Last Wednesday, October 21, NYU’s Global Public Health (GPH) Marketplace Collective set up a matcha bar in the third-floor study space of the department’s Broadway building. With Marketplace volunteers taking on the role of baristas, they served over 80 drinks and offered students snacks from an assortment of cookies. The event was organized as an opportunity to inform the university’s community about the Collective’s Student Food Pantry and its role in promoting food accessibility across NYU’s campus.
Drinks served by the Marketplace’s Matcha Bar baristas
Open every Wednesday from 2:30 to 4:30pm, the food pantry supplies students with groceries and personal care items. One of a seven-location on-campus pantry network, the Marketplace aims to serve students facing food insecurity and is a part of a university-wide initiative to fulfill every student’s basic needs. Beyond the pantry, the Collective also hosts events for distributing care packages to students and collaborates with other NYU organizations to educate the campus community about the other food services and healthcare resources available to them.
Meanwhile, this effort to ensure that all students are provided for has begun to reach NYU’s residence halls. Last Spring Break, Brittany Hall stocked its communal kitchen with ingredients for those of its residents staying in the city to use, and in April, Lipton Hall encouraged members of its community to donate meals purchased with their extra meal swipes to the Community Care Collective in Washington Square Park. Then, this fall semester, Lafayette Hall proudly reopened its very own supply closet—stocked with non-perishable foods, wellness items, and hygiene products for its residents.
So, if you haven’t already or are facing basic needs insecurity as a student yourself, I encourage you to make yourself aware of the resources on your campus meant to support students just like you. And maybe go a step further to learn about how you can contribute or become involved with supporting members of your community too.
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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.
Moving to a new environment can be challenging, especially when it means leaving some of your loved ones. When I moved to New York from Wisconsin, I had to say goodbye to a lot of my friends and family, most of whom reside in Wisconsin. However, I was lucky enough to be able to move to the city with my partner. We met as undergrads, staying in Wisconsin for an extra year after college and building our relationship in a familiar environment. As individuals, we didn’t feel the need to move just yet, and I felt a certain safety staying in the same place. I had my friends around me, my relationship was going steady, what more could I ask for? But during my gap year, I realized I wanted to get out of the midwest and experience grad school in an environment I wasn’t too familiar with. I was excited for the adventure, as well as the challenge, and after I was accepted to The New School, my partner and I decided to move to New York together. As midwesterners, we both felt it was time for a change.
Change is exciting, but it can also be very stressful. We were moving to a new place with not a lot of knowledge of the city, and we were living alone together for the first time. Of course, we were both a bit nervous of the unknown, both as individuals as well as in a relationship sense. It can be hard when your relationship has only ever been in one place, and moving from that place can get rid of a sense of safety and comfortability. From moving in to figuring out jobs, moving to New York was definitely a bit overwhelming at first. However, we both agreed that we were in this together. We made sure to remember that we were a team, something that became all the more important in an environment where we hardly knew anyone.
When we first moved, we stuck together, exploring the city and connecting with the few friends we knew on the East Coast. We had fun shopping together, decorating the apartment, and making meals for each other. It was important for both of us to foster a comfortableness in our relationship in such a new environment, and for us that meant sticking together and braving the city as a pair. There was a safety we both felt in having each other, and I’m so grateful that we’re on this journey together. Of course, once we settled in and became more familiar with New York, we had our own individual commitments to tend to. I started classes a few weeks after we moved, and my partner found a job shortly after. We had our own new environments and new friends, and building our own communities was something we’d never really dealt with in Wisconsin. We had the same friend group and went to the same school, so our lives as individuals were relatively intertwined.
As we navigated school and work, we inevitably spent less time with one another. Of course, we were both happy for each other and we were meeting so many new people, but it’s still hard on a relationship to have such a big change in routine. Thus, we decided to plan weekly date nights on a day both of us were free, and we decided to make dinner for each other when the other person was working late or had a late class. On the days we feel too tired to go out, we stay at home and watch a movie or play cards and just relax and decompress. We’ve realized the importance of giving each other grace and communicating when we’re stressed or tired, something that has become crucial in such a new place. We’ve also recognized that not all weeks are the same, and sometimes a planned date night may not work out if I have extra work to do or if my partner is picking up an extra shift. Realizing this, communicating, and being okay with a change in plans has been crucial to thriving as individuals as well as in a couple. Though we see each other a bit less than before, we’ve been able to make our time together that much more special and fulfilling, which has made our relationship grow even stronger.
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By Katrina Kallas
Katrina Kallas is a first-year graduate student at The New School, studying creative writing with a concentration in fiction. Originally from Wisconsin, they enjoy writing about relationships, friendships, and personal values. In their free time, they write fictional stories on a variety of topics and hope to publish a novel after they graduate.
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 is a period of life that is greatly idealized by both incoming students and long-time graduates. For the former, it is a symbol of hope. For the latter, its memory often holds a feeling of glorious nostalgia. The general idea of college life is one that carries excitement and promises major personal growth and achievement.
But how do you know which college journey is ideal for you? To answer this question, I sought the insight of my good friend, Faith, who graduated this past May from California Lutheran University, having taken full advantage of the opportunities made available to her, and is walking away summa cum laude, an alum athlete, and a seasoned explorer.
I first asked her whether she started her freshman year with a clear outline for her four years of undergrad—as many organized and eager students do—or embraced spontaneity and determined what was worth her time and effort along the way. She shared that “[she] didn’t start college with a detailed four-year plan. [She] came in knowing that [she] wanted a good education and that [she] wanted to swim.” However, “so much of what ended up defining [her] college experience wasn’t planned.” She learned to “just say yes to different opportunities,” and this is how she went on to intern, study abroad, and do research—not knowing what research entailed or that it was even an option.
Faith in front of the Swenson Science Center—Home of CLU’s Environmental Science Major (from her graduation Instagram post)
This same mindset, to “choose [what you’re] passionate about, excited about, or [what] truly interests you,” led her to declare both her environmental science and Spanish majors. In fact, her dad encouraged her to adopt this perspective by explaining that “there are careers in any field out there. This is a decision that is affecting the rest of your life, and you can make money in any field.” So she took his advice and ran with it by choosing to immerse herself in what she loved.
But honoring her interests wasn’t possible without sacrifice. For Faith, “one of the biggest sacrifices [she] had to make was time.” As a student athlete, “[she] had early mornings. [She] was doing over 20 hours of practice a week and was also working a part-time job about 20 hours a week, had a full-time class schedule, a club that [she] was running, and was doing research.” But “learning how to prioritize and be intentional with [her] time was one of the most valuable lessons that [she] took away,” despite having “to say ‘no’ to things that a lot of people may want out of college—like going to parties, hanging out with friends, or spending time in the dorm.” She believes that the sacrifice “was worth it because it was true to who [she is] and aligned with [her] goals.”
And when all of her responsibilities began to overwhelm her, “having people to rely on, having a support system,” anchored her to her ability to persist. Her mom, who “became what [Faith] jokingly called [her] ‘momma-pist,’” or “mom-therapist” especially helped ease her mind during stressful times while she was at school. She explained that college is “a time when you are discovering who you are, saying ‘yes’ to all of these opportunities, and challenging yourself, and you cannot go through it alone.” Even if your support system comprises one person, “asking for help sometimes is not a sign of weakness but is a way that you can keep growing and learn how to face these challenges again in the future.”
As for knowing that she needed to break away from her campus borders to have a fulfilling college experience, Faith shared that smaller schools—like the one she attended—“can feel like a social bubble, so “immersing yourself in the community and seeing the real-world applications of what you might be studying in a classroom is just as meaningful as [the on-campus] college experience.” Her off-campus barista job and ability to study abroad in Madrid for four months allowed her to find value in engaging with opportunities beyond her campus borders. She was “challenged in ways that [she] never expected,” but being “pushed out of [her] comfort zone also made [her] more independent and gave [her] confidence that [she] could adapt to unfamiliar situations” and allowed her to meet “so many people from diverse backgrounds with different cultures and different ways of life, [opening her] up to a whole new world.”
So as you try to determine which aspects of college to lean into and turn away from, keep in mind Faith’s approach to making the most of it: “Stay open and stay curious.” Be willing to give your time to unplanned opportunities, and especially those “that excite you or that interest you.” Not all detours are setbacks. For Faith, “so much of what ended up defining [her] college experience wasn’t planned.” Thanks to her time as a student, she has come to understand that “every experience is valuable, even the ones that don’t end up being the right fit.”
So embrace every adventure in your college journey because, like Faith said, “The goal isn’t to do everything. It’s to find experiences that help you grow into the person that you want to become in the future.”
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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.
Photo by Alyssa Hong. A beautiful sunset in my hometown featuring a cloudy day mixed with the striking hues of orange shown by the sun making it’s descent.
Within writing each chapter, I am forced to reflect on what it means to build a community whilst forging a “home” of my very own in a foreign city. Questions about music inspire thoughts about charismatic unity through the melodic sounds of tunes and the inscriptions written in song lyrics. Gravitation pulls towards genres of high beats or slow rhythms tell you about someone’s personhood. Their favorite artist highlighting their politics and ethics. The same can be said about fashion. Expression is folded into each crease of a person’s jeans or their color palette. What cannot be said from mere words is fabricated elegantly within their own personal style; even more so in their taste.
Every character thus far has engraved countless lessons upon my being. Monica persuades me to accept any possible opportunity from career ideas to clubs to even hobbies. She shows me what taking risks means and the rewards that come from putting my all into anything I do. Kylie reminds me that there is never not something to learn. Reminders that mistakes are a beautiful way to learn who I am are forwarded by her courage to be wrong and her doubt that she knows everything. She is immensely wise and selfless even to a fault. Irene highlights that nobody cares what others are doing. Her leap of faith into her hobbies and her sense of normalcy prompts the idea that we are all on our own journeys, impacted but not ruled by others.
Villages require villagers; thus, finding your people may lead to unexpected incompatibilities and drama. Friendships can be messy, but with clear goals and desires of what type of relationships you seek to have can provide you with the most meaningful, enriching memories. I must argue that an essential mindset must be to grow with your friends. Stagnancy and mundanity are two different things. The most mundane friendships contain a comfort in silence and appreciation of one another’s energy. Stagnancy, however, can only keep you both in a constant cycle of nothingness. No lessons being learned and oftentimes a credulous amount of toxicity and unhappiness. If you look to grow from your friends, you certainly will.
I look to others for their character, humor, etc. — truly all things that I might have never realized about myself. I also look at my relations to others. What does their background have to do with what they’ve experienced and how does that experience reflect their treatment of others and myself?
Although building a community may seem like a hassle which can be easily solved by connecting in each other’s likes or interests, forging something that lasts and fulfills the soul — the real creation of “home” or homemaking only begins when you venture through spending time together and learning about who you both are. College is a playground where kids are running around and finding out the best ways to play while adjusting to their reality of independence and autonomy. Once you observe and listen, you realize that nobody knows anything nor cares. You free your mind of anxiousness and materialize the idea that it is completely okay to not have anything figured out because nobody ever does. It is adaptation and resilience that allow you the chance to make things go in your favor.
A village brings that together. When every person can simply accept one another (with respect to their personhood), it becomes easier to look at differences as lessons to learn and curious questions to ask. Then, you can grow to appreciate each person’s interests, likes, dislikes, politics, virtues, etc. and learn from one another because ultimately you realize you both are not all that different.
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By Alyssa Hong
AlyssaHong 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/beautyas 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.
Regardless of what we like to call the thing that motivates us, many, if not most, undergraduate students experience the arbitrary pressure to be or become someone extraordinary. Yet, despite the accolades we accumulate, the colleges we were accepted into, or the jobs we’ve held, it may never feel like we’re qualified enough to lay claim to any of it or like we’re even on our way to reaching a point when we will be.
Either we let this sense of inadequacy hold us back or propel us into a cycle of working harder, committing to more, and, ultimately, burning out quicker. This only helps to reinforce our fears that we are not capable of achieving our goals, will not find success or stability, cannot surpass the condition of our current phase in life, or even that we may regress.
As a student in New York City, I am no stranger to imposter syndrome, that deep-seated doubt in my skills and accomplishments. That relentless anxiety that I will be exposed as a fraud. However, as an intensely reflective personality, I like to think that I’ve come to understand a bit more about the source of my insecurities and a lot more about how I, personally, cope with them better. So let me offer you a few tidbits that I gained in my first two years of university so that you too can begin deciphering how you cope best with this “syndrome.”
Firstly, I decided to work on building my confidence beyond academia, my career, and the aesthetics. Since the virtual world has become a major part of my daily life, this required reframing my relationship with digital content. I’m sure many of us can relate to being envious of the successful lives we scroll across online or being discouraged by not seeing a radical change in our lives after indulging in an inspirational book, talk, social media post, or film.
However, one day, I watched a YouTube video on the idea that our personalities are starting to feel borrowed, and the suggestion that stuck with me involved using the media we consume as real inspiration. Now, I set dates to actually try the interesting recipes, crafts, or activities I saved on Instagram. I make time to journal about the insights I glean from the inspirational quotes, short-form videos, and carousels that fill my social media feeds.
I read Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals while grabbing breakfast at Mudspot Restaurant in the East Village
By implementing aspects of the content that strikes me into my habits and approach to living, I am gradually coming to believe that I am as interesting and capable as the creators that I envied seem to be. Not only this, but I am also learning to act more attuned to my personal goals, interests, and personality by making the experiences that I’m virtually witnessing my own. This leads me to my next couple tips.
This past January, I was introduced to the idea of “doing less and achieving more” by an episode of The Psychology of Your 20s podcast. After listening, I decided to reflect upon which of my goals are truly mine, which are not suitable for the chapter of life I am currently living in, and which are optimal to prioritize now. Following the host’s advice, I listed fifteen life goals that would allow me to find fulfillment free from external rewards, teach me to enjoy the challenges that expand my skillset, and not only positively impact myself but others as well. Then, I drew a line beneath the first three—an indication that they must be seen through, or at least that my real desire for them be worn out—before I proceed to fulfill any of the goals listed beneath them.
Taking this idea a step further, I took the advice of Oliver Burkeman, author of Meditations for Mortals, and started breaking up my daily to-do lists into “must do,” “should do,” “could do,” and “done” lists. With my “must-dos” never exceeding three tasks, I aim to complete them first, and I make sure to write down every productive task I complete during the day so that even if I wasn’t able to complete all of my “must-dos,” I’m able to visualize the totality of my success that day, including those tasks that weren’t written down at the start. This practice has helped me end my days feeling accomplished without feeling drained because I can say that I made time to work toward my goals or just keep my life in order, even if the steps I took were small or unplanned.
Now, your journey to feeling more confident may not begin with reassessing how you plug in to the wide, digital world. But reallymy first step to overcoming imposter syndrome was to define what fulfillmentmeant for me. It will take time for self-assurance to transform from self-doubt, and there will still be moments when your confidence falters. But you shouldn’t try to force that transformation by over-working yourself. Aligning your approach to life with your goals, interests, and daily ability will kindly reward you by slowly exchanging your pursuit of being extraordinary for the belief that you already are.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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
AlyssaHong 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/beautyas 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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