My Commons Life

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

features

Common Ground, Uncommon Lives: Tales from the Commons

by

1.) Emily Benfield

Meet Emily Benfield! She is a dedicated and resilient individual originally from Newport, Rhode Island, but has also lived in California and Virginia Beach (Where she now lives). She has a lived a very unique journey. In fifth grade Emily was diagnosed with Dyslexia and Developmental Coordination Disorder. Facing these early challenges, Emily developed a strong work ethic and a knack for creative problem-solving, traits she now channels into her aspiration to become a teacher. She aims to support students in overcoming their own obstacles, drawing from her personal experiences. Which she wrote about in her Application to Vanderbilt, stating, “Disadvantages are Advantages.”

On top of this, she has been actively engaged in her community through her organization of two impactful events: the Love Run and the Color Run. The Love Run, coordinated with two local high schools, raised over $50,000 to help cover medical expenses for children facing extended hospital stays at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD). Meanwhile, the Color Run was a heartfelt tribute to a loved one who passed due to cancer complications, raising funds and bringing the community together in their memory.

Additionally, Emily was deeply involved in theater, where she took on roles as a technical supervisor and assistant director, overseeing set design, construction, and actor coordination—sometimes staying as late as 9 p.m. to ensure production quality! Her favorite musical she was a part of was, “The Little Mermaid,” and her favorite play was, “Puffs.”

Ultimately, Emily is very service-orientated and willing to help others. She is incredible kind, dedicated and a loyal friend. She has a genuine compassion that stands out in her community and will accomplish many great things.

Commons Houses as Hunger Games Characters

by

1.) Hank

Let’s be honest—we all saw this one coming. Hank is the President Snow of the group, lurking in the shadows with more schemes than Netflix has shows. No, Hank’s not winning the Hunger Games, but they might just be the puppet master pulling all the strings from behind the scenes.

2.) Crawford

Crawford? Oh, they’re Thresh. Noble, competent, with a strong moral compass that would make even Katniss nod approvingly. Can they win the Hunger Games? Maybe. It really depends on how the dice roll (or how the sponsors feel that day). They’ve got a chance, though—don’t count them out.

3.) Sutherland

Sutherland is basically the Mockingjay, no debate. With their strength, kindness, and teamwork skills, they could not only win the Hunger Games but might just lead a rebellion against Hank—sorry, I mean President Snow. Sutherland for District 12’s MVP, anyone?

4.) Stambaugh

Stambaugh is the Peeta Mellark to Sutherland’s Katniss. (Yes, TEAM PEETA ALL THE WAY!) With strength, a big heart, and that “everyone loves them” vibe, they’ve got what it takes to win the Hunger Games and probably bake you a cake while doing it.

5.) East

Now, East is Caesar Flickerman, no question. With a personality so entertaining and charming, they’re definitely not winning the Hunger Games, but they’re making it an absolute blast to watch. Whether that’s good or bad? Well, that’s up to you to decide.

6.) Murray

Murray students are mysterious, powerful, and, from what I hear, just a smidge unhinged, which lands them as Clove. Sure, with a power score of ten, they’ve got the skills, but their impulsive nature? Yeah, I’m not seeing a Hunger Games win. But they’ll definitely make an impression.

7.) West

West is Finnick Odair, hands down. Loyal, caring, and with heart-warming charm, they’re an instant fan favorite. Do I see them winning the Hunger Games? No, but only because they’d probably sacrifice themselves for the greater good—and honestly, we’d all cry like we did during that one scence in the sewer.

8.) Memorial

Memorial is Rue—smart, skilled, and incredibly lovable. They might not be the one taking home the victory, but they’re the quiet, stealthy competition you didn’t see coming, and a crowd favorite for sure. Tribute goals.

9.) North

North is fierce, fearless, and unapologetically ruthless—basically Cato, but with better hair (seriously). While they charge headfirst into every challenge, quick decisions might just be their downfall. A win in the Hunger Games? Unlikely, but you wouldn’t want to cross them in the arena.

10.) Gillette

Free-spirited, creative, and driven, Gillette is 100% Lucy Gray Baird in the flesh. With that inspiring, big-hearted energy, they’ve got a real shot at winning the Hunger Games. Cue the folksy victory song—this one’s bound to be a fan favorite at commons and in the districts.

First Eid Away from Home

by

Eid-al-Fitr this year held a profound significance for me, a combination woven with threads of both joy and introspection. While traditionally a time of triumph marking the end of Ramadan—the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar—observed by fasting from dawn to sunset to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), my journey through this sacred month was a blend of emotions that transcended the ordinary.

From the predawn hours, where the world slumbered and I shared in the silent communion of suhoor; the meal eaten early in the morning before dawn— to the vibrant gatherings of iftar; the meal to break the day’s fast–, weather at EBI or amidst the warmth of Vandy MSA; Muslim Student Association, each moment was deeply ingrained in its hue. Yet, amid the camaraderie and spiritual fervor, a revelation unfolded- a realization that I had stepped into adulthood, a daunting and liberating realm.

In the solitude of each day’s end, I found solace in the familiar cadence of my mother’s voice, a lifeline tethering me to home amidst the vast expanse of university life. Our conversations, a sanctuary of familiarity, softened the edges of loneliness and imbued each day with a sense of belonging.

But amidst the challenges, there was grace. Surrounded by friends who became pillars of support, this Ramadan became a pilgrimage of the soul, drawing me closer to Allah. Freed from the constraints of obligation, I found resonance in the verses of the Quran, each word a beacon guiding me on a journey of self-discovery.

In Surah al-Baqarah, Allah’s words echoed with timeless wisdom, reminding me that the path to goodness knows no bounds of time or circumstances. It is a race, not against others, but against oneself (Baqarah ayah 148)—a journey toward becoming the best version of oneself, imperfect yet earnest in its pursuit.

As I reflect on Eid, it is not with sadness, but grateful for the different experiences that have shaped me. From the laughter shared with friends to the quiet moments of introspection, each memory is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the boundless mercy of Allah. As I carry these moments in my heart, I am reminded that Eid is not merely a celebration but a journey—a pilgrimage of the soul, guided by ibadah (worship/faith), love, and the enduring promise of renewal.

MCL Top 5: Things I’ll Miss About Freshman Year

by

Wow, can everybody believe we’ll be done with our first year of college in a week or two? Time certainly crawled by at times, but looking back, everything has flown by so quickly. It feels like just a little while ago that I joined the MCL team, and now we’re already on our final (!!!!!!!) newsletter of the year. Damn. Anyways, to wrap up this absolute roller coaster of a time, here are my top five things I’ll miss about freshman year!

5. Living on Commons

Okay, yes, it’s far from pretty much everything except all the Peabody buildings, but I still think it’s quite a nice place to live. And I know Commons is not anybody’s favorite dining hall (if it is, I truly have no words for you), but as someone who’ll be in Highland next year, I’ll certainly miss being two minutes away from a decent meal that I don’t have to cook myself. Looks like I’ll be getting my exercise in every day.

4. Having easier classes

Kidding, kidding… kinda. On one hand, I’m excited to learn more in-depth content in the subjects I’m interested in. On the other, the lazy half of my brain is kicking and screaming knowing that I’ll have to keep on top of things much better in the coming years. Ah well. It is what it is.

3. Knowing I have a lot of time to figure everything out

This one is just me being a bit anxious about things. We still have time to figure everything out—it’s what college is for! (That is, if we ever do figure things out.) But thinking about the fact that we only have three more years to prepare ourselves before we’re thrown into the real adult world where we’ll actually have to pay for do everything ourselves makes me quite nervous, and I frankly would rather ignore that fact for as long as possible!

2. Discovering fun new things about campus and Nashville

I’m sure that I’ll continue to learn new things throughout my time here. After all, I’m only one person, and the campus and city are quite complex. Despite that, I know that there probably won’t be as many of those OMG-guess-what-I-found moments as the years go by. Perhaps it just means they’ll be more impactful?

1. Being on the MCL team

C’mon, I had to. This year has definitely had its ups and downs, but one thing I’m extremely grateful for is that I’ve worked with many wonderful people throughout my time in MCL. And hey, if any of you readers happen to be incoming freshmen who are considering joining, I say go for it! You’ll have a great time.

And that wraps up my last Top 5 of the year! Gosh, how crazy is that. To everybody who’s been keeping up with our content throughout the year, thank you so much for appreciating our work! It’s been an honor and a joy. Good luck on your finals, and enjoy your summer break! Toodles, everyone.

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

by

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

by

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!

The Fresh Fizz: A Biweekly Review

by

Step aside Yik Yak, there’s a new hottie in the villa… Fizz made its debut on campus a couple of weeks ago when they dispatched their ambassadors to give out merch and honey-glazed donuts to advertise the new app that resembles its predecessor, Yik Yak, in its anonymous posting and geographic feed filtering. Fizz was created by Stanford students who launched the project on their campus for proof of concept, convincing 80% of their student body to download and use the app, before scaling to multiple universities after closing a seed funding round.

Okay enough talk, let’s get to the fizz:

Sorry to break it to y’all… but it’s November already. One more month of school then it’s finals season. What is even happening anymore?

Anyways, has anyone been getting a lot of VU Alerts lately? It kinda makes me feel special to know they care until I remember that they send the same emails and voicemails to literally everyone else. But yeah, it’s lowkey giving GTA vibes (not really though, referencing another Fizz iykyk). Robbery at noon (yeah, weird) on 21st on a Thursday. Bizarre. Speaking of 21st, typical “I miss Wesley” post incoming.

The Melodores performed at Sarratt Cinema on Friday night, garnering mixed reviews from the audience. Several conversations have also been brought up about the discrepancy in funding and support for the performing arts groups on campus vs. the athletic teams. And here’s some alleged, unconfirmed goss about some Melo-shenanigans sprinkled in.

Next up: one of the biggest topics of discussion on campus right now is… drum rolls please… registration season! This anxiety-inducing process is upon us now, and everyone is freaking out about making decisions about their future 

Ending on a more positive note: these are your reminders to get out there, touch some grass, and appreciate life. 🙂

Humans of The Commons: Eyerusalem (Rue) Zicker

by

Rue is an Ethiopian first-year who lives with her adopted family in Lawrence, Kansas when she’s not having fun and spending her time in Gillette. She enjoys meeting other people and hearing their stories because she believes everyone has a story to tell. Stay tuned as she talks about her favorite class, your favorite food and what a perfect day on campus is like for her!

What is your major?

I’m currently undecided, but I’m leaning towards Medicine, Health and Society with an emphasis on Global Health. I might be on the pre-PA or pre-Nursing track. I’ve always gravitated towards the medical profession, but I’ve done some reevaluating and don’t think medical school is for me. I want to stay in the medical profession because when I was younger when I liked taking care of my siblings when they were sick. I also worked as a CNA at a nursing home my senior year!

What’s your favorite class that you’ve taken?

One of my favorite classes thus far is my Intro to African American Diaspora Studies. It was incredible and it made me consider minoring in AADS (African American and Diaspora Studies). As someone in the diaspora, I really enjoyed learning different perspectives and how they might impact what I do in the future.

What’s your favorite food on campus, off campus and back home?

On campus, I love the orange chicken at Commons. Off campus, I love Mellow Mushroom, especially their Great White Pizza. From back home, when I cook I usually cook traditional Ethiopian foods. One of my favorite things to cook is just traditional sauce with pasta or eggs!

What does your perfect day on campus look like?

Ideally I would have all my work done the night before. I would sleep in until 10:30 AM, have an omelette for breakfast, hang out with my friends, sit on the lawn and read a book or two, go to the rec and go out that night!

What is your hidden talent?

I can turn my tongue to make a three-leaf clover! But besides that, I also love braiding hair so if you’re ever looking for someone to braid hair for free or occasionally charge a few bucks (because we’re all poor college kids), hit me up!