Self

Dear Class of 2026: Here are 26 things I've learned from my first year

Dear Class of 2026: Here are 26 things I've learned from my first year

Stephenie Chen

“I feel grossly under-qualified to give this advice, but these reflections are more for myself than for anyone else — to remind myself that these past eight months have been more than just a fever dream.”

“I feel grossly under-qualified to give this advice, but these reflections are more for myself than for anyone else — to remind myself that these past eight months have been more than just a fever dream.”

THE PROSPECT | May 1

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The many spring flowers of Princeton

The many spring flowers of Princeton

Paige Cromley

“I’ve started lingering more, pausing to watch a bird poking at the ground or a butterfly fluttering past. Because of these moments of stillness, I’ve started paying more attention to the flowers that make my run so colorful.”

“I’ve started lingering more, pausing to watch a bird poking at the ground or a butterfly fluttering past. Because of these moments of stillness, I’ve started paying more attention to the flowers that make my run so colorful.”

THE PROSPECT | April 26

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Telling our beautiful stories

Telling our beautiful stories

José Pablo Fernández García

“There’s something truly beautiful in how my friends have worked with so much care and compassion to tell the story of this part of the Princeton community.”

“There’s something truly beautiful in how my friends have worked with so much care and compassion to tell the story of this part of the Princeton community.” 

THE PROSPECT | April 22

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Remembrance of gay things past: My local gay bar

Remembrance of gay things past: My local gay bar

Jeff Nunokawa

“That local gay bar was a big and noisy tent. There was room there for anyone who was “Queer”, though we didn’t use that word back then,” writes English Professor Jeff Nunokawa in a guest Self essay for The Prospect.

“That local gay bar was a big and noisy tent. There was room there for anyone who was “Queer”, though we didn’t use that word back then,” writes English Professor Jeff Nunokawa in a guest Self essay for The Prospect.

THE PROSPECT | April 22

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The power of coming out — and of not having to

The power of coming out — and of not having to

Katherine Dailey

“Maybe not everyone I pass on the way to class knows that I’m a lesbian, but looking at me, it’s pretty easy to figure out that I’m queer.”

“Maybe not everyone I pass on the way to class knows that I’m a lesbian, but looking at me, it’s pretty easy to figure out that I’m queer.” 

THE PROSPECT | April 22

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Between two communities: Being queer and Muslim at Princeton

Between two communities: Being queer and Muslim at Princeton

Anonymous

“Just like being queer in Muslim spaces felt risky, being Muslim in queer spaces felt difficult as well.” An anonymous student reflects on the challenges of navigating the queer and Muslim communities at Princeton.

“Just like being queer in Muslim spaces felt risky, being Muslim in queer spaces felt difficult as well.” An anonymous student reflects on the challenges of navigating the queer and Muslim communities at Princeton.

THE PROSPECT | April 22

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Stomaching uncertainty

Stomaching uncertainty

Emily Miller

“But, improvement and progress are not binary variables between perfection and abdication — they are continuous with many fluctuations,“ writes Emily Miller in a guest Self essay for The Prospect.

“But, improvement and progress are not binary variables between perfection and abdication — they are continuous with many fluctuations,“ writes Emily Miller in a guest Self essay for The Prospect.

THE PROSPECT | April 18

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Maggie Nelson on freedom, queerness, and (not) knowing ourselves

Maggie Nelson on freedom, queerness, and (not) knowing ourselves

Clara McWeeny

Covering Maggie Nelson’s recent campus appearance in a conversation with professor Gayle Salamon for Princeton’s Public Lecture Series, Staff Writer Clara McWeeny also explores her own understanding of knowing one’s self.

Covering Maggie Nelson’s recent campus appearance in a conversation with professor Gayle Salamon for Princeton’s Public Lecture Series, Staff Writer Clara McWeeny also explores her own understanding of knowing one’s self.

THE PROSPECT | April 13

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The art of looking up

The art of looking up

Paige Cromley

“It feels whimsical, indulgent almost, to tell people I want to spend this era of my youth studying the stars.” Paige Cromley reflects on declaring as an Astrophysics major and the grounding experience of stargazing.

“It feels whimsical, indulgent almost, to tell people I want to spend this era of my youth studying the stars. However, I think there is something fundamentally grounding about the field — it seems significantly removed from human-scale worries.” Prospect Staff Writer Paige Cromley reflects on declaring as an Astrophysics major and the grounding experience of stargazing.

THE PROSPECT | April 11

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Writing myself into Princeton’s story

Writing myself into Princeton’s story

José Pablo Fernández García

“For some reason, I’ve hesitated to write more explicitly about my Mexican identity or my story of immigration. They’re weird, complex identities and issues I often struggle to understand on a personal, internal level, especially as an immigrant to a country with a distinctly difficult history of race and otherness.”

“For some reason, I’ve hesitated to write more explicitly about my Mexican identity or my story of immigration.” 

THE PROSPECT | April 10

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Doormats, being nonbinary, and me

Doormats, being nonbinary, and me

Aster Zhang

“This journey hasn’t been affirming. It’s not hopeful. It’s crushing.”

“This journey hasn’t been affirming. It’s not hopeful. It’s crushing.” 

THE PROSPECT | April 7

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Breaking Up with STEM

Breaking Up with STEM

Kerrie Liang

"And although some days I wonder whether the grass is greener on the other side, for the first time I am learning for the sake of learning — and that should be enough." Assistant Editor Kerrie Liang reflects on her struggles with letting go of her STEM persona.

“And although some days I wonder whether the grass is greener on the other side, for the first time I am learning for the sake of learning — and that should be enough.” Assistant Editor Kerrie Liang reflects on her struggles with letting go of her STEM persona.

THE PROSPECT | March 28

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Growing up with instant noodles

Growing up with instant noodles

Albert Lee

“Instant noodles will always have a special place in my heart.” Senior Writer Albert Lee revisits the  roles instant noodles have played in his life and that of his family.

“Instant noodles will always have a special place in my heart.” Senior Writer Albert Lee revisits the  roles instant noodles have played in his life and that of his family.

THE PROSPECT | March 22

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'Philosophy with the body in it'

'Philosophy with the body in it'

Andrew Johnson

“I found myself in an intimidatingly silent studio dotted with students deep in serene contemplation, forming a perfect circle between the colossal window and mirror.” Contributing Writer Andrew Johnson reflects on his first foray into dance classes at Princeton.

“I found myself in an intimidatingly silent studio dotted with students deep in serene contemplation, forming a perfect circle between the colossal window and mirror.” Contributing Writer Andrew Johnson reflects on his first foray into dance classes at Princeton.

THE PROSPECT | March 21

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Flight itinerary: a travel diary

Flight itinerary: a travel diary

Gabriel Robare

Senior Writer Gabe Robare details his travel path from Princeton, N.J., to Buffalo, N.Y., with multiple stops in between.

Senior Writer Gabe Robare details his travel path from Princeton, N.J., to Buffalo, N.Y., with multiple stops in between.  

THE PROSPECT | March 14

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It is my birthday

It is my birthday

José Pablo Fernández García

“I feel like I’m entering this year with the world wide open before me.”

 “I feel like I’m entering this year with the world wide open before me.” 

THE PROSPECT | March 14

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These two years at Princeton

These two years at Princeton

José Pablo Fernández García

“This ending of sorts feels like such a minuscule whimper of a conclusion to what began with a practically inconceivable upheaval to our lives.”

“This ending of sorts feels like such a minuscule whimper of a conclusion to what began with a practically inconceivable upheaval to our lives.”

THE PROSPECT | March 3

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Celebrating Einstein on and off campus

Celebrating Einstein on and off campus

Clara McWeeny

For The Prospect, Staff Writer Clara McWeeny explores the many ways Albert Einstein’s legacy is honored across campus and town, reflecting on the physicist’s great ambitions.

For The Prospect, Staff Writer Clara McWeeny explores the many ways Albert Einstein’s legacy is honored across campus and town, reflecting on the physicist’s great ambitions.

THE PROSPECT | February 21

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On Van Gogh: what it means to be ‘useful’ in the world

On Van Gogh: what it means to be ‘useful’ in the world

Thia Bian

Staff Writer for the Prospect Thia Bian reflects on Van Gogh’s letters, his desperation to change the world, and the lesson that “little happinesses” are more important than the pressure to be revolutionary.

Staff Writer for the Prospect Thia Bian reflects on Van Gogh’s letters, his desperation to change the world, and the lesson that “little happinesses” are more important than the pressure to be revolutionary.

THE PROSPECT | February 17

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Navigating doubts, hopes, and hormone replacement therapy at Princeton

Navigating doubts, hopes, and hormone replacement therapy at Princeton

Anonymous

“As I waited to be seen by the next practitioner, I thought back through the journey which led me to that room.” In an anonymous guest contribution to The Prospect, a Princeton student shares their journey to beginning gender-affirming care at McCosh Health Center.

“As I waited to be seen by the next practitioner, I thought back through the journey which led me to that room.” In an anonymous guest contribution to The Prospect, a Princeton student shares their journey to beginning gender-affirming care at McCosh Health Center.

THE PROSPECT | February 14

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