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The Value in It All: An Interview with Grace

Thursday, July 16th, 2026

A major part of growing older and becoming your own person is developing your own values and witnessing them transform over time. But while in college, one of the major challenges you may face is understanding what your guiding beliefs are and how to respond when they are challenged. No matter your background, once you find yourself separated from your home community—regardless of whether that’s by distance or by atmosphere—you’ll have to decide: According to which principles do you intend to live your life?

To help other “becoming” individuals reflect on how to determine which values are truly their own, I spoke with my friend Grace, a rising junior at California Baptist University who is as intrigued by discussions on belief as she is devoted to her own.

Grace and I grabbing coffee together in our hometown

She described the core principles that guide her life. The first she named “Optimism” and expanded, saying, “I like to think that I try to find the best in every situation and every person I come across…I think life is more enjoyable for you and for those around you when you choose to work through hardships with a little hope.”

She shared the verse 1 Corinthians 13:3-7, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Grace elaborated on how she aims to align her interpersonal approach with this verse, saying, “I don’t do any of these things perfectly, but I think it’s important to remember when we meet people… Seeing the best in people not only gives me a brighter outlook on life but can also help someone to know that someone else believes in them and wants them to be good… We should hope that tomorrow we can all be a little bit better than yesterday.”

Secondly, she mentioned minding this mantra: “Life is what you make of it.” She discovered its prevalence in her life through a comparison of her high school and college sophomore years. She explained, “My sophomore year of high school was very difficult… Coming into my sophomore year of college… Something about “sophomore” held a looming gloom about it.” But she remembered her mantra, and despite still experiencing a lot of difficulty, she realized that “the difference between high school and college was gaining the mindset that every experience holds something that we can benefit from.”

Sharing how her principles influence her perspective on the college experience, she illustrated the significance of paying attention to the people around you. She shared that “coming into college [she] kept to herself. Then, [she] met someone who just talked to everybody… And every time, without fail, that stranger walked away feeling so special, cared about, and heard… [She] saw how happy it made other people and how happy it made him.” So she adopted this particular interest in others and described it as “one of the best decisions [she] makes every day.” She learned to look beyond her academic focuses because “intentionally loving people doesn’t take away from [her] scholastics.”

To touch on areas that may be more difficult for students to navigate, I asked Grace to walk me through how she aligns her time with her beliefs. She explained that it’s about having a clear perspective of one’s values. For Grace, “her faith is first, so no matter what the day holds or how late it is, she makes sure it gets the time it deserves.” Then, she prioritizes spending time with other people and has found “having one-on-ones in coffee shops to be one of [her] favorite things to do ever.” Despite her fears that there may be awkwardness or that she may not even see the other person again, “[she] has never regretted it.”

As for standing by her convictions, Grace has come to “love putting [herself] in positions where [she] gets to listen to people [she] disagrees with.” She explained, “I’m very confident in what I believe, and so are other people, and I want to know why.” 

Of course, on the other hand, there’s the pressure to conform when it feels like you’re not on the same mental, emotional, or spiritual page as your peers. But Grace remembers that “when the courage for [her] convictions is from God, they are at their strongest.” She knows that “avoiding conforming isn’t easy, and [she] fails all the time…[but] something that gives [her] courage is that Jesus completely understands [her], always…[She] fails, and He picks [her] up and lets [her] try again and again.”

So regardless of your specific faith, spiritual, philosophical, or ideological bearing, if you’re looking to live more in tune with your convictions, take Grace’s advice. First, “decide what your values are” and determine their source. “Then, think: How can I put this into action? And do it.”

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By Lauren Gascon 

Lauren Gascon studies Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU and enjoys discussing people’s relationships with each other and themselves. When she’s not on campus, you can find her café hopping, browsing bookstores, or enjoying lunch in one of New York City’s many beautiful parks.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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College in Less Than Four Years: An Interview with Poe

Thursday, July 9th, 2026

For many of us heading into our first year of college, discovering that we have the opportunity to graduate in three years or less may be cause for celebration. It would mean less money spent, less time enduring classes, professors, or classmates we may not enjoy, and less time waiting for our turn to break out into our chosen career field. Then, for others of us, the decision is not so obvious, and deciding whether or not it’s worth it to stick out all four years of undergrad may become one of the first major dilemmas in our professional lives. You may find yourself wondering if entering the workforce early might mean cutting short your enjoyment of your young life. If time is “relative” and “of the essence,” how do you determine how to spend it best? Well, to help those uncertain university students with such an uncommon opportunity answer this question better, I sought the wisdom of my friend Poe, an economics student at NYU who will be graduating in his junior year of college.

Poe taking a break from his busy life as a student to enjoy a simple pleasure, lunch at IKEA

When I asked Poe about his motivation for finishing college in three years, he shared about a set of circumstances belonging to a small portion of the international student population. He explained that, “as a passport holder of Taiwan, [he has] to enroll in mandatory military service for one year…Serving in the military would push [him] back one year in college, meaning that while others spend the standard four years to enter the workforce, [he] would have to spend five.” As a result, Poe opted to “graduate one year early,” which would allow him to “fulfill [his] service obligation while also not lagging behind [his] peers.

However, while what he described as “fear of failure,” or even, the fear of falling behind, may have been his initial motivator, it is not what has ultimately allowed him to make it this far. When asked which of his qualities he believes helped to see himself through to his graduation year, he noted his perseverance.

Completing 128 credits in the span of three years is a considerably daunting task, especially when you’re still standing at the start of your freshman year. Poe’s approach to mapping out his semesters began with an empty Google spreadsheet, which he has been using to keep track of “all the courses [he] needs to take…[across] the three years [he’s been] in school.” For Poe, “planning it out visually [made] it less intimidating and more achievable.” He then proceeded to turn his academic planning into scholastic success by studying “at least three days early” and “always [listening] in class,” and through all of the time he spent balancing classes, studying, and working, he learned the skill of persistence. 

I asked Poe how he attempts to cope with burnout as a working student with a full course load, and he shared this bit of insight: ”You are your greatest enemy.” From his philosophy courses he came to understand that “while there are external factors that affect your mindset, how that factor ultimately affects you is up to your own interpretation.” In other words, when you face disappointments or find your plans to have been derailed, you can beat yourself up and stew in the letdown, “or you can think about it as a chance for improvement. It’s all about the mindset.”

In this same vein, Poe admitted that as an early-graduating student, “you definitely will have to make sacrifices.” These could be your social life, hobbies, or time alone to rest, but balancing everything is possible; “it just depends on how strong your mind is at disciplining yourself,” and he is no stranger to life testing the strength of his mind.

He described for me his most challenging semester—when he had received his first F on a midterm. Afterwards, “[he] felt like everything was lost and had no motivation to continue.” Then, he remembered to not be his own enemy, and he gave himself a break to indulge in activities he enjoyed—like visiting parks, hiking, and working out. Apparently, this also included watching Pixar’s Hoppers, from which he offered the quote, “It’s hard to be mad when you’re part of something big”—a reminder “that in the grand scheme of things, we are just one of trillions of creatures on earth, all just trying our best.”

He offers this unique piece of advice to students looking to earn their degree early: “Take one or two philosophy classes… It will change your perspective on life, society, and purpose… If you really listen in class and ask yourself the same questions the philosophers asked, you will gain a better understanding of yourself as a person and how to navigate the world.” And, clearly, the opportunities he took to look beyond his major focus bolstered his overall focus to earn his degree.

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By Lauren Gascon 

Lauren Gascon studies Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU and enjoys discussing people’s relationships with each other and themselves. When she’s not on campus, you can find her café hopping, browsing bookstores, or enjoying lunch in one of New York City’s many beautiful parks.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Making Decisions and Changing Your Mind: An Interview with Emerson

Thursday, June 18th, 2026

Being a new adult, you become very familiar with feeling pressured to lay out a foolproof plan for your future and execute it perfectly. Maybe your loved ones have tried to encourage you by stating that “it’s unfair to expect an eighteen-year-old to have their whole life figured out.” However, when placed in a collegiate space—where every student feels this weight, fronts that they have it all together, and, in turn, feeds the insecurities and uncertainties of their peers—it is easy to deceive yourself into believing that you are falling behind, incapable of achieving your goals, or trapped by the direction you have determined for yourself.

For the entirety of my first two years at NYU, I wrestled with these convictions. Thankfully, I wasn’t alone. During a debrief with two of my high school friends, one of them shared that while we were apart for the academic year, she was navigating her own period of change, self-doubt, and uncertainty. So while reflecting upon what may be the best course of action for a student interested in revising their four-year or postgraduation plan, I decided to ask Emerson for advice as someone who had undergone the revision process herself.

Moving into her freshman dorm, Emerson snapped a photo with her Baylor Line jersey

Now a junior at Baylor University majoring in accounting, she had originally intended to major in psychology and follow the pre-med track on her way to becoming a psychiatrist. The academic tasks demanded of her during her freshman year forced her to reflect upon her vision for life after graduation. She expanded upon her change of heart, sharing that “after the first year of college, I realized that science wasn’t something I loved, and it’s something that you have to love to be able to stick it out.” She remembered her interest in the business class she took that spring semester and, going into her sophomore year, decided to declare a business major.

Naturally, there was a hefty amount of wrestling with her own self-determination before shifting gears. She admits that she had likely sensed that she had no true desire to pursue a heavily science-oriented career by the end of her freshman fall semester. However, at the time, she was thinking, “This is what I told my parents, my friends…this is what everyone thinks that I’m going to do.” Though, despite her instinctual worry that they may be shocked or angry, it turned out that her loved ones were more than willing to encourage her new endeavor, and she explained that deep down she knew her parents would understand. Once she accepted that it was time to pursue a different path, Emerson’s friends, particularly her roommate, who was already part of the business program, and Baylor’s Major Exploration and Success and business advisors helped guide her transition.

Emerson still plans on extending her credentials beyond a bachelor’s degree. In fact, the program she is currently enrolled in will allow for her to graduate from Baylor in 2028 with a master’s degree. But beyond the security and stability that her career shift offers, it also equipped her with a new perspective on failure, success, and making decisions across life’s facets.

As a young adult, it can be easy to equate changing your mind with failure and to approach it with fear. However, looking back on her initial approach to change, Emerson learned to recognize that she didn’t fail. Rather, “what [she] had originally thought was going to be good for [her] actually [wasn’t],” and it’s okay for her to change her mind if it means finding a path that is better suited for her. 

Other than academic or professional decisions, Emerson has found herself navigating new terrain in her friendships and faith. To become better decision makers, she advises incoming freshmen to build steady support systems and develop a willingness to experiment with the unfamiliar—new relationships, interesting clubs, or different majors—even if this involves failing. Ultimately, as Emerson’s undergraduate journey thus far exemplifies, what is at first perceived as a failure may soon become an indication of better-aligned pathways, leading to a much more fruitful college experience.

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By Lauren Gascon 

Lauren Gascon studies Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU and enjoys discussing people’s relationships with each other and themselves. When she’s not on campus, you can find her café hopping, browsing bookstores, or enjoying lunch in one of New York City’s many beautiful parks.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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The Unassuming Reality of Grocery Runs

Friday, June 12th, 2026

Friday mornings are reserved for yoga classes with Monica. Somehow the night before always without doubt entails going to sleep with wet hair. In the morning, I groggily look into the mirror just to jump from the horror of my black streaks crimped in uneven bumps. As well as I tame it — it never ends up being remotely normal.

This is how I greet Monica and how she knows I, unlike her, am not a morning person at all. However, after repeated down-dogs and chaturangas, we partake in our most coveted task of the day: grocery shopping.

Equipped with two bags, we hurriedly rush to the bus stop until it finally arrives late as usual. It is then that we wait 20 stops from our dorm to the 96th street shopping area that we finally get off. Starting at Trader Joes, she watches as I pile on a bunch of random ingredients to make my two-weeks’ worth of dinners and lunches. This is how she learns I do not typically do breakfast. Sourdough, honey-flavored greek yogurt, and a carton of eggs are always in my basket; she points them out to me easily.

“The usual?”

She learns my preferences by watching my careful selection. I show her my ingredients for my ‘world famous’ sandwiches while she takes on her own basket. If there’s one thing that our grocery runs have taught me, it’s that Monica is always stocked up on fruit, yet it is also the item that she typically finishes before all her other produce. Her favorite being Pomelos.

After Trader Joes, Monica is not finished as the second round is yet to begin. Whole Foods is our next stop where she gets all her meats and more fruit. Beef, squid tubes, and much more — she is not shy about her diet because there is not a single thing she despises and does not eat. Only when the cashier hands her the receipt can I feel accomplished, three bags of groceries later.

Three bags full of groceries after a successful run with Monica!

Each week, we continue this routine. I always scan the fridge for my own section to see what I have left only to find her side empty. When I ask her about it on Thursday evening, she smiles and simply asks, “Can we go grocery shopping again?” Unbeknown to most, within this supposedly boring task is a secret: the intimate nature of grocery shopping. Learning each others’ preferences enables a deeper understanding of a person — a possible conversation starter.

“Why don’t you like tomatoes?”

“Too citrusy and I HATE the texture.”

Not to mention, bonding over your differing or similar diets forms a more intimate connection stemming from our positions with certain foods. Choices in grocery shopping alerts us to what others enjoy, stories about such food, and vice-versa. When Monica and I go grocery shopping, I get to see exactly what she decides to fuel her body with and I begin to associate her likes and dislikes with our friendship. Her dislikes become at the forefront when we choose to make suggestions for recipes or restaurants or even ingredients to one another.

Every Friday, we set time aside to go grab produce together and it is a key reason that we are so understanding of one another. I get to connect with her by spending time picking out blue berries or strawberries while also learning what cuisines exist for her. Her choices all reflect what type of person she is and her experiences. Like when Monica picks meat, she prefers to fuel her body with the most nutritious and fresh items; getting meat only from Whole Foods and never prepackaged.

With each Friday, I get to know this and learn so much more about her. From what ingredients exist in her hometown to the quality difference in the United States, our shared time has let us get to know one another through discussing and choosing food for the week.

Although mundane, grocery shopping carries the power to make connections with others and learn constantly by reflecting others’ livelihoods. It is a unique college practice that I invite others to do. Form a routine with friends and take grocery shopping as a sidequest worthy of getting to know them better.

Grocery shopping can be bonding.

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By Alyssa Hong

Alyssa Hong is a rising Junior at Barnard College, studying Political Science with a minor in English. As a first-generation, low-income student, she writes about moving across the country for college and its adjustments. She utilizes entertainment, wellness/health/food, and fashion/beauty as methods to making new connections with others whilst always learning.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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The Role Models in Your Life: On Looking to Friends for Inspiration

Wednesday, June 10th, 2026

While taking your first steps into adulthood, you may find yourself at odds with the already-adults in your life. Perhaps you are reading distrust while they eagerly offer you a fistful of advice and give warnings about the responsibilities that come with expanding your freedom. It may be, in fact, that while you feel like you are ready for the large shift in your independence, your loved ones are experiencing an urgency to protect you from adult-sized mistakes and life-altering consequences. Unfortunately, once you reach this in-between stage in life, you may no longer be receptive to their insight. In fact, it may not be until long after you leave home that you realize the benefit in having let them impart their wisdom to you. When you do find yourself in this state of uncertainty, the world will present a variety of guides for leading you through your adult life, but I have found some of the most valuable consultants to be my friends and peers.

My friends, Emerson and Grace, who have been inspiring me for 10 years

Take a moment to picture the faces of individuals in your life who you can relate to and yet still be largely influenced, challenged, or inspired by. Think about all that you have already gained from them: mannerisms, habits, mindsets, and the like. Then, think about all that you admire—or even envy—about them. Maybe you are recalling their capacity for being highly productive, adaptable, optimistic, or involved. Perhaps your thoughts are now shifting to reflect upon all of their strengths that you lack. However, chances are, they have experienced or are experiencing the exact same feelings of anxiety or inadequacy as you.

When asked questions similar to “Who inspires you most?” the common instinct is to reference a family member—particularly parents—mentors, teachers, or public and historical figures. Surely, the number isn’t zero when tallying up the individuals who point to one of their friends as their source of inspiration. Still, I have to wonder—if most people tend to think first of such personal relationships as those formed in the family—why do the reputations of those they spend the majority of their formative and adult years surrounded by (namely, their friends and peers) fall to the wayside before their recollections of major icons? Perhaps we overlook their resilience because we witness them fail and face adversity in real-time. It may be that we confuse role models for complete and fully matured individuals rather than people who have navigated or are continuing to navigate pitfalls, detours, and setbacks of their own.

So here, I encourage you to have thorough, inquisitive conversations with your friends about their own difficulties with and approaches to “adulting.” Allow for them to be perceived as the highly admirable figures that they most likely are; you did choose them for friends for a reason. Even if you simply take the time to observe and appreciate the methods for success utilized by one of your peers, you can still find a means for applying them to your own life.

As the saying goes, “You are who you surround yourself with,” and it is not only a very famous quote but also a very truthful one. It can be recited as a warning or act as an invitation for reflection, and perhaps, for you, it has been both. I know it has been for me. But as much weight as it holds in its meditative ambiguity, this phrase is also a pure statement of fact because you actually can become more like who you surround yourself with.

So if you are ever feeling a little lost, stuck, or listless in your young life—and other guides, spaces to vent, or sources for instilling a sense of purpose seem to be misunderstanding you or not quite fit your circumstances—look to your friends, who may just be the most helpful, empathetic, and supportive role models of all.

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By Lauren Gascon 

Lauren Gascon studies Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU and enjoys discussing people’s relationships with each other and themselves. When she’s not on campus, you can find her café hopping, browsing bookstores, or enjoying lunch in one of New York City’s many beautiful parks.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Resisting Homesickness in Dining Halls

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026

In a flash, everything I had ever known became what I left behind. Here I was standing in front of Barnard gates, waving goodbye to my last family members during orientation week. Watching so intently, my arms shook and eyes never left the uber that took my aunt and uncle to the airport. 

My feet shuffled through the courtyard as I scanned my newly-instated ID. Slowly dragging myself back to my dorm, time moved frame by frame. Eventually, I made my way to the corridor which held the only water fountain in the entire building. My legs staggered on their own as I paced through the dimly lit path towards the fountain. The bare white walls encased my body — my chest began to do a dance, an unbearable pounding. 

There at the water fountain was a girl, Diana, from my floor filling her Brita to the brim. We met earlier when our families helped us unpack our things and moved in. She too was Vietnamese; that was how we found connection. She turned towards me and smiled. 

“What are you doing here?” she inquired. Her hand lay on her hip as her smile transformed into a mischievous smirk. 

Flooding my eyes, my smile back to her broke into violent sobs. In an instant, I realized what I had lost — everything I had left behind. 

Diana threw herself over me; her arms wrapped around my mind tightly. She laid her head on my shoulder, and gently patted my worries away. After collecting myself, I slowly peeled away from her embrace. 

“Thank you.” 

No doubt I became miserably homesick. I was barely through my first week away from home, yet I had nobody to rely on for the simple pleasure of company. Without anyone to understand me, there I was in a foreign room holding all my things and regretting everything. However, as the sun set, there was a knock on my door. 

“Let’s grab dinner. Which dining hall do you want to eat at?” It was Diana again. 

Baked artichoke pasta with grilled chicken accompanied by hot tea and banana bread for dessert at Alyssa’s favorite dining hall.

Pulling me out of my encased misery, we headed to the nearest dining hall for dinner. Back and forth, Diana and I took our turns grabbing cutlery and then drinks. My stomach began to swell with the realization that enjoying family dinners was something I could no longer do until the next time I went home. 

“Are you feeling better?” She broke my spiral.

“Yeah, I just think I really miss my family. Do you feel like this too?” 

“Not really but if you ever want to grab dinner again, just call me or text me, especially when you’re feeling down.” 

I never imagined how many times I’d ask to go to the dining halls to escape my suffering. Diana, Monica, and others — dining hall dinners, breakfast, and lunch became my new normal. We bonded over meals and our time became sacred. 

Surf and Turf day with friends on the lawns provided by a dining hall!

Asking about majors and classes began a routine that enabled my exposure to so many people who might too feel the way I do. In an instant, a conversation about dinner at a dining hall turns into an intimate ritual of connecting with others by learning about their experiences. Not only can this dinner excuse connect you to a web of others, it can enlighten one’s perspective. Many international students, FLI students, etc. hold unique experiences that, when shared, can build empathy and understanding of other cultures when one takes the time to really listen. Thus, these discussions over dining hall food inspires connection and learning by exposing oneself to a variety of perspectives. 

This transformation did not erase my homesickness, but it eased it. Some of my best friends were people I got to know in dining halls. As simple as it sounds, one of the best ways to overcome this lonesome feeling is to fill it with company — a key tactic that I implore anyone to use. 

Sometimes when home is all we can remanence about, food can connect us back to our culture. For me, when homesickness calls, I need something only Vietnamese food can fix. Use this coupon to get a discount on any Viet dish to bring comfort back through your stomach!

By Alyssa Hong

Alyssa Hong is a rising Junior at Barnard College, studying Political Science with a minor in English. As a first-generation, low-income student, she writes about moving across the country for college and its adjustments. She utilizes entertainment, wellness/health/food, and fashion/beauty as methods to making new connections with others whilst always learning.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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The Actual Positives of Commuting

Monday, September 8th, 2025
A picture of my dog because getting to live with your childhood pets is the best perk about commuting.

Saving money is the only positive to commuting that you need, at least that is probably what your parents will argue. But when you are taking out loans to cover your tuition, all money begins to feel fake. Saving thousands, but still paying thousands begins to feel like it’s not worth it. In the long run it is, but while you are still in college it is helpful to look at the current positives. 

Living at home

There are lots of particular benefits you get when you live at home. Some of them are noticeable, others you may take for granted. Whenever I get stressed about commuting I like to remind myself of some of the perks.

Here is a run down of some basic benefits of living at home while in college: 

  • Home cooked meals.
  • Snacks (not just a random assortment of dining hall food that you have collected).
  • A kitchen that isn’t communal with strangers. 
  • No housing restrictions. (Also known as have as many candles as you want.)
  • A full size fridge.
  • Your own bed. (No shade to the twin xl, some of the best naps I have taken were on a twin XL. However there is a whole different type of comfort that your own bed provides.)
  • Your own space.
  • You get to live with your childhood pets.
  • Strangers won’t be able to touch your laundry.
  • You also will not have to wait for a washer to be free because all ten are being used by other students. 
  • No fire alarms going off early in the morning because someone decided to burn mac and cheese.
  • No crowded elevators.

There are of course an abundance more, some are niche and personal, others universal. Sometimes you need to rationalize, even if it seems counter-intuitive. 

Saving money means you can spend a little more on yourself–right? 

Saving money means surely you can spend a little more on yourself. Take this with a grain of salt, while living at home you want to be financially responsible. Save money while you can, of course. If you do think about it you are saving thousands, so if buying that cute tote you have wanted or getting your nails done makes you happy, why not? 

Perhaps it is bad advice, but commuting is hard. I have discovered that when I feel put together and have little things like cute nails, which I couldn’t afford on campus, it allows me to feel the positives of commuting instantly. 

Get into that routine

When you are in college, you get into a routine. This is true whether you live on campus or not. The best thing about commuting is there is less disruption to your routine.

You don’t have to worry about packing your life back up again and again. You have everything in one spot whether it is during the semester or winter break. You can go to the same gym, the same coffee shop, the same library throughout the year. There is value in consistency and familiarity. It is comfortable. 

That being said you can get out of your comfort zone if you so choose. Even though it may not feel like it, being in your childhood home and all, there are places nearby that you may have never experienced. If you have access to a car you have the ability to go where you want when you want. Having a car and being at home doesn’t mean you have to go to the same few places you have been going to for years. 

One thing I’ve learned is you can travel and see areas that have been next door to you your whole life. Explore the trails near you and take little road trips to places close by. It is even more fun bringing your college friends from campus to see your town and state with you. Taking the time to experience your home town before you become a visitor in it, is rewarding and can be sentimentally fun. 

Commuting is hard work, but if you romanticize it enough and prioritize yourself, it can still be a well rounded college experience. 

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By Isabel DeSisto

Isabel DeSisto is a senior majoring in Writing, Literature, and Publishing at Emerson College. She is an avid traveler and is always looking to go on a trip. While adventurous, there is nothing she enjoys more than hanging out with her dogs and reading a book.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus. 

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Chapter 7: Facing My Fears

Thursday, July 24th, 2025

Driving always felt terrifying to me. It wasn’t just about the mechanics of it. It was the idea of being in control, or of being responsible for something that could go wrong so fast. That fear kept me from getting my permit, even though my parents had been pushing me to do it ever since college decisions came out.

To be honest, I had planned to take the permit test last summer before college started. But every time I thought about it, anxiety took over. Instead of admitting that, I snapped back at my parents with, “I’ll get it when I need to.“ Deep down, I knew I was just scared.

But this summer was different. I entered this summer with the thought of being a different version of myself. Part of it was because I was fed up with myself. I was fed up with the constant failures I have been witnessing. 

In college, I’m always the one catching up. The one figuring things out while others seem to be fine. And at home, I could feel the weight my parents were carrying—stress from work, bills, responsibilities piling up. They never said the words, but I sensed it through their words. And on top of it all, they were worried about me. Not out of disappointment, but concern. They saw me struggling in college, academically, socially, and emotionally, and they didn’t know how to help. And I didn’t know how to fix all this. 

This summer, I had made all these plans: To run every day. To eat healthy. To get a job. To become that version of myself I’ve always pictured—strong, disciplined, confident. But one by one, I failed to follow through. I let myself down. Again and again.

So I decided that I needed to take one step. Just one. And that step was getting my permit. I wanted to push myself out there and get that license. I know it’s just a test, but to me, it was like finding a different kind of confidence. I took my first driving lesson on June 18th. I remember sitting in the car, gripping the steering wheel like it was about to run away from me.

Fast forward to lesson ten—my hands don’t shake anymore. My turns are smoother. I don’t have to overthink where to look or when to signal. In parallel parking and U-turns, I don’t hold my breath anymore. 

The night before the test, I couldn’t sleep. I kept imagining every possible way I could mess up. At the testing site, my hands felt cold, my stomach twisted into knots. I kept telling myself to stay calm, but inside, fear was bubbling up. My instructor kept saying, “It’s okay if you don’t pass the first time; most people don’t.” And he is right. But I didn’t have it in me to fail. Not this test. 

This wasn’t just about getting a license. It was about proving to myself that I could face my fears, that I could do something hard and come out on the other side. 

Guess what? I passed. Yes, on my first try. 

But I know this isn’t a magic fix for everything. It won’t suddenly solve all my problems or answer every question I have about college, my future, or who I want to be. What it did do, though, was to give me confidence. Remind me that progress doesn’t have to be perfect or immediate. Sometimes, it’s just about showing up, trying anyway, and trusting in yourself. 

That’s the lesson I’m holding onto from this summer is the courage to start, even when I am scared.

Driving always felt terrifying to me. It wasn’t just about the mechanics of it. It was the idea of being in control, or of being responsible for something that could go wrong so fast. That fear kept me from getting my permit, even though my parents had been pushing me to do it ever since college decisions came out.

To be honest, I had planned to take the permit test last summer before college started. But every time I thought about it, anxiety took over. Instead of admitting that, I snapped back at my parents with, “I’ll get it when I need to.“ Deep down, I knew I was just scared.

But this summer was different. I entered this summer with the thought of being a different version of myself. Part of it was because I was fed up with myself. I was fed up with the constant failures I have been witnessing. 

In college, I’m always the one catching up. The one figuring things out while others seem to be fine. And at home, I could feel the weight my parents were carrying—stress from work, bills, responsibilities piling up. They never said the words, but I sensed it through their words. And on top of it all, they were worried about me. Not out of disappointment, but concern. They saw me struggling in college, academically, socially, and emotionally, and they didn’t know how to help. And I didn’t know how to fix all this. 

This summer, I had made all these plans: To run every day. To eat healthy. To get a job. To become that version of myself I’ve always pictured—strong, disciplined, confident. But one by one, I failed to follow through. I let myself down. Again and again.

So I decided that I needed to take one step. Just one. And that step was getting my permit. I wanted to push myself out there and get that license. I know it’s just a test, but to me, it was like finding a different kind of confidence. I took my first driving lesson on June 18th. I remember sitting in the car, gripping the steering wheel like it was about to run away from me.

Fast forward to lesson ten—my hands don’t shake anymore. My turns are smoother. I don’t have to overthink where to look or when to signal. In parallel parking and U-turns, I don’t hold my breath anymore. 

The night before the test, I couldn’t sleep. I kept imagining every possible way I could mess up. At the testing site, my hands felt cold, my stomach twisted into knots. I kept telling myself to stay calm, but inside, fear was bubbling up. My instructor kept saying, “It’s okay if you don’t pass the first time; most people don’t.” And he is right. But I didn’t have it in me to fail. Not this test. 

This wasn’t just about getting a license. It was about proving to myself that I could face my fears, that I could do something hard and come out on the other side. 

Guess what? I passed. Yes, on my first try. 

But I know this isn’t a magic fix for everything. It won’t suddenly solve all my problems or answer every question I have about college, my future, or who I want to be. What it did do, though, was to give me confidence. Remind me that progress doesn’t have to be perfect or immediate. Sometimes, it’s just about showing up, trying anyway, and trusting in yourself. 

That’s the lesson I’m holding onto from this summer is the courage to start, even when I am scared.

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By Marzia Seemat

Marzia Seemat is a sophomore at NYU studying civil engineering and creative writing. She loves being close to nature, especially at the beach. Her favorite things include good food, morning tea, hour-long movies, and spending time with the people she loves.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Dreamland Ch. 6: The Notes App, and other holy grails

Wednesday, July 16th, 2025

If you’re getting sick of my complaining, you’re in luck — I’m finally going to talk about my actual process of writing. My routine is hardly defined and not in any way a rulebook, but I believe it capitalizes well on my sudden bursts of motivation but also works well with a lack of powerful motivation.

It always starts with a note. The birth of an idea, the concept of a concept, that I scramble to make real with text before it fades away. 

I first conceived my fantasy series when I was in sixth grade.My memory of this time of my life is hazy, so for the purposes of this first step I’m going to use a slightly more recent example. In tenth grade, I did a project on World War I and spent a lot of time researching that era of history. I had also been reading a lot of young adult and teen fantasy, returning to recreational reading for the first time since middle school. Sitting in that overlap for multiple months, much of my imagination branched off from this mindspace, and one night I shot up from my bed in the pitch black, already reaching for my laptop. 

I ended up with an incoherent, garbled mess of ideas listed in my Notes App — the early scraps of a duology set in a fictional world based on 1910s Slavic Europe. The main takeaway here is that inspiration will strike quite randomly, so if you aren’t able to force yourself to find it (just as you might not be able to force herself into “the zone”), do what you can to more naturally find a spark. Engage with the things that you are already interested in. Read books, watch movies, learn new topics and skills. While I was fostering an interest in history, I discovered a wellspring of images and narratives. You might encounter the same phenomenon doing something completely unrelated, like with a niche hobby or even while scrolling on your phone mindlessly. You’re never truly mindless, is what I mean.

After this initial conception, I reconfigure the mess into something more comprehensible: a vague summary, followed by a bulleted outline of story beats, and then a chapter-by-chapter outline. Essentially, break your book down, and then break it down some more. Each book in my current series is split into three parts (you obviously don’t have to do this), which helped me visualize the arc for each part and then sever those arcs into individual chapters. I determine what each arc needs to accomplish, so even if I end up shifting chapters around, I don’t lose focus.

For the story I’m currently working on, the third in the series, the main notes folder currently holds three pages: an outline, a bulleted list of various things to look out for during my rounds of edits, and random notes that include a hastily drawn map and outlines for very specific events in the book. For example — spoiler alert — a prison break. 

My three homepages. Don’t mind the caps lock.

There is also a sub-folder for “potential scenes” that I need to have prematurely written lest I go insane with all the circulating images in my head. Remember, your story may follow a certain chronology, but you don’t have to. Even in my drafting, if I don’t have the motivation for a certain scene or I want to skip a little ahead, I’ll type in something like “[more dialogue]” or “[walking along the road]” to signal to future me that a transitional or elaborating scene has to be entered here. If you have the motivation to write at all, don’t waste it — write what feels right.

Of course, the outlining structure depends on the book and what I think feels right for this particular style and/or genre. Below is the way I created sub-folders for the 1910s-inspired story I mentioned earlier. Here I have a section for characters, because of the multiple points of view, and world-building because of the more intricate details of the setting. 

An alternate way to organize your folders.

Don’t box yourself into my process, because I don’t even box myself into my process.

The rest of the method varies. I draft the entire story, rewrite scenes or even entire chapters, and cycle through rounds and rounds of editing until I feel confident in sending the manuscript to my editor. Sometimes, I find things like Google Calendar or Notion helpful to carve out time during the week to work on writing. Next chapter, I’ll talk about the process of finding professionals and self-publishing, but for a long time you as the author have sole authority over your draft. It sounds terrifying, and it is, but it is also liberating.

Your process is your process, ultimately, but I highly recommend taking the steps to make the actual writing and publishing part feel less daunting. It will take more than that to surpass the initial insecurities, but I promise you will benefit from breaking down your ideas into palatable, consumable pieces. Even if things change later on, even if you as a writer and person change later on, outlining and planning will keep the heart of your original idea alive — thus honoring who you were when you woke up in the middle of that fateful night, already opening up the Notes App.

Enjoy 20% off your next crispy chicken order at Crispy Burger in the East Village.

By Oshmi Ghosh

Oshmi Ghosh is a rising junior at NYU’s College of Arts and Sciences, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English with minors in Creative Writing, History, and Entertainment Business. You can usually find her appreciating the simple things in life: tea with milk and sugar, a good book, and/or intensely competitive board games.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Chapter 3: The Me in Me

Tuesday, June 24th, 2025
Me in my High School Graduation Ceremony
A picture of me in my High School Graduation

I still remember graduation day. Actually—pardon me—I still remember how I felt during my graduation. For most people, graduation is a milestone, a celebration. But for me, it was something else entirely. It was a nightmare.

I had everything I thought I wanted. My family stood beside me. My amazing friends cheered. I wore the dress I had dreamt about. I had the honor roll title I worked so hard for, and even the flower bouquet I pictured in my hands. But still… something inside me refused to feel whole.

That morning, I started getting ready. First, the sunscreen. I rubbed it into my skin, and with it, rubbed in the thought that echoed in my head—‘I’m so ugly.’ Tears fell before I even made it to step two. I wiped them quickly. Foundation next. I kept applying, but the more I tried to cover up my skin, the messier it got. One hand held the sponge, trying to perfect the look; the other clutched a tissue, soaked in my tears. 

Then came the concealer. I dotted it under my eyes. I started blending, along with the thoughts that always followed—“Why do I have dark circles?” More tears came, of course, ruining all the foundation I had just put on. I sat there in front of my mirror, staring at the mess on my face. 

I gave up on perfecting it. I moved to blush. A soft pink, something that usually makes me feel alive. I swirled it on my cheeks, and—guess what? Yes, more tears. 

Eyeliner was the worst of all. I don’t know why I even tried. My hands were shaking, my eyes still glossy from crying, and every line I drew ended up crooked. I kept wiping it off, trying again, messing it up, wiping again. At some point, I just stared at myself and thought, Why am I even doing this? Why am I even crying? 

The truth is, I wasn’t sad that high school was over. I was sad about myself. About the way I was. About the way I looked. About the way my personality felt too much or not enough, depending on the day. That day, I felt like a failure. It’s like I haven’t done enough for myself. I haven’t accomplished anything compared to the people surrounding me. I felt like people hated me. 

That was the first time I had ever cried like that—not because something went wrong, but because, for the first time, I saw how deep my insecurities ran. How unsure I was of myself, inside and out. The reason I’m bringing up that day is because… yesterday, I almost felt that way again. 

Funny thing—yesterday was supposed to be just another beautiful day. And it was. It was an amazing dream. I was on a cruise for hours, surrounded by the people I love dearly. But I guess self-doubt always sneaks in at the worst times, right when there’s nothing to doubt. 

The thing about self-doubt is, no matter how many compliments you receive, it never quite feels real. You struggle to believe you’re enough. That you’re okay. That you’re already whole, just as you are.

Now that I am in college, where it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison, I find myself constantly looking at how others present themselves—how effortlessly pretty or put-together they seem. It makes you wonder if you’re enough just the way you are. But I’m starting to realize that growth doesn’t always show up in the mirror. Sometimes it’s choosing not to pick yourself apart, smiling at your reflection even when you don’t believe it, or reminding yourself that beauty isn’t something you have to earn—it’s something you already carry.

I know I still struggle with that, but I am better than I was on my graduation day. It’s not easy, but there’s a quiet kind of power in choosing to trust myself—even just a little. And I’ve proven that to myself, in small ways: by still smiling with the people I love, by still taking pictures even when I don’t feel perfect, by trying to feel pretty—because everyone is pretty. We all deserve to see that in ourselves, not just in others.

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By Marzia Seemat

Marzia Seemat is a sophomore at NYU studying civil engineering and creative writing. She loves being close to nature, especially at the beach. Her favorite things include good food, morning tea, hour-long movies, and spending time with the people she loves.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Posted in Creativity, NYC Student Guide, onLife, onLove, onValues, student discounts | No Comments »

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