Upon arriving at 16 Handles in East Village, Manhattan, my friend and I were greeted with friendly customer service and fresh-smelling frozen yogurt. While small, the establishment was very clean and inviting. Neo, the owner, called and explained to one of the employees at the toppings counter our purpose for being there was to conduct a food review. The worker at the counter then pointed us to the back where the flavors were. I especially liked the bar table posted against the wall, which made it easy to sit and wait as we decided what flavors to get.
Super good chocolate yogurts from 16 Handles!
For my yogurt, I chose a cookie dough and chocolate fudge mixture with graham cracker shavings on top and some sour gummy worms as a little snack on the side. My friend chose a more elaborate mixture; vanilla, cookies and cream, and fudge chocolate topped with nuts, oreo chunks, and mini mochi ice cream bits. We took a seat at a small booth located near the back of the restaurant and chowed down. I’m not really a fan of ice cream or frozen desserts, so I was not expecting much from the flavors I chose. However, within the first bite, I was completely blown away. The chocolate fudge flavor was so rich and complimented the lighter, milkier flavor of the cookie dough. Topped with the dry graham cracker shavings, it added a slightly crunchy texture to each bite. I already knew I’d love the sour gummies, so I ate those on the side, but I did not expect to like my yogurt so much! I finished it completely, which again, is unheard of for me, and I even tried a bit of my friend’s yogurt, which was also extremely rich in flavor. There was an employee bathroom near where we were sitting, which had a sign on it advising customers not to use it. However, my friend had to use the restroom urgently, and when asking the young man at the counter, he unlocked it for us and explained we could use it for as long as we were eating there. That was also a nice touch to the experience.
Overall, I would definitely come back and order more cookie dough and chocolate fudge dessert! The customer service was great, and the flavors were incredible. 10/10, would recommend! College students get Buy One, Get One Free on Wednesdays with the Campus Clipper coupon.
By: Alex Muniz
Alex Muniz is a Junior English Major at Pace University. She currently resides in Jackson, New Jersey where she works for Campus Clipper and Arts Management Magazine: Next Gen. Her ultimate goal is to publish a creative fiction novel and to work as a Scientific Journalist, primarily in cosmology and earth science.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
Along the bustling sidewalks of 6th Ave rests Goody Fresh Dim Sum, a small restaurant that serves… Well, dim sum! Upon walking in, I was met with images of the restaurant’s dishes and a bright-but-cosy aura. The staff were friendly and kind, immediately offering a nice change of pace from the brisk outdoors. It was a welcomed energy, as the conclusion of midterm season had left me craving warm vibes and tasty bites.
A respite in a busy city
Recommendations!
I hadn’t had dim sum in quite a few years; in my quickly paced New York City life, I simply let more and more time pass since my last venture into a cuisine I loved. I was excited to finally have some again – and Goody Fresh Dim Sum did not disappoint. It was difficult for us to narrow down what we wanted to try since there were plenty of mouth-watering options. After spending more than a few minutes wondering what to go for, our waiter offered some house recommendations.
Shrimp dumplings!
Siu mai!
I am no stranger to shrimp dumplings or siu mai… They’re two of my absolute favourite things to eat! Thus, I was very excited when these two dishes came out from the kitchen. The shrimp dumplings were pillowy, puffed up by generous amounts of shrimp. Dipping them in soy sauce gave them just the right amount of salt needed to create that complex flavour profile I love. The siu mai were seasoned just as I like them– a subtle amount of sweet to complement the savoury as you chew. When my dining partner took her first bite, she exclaimed, “These are where it’s at.” I would be hard-pressed to disagree! They just may have been the best siu mai I’ve had. What I love about these two foods is that there’s a kind of gentle mildness to them while still being packed full of flavour. They’re comforting foods to me – perhaps this is why I always go back for more!
Soup dumplings!
Up next were the soup dumplings. I have been eating soup dumplings since I was a child– they were a dish I would drag my parents out to get as often as I could. These dumplings brought me back to those childhood days. The soup inside warmed my wind-chilled fingers and the filling melted on my tongue. Sometimes soup dumplings fall apart as soon as you pick them up, but these certainly didn’t! They stayed intact, only giving way when I finally took a bite. This was great, as I got to fully enjoy the soup packed inside without spilling any. These dumplings were both a pleasant throw back and warm up.
Pork buns!
Mushroom dumplings!
Last but not least are two dishes I hadn’t had before. A joy of mine is partaking in new foods, and I was glad to not only try these, but also love them! The first was the BBQ pork bun. The bun was soft as a cloud, and the pork inside was smothered in a sauce that was to die for. I enjoyed how the chunks of meat contrasted the fluffy nature of the bun, leading to a nice texture that complemented the taste. The other dish was mushroom dumplings. I am a fan of dumpling, I am a fan of mushrooms, and now I am most certainly a fan of mushroom dumplings! The taste of the mushrooms came through in an almost smoky way, truly letting a great flavour profile shine.
I am very happy that Goody Fresh Dim Sum is only a few steps away from The New School, as I will certainly be returning to relax and eat after a long day of classes! I am excited to go back to not only experience flavours from my youth, but to try new things as well. If you would like to also go and try out their variety of options, use the coupon below for 15% off with your student ID.
By: Ehani Schneiderman
Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
On January 12, at 7:00 pm eastern time, I boarded a plane headed for London. After years of wishing on every star I could count that one day I would go back to my favorite city in the entire world, this was the moment my dreams would finally come true. Atleast, that’s what I thought. I stayed for just one week before coming back home, with a suitcase full of clothes I pictured would pair so perfectly alongside the twinkling streetlights of London. My experience was not picture perfect; it was the hardest week of my entire life.
Upon arriving, I couldn’t recognize the world around me. With that, it was hard to connect to anything at all. I fell completely into myself, I stopped eating, I wouldn’t go outside my dorm room to use the kitchen, I couldn’t even get up to open the curtains, because the sight of South London looked so beautiful from my window, and it made me sick with anger that I couldn’t enjoy any of it. I’ve always battled with anxiety ever since I started elementary school, but it was here, in the middle of London, where it felt like the entire world around me was falling apart.
“Why don’t I feel happy?” I would ask myself. “Why am I so afraid?”. I met some amazing people and was able to explore a little bit, but that didn’t make me feel comfortable. Instead, it only fueled my anxiety even more, because I didn’t recognize the faces around me. Everywhere I looked it felt like there were more and more battles I would have to fight to gain even the slightest bit of comfort. All of the pain, anxiety and fear inside me finally erupted, and at 8:23 am one morning, I was presented with two choices. I could stick it out for the next four months and see if I felt better, or I could leave with her the following Wednesday and go back home.
Thinking about staying felt terrifying, but thinking about leaving seemed even worse. What would everyone think when I came home? How many people would I let down who believed that I was finally ready to embark on such a trip? Was I going to be a complete failure for my entire life? These were the questions that echoed in my mind. It felt like either choice would make me feel miserable, but I knew deep down, I was not healthy enough to be overseas by myself. So, I packed up my things and left for Jackson, New Jersey. When I arrived home, I locked myself in my bedroom and wondered if I had just made the biggest mistake in my entire life.
I like to compare myself to a shark; in order to stay alive, I have to keep moving, letting the cold saltwater of the ocean rush through my gills to give me the strength to move on, and if I stopped, I would die. And in this case, it felt like I did stop, and that I would die. I didn’t want to see my family, I didn’t want to call my friends, I couldn’t bear the mortifying ordeal of being known any longer. The only thing I felt I could do was write, and so I did.
I took out my phone and typed away in a Google document. I wrote down all of the feelings and worries I was having just to put my mind at ease. This was the moment I felt truly connected to the world again. In this small, seemingly insignificant moment, where my tired eyes gazed at the dimly lit screen of my phone as my trembling thumbs furiously typed away at the keyboard, was where I felt whole again. And this feeling of pure astonishment and passion is what I am dedicating my book to.
I want to use my story and connect it to writing, or other passion-filled projects, that give us the strength to continue forward. Moments of peril can sometimes unleash our greatest wisdom. Whether you feel you have no creativity, or you can only find inspiration in other peoples’ work, we will explore the fundamental ways of rerouting back to your own unique creative space, and channeling these worrying thoughts into works of art.
By: Alex Muniz
Alex Muniz is a Junior English Major at Pace University. She currently resides in Jackson, New Jersey where she works for Campus Clipper and Arts Management Magazine: Next Gen. Her ultimate goal is to publish a creative fiction novel and to work as a Scientific Journalist, primarily in cosmology and earth science.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
In my last two posts, I have talked about some of my main passions– writing and anthropology. As I’ve continued my studies, I have often questioned why they matter to me so much. What do I wish to achieve by pursuing these topics? What do I hope for when I write? What do I hope for when I read? What influence do literature and anthropology have over my own desires, emotions, and dreams?
I have found that it boils down to one thing: connection. This word has come up in my writing quite a bit… And for good reason. As a writer who desires to represent both myself and those who are like me, connection is vital. When I read, a thread is woven between myself and the author. I hope that when I write, I can create such a thread for those who pick up my books
A variety of flowers from a trip to a botanical garden.
I have often been asked why I picked up anthropology and how it will benefit me as a fiction and poetry writer. While I don’t believe that you always have to tie together your interests (we are, afterall, multifaceted beings with limitless things to discover), I do have a response for these kinds of questions. A personal belief of mine is that in order to write good stories about people, we have to understand people. When we read books, we want to feel engrossed in what is happening. We want the characters to reach out to us from off the page. Even when characters aren’t humans, we still identify human traits in them. Therefore, I find it vital for writers to be able to understand what it means to exist as a human being.
My anthropological studies have helped me not only learn about others, but have taught me how to learn about others. While this area of study is steeped in academic practices, it also teaches us to listen to one another. I have gained a lot from both articles I’ve read and conversations I’ve had with my peers. In a field that prioritises talking with others, I’ve been able to open up my understanding of the world by sharing stories with the people around me. While we all do this outside of the context of anthropology, I’ve found my listening to be heightened now because I’ve been taught how to take in real breathing stories.
Being able to converse, being able to listen, and being able to understand are all vital in the art of connecting. My philosophies boils down to this at its core: in my desire to connect, I also have a desire to learn. We should all open ourselves up to finding out more about one another. When we do, we can begin to understand how we all fit in as puzzle pieces on this vast planet. We may all be individuals, but we create and function within the world we live in. We affect the environment. We affect one another. We all fit together in one way or another; thus, it is important that we take time to acknowledge all bodies that exist. In doing so, we learn how we connect with everyone we come across in our lives. It doesn’t matter if it’s for years or for seconds– we have countless connections with others that influence the ways we choose to live.
By: Ehani Schneiderman
Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
If you told me in high school that I would find a second passion in college, I would have probably been confused. While I knew that these years were supposed to be spent discovering what you wanted to do with your life, I had never paid the notion much mind. I always had a dream, one I clutched desperately, and never stopped to consider that the world held so many pockets of knowledge. I never thought that there may be more than what I had already held close to my heart.
In my first year of college, a dear friend of mine whose opinion I greatly respect recommended that I try an anthropology class. She thought that it might interest me and I, knowing that I had a core curriculum to fill out, decided to follow her advice. I enrolled in an introductory course on cultural anthropology and suddenly found myself thrown into the deep end of a newfound passion.
A photo from my trip to Japan in 2018.
I had always thought I knew what writing meant to me. Reflecting on this now though, I realise that the concept was muddy. Through taking an anthropology course, I not only learned something new about my interests, but I learned something new about my pre-existing passions as well. This single anthropology course invited me to look at how we write about culture, about people, and tossed me into a spiral of self-questioning. What was my goal with my stories? My poetry? What did it mean to me to read about others?
I want to write to unite people. I want to write to connect with people. Anthropology, being the study of human cultures, helped me discover how I want to write about my own cultures… And it is through anthropology that I discovered that I truly want to learn about others’ as well. I want to read ethnographies. I want to do fieldwork. I want to conduct interviews. I want to learn. I want to connect.
I think that growing up with a strong dream, while wonderful, put me in a one-track state of mind… That is, I became wound up in my “selfhood”. I thought I knew who I was and who I wanted to be. I didn’t stop to consider that the world is large– unlimited– and that my access to said world had opened up since the days I was in elementary school. And it was in this small boxed-off corner of the universe that I had begun to isolate myself from others– from my desire to reach out to others. I wanted to do it, but I didn’t realise that I was holding myself back from it.
I am incredibly grateful to my friend for not only suggesting the class to me but for understanding me and thinking of me. Looking back, I think my time in college may have been very different if I had not tried something new. The unexpected made me curious and in this curiosity, I found a geode of passion waiting to be cracked open. Since then, I’ve kept my pickaxe handy; even now, in my last semester, I am still learning new things about where I want to be in the world. I don’t think I’ll ever stop learning now that I’ve begun– just as there is a limitless amount of things we can discover about the world, there’s a limitless amount of things we can discover about ourselves! And these new discoveries will inform the old, illuminating the past we thought we knew so well.
By: Ehani Schneiderman
Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
I always strolled through the back alleys of school since I was in 6th grade, taking paths that were not hidden, but also were not sought after by other students. The only reason I knew about them is because I was always close to my teachers and developed friendly relationships with my classmates. This allowed me to hear first hand what was going on in my school.
The high school that I attended was Gramercy Arts, a small school occupying one floor of the Washington Irving Building in the lower east side of Manhattan. I entered this school because I did not get into any other high schools in the city. This was not because I did not have good grades. This is because the selection process for high school in New York is like a lottery. Everything is unnecessarily competitive as soon as you leave elementary school.
I have heard of blessings in disguise, but this one was more of a blessing buried under the concrete of a 100 year old, 14 story building. Adorned with carved wood and 20th century paintings in the lobby, this is where I learned how to dig. Most students thought it was a terrible school, and on the surface it may have seemed that way, with the metal detectors and the 6 high schools combined in the one building. I tried my best not to think about this and look at this experience for what it was… school.
Somehow my discomfort with social settings landed me in the library every day for lunch. I was not friends with the librarians though because they would always catch me sitting in the midst of the bookshelves either doing homework, reading, or on my phone. Some days I would find myself in the room designated for the YMCA on my campus, and this is where the digging began. It was small room that allowed for more intimate connections with students and gave me the space to talk about a range of topics and break out of my invisible shell.
All of this does not mean that you need to be like me and hangout in corners by yourself. This is just my experience to share with others. It is always important to know about the journey to understand the lessons. With that being said, let’s get into making connections that will be the foundations for your schooling experiences.
In my experience, I formed connections between people who I slowly began to relate to. The kids in the library told me about the YMCA room, which was open on select days. Track where your opportunities come from, how they come to you, who is the messenger, and which you choose to act on. We all have unique experiences, but the one thing that we can all relate to is the constant that occurs in all of our lives. It is like if you always end up stubbing the same toe throughout your life, or if people come to you and say the same things about how they perceive you based on a first impression. These are constants, and they will also apply to areas of your life that seem miraculous. Tracking your opportunities will allow you to find out more about yourself and the types of opportunities you and your unique existence attract.
By Miashe Barnes
My name is Miashe, and I go to Parsons School of Design, as a communications design major. I never thought art school would be my path, but alas here I am and loving it so far. I want to share some of my experience with others with faith that I can help some who may be a bit confused or hesitant on where to go. I am not going to show you the way, but I will just provide a helping hand to let you know that the trials of life do not need to be faced alone. Cosas de la vida mis amigos. With that being said, please tune in for some tips and tricks for assistance in using the tools you are given in school to explore.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
Comfort is, as humans, something we all crave. We want to feel secure in order to feel comfortable in new environments. Despite this, comfort is not your friend on your first day to a couple of weeks on campus. The biggest mistake that incoming college freshmen can make, a mistake I made myself, is allowing yourself to feel overly comfortable.
The first friends that I made in college were my suitemates. Originally it was the four of us and I was comfortable with that. Who else would I really need to be friends with if I was best friends with the people I lived with? Despite this, within a week we agreed that a complete friend group required more members and we looked to expand. So, I made friends with a girl that was in all my classes. Who better I thought? A good friend in every class? Sounds good to me. Eventually, her group of friends and my suitemates, and I became one big group. BAM! College friends = Complete. A group of 8 people was enough.
The problem is that I gave up even looking for other
friends. It never occurred to me that even though this worked it didn’t mean it
was for the best. What I gradually learned over the entirety of my freshman year
was that I was wasting my college experience because I felt I needed nothing
more than what I already had, I was too comfortable with where I was. That’s
not the point of college, the point is to truly find yourself and others who
compliment who you are. Allow yourself to be a little choosey when finding your
“college friends”. High school is a time for friendships of convenience, people
that you will see every school day for 12 years, your options are usually
significantly more limited than a college campus. Branch out! Try everything
you can! Anything that sounds remotely interesting, try it. The worst that can
happen is that you lose an hour of your life. The best? You can find a new part
of yourself that you never considered before that you never had the opportunity
to uncover.
How would I do it differently if I had the opportunity? I would do everything I could to meet as many people as possible. You never know who your group will consist of, or where you’ll find them. Most colleges have sites that detail the clubs that can be found on campus. Make a list of the ones that sound interesting and try to make it to at least two meetings for them. The first meeting is to see if it’s even a club dedicated to something you want to invest your time into, and the second is purely for meeting others. Talk to the President, the Vice President, the Treasurer, the Social Media Coordinator, or anyone you can get your hands on. Try to feel the vibe of the people within the club. In an unexplainable way, each group of people will feel different, see what the feel of each group is. After that the next step is easy, there are only so many hours in a day, and you can only spread yourself so thin. It’s better to be able to give each thing you pick the attention it deserves. Don’t over choose or over-commit; only take on as much as your schedule and your mental health limit you to. Prioritize the groups with the most people that make you feel special and appreciated. Long term, those are the most important factors for long-term friendships. You should always feel that the group believes your presence is not just welcome but additive. Find the people that make you feel that the group wouldn’t be the same without you. Those will be the college friends you look back on later in life!
With all the new friends you’re going to be making you’re going to need fun activities to do, check out Boston Paintball and get 100 free shots!
By Cameron Maurice
Cameron Maurice is a Northeastern Senior studying Business and Communications. His passions lie in Television and Movies and he hopes to work in the Entertainment Industry in the near future.
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.
As a child, I read. I read hungrily, voracious in my need to devour words, every day until my head was on the verge of bursting. Each weekend, I would browse the shelves of my local bookstore. By the following Friday, I would be done with whatever I had bought.
Imagine my surprise when little me realised that people were behind books. It was one of those things I had sort-of known but never really absorbed; I suddenly understood that individuals didn’t just write books, but created them. They crafted plots, characters, and entire worlds. They had a magic within them, something that seemed almost mythical, but were still people… I realised that they were human, just like me.
A small part of my growing collection of different stories!
And thus began my lifelong desire to be a writer. Approximately fifteen years later, at the verge of 23, I look back at the beginning of this dream fondly. In my mind’s eye, I see a little girl who was touched by the beauty of a grand world. My journey from then to now is a complicated one though. As I grew up, the types of books I read changed– though I suppose it is more accurate to say the types of books I was exposed to changed. My literature classes in middle and high school focused almost exclusively on one thing: the Western canon. I was fed the classics, the greats, with little understanding of what this was supposed to mean to me as an aspiring modern writer.
As a LGBTQ+ South Asian girl, I grew up not seeing myself in media. Someone like me was rarely in a show or novel, and if there was someone like me, they were never the main character. When a child sees (or, perhaps, doesn’t see) themself, it permeates how they perceive their existence. It is here, at the doorway between a grand world and a PWI (predominantly white institute) that I began to misunderstand what was expected of me as a writer. I had begun to think that the Western canon was what is to be striven for– that it was the be-all and end-all of good writing. Nothing in my education before college dissuaded me from this misguided belief. I thus ended up not knowing how to write for and of myself… And I was too afraid to try.
In my first year of college, my world was shaken. I had enrolled in a class called Living Writers; in this class, we would read books by modern storytellers and then attend a live reading. Different writers of various backgrounds poured their hearts out to us, sharing their struggles and triumphs, their insecurities and lessons. They opened up about the discrimination they faced, the roadblocks they overcame, and the visions they wished to share. They were all recognisable creators; decorated and respectable, their talent permeated the air. They were accomplished. They were passionate. They were dreamers. They were themselves… And they resonated with me. From where they stood on stage, looking out at the countless faces in front of them, they managed to reignite something within me. It was there, in a packed lecture hall warmed by dim overhead lights, that I heard voices– living, breathing voices– that reminded me of what it means for words to dance within a human body.
What does it mean to be a writer? My time in college has afforded me a myriad of new ways to answer this. I think, foremost, it means to live– it means to be alive. We are all unique individuals. We all have our own stories. Nobody’s story is more important than anyone else’s; everyone has something to share, something to write about. Learning to write for and about yourself also means learning to write for others. In a world that limits stories by telling creators what stories should be told, it is easy for us to become disconnected from one another. It is through reading that we can learn that we are not alone. It is through writing that we can show someone else that they are not alone. We begin to truly see one another. When we choose to write about our own passions, our own realities, we begin to build community. A writer brings life not only to the pages, but also to those who pick up their work. We start to remember that we are all here, as humans, with stories that are deserving of being told.
Main takeaways:
Write for yourself! In doing so, you write for others as well.
Remember that your story is always worth being told!
By: Ehani Schneiderman
Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
Welcome to a new 5-chapter series on being an international student in America, and the many (many) ups and downs this journey brings along with it. Even if you’re not an international student yourself, I encourage you to read these short posts. t At the risk of sounding self-important, I think you may find something to draw from them, whether it’s a fun anecdote or the incredulity that comes with reading about a human experience so different from your own. And if you do one day end up going abroad for your own experience, the tips woven into these chapters may just give you a helping hand.
If you’ve been reading my posts on making and maintaining friendships in college, you’ll probably notice a lot of parallels between that series and this one—after all, both have to do with reorienting yourself in a new environment, and both rely very heavily on metaphors. So why not start with one?
Whereas I had begun my last series with a metaphor that encouraged you to see yourself as the puzzle master in your own life, I think a more accurate image for international students is that of a vast ocean or body of water, one that many may also physically cross to arrive at their final destination. In this scenario, you, the international student, get to be your own self, staring out across the horizon and marveling at the scene before you. Many thoughts flit through your head, the principal one probably being a reflection on the immensity of the journey ahead of you if you were to take that first step. You see the waves, and you know that once you do make the plunge, there’s no going back, and that thought excites you just as much as it scares you. But in this moment, you choose to let the excitement take over; with both feet on land, you feel grounded enough to see your choice to take the plunge as a reasonable and even logical decision. Why shouldn’t you go in the water? It’ll be refreshing, a nice change of pace. An opportunity to do, see, and be more. When I think back to my own experience moving abroad for the first time, all I can remember is the excitement. I was around ten years old at the time, so naturally my imagination took off before I could even put a leash around it. No doubts, or very insignificant ones, crossed my mind.
“ocean” by Douglas A Lewis is licensed with CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
The next part of the metaphor sees you quite literally jumping into the water, and, before you know it, you find yourself in the middle of the ocean. The journey here is a blur; when did the water rise to your knees? To your waist? How are you just now realizing that you’re wading endlessly, with no sight of the land you know like the back of your hand? That’s usually when expectation meets reality, and the panic hits. You start to realize that all of a sudden, the responsibility is on you. You chose to step away from the familiar. What once seemed like an exciting, new adventure in a coming-of-age movie is starting to look more and more like a thriller where you get your hand bitten off by a shark because you hadn’t realized how far you’d gone on your own, and now you don’t know how to ask for help.
Well, rescue boat at your service here. The advice I have for this predicament may not be the advice you want to hear, or you may find the most helpful at first, but it’s the one that I’ve come to rely on in my own moments of irrational fear and “what the heck do I do now?” Here we go, are you ready? If you want to not only survive, but also enjoy the experience of being an international student, the first thing you have to do is accept the fact that the person who got you in the deep end is the same one that’s going to get you out. Like I said only a couple paragraphs ago, a large part of the excitement of going abroad is the self-drive it takes to say yes to dropping everything and going somewhere new. At that moment, in the short time it takes to take the plunge, you’re trusting yourself to live up to your commitment to not only survive, but thrive in that new place. In order to do that, you have to realize that the person you are during a crisis and the person you are during a situation of comfort are the same person. Jumping in the water didn’t turn you into a fish, nor did it all of a sudden make you a dead weight; if you’ve made it this far, it means you already know how to swim far enough to make it where you find yourself now.
What you’re in now then is not a physical battle, but rather a mental one, in which your opponent takes the form of all the lies and insecurities you have about not being strong or capable enough to make it in this new environment, in this new state of stress. So start channeling those positive thoughts and telling yourself what, in the deep end of your mind, you already know, and start swimming, floating, and kicking your way out of that deep end now.
Main Takeaways:
· Being an international student can make you feel like you’re in the middle of a vast ocean, with no land in sight. When that happens, take a moment to breathe and remember that you weren’t just dropped in the middle of this ocean; you swam here, and you’ll swim back out when you need to.
· Making it abroad is almost entirely a mental battle; in those moments of stress, it’s important to remember that just because your feelings are constantly shifting, your abilities are not. You are just as capable as you were when you first set out, and you need to accept the fact that though comfort may at times be lacking, you have the ability to adapt to and get through any situation you put your mind to.
Chiara Jurczak is a second-year student at Northeastern University where she is majoring in Political Science and Communication Studies. She is currently finding new ways to explore her passions for creative writing, publishing and political crises, and hoping to figure it all out sooner rather than later. In her free time, you can find her reading, baking, or trying to talk her friends into going on fun (and at times strange) adventures.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
In New York, adventure is often right around the corner, and you never know where the simplest outings may take you. That’s why it’s never a bad idea to grab a friend and embark on a short trip—even just for coffee—as it may result in unexpected outcomes.
Over the summer, I moved into Barnard College for the first time, planning to take summer classes on campus. After meeting my suitemate for the first time, we soon made plans to grab a cup of coffee on a seemingly insignificant Wednesday morning. What was meant to be a short outing quickly turned into a few hours of bonding.
That morning, we arrived at a coffee shop, eager to caffeinate ourselves and start the day off on a perky foot. We grabbed a cup by campus and sat down outside the shop, intending to chat there for a bit while sipping our drinks. We spent not five minutes seated outside before we noticed a group of people dressed in 1950s garb, coming out of a trailer. We had previously heard murmurings that Amazon Prime’s Video’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was filming in Morningside Heights, and, putting two and two together, we realized that these extras of the show may lead us to the filming site. As avid fans of the show, we had no choice but to follow them through Morningside.
As we snuck behind them, keeping at a clear following distance, we eventually found ourselves in Riverside Park where there was an abundance of cameras and extras, with little children in 1950s play clothes. And, on a bench facing outwardly from the park, sat Mrs. Maisel herself.
Scenes from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
A few spectators sat on benches nearby, watching the filming occurring, not actually close enough to hear, but close enough to watch. Other bodies walked by the set when allowed, clearly unaffected by the filming happening. My friend and I could not relate—we were absolutely ecstatic.
We sat nearby, filming videos, chatting about our favorite scenes, and even making friends with a guard for the production. Even though I was born and raised in San Francisco, I had never experienced anything like this. The ability to simply go for a cup of coffee and run into the cast of an Emmy-award-winning TV show and watch them film, especially with a new friend, is almost unimaginable. Needless to say, my friend and I have never forgotten that day—it makes for a great story, and an irreconcilable bond between us.
Main takeaways:
Say yes! You never know where an outing may take you.
Be open to new experiences. Whether you end up pleasantly surprised, or in a less than desirable situation, there will be stories you can share and tell your friends at a party someday when conversation lulls. That’s what I tell myself, anyway!
Go out and explore new places with a friend—chances are your friendship will strengthen.
By Rania Borgani
Rania Borgani is a second-year student at Barnard College, majoring in the Economics Department with a focus on the political economy. She spends her time writing and editing for a campus news site. When she’s not working, you can find her reading, drinking copious amounts of coffee, or walking aimlessly around the city with friends.
For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.
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