Student Blogger: Nolan Robinson

When I was younger I never quite understood the hype surrounding the end of a year and the start of a new one. The traditions of counting down the last minute of New Year's Eve, making loud noises and yells when the clock struck twelve, engaging in champagne toasts with my family are moments of this precious holiday that I took part in, but I never really grasped the beauty behind why we do these things, and what they really mean.

College has taught me the importance of being gentle with yourself, and I am still learning just how crucial this is. Northwestern University, as well as numerous other Universities/Colleges in the world demand much out of not only its students, but its faculty, and pushes us to places we've never been before. College contributes to our lives our highest highs and our lowest lows, and can create heartaches and headaches as we strive to be the best version of ourselves.

My first year at Northwestern University started my fast-forward to adulthood.But throughout my first year I learned valuable advice and lessons that I want to share with you before you begin, or continue, your journey.

The stars shined brightly upon Northwestern's campus the weekend before last, as alums and icons of stage and screen returned to their alma mater for this Starry Night weekend.

One great part of Northwestern is that it is a campus filled with people who have a plethora of stories to tell: lessons they've learned, tips and tricks they've found useful in surviving college, and crazy and exciting adventures they've been able to experience in their life.

This Spring Break I was fortunate enough to travel to a city very close to my heart but one that I had only encountered through television and movies and books, most notably, the second season of Glee. This past week I traveled to New York City for the first time for seven full days and my eyes lit up with the eternal lights around me and the feeling of the Big Apple was so overwhelming that all I could do, upon seeing the city from my plane and standing in the middle of Times Square for the first time, was shed a couple tears.