I needed, simply, was kindness for myself. I needed to believe in my abilities and explore my writing freely. Discovering how to be gentle with yourself and your aspirations allows you to breathe. It allows you to be yourself.
It is easy to say things such as “just do it.” We can think that, but sometimes we just don’t feel it. That’s alright; even though I am still harsh on my work, I hold onto the kernel of love—of passion—that inspired me to start writing in the first place. I remember what drove me to dedicate myself to my craft and grasp it with all my strength. When I remember these roots, they become a shining light… A beacon of sorts. They guide me back to my childish wonder, back to a time when I didn’t worry about the judgement of others (or the judgement of myself). Instead, I remember being held by the hands of characters who were my friends and realise that I want to create stories for little girls that want to see themselves in the books they read. And suddenly, when I am snapped back into my adult body, I rest easier in my bones. I let out a sigh, pick up a pen, and try to scribble a little something just for myself. Not for the world—just me and my own passions.
It is here that I emphasise the importance of creating for yourself. As we grow older, our passions become subject to more and more eyes. This wears down on you, makes you self-conscious, and makes you wonder what your place in the world is. But in returning to yourself, to who you are to you, you can find solace and inspiration once again.
By: Ehani Schneiderman
Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
Along the bustling sidewalks of 6th Ave rests Goody Fresh Dim Sum, a small restaurant that serves… Well, dim sum! Upon walking in, I was met with images of the restaurant’s dishes and a bright-but-cosy aura. The staff were friendly and kind, immediately offering a nice change of pace from the brisk outdoors. It was a welcomed energy, as the conclusion of midterm season had left me craving warm vibes and tasty bites.
A respite in a busy city
Recommendations!
I hadn’t had dim sum in quite a few years; in my quickly paced New York City life, I simply let more and more time pass since my last venture into a cuisine I loved. I was excited to finally have some again – and Goody Fresh Dim Sum did not disappoint. It was difficult for us to narrow down what we wanted to try since there were plenty of mouth-watering options. After spending more than a few minutes wondering what to go for, our waiter offered some house recommendations.
Shrimp dumplings!
Siu mai!
I am no stranger to shrimp dumplings or siu mai… They’re two of my absolute favourite things to eat! Thus, I was very excited when these two dishes came out from the kitchen. The shrimp dumplings were pillowy, puffed up by generous amounts of shrimp. Dipping them in soy sauce gave them just the right amount of salt needed to create that complex flavour profile I love. The siu mai were seasoned just as I like them– a subtle amount of sweet to complement the savoury as you chew. When my dining partner took her first bite, she exclaimed, “These are where it’s at.” I would be hard-pressed to disagree! They just may have been the best siu mai I’ve had. What I love about these two foods is that there’s a kind of gentle mildness to them while still being packed full of flavour. They’re comforting foods to me – perhaps this is why I always go back for more!
Soup dumplings!
Up next were the soup dumplings. I have been eating soup dumplings since I was a child– they were a dish I would drag my parents out to get as often as I could. These dumplings brought me back to those childhood days. The soup inside warmed my wind-chilled fingers and the filling melted on my tongue. Sometimes soup dumplings fall apart as soon as you pick them up, but these certainly didn’t! They stayed intact, only giving way when I finally took a bite. This was great, as I got to fully enjoy the soup packed inside without spilling any. These dumplings were both a pleasant throw back and warm up.
Pork buns!
Mushroom dumplings!
Last but not least are two dishes I hadn’t had before. A joy of mine is partaking in new foods, and I was glad to not only try these, but also love them! The first was the BBQ pork bun. The bun was soft as a cloud, and the pork inside was smothered in a sauce that was to die for. I enjoyed how the chunks of meat contrasted the fluffy nature of the bun, leading to a nice texture that complemented the taste. The other dish was mushroom dumplings. I am a fan of dumpling, I am a fan of mushrooms, and now I am most certainly a fan of mushroom dumplings! The taste of the mushrooms came through in an almost smoky way, truly letting a great flavour profile shine.
I am very happy that Goody Fresh Dim Sum is only a few steps away from The New School, as I will certainly be returning to relax and eat after a long day of classes! I am excited to go back to not only experience flavours from my youth, but to try new things as well. If you would like to also go and try out their variety of options, use the coupon below for 15% off with your student ID.
By: Ehani Schneiderman
Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
In my last two posts, I have talked about some of my main passions– writing and anthropology. As I’ve continued my studies, I have often questioned why they matter to me so much. What do I wish to achieve by pursuing these topics? What do I hope for when I write? What do I hope for when I read? What influence do literature and anthropology have over my own desires, emotions, and dreams?
I have found that it boils down to one thing: connection. This word has come up in my writing quite a bit… And for good reason. As a writer who desires to represent both myself and those who are like me, connection is vital. When I read, a thread is woven between myself and the author. I hope that when I write, I can create such a thread for those who pick up my books
A variety of flowers from a trip to a botanical garden.
I have often been asked why I picked up anthropology and how it will benefit me as a fiction and poetry writer. While I don’t believe that you always have to tie together your interests (we are, afterall, multifaceted beings with limitless things to discover), I do have a response for these kinds of questions. A personal belief of mine is that in order to write good stories about people, we have to understand people. When we read books, we want to feel engrossed in what is happening. We want the characters to reach out to us from off the page. Even when characters aren’t humans, we still identify human traits in them. Therefore, I find it vital for writers to be able to understand what it means to exist as a human being.
My anthropological studies have helped me not only learn about others, but have taught me how to learn about others. While this area of study is steeped in academic practices, it also teaches us to listen to one another. I have gained a lot from both articles I’ve read and conversations I’ve had with my peers. In a field that prioritises talking with others, I’ve been able to open up my understanding of the world by sharing stories with the people around me. While we all do this outside of the context of anthropology, I’ve found my listening to be heightened now because I’ve been taught how to take in real breathing stories.
Being able to converse, being able to listen, and being able to understand are all vital in the art of connecting. My philosophies boils down to this at its core: in my desire to connect, I also have a desire to learn. We should all open ourselves up to finding out more about one another. When we do, we can begin to understand how we all fit in as puzzle pieces on this vast planet. We may all be individuals, but we create and function within the world we live in. We affect the environment. We affect one another. We all fit together in one way or another; thus, it is important that we take time to acknowledge all bodies that exist. In doing so, we learn how we connect with everyone we come across in our lives. It doesn’t matter if it’s for years or for seconds– we have countless connections with others that influence the ways we choose to live.
By: Ehani Schneiderman
Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
If you told me in high school that I would find a second passion in college, I would have probably been confused. While I knew that these years were supposed to be spent discovering what you wanted to do with your life, I had never paid the notion much mind. I always had a dream, one I clutched desperately, and never stopped to consider that the world held so many pockets of knowledge. I never thought that there may be more than what I had already held close to my heart.
In my first year of college, a dear friend of mine whose opinion I greatly respect recommended that I try an anthropology class. She thought that it might interest me and I, knowing that I had a core curriculum to fill out, decided to follow her advice. I enrolled in an introductory course on cultural anthropology and suddenly found myself thrown into the deep end of a newfound passion.
A photo from my trip to Japan in 2018.
I had always thought I knew what writing meant to me. Reflecting on this now though, I realise that the concept was muddy. Through taking an anthropology course, I not only learned something new about my interests, but I learned something new about my pre-existing passions as well. This single anthropology course invited me to look at how we write about culture, about people, and tossed me into a spiral of self-questioning. What was my goal with my stories? My poetry? What did it mean to me to read about others?
I want to write to unite people. I want to write to connect with people. Anthropology, being the study of human cultures, helped me discover how I want to write about my own cultures… And it is through anthropology that I discovered that I truly want to learn about others’ as well. I want to read ethnographies. I want to do fieldwork. I want to conduct interviews. I want to learn. I want to connect.
I think that growing up with a strong dream, while wonderful, put me in a one-track state of mind… That is, I became wound up in my “selfhood”. I thought I knew who I was and who I wanted to be. I didn’t stop to consider that the world is large– unlimited– and that my access to said world had opened up since the days I was in elementary school. And it was in this small boxed-off corner of the universe that I had begun to isolate myself from others– from my desire to reach out to others. I wanted to do it, but I didn’t realise that I was holding myself back from it.
I am incredibly grateful to my friend for not only suggesting the class to me but for understanding me and thinking of me. Looking back, I think my time in college may have been very different if I had not tried something new. The unexpected made me curious and in this curiosity, I found a geode of passion waiting to be cracked open. Since then, I’ve kept my pickaxe handy; even now, in my last semester, I am still learning new things about where I want to be in the world. I don’t think I’ll ever stop learning now that I’ve begun– just as there is a limitless amount of things we can discover about the world, there’s a limitless amount of things we can discover about ourselves! And these new discoveries will inform the old, illuminating the past we thought we knew so well.
By: Ehani Schneiderman
Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
I always strolled through the back alleys of school since I was in 6th grade, taking paths that were not hidden, but also were not sought after by other students. The only reason I knew about them is because I was always close to my teachers and developed friendly relationships with my classmates. This allowed me to hear first hand what was going on in my school.
The high school that I attended was Gramercy Arts, a small school occupying one floor of the Washington Irving Building in the lower east side of Manhattan. I entered this school because I did not get into any other high schools in the city. This was not because I did not have good grades. This is because the selection process for high school in New York is like a lottery. Everything is unnecessarily competitive as soon as you leave elementary school.
I have heard of blessings in disguise, but this one was more of a blessing buried under the concrete of a 100 year old, 14 story building. Adorned with carved wood and 20th century paintings in the lobby, this is where I learned how to dig. Most students thought it was a terrible school, and on the surface it may have seemed that way, with the metal detectors and the 6 high schools combined in the one building. I tried my best not to think about this and look at this experience for what it was… school.
Somehow my discomfort with social settings landed me in the library every day for lunch. I was not friends with the librarians though because they would always catch me sitting in the midst of the bookshelves either doing homework, reading, or on my phone. Some days I would find myself in the room designated for the YMCA on my campus, and this is where the digging began. It was small room that allowed for more intimate connections with students and gave me the space to talk about a range of topics and break out of my invisible shell.
All of this does not mean that you need to be like me and hangout in corners by yourself. This is just my experience to share with others. It is always important to know about the journey to understand the lessons. With that being said, let’s get into making connections that will be the foundations for your schooling experiences.
In my experience, I formed connections between people who I slowly began to relate to. The kids in the library told me about the YMCA room, which was open on select days. Track where your opportunities come from, how they come to you, who is the messenger, and which you choose to act on. We all have unique experiences, but the one thing that we can all relate to is the constant that occurs in all of our lives. It is like if you always end up stubbing the same toe throughout your life, or if people come to you and say the same things about how they perceive you based on a first impression. These are constants, and they will also apply to areas of your life that seem miraculous. Tracking your opportunities will allow you to find out more about yourself and the types of opportunities you and your unique existence attract.
By Miashe Barnes
My name is Miashe, and I go to Parsons School of Design, as a communications design major. I never thought art school would be my path, but alas here I am and loving it so far. I want to share some of my experience with others with faith that I can help some who may be a bit confused or hesitant on where to go. I am not going to show you the way, but I will just provide a helping hand to let you know that the trials of life do not need to be faced alone. Cosas de la vida mis amigos. With that being said, please tune in for some tips and tricks for assistance in using the tools you are given in school to explore.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
In New York, adventure is often right around the corner, and you never know where the simplest outings may take you. That’s why it’s never a bad idea to grab a friend and embark on a short trip—even just for coffee—as it may result in unexpected outcomes.
Over the summer, I moved into Barnard College for the first time, planning to take summer classes on campus. After meeting my suitemate for the first time, we soon made plans to grab a cup of coffee on a seemingly insignificant Wednesday morning. What was meant to be a short outing quickly turned into a few hours of bonding.
That morning, we arrived at a coffee shop, eager to caffeinate ourselves and start the day off on a perky foot. We grabbed a cup by campus and sat down outside the shop, intending to chat there for a bit while sipping our drinks. We spent not five minutes seated outside before we noticed a group of people dressed in 1950s garb, coming out of a trailer. We had previously heard murmurings that Amazon Prime’s Video’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was filming in Morningside Heights, and, putting two and two together, we realized that these extras of the show may lead us to the filming site. As avid fans of the show, we had no choice but to follow them through Morningside.
As we snuck behind them, keeping at a clear following distance, we eventually found ourselves in Riverside Park where there was an abundance of cameras and extras, with little children in 1950s play clothes. And, on a bench facing outwardly from the park, sat Mrs. Maisel herself.
Scenes from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
A few spectators sat on benches nearby, watching the filming occurring, not actually close enough to hear, but close enough to watch. Other bodies walked by the set when allowed, clearly unaffected by the filming happening. My friend and I could not relate—we were absolutely ecstatic.
We sat nearby, filming videos, chatting about our favorite scenes, and even making friends with a guard for the production. Even though I was born and raised in San Francisco, I had never experienced anything like this. The ability to simply go for a cup of coffee and run into the cast of an Emmy-award-winning TV show and watch them film, especially with a new friend, is almost unimaginable. Needless to say, my friend and I have never forgotten that day—it makes for a great story, and an irreconcilable bond between us.
Main takeaways:
Say yes! You never know where an outing may take you.
Be open to new experiences. Whether you end up pleasantly surprised, or in a less than desirable situation, there will be stories you can share and tell your friends at a party someday when conversation lulls. That’s what I tell myself, anyway!
Go out and explore new places with a friend—chances are your friendship will strengthen.
By Rania Borgani
Rania Borgani is a second-year student at Barnard College, majoring in the Economics Department with a focus on the political economy. She spends her time writing and editing for a campus news site. When she’s not working, you can find her reading, drinking copious amounts of coffee, or walking aimlessly around the city with friends.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
It’s strange to think about how much I longed for home during my first year of college, which ironically ended up being where I finished my junior and senior years. I was back home for spring break when it was announced that BU would be going remote. I subsequently made a quick day trip to Boston to pick up some essentials from my dorm and left the rest, assuming that I would be coming back to the city. I did eventually step foot in Boston, but it was for my graduation, approximately a year and a half later.
I have mentioned before that studying abroad in London made me want to really explore Boston and take advantage of being in a city, so I was definitely sad that my time in Massachusetts was cut short. However, I assumed that remote learning would be manageable because, as I’ve also previously stated, I’m more of an introvert and I believed that taking classes over Zoom would be no big deal.
Gradually, though, taking classes virtually began to wear me down and I started realizing all the small things that I missed from being on campus. I missed being able to talk with my classmates before and after class. I missed walking around Boston and Brookline. I missed going to various spots on campus to do my coursework. I missed not staring at a screen for hours on end.
The pandemic and remote learning gave me a new appreciation for all the interactions and activities that I took for granted while on campus. It also made me extremely grateful for all the opportunities and stuff I did before the world seemingly came to a halt.
Even though I was taking classes remotely, I did step outside of my comfort zone with the classes I took, particularly in my final semester. Before then, I had certainly taken courses that forced me to do so. For instance, I had classes that were small and discussion-based, meaning I had to actively participate and voice my opinions, which was challenging for me. I was constantly nervous about not saying something smart, like my classmates, or fumbling over my words. There were some professors who liked to randomly call on students to answer questions and that was even scarier because I was in fear of being called on and not knowing what to say.
The classes that I took in my final semester were different, though, in that the major projects were tasks I had never done before. One class required me to make a video and I needed to assist in writing a script, and maybe do some acting, for another class. I had never edited a video, written a script, or acted. When I saw the syllabi for both of these classes, part of me was tempted to drop out of both.
However, I decided to take the classes because my time at BU was ending, so I had to seize the chance to take courses that seemed interesting, or else regret not doing so. Also, making a video meant learning and refining a new skill, which would be a nice break from binging shows in my downtime (something I was admittedly doing a lot during the pandemic). And script writing would allow me to practice my creative writing abilities, since I did mostly analytical writing assignments in college. As for the acting, I could take comfort in the fact that I wouldn’t be doing it in-person.
I actually really liked taking those classes since they were unlike anything I had taken before. A lot of the people in my classes were amateurs in video editing and script-writing as well and the professors weren’t expecting us to be experts. Therefore, knowing that what I created didn’t have to be perfect, a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I was able to enjoy the classes more and try new things before graduating.
If you are looking to step outside your comfort zone, I absolutely recommend checking out classes outside the discipline you are studying in or courses that require you to try something new. It’ll help you expand your horizons, pick up additional skills and perhaps pique your interest in a subject you never considered before. There are deadlines to drop out of a class, so if you show up on the first day and decide it’s not your cup of tea, you aren’t forced to keep drinking it for the rest of the semester.
Now that I’ve graduated, I’m looking at multiple master’s programs. I had applied to one and was offered admission, but after deliberation and conversations with friends and family, I decided not to accept. Ultimately, I felt like the program I applied to wasn’t right for me. Now, without the stress of college, I’ve been able to research different programs and really think about what I want to do for graduate school. Of course, it is a bit frustrating not currently knowing exactly what direction my life is going in, yet I am glad to have this small break from school after all of the pressure I placed on myself to succeed academically in high school and college. Besides, I want to be certain that I pick a master’s program that I will be happy with instead of just rushing to finish my graduate studies.
Just to summarize:
Attempt to make the most of your time in college and take a minute to appreciate the little things that we take for granted.
Selecting an interesting class can be a good way to step out of your comfort zone, so don’t be afraid to search for courses outside your discipline.
It’s alright not to go straight into graduate school after finishing your undergraduate studies. It’s fine to take your time. Everyone’s paths through life are unique.
By: Monica Manzo
Monica Manzo recently completed her undergraduate studies at Boston University where she majored in English and minored in History. Currently, she is planning on applying for some masters programs in publishing. In her free time, she can be found either reading or adding to her pile of unread books.
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