Happy graduation season! For me, it’s transfer season. The decision to leave has not been easy, and I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting about my time here. As the days wind down, I have found myself getting emotional about having to leave this school. Even with all its flaws, it taught me some very important lessons about myself and education as a whole.
1. Those who suffer together grow together
I had multiple classes where the workload felt too demanding given the time constraints, the professor was not the best, and overall, nobody in the class seemed to be enjoying their time there. My advice is to befriend at least one person in that class. You do not have to become extremely close, but even just exchanging Instagram accounts to talk about assignments can help make you feel less alone. And who knows? Maybe it will bloom into a beautiful friendship as well.
2. The dining hall breakfast hitsÂ
Say what you will, but for the two years I spent at The New School, I almost exclusively got my breakfast from the University Center dining hall. My go-to orders were whole wheat toast with butter and a watermelon cup, or bacon and tater tots. Both were always accompanied by a Bloom Energy or Celsius. Also, did anyone ever see the whole wheat bread this year? I missed it.
3. ra events are fun
This was something I started doing this past year, and originally it was for the free food, I will not lie. But I started viewing them as solo activities to do when I had free time, or something to attend with a friend while meeting new people. Even though I did not make any close friends from attending, I still appreciated having the chance to talk to people in a more relaxed environment.
4. the Student Hub is the superior study spot
Okay, I hear there will be some changes to it next semester. But this was truly the spot, especially during the first semester of this year. There were usually snacks leftover from past events, and even the vending machine came in handy. The couches were great for giving myself a break from my chronic tech neck. And the booths? My heart yearns for a padded booth. They were perfect for taking Zoom calls, forcing myself to finish a simple assignment I had been procrastinating on, and even having a little cry once in a while. The free self-care corner was also amazing.
5. touching grass helps, actually
I loved the fact that TNS does not have a traditional campus. The Lang courtyard, when it was open, was my absolute favorite place to relax between classes when the weather was nice. Since it is currently under construction, I have started going to Union Square or Washington Square Park to sketch, look over notes, or just relax and take a walk.
6. i should use all the resources available to me
Bobst Library, the Innovation Center, networking events, book talks. They may seem simple on the surface, but they really helped enrich my experience here. There were always so many amazing club events that I wanted to attend but never found the time for. So if you see something you want to go to and think you might be free, go.
7. always be on time
Or even early. The 16th Street building and the main Parsons buildings are undoubtedly the worst places for getting to class on time. I never understood the express elevator that only went up to the ninth floor until I had a class on the tenth and realized I could just walk up one flight. Try to get to the building at least ten minutes before class starts, especially if you have a strict professor, to account for lines at the entrance or crowded elevators.
8. i like coding
Before coming to The New School, I had never coded anything in my life aside from making little Scratch projects in middle school. I remember there being lots of tears. But during my freshman year, I decided to take an intro class just because, and I ended up falling in love with it, especially UI design using JavaScript and CSS. I took a total of three coding classes at The New School. While I do not think I will pursue it professionally, it has been an incredibly rewarding experience and valuable in helping me understand basic design principles.
9. it’s okay to ask for help
This took me a long time to learn. After struggling for almost an entire semester in Adobe Illustrator, I finally took advantage of the ULC tutor resources. This was difficult for me because I had not always had the best experiences with tutors in the past. But the design and math tutors who helped me here were incredibly supportive and honestly helped me pass my classes.
10. i am leaving as a completely different person
The jump from freshman to sophomore year was crazy for me, so I can only imagine what junior and senior year at a different school will be like. Sometimes I do not even recognize who I was when I first came to school. I kind of like that, and I think that version of me would be proud of the things I accomplished here.
While I only completed two years at The New School, I feel like it will always have a place in my heart. I learned invaluable technical skills through classes, explored the city, and made lifelong friends.