Embedded Files
As excited as I was to attend NYU, I was not enthusiastic about participating in the OP pre-first year summer program at all. It was the summer that everyone and their moms from my high school did whatever they wanted before studying away at college. I wanted to be a part of that - especially since I put my blood, sweat, and tears into my four years at Cardozo! However, just days after graduating, I was scheduled to move into Lipton and begin orientation for my first week of classes.
This was my first time living for an extended period of time away from my mom and being in a building full of people I didn't know (especially studying a subject that I don't like – first semester Najah figured that all out though).
My discouragement quickly flipped upon meeting Mika-Elle Metellus (Mimi) and Jessie Zhanay.
Najah in Argentina
Mimi in England
Jessie in Italy
If my memory isn't failing me at the moment, I think Mimi created a groupchat with the information from NYU’s housing portal. We met each other through text and instantaneously hit it off. We supported each other through new onboarding processes and learned about the music interests and life goals of one another.
Fortunately, that energy was maintained and elevated once we all arrived at Lipton and settled into our room numbered 412. I didn't know that we had adventures of ding dong ditch, an edges tutorial, and sleepless talkative nights on the horizon.
By the end of the summer, we were crying (and I mean cryingggggg) into each others arms like we weren't going to see each other in two weeks for the fall semester to commence. But we all knew that it would be different. 412 wouldn't be our room number anymore, but it would be the spirit and energy that we had when we are all together.
After our summer, we tried to meet up at least once a semester. Scheduling got tricky as Mimi studied abroad in England and France her second and third year, as Jessie studied in Italy, and I studied in Argentina. These alternating time periods made communication tough as we engaged deeper into our studies and interests.
Mid pre-first year summer
End of pre-first year summer
First year, first semester
First year, second semester
This past February 11th, 2022, Mimi, Jessie, and I met up for the first time all together in years. We joined the Women of Excellence Strength and Tenacity club for their Galentine’s celebration to create mocktails and play fun activities. 412 picked up like time was only a fragment of our imagination. I missed laughing that hard with them, and I am forever grateful that OP brought together that iconic 2018 summer.
Personally, I was curious about how Jessie and Mimi felt about our pre-first year semester so I asked them a couple of questions:
1) How did you feel going into your pre-first year semester and dorming with people that you don’t know?
Mimi:
I was a little bit nervous going into my pre-first year summer because it was my first time living away from home and taking college classes on campus. My nervousness went away once I settled in and met my roommates. They were so warm and welcoming and ensured we were going to get through the summer together.
Jessie:
I was very nervous and scared going into my pre-first year summer! I grew up in a small town outside of NYC and attended school with the same people all throughout Kindergarten to 12th grade. Leaving my hometown and moving to the city was a huge change! I was stepping outside my comfort zone for the very first time! I worried that living away from home and moving in with people I didn’t know would be challenging. Little did I know, I had nothing to worry about! My pre-first year summer was the beginning of a beautiful journey at NYU.
2) How do you feel reflecting on it now?
Mimi:
Reflecting back on that summer, it was one of my most intense but greatest summers ever. I met so many people that I still keep in touch with at the end of my four years and I also learned a lot about how to prepare myself for college.
Jessie
As I reflect four years later, I am filled with nostalgia. My pre-first year summer was the best summer ever! That summer, I fell in love with the city, underwent a lot of personal growth, and built lifelong friendships. “The strangers” I was nervous about meeting became more than forever best friends; they became my sisters! I would re-live my pre-first year summer all over again.
412 in 2022!
Written by Najah Aldridge
CAS '22, Global Public Health and Sociology
OP Ambassador, Professional & Leadership Development Student Coordinator
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