Self

The Self essay

The Self essay

José Pablo Fernández García

“But now, finally, in these essays I’ve found the binding together of my self. These disparate parts have been gathered and collected like a bundle of sticks — still precarious but at least momentarily unified.”

“But now, finally, in these essays I’ve found the binding together of my self. These disparate parts have been gathered and collected like a bundle of sticks — still precarious but at least momentarily unified.”

THE PROSPECT | 12/08/2022

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Growing up Buddhist during the holiday season

Growing up Buddhist during the holiday season

Albert Lee

“To some students, Christmas decorations may spark excitement for the holiday season. For me, a second-generation immigrant who was raised Buddhist, they remind me of my complicated relationship with mainstream American culture.”

“To some students, Christmas decorations may spark excitement for the holiday season. For me, a second-generation immigrant who was raised Buddhist, they remind me of my complicated relationship with mainstream American culture.”

THE PROSPECT | 12/08/2022

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An ode to laundry

An ode to laundry

Isabella Dail

Contributing writer Isabella Dail finds moments of calm and self-reflection in the act of doing laundry. 

Contributing writer Isabella Dail finds moments of calm and self-reflection in the act of doing laundry. 

THE PROSPECT | 11/29/2022

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Hello, my name is...

Hello, my name is...

José Pablo Fernández García

“But in such a surrender, there is, at a deeper level, a certain surrender of dignity and identity as well. A name is so personal a matter; it should belong to no one but oneself.”

“But in such a surrender, there is, at a deeper level, a certain surrender of dignity and identity as well. A name is so personal a matter; it should belong to no one but oneself.”

THE PROSPECT | 11/28/2022

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Arepas at Princeton: Reflections of a Colombian-American

Arepas at Princeton: Reflections of a Colombian-American

Sophia Colmenares

“Just as I would shape the raw arepa dough into their circular shapes, Princeton, in a way, has helped shape my understanding of my own cultural identity as Colombian-American.”

“Just as I would shape the raw arepa dough into their circular shapes, Princeton, in a way, has helped shape my understanding of my own cultural identity as Colombian-American.”

THE PROSPECT | 11/28/2022

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From Peru to Princeton: Paving my own path

From Peru to Princeton: Paving my own path

Frida Ruiz

“Before arriving at Princeton, I wondered if I would feel the same alienation that I had been feeling for so long.”

“Before arriving at Princeton, I wondered if I would feel the same alienation that I had been feeling for so long.”

THE PROSPECT | 11/28/2022

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Music and my identities: Learning from Jorge Drexler’s visit to Princeton

Music and my identities: Learning from Jorge Drexler’s visit to Princeton

Ian Fridman

“I belong to all my intersecting identities: a little to them all, but to none of them entirely. It is in these shades of gray that identity can be so wonderful.”

“I belong to all my intersecting identities: a little to them all, but to none of them entirely. It is in these shades of gray that identity can be so wonderful.”

THE PROSPECT | 11/21/2022

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The year of a heart cracked open

The year of a heart cracked open

José Pablo Fernández García

“This is why I consider this my year of a heart cracked open: because that shell has finally come off.”

“This is why I consider this my year of a heart cracked open: because that shell has finally come off.”

THE PROSPECT | 11/20/2022

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My rural community and the stories we tell

My rural community and the stories we tell

Noelle Carpenter

Contributing writer for The Prospect Noelle Carpenter reflects on coming to Princeton from a rural community. She writes that, upon encountering stereotypes, “I’ve found myself an unlikely champion, frequently arguing on behalf of a community I too had to learn to love.”

Contributing writer for The Prospect Noelle Carpenter reflects on coming to Princeton from a rural community. She writes that, upon encountering stereotypes, “I’ve found myself an unlikely champion, frequently arguing on behalf of a community I too had to learn to love.”

THE PROSPECT | 11/17/2022

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The Cause: the days are long, but the months are short

The Cause: the days are long, but the months are short

Joshua Yang

“I love the cause. Yet I can’t help but feel that loving the cause means I have little space left for loving streaky sunsets, or the wind whipping through my hair, or autumn fading to winter.”

“I love the cause. Yet I can’t help but feel that loving the cause means I have little space left for loving streaky sunsets, or the wind whipping through my hair, or autumn fading to winter.”

THE PROSPECT | 11/14/2022

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Extinguishing the poet with my tears

Extinguishing the poet with my tears

Kyung Eun Lee

“Suddenly, I’ve lost any and all sense of trust in the poet. How would I know if there were secret truths hidden in details invisible to the human eye?”

“Suddenly, I’ve lost any and all sense of trust in the poet. How would I know if there were secret truths hidden in details invisible to the human eye?”

THE PROSPECT | 11/13/2022

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Triangle Traces

Triangle Traces

José Pablo Fernández García

“All this makes my last few nights in McCarter for my last Triangle premiere this weekend just that much more special. And with light, one thing that makes it so magical is how ephemeral it is.”

“All this makes my last few nights in McCarter for my last Triangle premiere this weekend just that much more special. And with light, one thing that makes it so magical is how ephemeral it is.”

THE PROSPECT | 11/03/2022

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An ode to Halloweekend

An ode to Halloweekend

Eric Fenno

“Getting ready is the most essential part of a Halloween party. Whether you just throw on an oversized shirt and boxers for a low effort but utterly classic “the guy from Risky Business” or you don full-fledged face makeup, green hair, and purple suit for the Joker, getting ready is the time to get into character. You are no longer you.”

“Getting ready is the most essential part of a Halloween party. Whether you just throw on an oversized shirt and boxers for a low effort but utterly classic “the guy from Risky Business” or you don full-fledged face makeup, green hair, and purple suit for the Joker, getting ready is the time to get into character. You are no longer you.”

THE PROSPECT | 11/03/2022

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From hidden to happy: On not fitting in, being myself, and Season 1, Episode 5 of ‘Modern Family’

From hidden to happy: On not fitting in, being myself, and Season 1, Episode 5 of ‘Modern Family’

Avery Danae Williams

Avery Danae Williams, contributing writer for The Prospect, frames a self-essay about fitting in with an episode of “Modern Family.”

Avery Danae Williams, contributing writer for The Prospect, frames a self-essay about fitting in with an episode of “Modern Family.”

THE PROSPECT | 10/30/2022

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I see you and learn how to be

I see you and learn how to be

Ina Aram

“I want to know how people do it. How do people wake up and put their feet on the ground and do what they do like it’s nothing at all? How are people doing this thing that is living? I look out my window and see.”

“I want to know how people do it. How do people wake up and put their feet on the ground and do what they do like it’s nothing at all? How are people doing this thing that is living? I look out my window and see.”

THE PROSPECT | 10/26/2022

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First-year imposter syndrome, rejection cycles, and living in the moment

First-year imposter syndrome, rejection cycles, and living in the moment

Russell Fan

“Success is not limited to current achievements; it also encompasses future endeavors that I can build for myself.” Contributing writer Russell Fan comes to terms with rejection in a self essay about trying to find an extracurricular to join.

“Success is not limited to current achievements; it also encompasses future endeavors that I can build for myself.” Contributing writer Russell Fan comes to terms with rejection in a self essay about trying to find an extracurricular to join.

THE PROSPECT | 10/13/2022

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In anticipation of love

In anticipation of love

Kyung Eun Lee

“From the distance we see in each other, love emerges.” Contributing writer Kyung Eun Lee reflects on finding love and community through solitude and struggle.

“From the distance we see in each other, love emerges.” Contributing writer Kyung Eun Lee reflects on finding love and community through solitude and struggle.

THE PROSPECT | 10/11/2022

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Tierra y memoria

Tierra y memoria

Rodrigo Córdova Rosado

“To see land and memory intertwined, the physical world and our experience of it, is perhaps one of the greatest lessons my communities have taught me.”

“To see land and memory intertwined, the physical world and our experience of it, is perhaps one of the greatest lessons my communities have taught me.”

THE PROSPECT | 10/09/2022

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Back to the B floor

Back to the B floor

José Pablo Fernández García

Head Prospect Editor José Pablo Fernández García reflects on the calm and stability that Firestone Library’s B floor brings him, after all these years.

Head Prospect Editor José Pablo Fernández García reflects on the calm and stability that Firestone Library’s B floor brings him, after all these years.

THE PROSPECT | 10/06/2022

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Existence, in theory and in practice

Existence, in theory and in practice

Joshua Yang

“What I do on my Fridays has little bearing on my Tuesdays, and vice versa, yet I’ve found that it’s only through the dichotomy of these dual existences that I can be all of myself.” Contributing Prospect writer Joshua Yang reflects on balancing the theoretical, abstract world of philosophy and the concreteness of reality.

“What I do on my Fridays has little bearing on my Tuesdays, and vice versa, yet I’ve found that it’s only through the dichotomy of these dual existences that I can be all of myself.” Contributing Prospect writer Joshua Yang reflects on balancing the theoretical, abstract world of philosophy and concreteness of reality.

THE PROSPECT | 10/06/2022

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