My Commons Life

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

MCL Top Five

MCL Top 5: My Top 5 Suzie’s Drinks

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 Y’know working at Suzie’s is a very humbling experience. But I have the time of my life there (sometimes). Although I originally wanted to tell you my least favorite drinks to make, I don’t want to set myself up for failure because I know those will be the only drinks people will get. Anywho… every shift, I experiment with some drink, and I have narrowed down my favorites with these final 5 for the semester! hehe hehe

  1. Lavender Latte

This is the first drink I have ever tried at Suzie’s, and if coffee didn’t make me sleepy, I would get it all the time. Honestly, my grades were much better when I got this before every bio lecture.

2. Strawberry Coconut Chai or milk

Ok, this one I get every day now. It tastes very tropical and is a light pink shade. Makes me feel like I’m in the Bahamas. Cannot go wrong with just the milk either if you don’t like your drinks too sweet.

3. Strawberry Milk

This is a fan favorite! I also get this every day; it’s kind of an obsession. Although our strawberry milk does not look like this exactly…it’s close….haha. GET IT THOUGH; IT’S GOOD

4. Raspberry Chai

At this point, you should know that anything with chai is good, but RASPBERRY??!! The of, shoutout to Brooke this is her creation except with…oat milk which I despise. 2% all the wayyyy!!!

5. Hot Chocolate

Last but not least, gotta keep it classy. You cannot go wrong with a hot chocolate. Although I will judge you if you order this in spring…but I mean, who am I to tell you what you should get?

If you see me in Suzie’s and the line is OUT THE DOOR, and I’m making expresso shots PLEASEEEEEE get a chai or something or I will cry. But the key point of this article is that chais are very flexible and everyone should branch out from the burning oat latte or vanilla oat latte. Switch it up from time to time it makes my job more fun. HEHHEE ENJOYYYYY

MCL Top 5: Memes to Get You Through Finals

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As our freshman year of college starts to come to a close, we like to think about all the amazing memories made over the past year. Going to university events, making late-night Munchie runs, living with your best friends. All of these things came together to make your first year of college what it is, and nothing will ever be quite like it.

Too bad we have to get through finals first.

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Good luck with your finals, Commodores, and have a great summer.

MCL Top 5: Obvious Things I’ve Learned This Year

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You live and you learn, ey? It’s what makes life fun (at least, when it’s not for school)! And yet, some of the things I realize are so obvious that I’m just flabbergasted as to how I didn’t know it sooner. This whole article has been quite embarrassing to write, but hopefully someone can learn something from my own ignorance.

5. You can cover the toilet sensors (potential TMI warning?)

This one is just. Wow. How did I never think of this until I was 18 years of age. I always just suffered through the feeling of having cold toilet water splash up onto my butt when the toilet flushed while I was still using it. To be fair, I didn’t really use automatic toilets often enough for this to be much of an issue for me until I got here, but oh my goodness. Draping a piece of toilet paper on top of the sensor is such a wonderful quality of life hack.

4. It’s spelled “arboretum”

Someone tell me why and how I’ve managed to live my whole life thinking the word was actually “arboreum”. I only found out about my error when I was speaking to some people about my pollen allergies, which may have been made worse by the fact that we live on an arboretum (apparently the entire Vanderbilt campus is one!). The more ya know, I guess.

3. You can get a side with your 2301 smoothie

BEFORE YOU START TO JUDGE ME, please remember that the title of this article is top 5 obvious things I’ve learned this year. This one actually hurts to admit to, because how in the world did I not know this??? In my defense, I… Okay, I actually have no defense. Oops, I guess.

2. You don’t have to measure yourself in a vacuum

Whew, okay, getting into the deep stuff now! The heading is a bit confusing, but I couldn’t figure out how to word it concisely (sorry). Anyways, to elaborate: I was feeling a bit down on a random night because I randomly realized that I was always doing something—listening to music, working on a project, meeting friends, going places—in order to distract myself from the feeling that I’m not much at all without all of those things. But then I thought, “Why do I feel the need to measure myself in a void? That’s stupid.” And it really is!! Even the people that are universally considered to be successful wouldn’t be much on their own! Why do I, by myself, need to be something great? I don’t plan on living the rest of my life completely alone, nor am I going to do everything by myself. People and their lives are just accumulations of their relationships and accomplishments (“accomplishments” is used loosely here, since I’d say living well is an accomplishment), so why try to judge myself in a vacuum? If I really look at myself as I am—a person with a great family and friends I can rely on, a person who’s pursuing higher education, a person who is doing her best to live a good life—I’d actually say that I have quite a lot. And that’s something I can be satisfied with.

1. Living your best life takes a lot of effort

This one was probably the most impactful realization I’ve made this year. I won’t lie, my first semester here was pretty rough. No details, but it was a not very fun time, and I don’t like to think about it too hard anymore. Since then, I’ve done my best to turn things around, and I’d say that I’ve succeeded in doing so! Yay 🙂 But one of the things that I continue to realize every single day is that it is difficult as hell to actually live in a way that I’m proud of. It always looked so easy when other people did it, so I just lived my life thinking that it would just come to me one day. Nope. Turns out all the people I admired and envied actually work very hard to live good lives! Who woulda thunk, huh? Again, really obvious stuff. Anyways, I suppose this is sort of a flip side to the “everybody struggles, you just can’t see it” thing.

Alrighty! That’s the end of this one! We’re getting pretty close to the end of the year now, which is crazy to think about. I’m not sure what to say about it all, but at the very least, I can say I’ve learned from this whole experience (as you just read about)! Good luck on the final stretch everybody. We got this!

MCL Top 5: Study Methods That Helped Me Pass

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Since finals are around the corner and our freshman year is basically over, why not share my study methods? If you’re anything like me and peaked academically in high school, this one is for you. I have struggled to be consistent with my study habits, especially since that’s not what they teach you in high school. You kind of uh… have to figure it out yourself. Over the past semester, I have asked people how they studied and tried them out, so here are my top 5 study methods that I think worked for my other friends or me: 

  1. Writing everything you know on the board: I love this one so much. I am the type of person who, if I don’t physically write something down repeatedly, it will not stick in my brain. I did this for all of my fall semester classes, but then I either lost my markers, or they dried out, and I just gave up. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

2. Anki: Anki is a popular study method (I would not recommend making 500 anki flashcards the night before the exam like someone here). The idea of asking yourself questions to practice active recall and spacing them is excellent, especially for pre-med students, but I did not use it correctly. It was probably the sleep deprivation, but all of my questions were so random, and I would look at the answers and say, “Oh, that’s awkward.”

3. Funny memorization: This always made me enjoy learning. For example, my girl Amy G  amygdala is always emotional, and the information sticks longer. The more random, the better.

4. Taking the practice test a million times and studying what I didn’t know: It cuts your study time in half and is way more efficient. Of course, you want to review all of the material you can, but I have a job and am a part of a bunch of orgs on campus, so I’ll work smarter, not harder. This was the best way that I have studied. What better of way than studying the way professors word their OWN exams? I wish I could have taken advantage of this asap, but better now than never. One thing is to make sure that you are thinking through each question and writing down the answers as if it was the real deal. Also, just because you have taken it once does not mean you can’t take it again, so MAKE SURE YOU TAKE IT AS MANY TIMES AS YOU CAN !!

5. Flashcards physical cards: ( Don’t mind the fact that there are no physical cards in the picture. I’m working with what I got hehe) I bought so many flashcards fall semester…. And they’re collecting dust in my desk drawer. But I found it to be most effective for my language learning or memorizing amino acids for where I could draw or write in a different language.

I felt very discouraged since some study methods worked better for others than they did for me but at the end of the day. YOU’RE THE ONE TAKING THE EXAMS! Do whatever is best for you, not for everyone else :0 hehehhee 

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

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!

MCL Top 5: Shows to Watch During Break

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FINALLY! A break from exams. I haven’t been able to do many of the things I enjoy because of the short time. But with spring break, there is NO limit. So one thing I’m very excited to do is to catch up on all of the shows that EVERYONE has been talking about for the past couple of weeks. I’m tired of being out of the loop, and this is the time for me to catch up! (probably should be catching up on my biology homework, but that is future Esme’s problem). So here’s a top 5 on the shows I’m ever so excited to START and FINISH during break cause gotta take advantage of the time I have, yknow? Hopefully, you find something that interests you too!:

  1. The Glory:

Part 2 is dropping this Friday! It’s like they were waiting for me to have time Im so excited. If you like thrillers, Kdramas, or even just crime, THIS IS A SHOW TO WATCH! I will count this as a study for my Korean exam, which is the week we return from break!

2. Classroom of the Elite:

It’s been so long since I have watched this show I don’t even remember what happened in season 1. All I remember is that the main character Ayanokoji had my jaw drop to the floor! 

3. Attack on Titan:

RUMBLING RUMBLING, ITS COMING RUMBLING!  Did I finish attack on Titan season 4, part 2? No. But I will GET there, hopefully. This is the last part of the animation serious, which is so sad, but I can’t wait to see what Isayama comes up with 🙂 (But if I am wrong, don’t quote me, I have only seen the light of the Gillette seminar room for the past two weeks)

4. Crash Course in Romance:

Another study show for my Korean class. This show has been all over my for you page, and I had to delete all my social media. It’s just too popular, and I’m dying to find out why! 

5. Miraculous ladybug:

Before you say anything, it is NOT a kid’s show. The character development is spectacular. Although the show makes me angrier and angrier, I have to see it to the end by the episode, or else I won’t be able to sleep well at night. Will Hawkmoth win? Ask me after break 😉

Hopefully, on this list, you choose to watch one of the shows I will be! If not, I hope you all have a fantastic break!

MCL Top 5: Reasons Why Spring Semester is Harder than Fall

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When returning to Vanderbilt after Christmas break, I thought only I noticed that the air felt different here. Turns out many students and faculty agree that spring semester is much harder than fall semester. Let’s explore my theories as to why…

#1: The Tours

With spring semester, comes all the new high school seniors that were accepted to Vanderbilt. Wait, that was just me? Something about the tours of accepted students really makes it set in that we’re closer to our sophomore year of college than we are to our senior year of high school. This scares me, because soon we won’t be seen as the little first years anymore!

#2: The Weather

The weather is such an underrated blockade to productivity. Either it’s cold, cloudy, and rainy, making us not want to walk halfway across campus at 9am and get soaked, or it’s beautiful outside, and while some are throwing frisbees on alumni lawn, you’re stuck inside studying for midterms or writing papers.

#3: The motivation

I’ve had this conversation in my head for about two weeks now:

“It’s almost March, and then it’ll be April, and then we only have finals in May… so we’re basically almost finished with school”

I learned I’m not the only one having these thoughts. Spring semester’s motivation is blinded by the idea that summer break has already arrived.

#4: The “Newness” has Worn Off

At the beginning of fall semester, we were all “bright-eyed and bushy tailed”… still full the with excitement that many of us are currently at our dream school. It seemed that we took every opportunity we had to meet new people. But now, we’ve already gotten into a routine, and as excited as we were to finally get to Vanderbilt, we’re now equally excited to exit our routine and return home.

#5: The Dreaded Goodbyes

Somehow, as much as we want summer to approach us faster, that there will be a class of seniors leaving us, that (at least I) am not ready to say goodbye to. Even as first years, many of us have great connections to seniors that feel like they’ve lasted a lifetime. When summer finally comes around, we will have to say goodbye to their guidance, perspectives, and comfort that made being a first year a little easier.

On the Bright Side

Now, I don’t want to write an article that doesn’t end on a good note! Even though spring semester comes with all of the struggles mentioned above, it shouldn’t stop us from enjoying ourselves. Despite our struggles, I see spring semester as an opportunity to get through the harsh times as a Vanderbilt community: we can inspire each other, motivate each other, and create new friendships. After all, we’ve learned that we’re all going through some similar struggles now.