My Commons Life

News & features about the Vanderbilt Commons from the students who live here

Features

MCL Feature: The Student Walkout, My Experience

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Though my voice is now raspy and my legs are tired, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

As a Vanderbilt student, I was honestly scared that my professor or classmates would judge me for walking out. I had heard of “performance activism” where people post or show their activism for their own social gain, rather than to help a cause. I was afraid that walking out of my class would appear as performance activism, because it felt so theatrical.

I pictured my professor barely getting into his lesson that he prepared for the day, only to be interrupted by me standing up in front of the class and leaving. Like the goody-two-shoes I am, I even asked my professor for permission to leave the class. Ironic, right?

My fears were instantly disproven when talking to more professors and classmates. To my surprise, many professors, including my own, cancelled their classes even before the walkout started out of support. From the professors I spoke to, many even claimed that they hoped students would walk out of their class.

Marching to the capitol, I felt scared yet inspired. To be fully honest, I wasn’t scared of getting arrested. I was scared that someone would come with a gun. I was scared that this anti-gun protest would spark something in a gun owner’s mind, and give them the power of turning a peaceful situation into a violent one.

Thankfully, the protest was safe and felt powerful. Running into my classmates, floor-mates, and sorority sisters truly made me realize how important the issue of gun control is to my community. It made me feel like I wasn’t alone in my fears. It gave me hope for future policy.

There was even a Vanderbilt professor speaking to the crowd!

Ultimately, a year from now, I think I would have forgotten exactly what I learned about in class on Monday. But I definitely will not forget about his protest. Chanting with people, demanding change, and reading the sad, yet true signs everyone brought will stick with me forever. I hope that this protest riled up people enough to create a change in the system of gun violence in schools.

MCL Top 5: My Top 5 Self-Care Tips

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For someone who gets stressed and overwhelmed rather easily, here are my top 5 self-care tips that bounce me back into productivity…

5) Calling a family member or friend.

Speaking to my loved ones does a great job at temporarily alleviated my stress. Many times I will call to check in or vent, which reminds me that life is so much bigger than whatever class, assignment, or other stressor I’m currently enduring.

4) Going on a walk.

Taking a walk is one of the best ways for me to process my thoughts in a silent and peaceful way. Getting some fresh air and hearing the cadence of my own steps proves for even more relaxation as well.

3) Retail Therapy (specifically online shopping).

The way in which online shopping provides me a certain magical boost of serotonin is perplexing, yet beautiful.

2) Go to Starbucks…and don’t be afraid to get the venti version of your favorite drink.

Sometimes all you need is an iced matcha latte with oat milk and vanilla syrup to get you through your day or to press submit on that ten page paper.

1. Go get dinner with a friend.

An evening conversation with your bestie over pasta or sushi can be so fulfilling, especially when I need to laugh, smile, or spill the tea.

MCL Top 5: Meals I Ate During Spring Break

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Remember the list I made two weeks ago of food to eat over spring break? Well, I’m happy to announce that I managed to check off every single item! I’m already missing it all, even though it’s only been a few days since we’ve been back. In honor of all the great food I had over break, here are my top five favorites from the week.

5. Naengmyeon + Pork Galbi

Naengmyeon, a Korean cold noodle dish, is usually something I want when the weather is warmer. I haven’t got much to say about it, but despite the oddly freezing temperatures recently, I really enjoyed this meal!

4. Jjajangmyeon + Jjamppong

Jjajangmyeon is a Chinese-Korean noodle dish topped with a black bean sauce usually containing vegetables and meat, and it’s something I’ve loved eating since I was but a wee child. Jjamppong (a Chinese-Korean noodle dish served with spicy broth and seafood), on the other hand, is something I’ve had to learn to appreciate, as I wasn’t the best at handling my spice when I was younger. I’m glad to say that I can now enjoy jjamppong without any issues, as I think these two dishes go wonderfully together. I think this meal would be a lot higher on my list if not for the fact that I was feeling oddly full the day I ate it, but it was still very good.

3. Sundubu Kalguksu

Oh man, my noodle obsession is showing. Sundubu jjigae is a Korean stew that’s made with soft tofu, and it’s usually served with rice and an egg to top it off (which is what my friend ordered). However, this restaurant I go to offers the option of getting kalguksu instead, which are thick, knife-cut wheat noodles. This is something I always crave when I’m back at Vanderbilt, and it was just as excellent as I remembered.

4. Kimbap

This was the last meal I had before I returned to school, and boy was it a great way to end off the week! As much as I love going out to eat, nothing beats home-cooked food. Kimbap (or gimbap) is a Korean dish usually consisting of rice, vegetables, and meats, all rolled up in dried seaweed. I’m actually not the biggest fan of kimbap unless my mom makes it, but that just goes to show how excellent it really is.

1. Donkatsu

Last but 100% not the least, donkatsu (i.e. fried pork cutlet)! This was the first real meal I had after getting back home, and yet it’s definitely got to be my favorite of the week. I actually texted my mom before break telling her that I really wanted her donkatsu, and she delivered! It’s a pretty plain-looking photo compared to the rest, but it was so incredibly good. (Please ignore the the weird sauce stains; I tried to do a drizzle and failed miserably, as you can see.) No joke, this meal made me do a little happy dance when I ate it. Chef’s kiss.

Those were my top five meals from the spring break! I had a bit of a hard time choosing only five meals, but I think I’m satisfied with my choices here. Eating so well at home has inspired me to try and do the same here, so perhaps I’ll get back on the restaurant reviews soon. Make sure to keep an eye out for that! ;D

My Monday After Spring Break

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It was the Monday after Spring Break. My alarm was screaming at me to wake up at 7:30 am and I was in major distress. I wanted nothing more than to turn to my left, turn off my alarm and go back to the wonderful world of dreams and sleep. However, I got up and walked myself to class… a little less than enthusiastic for the first day of school after Spring Break. I thought after a week-long break I would feel fresh and rejuvenated, ready to bounce back into the finish line of my freshman year: work hard these next couple of weeks and crush my finals. However, after my second class I was beginning to experience what I had somehow successfully managed to dodge the entirety of this academic year: academic burnout. I was already dreading the homework load for tonight. A headache was approaching at the mere thought of opening my computer to read my assigned readings. Checking off my academic to-do list was going to require a lot more effort and grit than usual. Despite my homework taking much longer than usual and my slight inability to stay focused while studying, I still managed to get everything done. I know this week is going to be tough, but I plan to incentivize myself to keep me motivated (treating myself to Starbucks on Wednesday). For people out there that are experiencing a similar struggle to mine, I urge you to give yourself some grace and push through. You got this.

MCL Top 5: Things To Do Before The End Of The Year

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It may be hard to believe, but there’s only have one month left in your Freshman Year. Whether it feels like the clock is ticking down too quickly or not quickly enough, one thing is for certain: the end is near. So with the year coming to a close, here are the MCL Top 5 things you should do before the school year comes to an end.

5. Go to a House Event

When your house has an event every week, it can be easy to take it for granted; however, house events are an experience unique to residential colleges. While some of you many have managed to get into a res college next year, these next few weeks may be our last chances to go to a house event for a while. Especially with some houses doing big end-of-the-year events, this is the perfect time to take a break and enjoy some food in the company of your housemates.

4. Plan Your Classes Longterm

This one may not sound as fun as the others on this list, but it is a MUST DO before the school year comes to a close. This year, class registration was a whirlwind. Between getting used to life in college and being the last to pick our classes, just getting enough classes to reach the 12 credit hour minimum was a feat worth celebrating. Many of us did not even know what our majors would be: of course scheduling was going to be a struggle. But now, much of that has changed. Most of us have settled into our (tentative) majors, and we are no longer at the bottom of the totem pole in class selection. This is the perfect time to figure out not only which classes you will take in the fall, but also future semesters. This may seem daunting, but if you are in the major that is truly right for you, looking at your future classes will make you look forward to the future, not dread it.

3. Take a Walk

I have said it before and I will say it again: we live on a beautiful campus. Now that the weather is getting really nice, it is a perfect time to get outside and appreciate your surroundings. When most of us leave in May, we will not get to see these grounds again until August. Enjoy campus while you are still here.

2. Use Your Meal Money

Use it or lose it. Meal Money resets at the end of the year, so make sure to use it all up. Try something new, or go to Jeni’s for the 100th time: it does not matter. Whatever it is that you like to eat, treat yourself. Just make sure to enjoy your time and get some good meals.

1. Do that one last thing

We all have that one thing we have been telling ourselves we should do. This one will be different for each of us. It could mean finally going to a baseball game or the meeting of a certain club. It could be a personal goal that you keep putting off. It does not have to be something big. For me, it was lying outside in a hammock. For a few months now, I have owned a hammock, and I kept telling myself I would put it up and lie in it one day. Last week I finally did it, and it felt amazing. Whatever your “hammock” is, go for it.

MCL Top 5: Non-Mandatory Things I’ll Be Doing Before Spring Break

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Spring break is fast approaching, and I couldn’t be happier about it! It’s certainly been a long few weeks, so I very much welcome the opportunity to relax for a full week. That being said, there’s quite a lot to get done before then (such as hiding all your contraband in the closet—I mean, taking out the trash so that you don’t get fined). But all that’s boring stuff, and I’m sure you all have read your emails. Instead, here’s five non-mandatory things I’ll be doing before spring break to prepare for my week back at home!

5. Using all my swipes

Look, I won’t proclaim to be the best about using every last one of my swipes every week, but for some reason I get much more motivated to do so right before breaks. If you see me struggling to hold four bottles of water and 12 bags of chips at the same time, no you don’t.

4. Making a list of food to eat once I’m back home

Donkatsu, soondubu, sushi… Whoops, got ahead of myself there. But wow am I excited to eat some good food without having to spend $20. My mouth is already watering at the thought.

3. Packing up (most) of my winter clothes

It’s certainly been deceptively warm these days! I say deceptively, because we all know Tennessee weather is horrible and it’ll definitely get cold again at some point in the semester. But still, I probably won’t need all of the sweaters and jackets I have, so I’ll be taking them home to free up some closet space. The only issue is how I’ll fit all of it in my suitcase…

2. Going to the Boba Bar

Is anybody even surprised at this point? I go to this place religiously. Even some of the bus drivers recognize me now. I’m not addicted, I swear. I just kinda can’t stop thinking about their boba when I’m at home is all. Yup! Perfectly normal.

1. Doing my work in advance

I’ve saved the most depressing for last! I will be doing lots of work this week and I hate it!! Why is there so much stuff due at the end of this week. And the beginning of the week after break. And all the time. There is constantly something to do. Benjamin Franklin said that nothing is certain except death and taxes, but he forgot the third certainty of unending work. There is no escape.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for now! I hope everybody has a wonderful spring break! I, for one, will definitely enjoy ignoring the fact that I have three exams the week I get back. Toodles!

A Break-Up Letter to My High School Self

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As I’m growing older and moving farther away from my past self, I feel like I need some closure with the girl that got me from age fourteen to eighteen. She did me well, and she’ll always be a friend of mine. But for moving forward, we won’t be together. It’s for the best.

Dear high school self,

You did well, I’ll start with that. On the surface, you were fully in control. You seemed to have the perfect life: you loved school, succeeded at anything you put your mind to, and were always talking to someone new. Looking back with rose-tinted glasses, sometimes I get jealous of you. But deep down, I know nothing was ever enough for you. Sometimes I wonder if I’m enough to you. Behind each smile, you were thinking of ways of how to improve and trying to hide everything you hated about yourself.

I want you to know that you’re beautiful. Part of the reason why we’re breaking up is because of that. I’m tired of looking at photos of you and comparing you to myself. I’m tired of competing with you. As I’ve gotten older, I have grown away from you. I hate constantly being reminded of that. It shouldn’t be an insult to not look like you. I’m different from you now.

I’m not walking away from you because you did anything wrong. I’m leaving you because the longer I stay with you, the more I won’t be able to accept my new self. All I’ll be able to do is be insecure about how different we look from each other.

Even though I’m leaving you, I want to say thank you. I wouldn’t be at my dream school if it wasn’t for you. You worked hard for me. That being said, we’ve outgrown each other.

Even though I’m leaving you, I don’t want to be sad. I’m welcoming in someone new into my life. She’s got some similarities with you, but don’t be fooled… she’s a completely new woman.

She’s been camera shy lately, because she’s scared she won’t be as pretty as you. She was afraid she wouldn’t have as many friends as you. She was hoping she could be close to as happy as you were.

But she doesn’t deserve to be in hiding anymore. Though it took some time, she is happier than you were. She’s met new people and learned so many amazing things. I know you would be proud of her.

I would like to formally introduce you to my college self. She’s more confident in herself, has so many new stories, and when she speaks up, she demands to be heard.

Like I said, she’s a whole new woman. So I’ll have to say goodbye to you in order to fully welcome her (I hope you can understand). For now, you’ll still be a friend. And I can assure you, it’s not me it’s you.

Thanks for everything,

Abbey

SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships: My Experience

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Hi, I’m Santana and this past weekend I competed in the SEC indoor track and field championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Here’s how it went!

The Vanderbilt track and field team had officially taken over the Nashville International Airport. Well, not really…but we had practically invaded the airport Starbucks. We were on the way to SEC Indoor Championships and had all decided to fuel up with some Starbucks drinks. As I sat down in the gate with my teammates and sipped on my iced matcha latte with oat milk, I was bouncing with excitement (or maybe it was the caffeine???) for the four day competition trip. 

Although the entire trip was an amazing experience and very fun, the first half of my days in Fayetteville were filled with nerves, drinking lots of water and electrolytes, and being disciplined about my meals, schoolwork, and focus. In the first two days of the trip I had to drink a ton of water to keep myself properly hydrated before my race. I was extra intentional about consuming healthy meals, even though the hotel cookie skillet with cinnamon ice cream (mouthwatering, right?) was incredibly tempting. When I wasn’t at the track preparing for my race, I was in the hotel room doing homework. Although I was tired of drinking water, intensely craving some dessert, and wanted to just sit down and scroll through tik tok, I knew my sacrifices would all be worth it. And they were. I ran a personal best and made major improvements in my race. I could finally order that hotel skillet cookie dessert, de-stress, and cheer on my teammates. Throughout the rest of the trip I was able to explore Arkansas with my teammates and even go to Lululemon! However, I still had to study and do homework, which was assisted by several delicious strawberry matcha lattes our hotel had in the lobby. 

While being a student-athlete can be difficult, it’s times like these, where you spend time with your wonderful teammates, celebrate everyone’s accomplishments, and share some airport Starbucks, that makes everything so, so worth it.