#59. Request a song or become a DJ at WITR-FM (89.7), the campus radio station.

Music is my life.

With this said, I have failed to become a DJ at WITR -the college radio station- so many times I feel I never will.

I have fully trained twice, I have loved everyone I've ever worked with, I have done some killer sets (in my own biased opinion), but at the end of the day, there's only 24 hours to accomplish everything you need. There's even less time to accomplish everything you want. A research team should do a poll on the average college student's 128 hour week breakdown. (Ex: look at this week's gem)

Regardless of this tangent, WITR is something I want to do.
Bonding over music is one of the most human experiences we can have. The relationships formed are real, because music reflects your deepest values, preferences and mental and emotional stimuli. If I find someone who loves Twenty One Pilots, Chromeo, The Black Keys and Barenaked Ladies, I feel comfortable and become exceedingly animated towards them. I understand more about their character than I would if we had been discussing our family dynamics, and that's amazing.

*On a side note, if I find someone who likes Ke$ha, The Lonely Island, Wes Anderson soundtracks and Reel Big Fish, I know I have found my soulmate.

                                       Training for a radio station is the most:
Terrifying
Ego-inflating

Exhilarating
Anxiety-producing
Electric experience I have ever encountered.

Sheer fear temporarily paralyzes you before taking the sound board, and then you look over at your stack of CDs and realize your two decades of musical obsession has prepared you for this exact moment.

If you mess up a song title, accidentally play dead air, even have to scramble to press the "dump" button to bleep out an uncatalogued swear word, all is easy to remedy and far worth the anxiety.

I don't know if you have a show on WITR, or you think the music is too eccentric, it's far too eclectic to be completely eccentric, and if it interests you slightly you should try. Alas, it might not be too late for either us.

#62. Have your picture taken riding the tiger statue just south of Kodak Quad.

Penn State has the Nittany Lion; RIT has the Tiger. For some reason, parents forcing prospective students to take awkward pictures riding the tiger statue by Kodak Quad has become a rite of passage at our institution.

My personal anecdote to this rite is that when I came as a PS, I didn’t want anyone to know. I stood awkwardly by the tiger, and completely hid my orange folder (PSs are often referred to as “Orange Folders” for the information packets they don throughout the day, First years are often referred to as “Lanyards” for the intense dedication they have to keep their IDs safe). Although my mom seemed sad I wouldn’t ride it, I don’t have a stigma about looking like weird- just look at the collection I’ve created since (many of which have been Facebook profile photos). However, as an intimidated and excited-beyond-all-measure seventeen year old high school senior, I couldn’t in the right mind get on the tiger and smile with all the “cool” college students around.

Do I regret this decision?

A bit, I would love to see my expression and relive what I felt the first time I visited my future home.

Still, none of the students would care. RIT isn't your average campus, and we're not your average student body. Honestly, we're kind of weird, and having gone here for three years now, I've forgotten that a normal world exists outside the "RIT Bubble". Outside Henrietta, razor scooters are not socially acceptable modes of transportation, showering is a deal breaker, people don’t fall on the floor laughing over math jokes, and I see why people never leave.

The tiger statue has seen its fair share of immature pranks, and I myself have clearly accosted it on numerous occasions. With this said, the tiger exists in the center of campus as a symbol of unity. He reminds us that we’re all under with similar drives to succeed, to fight through the crazy workloads, reach our potential and remember this time as the best 4/5 years of our lives.

If I can sum up my first year at RIT in a photo, riding a tiger in a horse mask carrying a crutch as a sword is probably pretty accurate. This campus changes you, it breaks you down and pummels you so much so you are forced to either fight back or drown, it lets you embrace your truest form and meet some of the best, daftest people in the world. This isn’t all thanks to the statue, but I’m sure he helps. 

#96. Grab a free T-shirt. There are always free shirts floating around campus for different events.

In college, free t-shirts are more precious than gold. In college, free anything is more precious than gold.

At RIT, I covet free swag more than a first year covets meal options. I have gotten pens, lanyards, stuffed animals, more pulled pork and cheeseburgers than my body will ever need, and so much more.



Alas, there is nothing quite like rolling up to class drinking your coffee and water from free thermoses and bottles, wearing free obnoxiously colored sunglasses, listening to your music from free ear buds and keeping warm from the wind in a free scarf/glove combination.

I am clearly not a big proponent of being serious in my writing, so for this pots, I have decided to take a seemingly playful subject -free swag- and turn it into something philosophical and inspiring. So here goes:

THE 3 PILLARS OF FREE SWAG

1. Campus Involvement:

Going to an event where free things are given away (much like the shirts to the right and left of this paragraph) amplify the atmosphere. In addition, if t-shirts are given away, students will wear them and awareness for the even will circulate. Students can become inspired to get involved because of a shirt they receive (i.e. join CAB because of SpringFest), and at the same time they're representing their college everywhere they go.


2. Friendship & Bonding:

Freshman year, my floor and I went to everything to explore what the campus had to offer, as well as escape the confinement of dorm rooms. Dorms are microcosms of the real world, but eventually they end up turning into "The Real World." My floor was a dramatic reality show where everyone knew everything about everyone and exhaustion-caused-insanity runs rampant. Going to events, you share common experiences, and create memories which can become traditions to carry you through your college years.


3: Excitement: 

Obtaining free swag produces a similar result in your brain to, say, eating chocolate. In the beginning it's all you want, you consume it, you have a brief, albeit intense sugar high, and then you crash because you're over the shirt and don't need to wear it for a while. In a more direct comparison, it's like being given a gift for absolutely no reason other than being a student.


To summarize, if you haven't given in to the free swag train- hop on, it's completely worth it. If you don't believe me, take the 99 Things challenge and it will happen naturally.

#54. Walk on the pedestrian bridge over the Genesee River (across from Frontier Field) to see High Falls

If there's one "Thing" you have to do on the list of 99, it is hands down to see High Falls.

Located in Downtown Rochester, just east of the Kodak Building, High Falls is a waterfall which goes into the Genesee River. The best part is the Pont de Rennes, the pedestrian bridge which spans the depth of the falls, as well as the nearby Genesee Brewing Company, which I've heard makes some high class beer. In fact, there is a rooftop restaurant at the Brewery with a spectacular view of the city and the falls. Regardless of beer preference, the spot itself would be worth a visit.

There is something to be said about those views you come across in your town that make you feel happy- like you’re a part of something bigger than yourself. First stepping onto the walking bridge is cinematic. The vast expanse of the river overwhelms your ears, and if it's a beautiful, sunny day (see above), High Falls is quite the spectacle. 

Upstate New York has a ton to offer in terms of outside entertainment- I’m from Binghamton, so although it isn’t too far away, I knew nothing about Rochester until I came to school. Thanks to the 99 Things, Urbanspoon, Yelp and other various Google searches, I have had no shortage of wonderfully unique experiences. Although I have been accosted numerous times for having never eaten a Garbage Plate (soon, I promise), gone to Liberty Hill (President Destler's house- my dream), seen a movie at the Little Theatre or attended the Lilac Festival, I have been to High Falls, and that's exciting enough for now. 

#47. Drink a terrapin and eat a giant cookie at Java Wally’s.

There are fewer times more satisfying than when all of your classes connect with one another, and you can draw from assignments and lectures in one to discuss another. This is one of those times. One of my minors is Web Design and Development, and one of the required classes consists of photo shoots on topics varying from foods to shoes. This week focused on making meals on campus look appealing (some expressed anguish over the hefty task). 

While brainstorming which foods to photograph, it clicked that I could use this assignment to my advantage and cross off some foods on the "99 Things" list. The best meal turned out to be a Terrapin, and one of the huge Ginger Molasses cookies from Java's. While this may not have been the most nutritious dinner, gosh was it delicious. When it came time to upload the photos from the week, we were told to write a review for one of the meals, and upload it to a faux RIT reviews page for freshman. The review was supposed to be verbose, and speak to the extravagant cuisine of our campus, so lying and overusing adjectives was encouraged. 

The final result has been posted below, enjoy my attempt a la Anton Ego in Ratatouille. 

Terrapin and Ginger Molasses Cookie

Java Wally's

How to deliciously spike your blood sugar in one sip: The Terrapin - caramel, chocolate, espresso, Java's quintessential whipped cream; place it with a crunchy-on-the-outside-gooey-on-the-inside Ginger Molasses cookie the size of your hand, and you've got a good post-exam meal. Granted, the amount of sugar in both parties is enough to send you to the moon and back down in about twenty minutes, but I don't get those fancy drinks often, and it's worth every cent.

I first found out about this amazing combination from the University News article, "The 99 Things to Do Before Graduating RIT". The article boasts the best-of-the-best on campus, including events, food and locations worth exploring. Thus I knew I must try and document my experience for the campus. I would recommend this to all incoming freshman, families and of course, last but not least, sleep deprived current Tigers!

#13. Attend the annual Lighting the Way welcoming ceremony put on by The Center for Women and Gender

I am a third year at RIT, however until this fall I had never gone to the Lighting the Way ceremony. The ceremony is to celebrate women as a minority, and inspire strength and a drive to succeed.

Initially, I may have only wanted to attend the ceremony for the amazingly cool LED brass lantern (when you literally "light the way"), but as the years passed at RIT, I became ever more aware of the shortage of girls. When I started school, the ratio was 2:1, but sometimes it gets overwhelming and feels far worse. This was one of the major reasons I joined a sorority on campus. The support from the women of Delta Phi Epsilon cannot be compared to anything. These women have become so integral to my success and involvement on campus, I can only hope to give an adequate portion back.

Anyway, this fall during Orientation Week, on of my sisters brought up the Ceremony, and wondered if anyone wanted to go. This was my chance, and the Ceremony was truly amazing. Students spoke about their experiences, one of the heads of the Center for Women & Gender gave a hilariously impactful presentation, and finally I got my lantern (see right).