Class in the City

One of the many benefits of going to school in New York City is getting to take interesting classes that encourage you to take advantage of the Big Apple!

My favorite class I am taking this semester is Theater Journalism. We learn from actual professionals who work in the Broadway community about how to write and report on theater in a variety of ways. As part of the class, we are required to see three shows this semester, and since I am a HUGE fan of seeing shows, this only gave me an excuse to see some of the newest and best productions of the season.

Outside the Broadway Theatre on 53rd Street!

In fact, my professor got us free tickets to see the latest revival of the classic musical “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Broadway Theatre. This production absolutely blew me away and brought me to tears. It is extremely difficult to get tickets to see the show and I’m so happy that I got to see this as part of my homework.

Sitting in the orchestra!

And, later this semester, a Broadway performer will be coming into class for an interview, which is something I cannot wait to do. I am so thrilled that I chose to take a class this semester that takes one of my biggest passions and makes it a fun and fascinating class that is both challenging and educational. I love taking classes that involve taking advantage of the city and will miss this the most about Fordham after I graduate in May.

Fordham Ski and Snowboarding Club

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve wanted to go snowboarding. I had never gotten the opportunity to go during my childhood, and I was always nervous that I wouldn’t be good at it.

But this past weekend, I got to go snowboarding for the very first time, thanks to Fordham’s Ski and Snowboarding Club. The club plans daily trips to popular mountains in the surrounding area for reasonable prices.

Skis and snowboards at Jack Frost

On this particular trip, we went to Jack Frost Big Boulder mountains, which are located in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. The price for the trip included a lift ticket and a rental, and I paid a fairly cheap price for a whole day on the mountain.

We took a bus down to PA and were able to do whatever we wanted for the whole day. My friend helped me learn how to snowboard and I was able to make it down the hills in one piece! I had a lot of fun, and it made me realize that, even though Fordham is located in New York City, I still have the opportunity to snowboard at some of the best mountains in the country!

Arthur Avenue: Not Your Average Cappuccino

Cute little puppy coffee!

Blue Mediterranean has amazing seafood dishes.

Academics are incredibly important here at Fordham, but when we want to unwind from class and catch up with friends, Arthur Avenue is the place to go. 

I still remember my first time going to Bronx’s Little Italy after visiting Fordham during my junior year of high school. I had never been in such a neighborhood before, and it was fascinating seeing all of the quaint Italian restaurants and cafes.

Quick Tino's veggie
lasagna lunch
before class.

Umai Sushi's
specialty rolls.

I’ve made it my mission to visit every eatery on Arthur Avenue by the time I graduate. However, as I’m in the midst of my junior year, I’m slowly realizing that this might not be possible to accomplish in my remaining time at Fordham. 

There are so many options in Bronx’s Little Italy that are essential to try out; some have been around for years, and now ones open all the time. Inevitably, I’ve found my personal favorites, and I suggest them to every visiting family and prospective student I meet on campus.

A common misconception about Little Italy is that it’s only good for dinner, but Fordham students will tell you otherwise. There are plenty of dinner options for sure, but it’s just as easy to go out and grab a breakfast sandwich after a long night of studying, indulge in a quick cup of coffee and pastry between classes, meet friends for frozen yogurt when the weather’s nice, or grab a delicious slice of pizza – just because!

My favorite: taco salad from Estrellita's!

Coffee and
croissant
breakfast
from De Lillo's.

Not only that, but the area is also particularly affordable – especially since many of its patrons are very budget-concerned college students – and offers all different types of cuisines, not solely Italian (even though the Italian food here is second to none…). The area exudes a very family-friendly vibe, and the school spirit lives on in the neighborhood, even more so after homecoming and big football games when the streets fill with crowds of Fordham families and proud alumni.

Undeclared

English, Math, Communications, Biology, Psychology, Anthropology…having the option of choosing from 60 liberal arts majors can almost make students feel the desire for less options for once! Freshman year can function as a time to test out different core classes and find your likes and dislikes when it comes to academics. But, sometimes not having a direct path can leave students feeling a bit lost. Here are tips for taking the edge off of the uncertainty of being “undeclared.”

1. The core: While sometimes daunting upon entering Fordham, the core can be an undeclared major’s best friend. The core offers students the chance to take classes they would not have necessarily chosen on their own. This can either help students find a new interest or simply confirm their previously held preferences.

2. You can change you mind…and change it again: Nothing is set in stone. After experiencing a year away from home, in a new environment, with new people, a student is bound to have some changes in opinion or perspective. With these changes, the Gabelli School of Business could become much more appealing then your originally intended pre-health path. In addition, you may have not known a program existed until the end of your freshman or even the beginning of your sophomore year.

3. You have time: Valentine’s day (The unofficial day for major declaration) sophomore year may seem a while away as a first or second semester freshman…because it is! The core allows for you to have plenty of time to test out different subjects that could lead to a possible major before the time to declare a major comes around.

4. You should feel blessed, not cursed: Even if by the time you have taken your second science course the only thing you have learned is that science is not for you, you are actually getting much more out of it than that. Fordham’s liberal arts core allows you to take a variety of classes that fulfill requirements ensuring that credits (and $) are hardly ever wasted. If you felt that you were passionate about Communications and realized the opposite after taking Comm 1010, you would still have fulfilled a Social Science credit without falling behind.

5. Talk it out: Every student on campus either is looking into a major or has already gone through the process. Talking with upper classman and your peers alike can help relieve the stress of figuring out the future by ensuring you that it does eventually work out, and you are not alone. Also, Career Services’ councilors as well as department assistant chairs are readily available to help decide which majors can lead you to your dream job.

I am a former Business Administration major, who decided to think about Sociology instead and is now a thoroughly confident and satisfied Communications major. Looking back on my days of living “undeclared,” I regret feeling like not knowing what I wanted to do at Fordham meant I was lost in life. This time in college is meant exactly for that! Figuring out what you want to do so that one day you can go out do it!

News Blues

From infectious diseases to terrorist groups and natural disasters, the deathly serious horrors plaguing our world are far from scarce. As college students facing the inevitable fate of shortly becoming “real people,” we can’t help but feel obligated to understand “real world problems.”

And we should! However, thinking about all of the problems around the world often complicates and overwhelms our already overwhelming student lives. For whatever reason students avoid the news, out of fear or disinterest, a lack of understanding now will only worsen the brutal transition of becoming a “real person.”

In media today, the reliance on tangible newspapers and magazines has drastically declined. This is great news for us claiming the status of “not a real person.” Why? Because the emergence of differing news outlets has developed based on two of our favorite hooks: free and convenient.  

I have found the key to keeping up with current events is to find a news outlet that appeals to your interests. If you’re someone who has a strong political affiliation but you don’t have time to watch FoxNews or MSNBC, trying downloading the respective source’s apps. Many online publications offer apps that provide online articles and notifications of major news happenings.

If you are like me, and the news sometimes gets you a little down in the dumps or simply becomes too complicated to follow, try signing up for daily or weekly newsletters. I receive a daily news update from the NY Times with a brief overview of New York, national and global news, as well as an often upbeat interest piece.

For those of you desperately struggling to become a “real person” to the point where you have to ask your friends things like, “Is Ebola a new music festival, I heard its coming to Dallas?”, or “Is ISIS the new international student in your French class?” there is even a news outlet for you. The Skimm or what I refer to as my “sorority girl news letter” breaks down daily current evens into a conversational and comical listing. 

The Skimm allows you to avoid dealing with the rhetoric of a professional journalist, by starting sections off with a commonly asked question you’d hear around the lunch table.

The news beyond the gates can make us want to sink further into the bubble of a college campus. But in reality, this will only leave us majorly shocked and unprepared for the future. As Fordham students, we are called to promote the cura personalis reminding us not only of our duties at students but as “real people” as well.

Ram-flections: Homecoming Edition

Check out the firemen watching the game!

Two years ago, I sat for the first time in Jack Coffey Field, watching the Fordham Rams take on Cornell’s football team during our homecoming game. It was the first time I watched a college football game live, and it was the first time that Fordham really felt like home for me. I was mesmerized that this school – the one I picked specifically because of its location in New York City (which is, in my opinion, the greatest, busiest, trendiest city in the world – pardon the evident bias…) – still could have the atmosphere of a small college tucked away in a quaint college town. And I liked having the best of both worlds so much.

Today, I remain just as fascinated by the unique ambiance of my school and how Homecoming continues to bring together generations of Fordham Rams from all over the country and all over the world.

The Alumni Tent!

My roommates and I were greeted by sounds of excited chatter and lively music streaming in through our apartment windows this morning. Glancing outside, we could see the Alumni Tent filling up with people happily anticipating today’s big game against Rhode Island. After last year’s record-breaking football success, the Fordham school spirit has been renewed and fans reinvigorated by the prospects of another exciting season.

My friends and I selfied during halftime.

There were so many different types of people there – elegant older gentlemen wearing tailored suits, young families with their little kids, and even football alumni from back in the 50’s. You’d think you have nothing in common with these people, and, at first glance, you’d occasionally be right, but it’s immensely inspiring knowing you’re walking in their shoes. Whether these men and women graduated last year, or several decades ago, they were the ones paving the way for us. They were building Fordham’s success before we were even born, and, as another victorious Homecoming draws to a close (54-7 win despite the rain!) we’re all reminded that it’s just as important for us to continue creating the same positive environment for the next generations of baby Rams.

View of the field from our seats.