The Seaport Deli, a modest corner store near Pace University, offers an abundance of pastries, sandwiches, and other affordable conveniences for tourists and locals alike. With well-stocked shelves and diverse snack options, the deli caters to hungry students seeking pantry staples and Financial District regulars looking for a quick bite. Its seating area provides a cozy space for customers to unwind, chat, and enjoy freshly prepared meals enticingly displayed behind glass.
Nadia Cook, a fellow Pace student, joined me for lunch at this local gem. We were greeted by an enthusiastic team of employees behind the counter, skillfully assembling sandwiches for a bustling lunch-hour crowd while maintaining cheerful, welcoming smiles. Their friendly banter and lighthearted jokes added to the deli’s authentic community charm. Toward the back, the store opens into a dining area and a section for browsing unique beverages, classic snacks, and basic cooking items, making the Seaport Deli a one-stop shop for meals and groceries.
Our weekday lunch included tea, chips, and paninis. I chose a peach oolong tea, jalapeño chips, and the Italian panini, while Nadia opted for a white mango tea, sour cream and onion chips, and the Oven Gold panini. These flavorful meals, paired with delicately sweet beverages, were the perfect midday pick-me-up after our long classes.
“The portions are great! For my first Italian panini, it was pretty good. If you like paninis, they have a lot of options,” Nadia noted. “I also liked how the store had a lot of different varieties of food, whether it’s snacks or sandwiches.”
The Italian panini featured tender ham and melted cheese layered with a generous spread of pesto, delivering a savory punch. The golden, perfectly toasted bread enhanced the flavor, making each bite satisfying. Paired with the tangy kick of my chips and the refreshing chilled tea, it was an excellent option for a quick but hearty meal.
For Pace students and Financial District professionals seeking a convenient and budget-friendly meal, the Seaport Deli is a true gem. Located just steps from Pace’s 151 Williams Street building, it offers freshly prepared options, from filling paninis to ice-cold drinks, all at affordable prices. Skip the chains and enjoy quality, community-based meals that won’t break the bank—perfect for students on a budget.
Thanks to a partnership with Campus Clipper, the Seaport Deli offers a 10% discount to university students, faculty, and staff with a valid ID.
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.
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.
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!
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.
This diet varies depending on many factors: income, cultural background, access to student discounts, eating habits, schedule, etc. However, the common denominator in at least the student body I have encountered is that we all eat poorly. The reasons, as mentioned above, can differ, yet we all struggle to keep a balanced diet during the semester.
I noticed this in others before I became aware of it in myself. A friend told me once that all he ate during his years in college was pizza because he was “broke” and had no kitchen in his dorm. Another one said that the stress during the semester made her appetite go away, so she would barely eat, while others told me they would eat more during the stressful four months. Slowly, I noticed how my habits would shift while studying. I could go hours without eating or drinking water. Once I finished my homework, I would buy anything accessible at the time—normally fast food—and eat very late at night. It was impossible to know if the constant exhaustion my body felt was due to the lack of nurturing food, sleep, or time off. Whatever the reason, it was there, and I could see it in my classmates as well.
Paying out of pocket for the semester also influenced my meal choices. Since money was limited, fast food was all I could afford because healthier options are more expensive–unjustifiable in a student’s budget. Throughout college, I’ve learned that many students deal with income-related issues, including the struggle with time management to prepare home-cooked meals or lack a support system to cook for them. In this aspect, I was fortunate to rely on my husband to cook meals for me when I was at my busiest. One term, I organized my schedule with four classes each day, with only 15 minutes between each class. For some reason, I didn’t think about leaving time to eat lunch. Consequently, not only did I not have time to cook at home, but I also didn’t have time to buy food. Thus, he would meal-prep for my week, making sure to pack healthier snacks with my lunch. Thankfully, I had someone making sure I fed myself properly, but some students don’t have that luxury.
The many factors that influence “The Student Diet” make it difficult to come up with a solution. It is the reality of many students, especially those with limited income and support. Some public colleges offer food assistance, but that doesn’t mean students have the time to cook, since many work more than one job. Even those that offer canned or microwavable food are still flawed since these are not healthier alternatives either. However, I think an important step to improve this pattern in students’ diet is awareness. Many of us are unaware of our eligibility for welfare programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which still doesn’t provide the time to cook meals but at least it could help with the expense of more nurturing foods. Additionally, more conscious choices when grocery shopping are important. Some small but powerful decisions I have made, for example, are buying more filling snacks that are still cheap (fruits, yogurt, nuts) and avoiding the chips at the vending machine. It has helped with boosting my energy in between classes, at least.
Changing this diet for any other is challenging; thus, we must be aware of what we can control and the assistance programs available to us. So many of those factors that make us fall into it are out of our control, but there are others we can have a say on. Ultimately, unhealthy food habits could impact our performance during the semester. It is harder for the brain to study when it is not well-nurtured. If our bodies are tired, our minds are too. I am still on this journey of making better decisions; hopefully, you can join me in making little yet empowering food choices and breaking the cycle of “The Student Diet.”
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.
Student-athlete: a term that has set the tone for my college experience thus far. This defining term sounds self-explanatory, but this phrase holds more weight regarding the larger context of managing coursework, fostering and building relationships, and forming lifelong memories that define college life.
Students are more than taking notes in lectures, studying for their next exam, and crossing off that assignment on their never-ending homework list. College is a chance to explore your interests, step outside your comfort zone, and reinvent yourself as you grow into adulthood. It is easier said than done, especially when there is a looming deadline over your head, on top of everything else outside the classroom.
I’ve been searching for the sweet spot of balancing school life with activities for as long as I can remember. Like many of my peers, there was always a sports practice, music lesson, or tutoring session to attend, creating a well-rounded perspective on all activities. Starting in middle school and to this day as a college student, sports practices consumed my after-school time. These sports, ranging from swimming, soccer, softball, lacrosse, tennis, and track to finally, rowing, became my passion and my teacher. The countless hours traveling to races, working on improving my performance during practice, and catching up in the locker rooms have taught me more than I could have ever learned about my relationships with myself, my teammates, my time, and more.
Stepping into the role of a college student-athlete was natural and unnatural in all aspects. As a student, there was a strict schedule I knew how to follow: going to class, doing homework, and learning new material. As an athlete, there was a similar strict schedule I knew how to follow: going to practice, setting aside time for recovery, and fueling to do it all over again. Combining the two in newfound ways with the freedom of being in college was something I was not used to. Not knowing when or what to sacrifice in my already growing schedule became an odious task. There was always difficulty in compromising, a fear that I would give up performing to the best of my ability in one aspect of my college career for another. There were times when I did not know whether I should take the extra hour of sleep and go to bed early to wake up for my 6 am practice or take the extra hour to study for my exam the next day. These are compromises that I still struggle to make, yet it has become easier with time and practice, learning when to stay focused and disciplined for a given time and when to relax and experience the true meaning of college life in all its various reflections.
Being a student-athlete has given me a different perspective on college life that I did not foresee. Even with all the extracurricular activities growing up, stepping into the role of a full-time student and a full-time athlete seemed daunting. But I would not trade this experience for any other, just as there should be no such thing as trading one identity for another. There is room for all versions of yourself, your passions, and your talents that make you who you are. College is a time to explore these opportunities to your liking, and through some tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way, I hope it becomes clear that there is a way to achieve balance and lead with conviction and passion.
By Lecia Sun
Lecia is a student at Tufts University studying Classics and World Literature. When she is not reading, she can be found attempting the New York Times Games, trying out a new creative hobby, and dreaming about her next great bake.
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.
Although sushi is simple and delicious, it sometimes requires ingredients that can be a little on the expensive side. Luckily, there are alternative, less expensive ingredients that can be used to make sushi that is equally delicious!
Of course, buying in bulk is also a great way to save money on sushi ingredients. Japanese sushi rice is generally sold in bulk quantities, so this can help you save as well. Once you make the rice, you can even freeze it in a plastic bag to save to use another time; it will stay fresh in the freezer. This will also help you save time later on if you are in a rush to cook! Sushi rice is usually inexpensive when bought in bulk; however, quinoa can also be used as a substitute ingredient if you can find some that’s less expensive at a local grocery! It is a little harder to roll because it does not have quite the same sticky texture as sushi rice, but with a little extra care, it certainly can be done!
Somewhat like the Japanese immigrants did when they substituted avocado for salmon, we’ll be substituting sweet potato for any seafood. This ingredient has a somewhat similar texture, but sweet potatoes cost a lot less than fish, which certainly helps on a student budget. In addition to sweet potato, this recipe will use shiitake mushrooms. Most of the time, when this sushi is made it is seasoned with scallions; however, finely cut, cooked onions can be used as well. The sweet potato should also be cooked, then cut into thin strips.
Take a sheet of seaweed, then fold and tear off a two-inch strip. Spread a layer of rice (or quinoa) over the large sheet of seaweed, but remember to leave a border on the top and bottom edges. Fold the bottom edge of seaweed up over the rice layer, and lay the seaweed strip down. Line the sweet potato, shiitake mushrooms, and sliced onions on the seaweed, and bring the whole layer down to the edge of the bamboo mat. Roll the sushi together, cut into eighths, and enjoy!
This is the ninth chapter from an e-book by one of the Campus Clipper’s former publishing interns, who wrote about how to make sushi. Follow our blog for more chapters from this e-book. We have the most talented interns ever and we’re so proud of them! 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 encourage 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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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 Museum The Tenement Museum Tips for budgeting (even when you're not […]
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Anna leads today's discussion about her ebook, Balancing Your College Life: An Existential Perspective on Exercise and Entertainment. We talk about how we chose our majors and dealing with uncertainty. We also share our tips for coping with academic pressure and art and literature that inspire us. Check out more of Anna's work in her […]
Monica leads today's discussion. We talk about why we chose our respective college, coping with homesickness, and our internship experiences. We also share our tips for getting to know a big city. Check out more of Monica's work in her article "Chapter 2- The First Week at University (Full of Homesickness and Doubt)." Read about […]
Sydney leads today's discussion, and it's all about "Plugging in with Good Intentions." We talk about technology - from maintaining long-distance friendships to podcasts and music recommendations. We also share our tips for managing anxiety on social media. Check out more of Sydney's work in her article, "Plugging in with Good Intentions — Chapter 4: […]