What is it about fall that makes me fall back in love with Princeton?
When people used to ask me whether I enjoyed my time at Princeton, I’d always give a nuanced answer—acknowledging the good but never fully embracing a passionate display of love or pride.
The truth is: my relationship with Princeton has always been a bit of a love-hate…
Last week, I made a semi-spontaneous, nostalgic trip with my best travel buddies, mimi & momo, to my old college stomping grounds, and it felt so surreal. I have visited Princeton a couple times since I’ve graduated: the last time was during Reunions in May 2023, when campus roared with rowdy crowds of thousands of alumni and friends. Although fun and lively, Reunions didn’t allow me to fully appreciate the beauty and serenity of Old Nassau. Visiting campus in May was the complete opposite of the peaceful, contemplative atmosphere I encountered this time in October.
Before Reunions 2023, I had also visited on a frigid and grey November day in 2021, when the campus felt stark and quiet in the cold. But somehow, this recent mid-October trip felt different—perhaps it was the perfect fall weather bathing the brilliant foliage in bright fall sunshine against 18th century gothic academia architecture that re-invoked in me the same sense of wonder I had experienced as a freshman, allowing me to rediscover how magical Princeton really is. Walking through the familiar courtyards and beneath the towering arches, I was struck by just how lucky I’ve been to call Princeton University my alma mater.
Walking through the familiar courtyards and beneath the towering arches, I was struck by just how lucky I’ve been to call Princeton University my alma mater.
It’s not that I didn’t have school pride before; after all, who wouldn’t be proud to go to school like Princeton, having gotten in through hard work and merit? But to be honest, I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with Princeton. Mind you, amongst all the East Coast private school kids coming in from the likes of Hotchkiss or Philips Exeter, I was the only kid coming in from my public high school class, hailing all the way from suburban Texas, for that matter.
Imposter Syndrome…
Imposter Syndrome—a term I hadn’t really encountered until Princeton—settled in quickly. Feeling like I wasn’t good enough, smart enough, or deserving of a place at such a prestigious institution became the blindfold that kept me from truly appreciating the wonder of this place and how incredibly privileged I was to be here.
But after all these years, I can finally enjoy this campus without the weight of pressure or stress. As I retraced my old steps, with autumn in full bloom, I felt a renewed sense of Princeton pride. There’s something about peak fall that makes me fall back in love with Princeton—the iconic Gothic architecture, the golden leaves, and the academic aura that surrounds it all remind me why it’s the ‘best damn place of all.’ I never truly understood why they called it that—until now.
It just so happens that tomorrow, October 22, is my alma mater Princeton University’s 278th birthday, or Orange and Black Day as we call it. The timing feels fitting, as this recent trip brought with it a renewed sense of pride—just in time to celebrate the place that shaped so much of who I am.
Love it or hate it, I can’t deny that the four years I spent at Princeton—and the degree I hold from there—are deeply intertwined with my identity, leaving a lasting impact on both my personal and professional journey.
Alas, this fall, I fell back in love with Princeton—and for the first time in a long while, it feels like Princeton loves me back.
“In praise of Old Nassau, we sing, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah! Our hearts will give, while we shall live, three cheers for Old Nassau.”
Photo creds: Liang Kuang Photography // in collaboration with this photographer whom I stumbled upon back in NYC 2021 during my Autumn in New York. So grateful for his work!
Outfit link: https://liketk.it/4UAgz
你的文字充满了深刻的情感与自我反思，展现了你在普林斯顿大学的心路历程。从最初的“冒名顶替综合症”到如今能够毫无压力地享受校园的美好，这种转变不仅是对自我认知的突破，也是对母校情感的升华。
“冒名顶替综合症”是一种常见的心理现象，尤其是在高竞争环境中，许多人会感到自己不配拥有所取得的成就。你在普林斯顿的初期经历正是这种心理的真实写照——尽管身处一所世界顶尖的学府，却因为自我怀疑而无法完全融入和欣赏周围的一切。这种感觉像一层迷雾，遮蔽了你对校园奇妙之处的感知，也让你忽略了能够在这里学习的珍贵与幸运。
然而，时间的流逝与心态的成熟让你逐渐摆脱了这种束缚。你开始以一种更轻松、更坦然的方式看待自己与普林斯顿的关系。秋天的校园成为了你重新发现美好的契机——哥特式建筑的庄严、金色树叶的绚烂、学术氛围的浓厚，这些元素交织在一起，让你重新感受到普林斯顿的独特魅力。你终于理解了为什么它被称为“世界上最好的地方”，而这种理解不仅仅源于外在的美丽，更源于你内心的归属感与认同感。
这段文字不仅是对普林斯顿的赞美，更是对自我成长的记录。你通过重新审视过去，找到了与母校更深层次的情感连接。这种从自我怀疑到自信与热爱的转变，是一种珍贵的心灵成长。希望你能够继续保持这种心态，在未来的日子里，无论是面对挑战还是享受成就，都能以同样的从容与骄傲去拥抱生活。