“College Life” NY Times Photo Package
I looked at a photo package produced by the New York Times titled “College Life”. The slideshow takes several images, mainly taken around 2010, that depict college life and the transition from adolescence to adulthood that happens when teens go away to college. I found this piece interesting and very enjoyable because I could relate to so many of the images. Many of them were unique, and showed parts of the college experience that I had gone through myself.
My college experience was different in that I did not live in a dorm or on campus at all. Rather, I commuted throughout all 4 years of my undergraduate degree. There were several aspects I missed out on, from becoming independent and learning to fully provide for myself, to the social opportunities that living on campus provides students. However, I feel grateful for being able to stay close to my family and undertake several different jobs while still living at home.
The second picture of the slideshow shows several college students crowded in a bathtub. Clearly, this photo was taken in the middle of a fun night for the group. This picture made me remember fun nights where my friends and I had similar dumb moments.
Another picture in the slideshow showed two female college students kissing during a protest in California. This picture was from November 2008, a time when gay marriage was still illegal. This image interested me because it showed how people discover who they are and the things they value while in college. This is a transitional time where many people discover their sexualities, their identities, and other critical aspects that make us individuals. I have met FDU students who have become more comfortable with their sexualities and other aspects of their identities while in college away from home.
My favorite image from this piece was titled “I Couldn’t Say It To His Face”. It is a simple image of someones torso in a grey t shirt. The caption of the picture made it stand out to me. It reads “My relationship with my brother and mother took a dramatic turn when I went to college, and at first I didn’t understand what was happening. I realized that as an adult, I am the equal of these people. It wasn’t that our relationships were deteriorating. We were becoming friends.” I love this quote, because I have slowly experienced this during my college years. I can identify with the feeling that I am becoming the equal of my parents, rather than just the dependent child that has lived under them for my whole life. This has been harder for my mother, but my dad has for a long time been far more understanding and able to empathize with my situation
This piece was very satisfying. It comes at a fitting time where I am about to graduate and begin to look back at my college experience rather than living in it.
Cardona's Corner 