I was born into an American-Israeli family and my upbringing in a multilingual household. From an early age, I was surrounded by English, Hebrew, and Yiddish, the languages spoken by my parents and many of my relatives. Language was not only a way of communicating in our home but also a connection to our family’s history, culture, and traditions. My father grew up in Borough Park, a religious neighborhood in Brooklyn known for its strong Jewish community. My mother was raised in Mea Shearim, a religious neighborhood in Jerusalem with deep historical and cultural roots. Although they grew up on different continents, both were shaped by close-knit communities, religious traditions, and strong family values.

My Time in Israel

The story of my family extends far beyond New York and Jerusalem. My grandparents came from immigrant backgrounds, seeking opportunities and building new lives in the United States and Israel. Their journeys were driven by hope, determination, and a desire to create a better future for the generations that would follow. Even further back, my great-grandparents experienced some of the darkest events of the twentieth century. As Holocaust survivors, they endured persecution, loss, and unimaginable hardship during the rise of Nazi Germany and World War II. After the war, they sought safety and refuge, rebuilding their lives in the United States and Israel. Their resilience and perseverance left a lasting impact on my family’s story.

Growing up in South Florida, specifically the vibrant cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, further shaped my perspective in unique ways. I was raised in a close-knit Jewish religious community and attended Jewish private schools for most of my life. While I appreciated the sense of tradition and community, my experience wasn’t always easy. I struggled with bullying throughout my childhood, which made those years difficult and often left me feeling isolated, even within my own community.

As I reached adolescence, these challenges led me to question and reevaluate my relationship with religion. Gradually, I began moving away from strict religious observance, finding myself drawn more toward a secular or reform approach to Judaism. This transition was not easy, but it became an important part of my personal growth. Through this journey, I developed a stronger sense of self and learned to find my own place and voice. These lessons would later guide me through my internship and beyond.

The values passed down through generations—resilience, gratitude, and an appreciation for opportunity—continued to influence my identity and choices as I navigated my own path in life, even as my perspective evolved. 

New Chapter at NYU

Leaving South Florida to go to college in New York City at nineteen at Pace University in the Financial District was something I’ve been wanting to do since I was a teenager. I fell in love with how big the city was compared to the small tight-knit neighborhood I grew up in my whole life. I didn’t realize at the time that this actually would be one of the setbacks that would’ve affected my conscious thinking and survival instinct at the time. After fifteen months of systematic psychological mental health battles, I was able to finally transfer to a different college, NYU. There I have been given the ability to heal and to finally have the experience I deserved as a child and in my adolescence. At NYU, within the first week I finally had a guy friend like me who could understand me and who wanted to be my friend. Ultimately, transferring changed my life, I found my place in this world with peace and a community at last. 

Hungry for something new? Check out this student discount!

By Aaron Newman

Aaron Newman is an Education Studies major minoring in Digital Studies. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, he writes about relationships, entertainment and fashion. He also writes about the hardship and being optimistic about his struggles and looking forward to the present and future. 

Even on brisk January days, New Yorkers crave ice-cold sweet treats after their savory lunch breaks. My friend Alonso Manon from Boston University visited Manhattan for a week, and we both craved dessert. 

This month is international student appreciation month, and many vendors in the New York University area are offering discounts to all students to celebrate. Manon, from Mexico City, was ecstatic to join me in tasting the various flavors that Amorino had to offer. The dessert spot, located just around the corner from the main NYU campus, specializes in their coned, creamy gelatos. 

To start, I enjoyed a thick hot chocolate topped with a mountain of whip cream and chocolate drizzle. Manon ordered a large sage-green pistachio latte.

“The pistachio flavor was not overly strong, and blended well with the coffee,” Manon said. “You can taste that they use real pistachios. It wasn’t very sweet and had a nutty aftertaste. For the price and quality, I would definitely go here for a latte over major chains like Starbucks.”

Before the main dessert, he also indulged in their unique hot chocolate affogato. One staff member poured the hot chocolate over the ice cream in front of us, enhancing our experience at the quaint shop. 

“The hot chocolate was rich but went really well with the ice cream,” he reviewed. “I usually don’t like chocolatey things, but this might have been my favorite item.”

Our main events were the macaron signature cone and gianduiotto signature cone. My personal favorite were the hazelnut and dulce le leche petals of the gelato flower, though the blueberry cheese cake and caramel were also delicious flavors. My cone had a chocolate rim, while Manon’s cone came with a singular pistachio macaron.

“I got straticella, coffee, coconut, and pistachio,” he noted. “The flavors went together perfectly, and I love the way they serve the ice cream like flower petals. Even though I might not want to pay more for the macaroon, mostly because the ice cream is filling enough, I still would recommend trying it at some point if you are looking to try one for the first time.”

In between the bustle of meetings and classes, it’s hard to find time to return to the dorms and cook a hearty meal. Just around the corner from New York University is a Fresh&Co location, with plentiful options ranging from salads, to a hot bar, to affordable sandwiches for students. 

“The chicken was well seasoned and the peppers were flavorful, though it all overpowered the avocado,” Nick Messina, a business student at Stevens Institute of Technology, reviewed. 

He ordered a chicken fresco sandwich from the wide splay of choices, served immediately after one staff member toasted it to perfection. I opted for the smoked salmon sandwich, most notable for its unique combination of scallion cream cheese and pumpernickel bread.

The balance between the thinly sliced cucumbers and tomato, paired with the cuts of smoked salmon and sprinkle of capers, made this a filling lunch between study sessions. Meanwhile the chicken fresco uses avocado, queso fresco, and roasted chicken for the bulk of its contents. A layer of roasted red peppers and a bed of tomatillo salsa is added on ciabatta bread for a delicious hot meal.

“Good consistency on the bread. It was light and airy,” Messina said.

Outside of the sandwiches is an open fridge of beverages and breakfast items to grab-and-go. The salad bar has a plethora of options for different palates, while the hot bar has mouthwatering skewers of different meats to showcase. Regardless of what someone craves for lunch, they are sure to find something at Fresh&Co for a reasonable price.

During restaurant week, the establishment is offering $8 sandwiches to students when they present the Campus Clipper coupon and valid student ID. January is international students month, where Fresh&Co is promoting their 30% off sandwiches deal. Similar deals are on rotation on the Campus Clipper website–the way students learn to save money!

Sometimes we all just need a sweet treat. Sometimes the pastries and baked goods in New York City are six dollars each. As a student with a strict budget, I can’t spend an absurd amount of money on desserts, let alone meals in general. Just around the corner from New York University is a small, bright yellow shop, selling their own unique take on a classic dessert. Thin Cookies is known for exactly what their name expresses.

One afternoon, after our classes, my friend Alonso and I picked up a dozen thin cookies and ate them in Washington Square Park. Their prices were much more affordable and reasonable compared to many popular cookie spots. There are flavors that remain a staple on the menu, available to customers every week, while others are seasonal and rotate out. We decided to try a mixture of both the classics and temporary picks.

Our first cookie was the chocolate chip, followed by the much darker in color, double chocolate.

“It’s soft, chewy, with the chocolate slightly melted,” Alonso noted. “It’s thin, buttery, and I could eat 6 of these. Perfect level of sweetness. The double chocolate kinda tastes the same as the last one but amazing, a slight increase in chocolate but not over bearing.”

Next was the golden perfection of everyone’s favorite fall-themed and festive dessert: the snickerdoodle. This cookie was my personal favorite and was the highlight of this dessert flight.

“It was so so good–perfect mix of cinnamon and sugar. Very light. I could eat a whole box of these and still want more,” my friend commented.

Coconut, Alonso’s personal favorite, was another soft and buttery sweet treat. We ate two.

“Coconut flakes. Perfect amount of sweetness. It had bits of coconut adding to the texture and emboldening the taste,” he said.

Because Alonso hates bananas, and everything bananas, he wasn’t a fan of the seasonal banana pudding cookie. I thought it was scrumptious and airy.

“Taking away my bias, I will say it taste exactly like banana pudding. So if you are a fan of it, you will love it,” Alonso admitted.

For students looking to try affordable sweet treats near the New York University area, they can head over to Thin Cookies for a wide range of flavors. Make sure to say the Campus Clipper sent you, as they have rotating deals for students when they show their valid student ID.