When I first started college, the fear of missing out (FOMO) was something I thought I would constantly struggled with when I first arrived at Amherst. During high school I used to scroll through social media, watching friends attend events I wasn’t at, or hear my peers talk about gatherings I didn’t go to, and…Continue Reading Why I No Longer Get FOMO in College
Hello readers, I hope you all are doing well! Some of you wanted to learn more about academics at Amherst. Specifically, there were questions about course placements and how different high school learning experiences contribute to college classes. Here are my inputs! Amherst has specific course placements that you can find on the Amherst College…Continue Reading Academics at Amherst Part 2
Over the winter break, I went back to Shanghai and met some close friends studying at universities in the U.S. (West & East Coasts), Canada, and Hong Kong. As we all just started our college journey, we shared about our first semester experiences. From these conversations, I’ve summarized some points that made Amherst College unique….Continue Reading What Makes Amherst Unique––from a first-year, international student’s perspective
This year, I celebrated my first birthday in college, and it turned out to be more meaningful than I could have ever imagined. It was a day full of love, laughter, and deep reflection on how much I’ve grown since arriving at Amherst. The day started with a delightful surprise—my friends had decorated my door!…Continue Reading My First Birthday in College
Some might question the point of writing this blog, but I think that it answers one of my biggest questions about coming to Amherst/College in general. How/when do snow days happen? Being from the other side of Massachusetts, I knew it would snow, but I also knew that out west here around Amherst, it snows…Continue Reading Snow Days at Amherst
Hello everyone! With the second semester already in session I’ve been taking some time to reflect on my journey through my first semester as a first-year student. From navigating new academic challenges to adjusting to college life and building a sense of community, these past few months have been a whirlwind of growth, discovery, and…Continue Reading First Semester Reflection
A few days ago, it was Chinese/Lunar New Year! As I have been living in China for 18 years, this is one of the most important holidays I look forward to in the year. Back in China, weeks before the celebration, my family and I would visit (or at least make some video calls to)…Continue Reading Celebrating Chinese New Year With Friends
Disclaimer: This blog post only shares my personal encounters with the Open Curriculum after one semester at Amherst. It does not reflect the experiences of everyone at Amherst, and my thoughts about the Open Curriculum may look different in the future! I don’t think people at Amherst talk about the Open Curriculum that much. As…Continue Reading Let’s Talk About The Open Curriculum
Hello from Japan, as I write this blog post, I am packing my suitcase to head back to Amherst. In this blog, I wish to continue from my blog series of reflecting on my first semester, this time on the topic of on-campus employment at Amherst College. In this blog, I hope to offer you…Continue Reading Reflecting on My First Semester at Amherst College — On-Campus Employment
Hello from Japan, as I write this blog post, I am still in Japan enjoying the last few moments of winter break with my family. In this blog, I wish to continue from my blog series of reflecting on my first semester, this time on the topic of extracurricular activities at Amherst College. In this…Continue Reading Reflecting on My First Semester at Amherst College — Extracurricular