When I was told I would be writing an ebook for the Campus Clipper, I was elated. Being an author was a childhood dream of mine since I was six, and it has never faded away. I always thought I could hide that dream chasing other careers because writing was too much self-exposure. Perhaps I couldn’t handle being seen as a result of having my writing out there. Granted, this ebook is just about the college experience—which wasn’t in my plans of a first book—but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any personal elements sprinkled in it.
‘The pen is mightier than the sword.”
This book was an opportunity to not only practice writing about my own personal experiences but to give myself more credit as a writer, a woman, and a person. This isn’t to say that all my advice is useful but to say, your words will provide value to someone–anyone. You don’t necessarily have to write in a sophisticated way to make an impact on others; and you most certainly don’t have to have it all figured out for anyone to take you seriously. I wrote this book from an honest place and to provide a deeper perspective on the college experience.
This might be where I end my book, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t more to say. If anything, I could decide to write another book for everything left unsaid. I hope that you take inspiration from any of these chapters of The Graduated Woman: Life Beyond the Degree and decide to make good use of your time at college. While this book was oftentimes very difficult and tedious to think and write about (for too many reasons, which I won’t have all the time to explain here), it gave me much-needed clarity about where my life is headed. I think we all need to take a step back and reflect on the choices we have made in young adulthood. Hopefully, in that process, you’ve—like myself—have gotten the answers you need and seek. Cheers to new phases and let’s keep in touch in spirit.
I believe when women write, they are truly free. Image Credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/female-legs-woman-with-pen-writing-or-painting-handwriting-on-notebook-on-flower-gm1388158931-445882221
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By Daeli Vargas
Daeli is a recent graduate from the City College of New York with a BA in English and a publishing certificate. She is from the Bronx and is very passionate about all things literary. She hopes one day to publish many books of her own and share her passions worldwide.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.
At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
I didn’t know it at the time, but when adults call a child an “old soul,” it is almost always because that child is a bit weird and not good at connecting with people of their own age. I was certainly no exception. In the school cafeteria, I’d talk off the ear of anyone who would listen, rarely aware of whether they had any interest in what I was saying. In the school yard, rather than playing with others, I’d sit on the benches and read, or talk to the class monitor. For the fifth grade school talent show, instead of singing a song from Frozen like a normal child, I chose “Think of Me” from The Phantom of the Opera. The adults loved my elementary school impression of Christine Daae, while the little kids in the front row put their hands over their ears when I sang the high note.
Pictured: An actual email I sent to the producer of Phantom of the Opera when I found out the show was closing. Shockingly enough, he never replied. Weird Kids turn into Weird Adults.
However, being a Former Weird Kid has its advantages. First, I write these posts on how to make friends from the perspective of someone who has struggled to fit in and find my place. I understand it’s not as easy as simply “putting yourself out there” when people have not always responded well to me when I’ve done just that. There’s nothing wrong with being weird, but weirdness does not always have a place in a world that often punishes deviations from the norm.
I’m not suggesting you hide the weird or unique side of yourself in order to get people to like you. In fact, I’m advocating for quite the opposite: while I did not make many friends in fifth grade, in the long run, letting my freak flag fly has helped me find a community of people who share my interests and quirks. After my performance in the talent show, a few teachers approached my mother and suggested I audition for a children’s choir in the area — the rest is history. Though I’ve since graduated from that organization, chorus is still a huge part of my life, and so are some of the “old souls” (read: weird kids) I’ve met there.
Pictured: My old chorus and me, performing Aging Magician at San Diego’s Balboa Theatre. Thank you, Andrew Lloyd Webber. From the San Diego Union-Tribune.
So, don’t be afraid to be weird! Weirdness sets you apart, and can help you find other people who share your interests, hobbies, and hyperfixations. And if you’re an “old soul” who struggles to connect with your peers, don’t be afraid to make friends with actual old souls — that is, people who are literally older than you. Not only can these relationships be just as (if not more!) fulfilling than ones with people your age, but research shows that having friends across age groups actually helps your brain development. At the adult chorus I currently attend, where there are folks of all ages, I’ve gotten career advice from 30-year olds, life advice from 50-year olds, and advice on how to clean cashmere (extremely helpful) from 80-year olds. So, talk to Barbara from your birdwatching group, or Mary from your accounting class. They may not end up being the shoulder you cry on when you go through, say, your first breakup, but they might give you dating advice you’ll remember years later just when you need it. They may teach you something you’ll be glad to know, whether you’re an old soul, a weird kid, or something in between.
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By Renee Ricevuto
Renee Ricevuto is pursuing a double major in English and Music at Hunter College, along with a certificate from the Thomas Hunter Honors Program. She has published her work at the University of Chicago’s Harper Review and received writing awards at her institution. She’s currently working on a research project with the Mellon Public Humanities and Social Justice Scholarship Program. When she’s not writing or researching, she loves to read, draw, sing, and embroider.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. Paragraph
At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
I had planned to interview either a friendship coach like Danielle Bayard Jackson, a female empowerment coach (which I never knew was a thing before conducting this research), or a feminist theorist/academic like Dr. Bec Wonders for this final chapter. An interview with either of these professionals would have helped me better tackle heavy subjects like the female happiness paradox, female friendships, and other issues related to modern womanhood. These are topics I had to include here because college is an institution that takes women out of the home, which is very significant for women’s freedom. It was hard finding someone who fit the profile of who I wanted to interview while overcoming scheduling conflicts. But I will dive into these topics the best way I know how.
Choice is essentially at the root of what feminism is about. However, not everyone—especially not every woman—has the same degree of choice as the other. There are many women, especially those marginalized, who are forced to make constrained choices because of social, cultural, familial, political, and economic pressures. It is even important to note that while many women from Western cultures experience more choice than those from Eastern cultures, that doesn’t necessarily mean the choices available to Western women will automatically grant them happiness and fulfillment considering the pressures modern women have to work more than previous decades.
This subject for women is often fraught with shame, guilt, and regret because women feel pressured to make the “right” choice. But only anti-feminists believe there is such a thing as the “right” choice for a woman. Ultimately, no one has the right to tell another what kind of life they should live. And even if any woman ultimately makes a choice that is wrong for them personally, life is still meant to explore whatever options are disposable and appreciate the lessons that come with it anyways.
Additionally, our lives are made for multiple choices and not just one. I myself have felt regret for rejecting many men who were in some way interested in me because I didn’t want the “death sentence” of singlehood to be my fate as a woman. It wasn’t until I realized the pressure I felt to get married and have children was ironically a way of affording the possibility of moving into my own apartment. Marriage might have been a temporary solution towards my goal of financial stability, but there always seemed to be a trade-off lurking in the shadows (e.g., dual income replaced with unequal domestic labor in long-term partnerships).
Similarly, I felt regret when I quit a dream internship because it being fully remote was making it more difficult to manage the boundaries between work and my family. After a while, I realized that my peace of mind was much greater than any career regrets. I would rather work a tolerable in-person job to a fully-remote job I liked because the latter required more out of me emotionally and physically. Having been on both sides of the choice paradox fence, I felt like I was sacrificing too much. Though, I can’t say I am not grateful for these experiences because they redirected my energy towards more sustainable options.
One way women can create more or better choices is to keep their friendships with other women close. Though there are many obstacles that stand in the way of female friendships keeping strong as cited by Dr. Bec Wonders, women still make great efforts to maintain a support network; actually, college-educated women are more likely than college-educated men to have a close friend at work. The second way towards more choice is attending networking events, meetups, or social events for women such as the Women’s Connection Summit led by Danielle Bayard Jackson, and/or social clubs where mostly women are likely to be in attendance. The last way towards more choice is to take inspiration from and highlight other women’s work, especially those who you would want to work with in the future. By continuously reaching out to other women, you can learn from them, create awareness of necessary and impactful work, and likely develop bonds that will last a lifetime. Connection creates abundance, of course.
Women work better together. Image Credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/two-women-standing-next-to-each-other-in-front-of-a-white-wall-OUxbYsnmPJI
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By Daeli Vargas
Daeli is a recent graduate from the City College of New York with a BA in English and a publishing certificate. She is from the Bronx and is very passionate about all things literary. She hopes one day to publish many books of her own and share her passions worldwide.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.
At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
When we think about some of these ways, our mind may go to the most dramatic of scenarios. One friend blew up at the other, or got together with their ex, or otherwise did something we deem unforgivable – maybe they borrowed money and never paid it back.
Pictured: Me, upon realizing I never paid my friend back for that Uber (I am a terrible person and not even God can forgive me)
Sometimes, we forget that it’s not always the big lies and infidelities that end a friendship, but the small ones. Lies like “We should go out sometime!” with no plans of following through. Lies like “Let’s keep in touch!” followed by a phone number exchange — only to fast-forward months later to radio silence. These lies are not always intentional: we all lead busy lives, and we simply don’t have the capacity to keep everyone in them. And though we don’t always admit it to ourselves, sometimes neither person really wants to keep up a connection longer than is convenient. Either way, when we do this, we break the implicit promise of a friendship — that both sides will do the work to keep the flame alive.
Any relationship is work. Friendships do not stay together on their own; left to their own devices, they will dissolve, leaving only the imprint of what was once there — like stitches after a surgery. The choice to do nothing may be a passive one, but it is a choice nonetheless.
The upside to this is that if we can choose to lose friends, we can also choose to make and maintain them. For many college students, making friends is often taken for granted— since everyone lives on the same campus, connecting with others can feel natural and effortless. But if you’re a commuter student, you may feel differently: a potential friend may live an hour away from school, and two hours from you. This means you will have to put in more effort at an earlier point in the friendship — which can present difficulties when you’re starting out, but will hopefully help you better develop the skills to maintain connections in the long run.
So, you may be asking: how do I go about making friends to begin with? And then, how do I keep them? I have a few tips for you, based on my experiences trying (and sometimes failing) to forge connections at Hunter College:
1. Throw Everything at the Wall and See What Sticks:
When I first transferred to Hunter, I was determined to make friends. I decided to take the blitzkrieg approach: acquaint myself with as many people as possible, and hope that something turns into a lasting friendship. I made class group chats and discord servers, swapped numbers with classmates, and talked with students before and after classes. Not every connection I made turned into something deeper, but it’s still nice to walk through the halls and see people I recognize, who nod or wave when they see me.
Of course, there are limits to this rule. At Hunter, there’s a guy notorious for going around the library and asking every girl he sees for their number. He has asked me out twice, my friend six times. He seems to think that if he asks enough women, someone will say yes, but as far as I know, he has had little success with his approach.
That being said, don’t approach random strangers who are not in the mindset to talk to you, and respect somebody’s boundaries if they say no. And if you’re male-presenting, know that if you ask a woman for her number, no matter how platonically you frame it, she may be understandably cagey due to guys like him.
2. Find Who Interests You in a Room
Are you in a busy room, and don’t know who to talk to? Pick someone who you find interesting! Maybe you like their outfit, their jewelry, or the way they’ve dyed their hair. Maybe you thought they said something really thought-provoking during the class discussion, which could be a nice starting point for the conversation. And if you give someone a compliment, make sure it’s about something they’ve chosen about themselves (clothes, hairstyle, etc.) and not an innate attribute (eyes, attractiveness, etc.) Compliments on the latter may read as romantic advances, which can be off-putting if it’s the first thing you say or not appropriate for the situation.
3. Keep the Energy Going!
Once you make a friend, keep it going! And remember: relationships are reciprocal. If you feel you’re putting in more work than the other person, it’s okay to pull back. You will find people who will give you the time of day. Don’t rush or force it!
Personally, I was able to make a few lasting friendships at Hunter through a creative writing class I took over the summer. Since it was an in-person summer class, everyone was passionate about the subject, had more free time, and was happy to go out in the warm weather after class. I made two of my closest friends at Hunter there. We keep the spirit alive by starting a book club, sending each other our writers’ drafts, and yapping about literature (along with other less sophisticated topics) in Central Park. We’re still friends a year later, thanks to the effort we all put into staying in touch.
Pictured: My friends and me, enjoying our favorite pastime: yapping in Central Park. My friend on the left is very cool and famous, so their face has been censored for privacy reasons.
So, it’s completely possible to make long-lasting friendships, even at a commuter school like Hunter! You just have to put yourself out there until the right person (or people) respond. Good luck!
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By Renee Ricevuto
Renee Ricevuto is pursuing a double major in English and Music at Hunter College, along with a certificate from the Thomas Hunter Honors Program. She has published her work at the University of Chicago’s Harper Review and received writing awards at her institution. She’s currently working on a research project with the Mellon Public Humanities and Social Justice Scholarship Program. When she’s not writing or researching, she loves to read, draw, sing, and embroider.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.
At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
Music can be a powerful tool that connects us to distinct memories, evokes specific moods, and perfectly encapsulates feelings. The music I listened to during my college experience became increasingly significant as I reflected on how I connect music to memories, people, places, and emotions. Sometimes it plays in the background while you’re studying, blares in your headphones as you meet up with friends, or creates the perfect mood for wandering around the city by yourself. College was an important time for discovering music I loved because it acted as a de-stressor, a motivator, and a mood shifter. It made long hours in the library easier, relieved stress the night before a big exam, and motivated me to keep going despite the challenges and external factors in my life. Music is my biggest outlet for when I’m experiencing overwhelming feelings, many of which are evoked during time spent in undergrad. My taste developed significantly over those four years as I discovered new places and learned more about myself.
My experiences reflect that the benefits of music, especially as a student, can improve your mood amidst the numerous stressors in a student’s life. Music became not only an outlet for self-expression and stress relief but also a hobby. As my student guide describes in detail, attending live music events became one of my favorite things due to their low price and accessibility in New York City. Experiences enrich our lives, and especially as a student, engaging in activities outside the classroom is crucial for maintaining good mental health. Having a fulfilling personal life with hobbies and activities beyond an academic setting helps maintain a sense of importance once student life is over. Music was a significant part of how I discovered my sense of self, and I am increasingly grateful as I enter postgrad life. I never fully understood how music affects our mood and stress levels, but I recently began researching this topic.
Recent USC research underscores the profound impact of music education on adolescent well-being, revealing benefits that extend beyond the development of neural connections. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology highlights how music education not only enhances cognitive function and creativity but also boosts mental health and emotional stability. Beatriz Ilari, a USC Thornton associate professor, notes that music can help students navigate emotions, strengthen their connection to school and community, and foster a hopeful outlook on the future. This research, especially pertinent in the wake of the pandemic’s impact on student mental health, underscores the importance of accessible music education programs in supporting positive youth development and addressing disparities in access, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds.
Music’s role in enhancing mental health and personal development is evident both in my experiences and in recent research. Although I hadn’t fully understood the psychological impact of music until recently, learning about these benefits has reinforced my appreciation for its role in my life. Music remains a vital outlet for managing overwhelming feelings and discovering new aspects of myself as I navigate postgrad life.
Georgie Fleming is a recent graduate of Fordham University with a BA in Communications and French and Francophone Studies. While at Fordham, she frequently published articles in a music publication and worked as a barista. She grew up in Newport, Rhode Island. She spends her free time going to the beach, reading, and baking.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.
At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
Renowned relationship expert Paul C. Brunson while on the Diary of a CEO podcast said something along the lines of “Go where you’re scarce.” This resonated heavily with me when trying to figure out what reasons there were for me to stay home that it started to look like I wasn’t growing the way I wanted to; and I was never convinced it was a good idea in the first place. I ignored the longstanding struggle I had with connecting with my home city and neighborhood. There was a voice telling me that I would be abandoning the very place that essentially made me. And the people.
There was a clear mismatch between myself and my environment. I honestly felt more of a transplant than a true native New Yorker. I was never a fan of the hustle mentality, never favored the overcrowded streets, and never blended in beyond the racial diversity of my neighborhood in the Bronx. Paul C. Brunson pointed me to the concept of “environmental mastery,” which is one of the six dimensions of psychological well-being: self-acceptance, positive relationships, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose, and personal growth. I found environmental mastery to be the most difficult to fulfill right after positive relationships.
I found myself competing against strangers on the street for a couple seconds of quiet in a city and neighborhood that wasn’t built for that. I was even racing for space on narrow sidewalks, subway platforms, and other frantic spaces. This wasn’t the way I wanted to interact with the city; all I wanted was to sit and take it all in. Sadly, it seemed like speed was erasing a lot of the city from my memory, especially the positive memories I did have from childhood. The city got too big for me to feel seen. Not that I needed to be bigger than it, but I wanted to feel like there could be traces of me while I am still here. It looked more and more like the only way for me to reach environmental mastery was moving out of the city.
A taste of the Big Apple. Image Credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-group-of-people-crossing-a-street-in-a-city-F2m6TRfBwko
I’ve already given much credit to my college years for getting me out of the domesticity bubble when family was at the center of my identity, my life. But I have to give it much more for even getting me to consider moving out of the city as an option. That never looked like an option when I thought all I had was here in New York City–or at least what I thought I had was here. College awakened a desire in me for more than what I was used to for all my childhood and adolescence. New travels, new people, and a chance to discover my own tastes in everything there is to enjoy in life.
I always knew I wanted to leave New York City, even all throughout college. Fear managed to get the best of me, and I stayed put for years, even when I had multiple opportunities to study or work abroad. Sharing a two-bedroom apartment with 5 other family members, working extra hard to not afford the apartments I wanted, and not having the time for a social life was negatively impacting my mental and physical health, yet I ignored that for years. Now, I won’t pretend and say that your problems will magically disappear the moment you move out. But moving out of your hometown might free you from negative environments, make you more responsible for yourself, and perhaps reveal a you that always existed but struggled to be seen in the old environment. I think there is no greater reason than finally growing into yourself to create a new home.
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By Daeli Vargas
Daeli is a recent graduate from the City College of New York with a BA in English and a publishing certificate. She is from the Bronx and is very passionate about all things literary. She hopes one day to publish many books of her own and share her passions worldwide.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.
At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
One of the most challenging things I’ve faced as a working-class college student is sedentarism. Although my body is in constant motion between my five courses and thirty-two-hour work week, none is deliberate enough to constitute exercise—although the exhaustion my body feels every day would make one think otherwise. Additionally, with each passing semester, I have less free time to work out. As I ventured into my fitness journey last year during summer break, I learned that my mental health also affected my body on a physical level. On one hand, lacking the will to move my body was a sign of mental exhaustion, while on the other, not moving my body because of said mental state made me stiff and weak, affecting my physical health. It is a hard-to-break cycle I’ve been dealing with my whole life, but its effects have intensified since the start of my college journey.
It doesn’t help that I really dislike exercising. Many say that it’s an enjoyable activity, and perhaps it is for them. For me, it is dreadful and annoying from beginning to end. Last year I worked out rigorously for four months and it never got better. Sure, I loved how my body felt after the fact but while I was doing it? I don’t think so. Again, this is just my experience because I know many people who love exercising. I really wish I was like them, but I am not, so we must work with what we have. Thus, for us lazy folks (and maybe a bit neuro-spicy folks), I have put together a guide to exercise when we don’t want to because, well—I’m sorry to break it to you—we need to move our bodies to maintain physical and mental health. So, here it goes:
When you wake up, before leaving your bed, stretch your muscles. There are plenty of stretches one can do in bed and it is important to develop flexibility to avoid muscle injury. The activity can last as much time as you have available, but it should be for a minimum of ten minutes.
When you are reading class materials, don’t sit down. Adults should take at least 10,000 steps each day. So, use your reading time to walk around your home, neighborhood, or campus to get them in without even thinking about it–audiobooks are also great for this. The activity is not exhaustive, and it is beneficial to boost your stamina. Even I, who hates exercise, enjoyed this one.
Similarly, when you are typing tirelessly on your computer, spend some time standing up. Find a place to put your laptop or monitor higher up so you can work while on your feet. This one is trickier because you may not have the space to do this, so if you don’t, try to do seated stretches to release shoulders and lower back tension.
Find an activity that requires you to move your body and that you enjoy. Here is where you must have slightly more discipline to try different things. Yoga, dancing, martial arts, hiking, biking, and many others are activities that do not necessarily feel like exercise, but they are. If you hate every single one of them, that’s okay. You can try the previous steps.
Lastly, surround yourself with people who love exercising. I hate to admit that it can work. They can be good motivators, and since they have your well-being at heart, they usually hold you accountable when you don’t move your body enough. And if you are a bit competitive, they might inspire you to train more! It is always nurturing to surround yourself with different perspectives.
As you can see, some days it is harder than others to just walk enough.
And there you have it: five simple steps to improve your energy and flexibility. Although moving your body is essential, the most important thing to practice during your college journey is compassion. We are often so hard on ourselves because college takes our time to do things we enjoy, but we need to accept that our careers are demanding and try our best anyway. There are weeks where I don’t follow any of the steps and my body surely pays the price, but I don’t beat myself too hard on it because I must also protect my mind. I hope you do as well.
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By Roxanna Cardenas
Roxanna is a Venezuelan writer living in New York City. Her works include essays, poetry, screenplays, and short stories. She explores fiction and non-fiction genres, with a special interest in horror and sci-fi. She has an A.A. in Writing and Literature and is working on her B.A. in English with a Creative Writing concentration.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.
At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
After completing an entire school year at Columbia University, so many people have asked me “how did you like your first year?”. It’s safe to say that I left campus a changed person. I learned, I laughed, I got off at the wrong subway station more times than I can count. When I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time, I was so sure I had made the right decision to move across the country. When an East Coast storm flooded the streets, the subway, and my shoes, my heart ached for home. It was all so much. The one constant about New York is that it’s always changing. Buildings are erected and dismantled in the blink of an eye, while the scaffolding at the corner store stands tall and immortal. The subway takes millions of passengers across the city every day, each with a different destination in mind. At times, New York can feel like it’s moving too fast.
A photo of the world trade center, one of NYC’s most recognizable and imposing buildings. Taken on 35mm film.
Over the course of the past few chapters, I’ve investigated the different miracles and mishaps that come with one’s freshman year in New York City. Finding community is essential to maintaining sanity while finding your place in this whirlwind of a city. Exploring your neighborhood, joining clubs with similar interests, and practicing small acts of kindness are a few ways to promote a pleasant and healthy shift into undergraduate life from the shelters of high school. At the end of the day, these have been a few tools and tips I’ve laid out to help support the incoming college freshman. Questions, however, are still bound to arise even after these practices are put into action. What happens after freshman year is over? How can I make new friends after the first semester? Can I survive this place for three more years?
Though I can proudly claim I’ve survived a year in New York, I’ve still got a long way to go before I’ve fully realized all that the city has to offer. The honest truth is that I don’t have everything figured out yet, but another truth exists in tandem: I don’t have to! The opportunities, lessons, and experiences available in this metropolis are as sprawling and infinite as the city itself. One could spend a lifetime and a half living in New York and barely scratch its surface. It’s unrealistic to try and master it all, but it’s worthwhile to experience as much as you can. As young adults in New York City, it’s our privilege and responsibility to squeeze as much as we can out of our time here. Emphasis on “as much as we can”, nothing more. Take in as much as you can bear with grace and move forward.
My family visiting me in the city, a photo that reminds me that hope and love can exist here too. Taken on 35mm film.
Adaptability and growth mindsets are your best friends when it comes to reconciling with life in the Big Apple. The power of the growth mindset, believing that your current can be developed and is not fixed, is dynamic and cherishable. The ability to change yourself for the better is crucial when it comes to that smooth transition home sweet home to the urban jungle. Whether you’re anxious to start your first year in New York City or you’re frustrated because your subway is delayed again, retaining that growth mindset is one of the best ways to get through it all. So while you’re out living your dreams in the city that never sleeps, remember: New York City is ever-evolving, so we should be too.
By Thomas Stewart
Thomas currently attends Columbia University and plans to double major in creative writing and human rights. At Columbia Thomas is a staff writer for the City News section of the Columbia Daily Spectator, where he publishes articles that concern the West Harlem community.In his free time, you can find him practicing music or trying new vegetarian recipes
Theres nothing wrong with treating yourself every once in a while. Students can get 15% off a meal at The Grand Feast by showing a coupon and student ID.
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At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
Intern Brenna Sheets from Emerson College is joined by fellow students Amber Call and Grace Rubin to discuss the reality of dating in the digital age. Whether you're an undergrad grinding through finals or a grad student juggling class, TA positions, and a work schedule, adding dating to the mix can feel like an unpaid […]
Intern Brenna Sheets from Emerson College is joined by Cambridge Natural's Emily K. to discuss natural health and wellness in the modern age. They discuss how supplements and herbal teas are being used, marketed, and perceived in our fast-paced, wellness-obsessed society. Is our reliance on these products a sign of empowerment—taking control of our health […]
Intern Brenna Sheets from Emerson College leads today's discussion on self-care and wellness in college. With fellow interns Aidann Gia (Pace University) and Agatha Edwards (Brandeis University), the group discusses what American culture says about self-care, everyone's favorite wellness activities after a stressful week, what gets in the way of students prioritizing themselves, and the […]
Intern Katie leads today's discussion. We talk about the pandemic's effect on college students, since current juniors and seniors' college experiences have been largely defined by the pandemic. We discuss what it was like being sent home from college in 2020, navigating online classes and extracurricular activities, and the lessons we've learned from this whole […]
Welcome back to a new season of the Campus Clipper podcast!Intern Megan leads today's discussion. We talk about the activities that inspire creativity in our cities and how to balance creative hobbies with schoolwork and internships. We also discuss the uncertainty and insecurity that we often feel when putting our creative work out in the […]
Intern Ehani leads today's discussion. We talk about the films, series, books, and other art that has touched our hearts, even when the world makes us want to be dark and cynical. We also discuss what role our passions have in our lives, and what passion means to us. Mentioned in this episode:Call Me By […]
In this episode, our interns talk about going to college in a big city - from the cultural advantages to how they deal with the expensive cost of living. We also share our favorite things to splurge on. Mentioned in this episode:The Whitney MuseumThe Tenement MuseumTips for budgeting (even when you're not the budgeting type)Check out […]
In this episode, our publishing interns talk about why they love writing and how they use writing and creativity as a tool for personal development and mental health. Check out our publishing interns' writing on the Campus Clipper Blog. This episode was recorded at the new East Village, NYC location of Marinara Pizza. Click this […]
