Self

“Trees, to me, are one of those things that a residual childhood naiveté believes to be permanent.” After hearing the tree outside his dorm cut down, Head Editor José Pablo Fernández García reflects on change and the comfort of permanence, even if illusory.

THE PROSPECT | 05/11/2022

A lot of different flowers make a bouquet: Reflecting on the past four years

Harsimran Makkad

“There is a famous proverb in Islam that says, ‘A lot of different flowers make a bouquet.’ Well, a lot of different buildings make a campus. A lot of different people make a community.” Just before graduation, Managing Editor Emerita Harsimran Makkad reflects on her four years at Princeton in The Prospect.

THE PROSPECT | 05/11/2022

For all the graduating tigers

For all the graduating tigers

José Pablo Fernández García

Head Editor for The Prospect José Pablo Fernández García looks back on a year full of friendship and reflects on seeing his senior friends getting ready to move on as they graduate in a couple weeks.

THE PROSPECT | 05/05/2022

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.”

THE PROSPECT | 05/01/2022

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.”

THE PROSPECT | 04/26/2022

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.”

THE PROSPECT | 04/22/2022

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.

THE PROSPECT | 04/22/2022

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.”

THE PROSPECT | 04/22/2022

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.

THE PROSPECT | 04/22/2022

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.

THE PROSPECT | 04/18/2022

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.

THE PROSPECT | 04/13/2022

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 | 04/11/2022

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 | 04/10/2022

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.”

THE PROSPECT | 04/07/2022

Breaking Up with STEM

Red brick building with ivy growing between some of its windows. The left side of the building has an arch with large bay windows above the arch. The sky is blue with wisps of pink clouds.

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 | 03/28/2022

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.

THE PROSPECT | 03/22/2022

'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.

THE PROSPECT | 03/21/2022