Seawolf Spotlight

Vi’s View: Freshman Year Through 22 Pictures

June 22, 2023

Viyang Hao — Viyang Hao, the first dedicated student writer for Stony Brook Matters. Catch her experiences each month in Vi’s View.

As my first year of college is officially over, I can’t help but scroll through my photo gallery of everything I documented to reflect on the year I had. I’ve had so many memorable experiences, whether big or small, that has truly shaped my freshman year

Looking back at these photos, it makes me realize how much I’m going to miss what it’s like being a freshman. There were a lot of first time experiences for me like stepping foot into a 7-Eleven.

I know that as I continue to grow, there will be more “firsts.” But, I’m truly going to miss the feeling of taking those first steps of becoming an adult and tackling on the world.

There’s so much I haven’t shared yet but here are some of my favorite highlights.

Sorry Gerald

August 12, 2022: As I packed for my first year of college, I found myself having to save space, just like other college students. But everything I wanted to bring with me had to fit inside a suitcase as I flew across the country. I knew I had to bring along Gerald, my favorite stuffed animal. However, I refused to vacuum seal him, so I watched my dad do it instead. This was the end result. — August 12, 2022: As I packed for my first year of college, I found myself having to save space, just like other college students. But everything I wanted to bring with me had to fit inside a suitcase as I flew across the country. I knew I had to bring along Gerald, my favorite stuffed animal. However, I refused to vacuum seal him, so I watched my dad do it instead. This was the end result.

You Can Use This as a Bowl

August 18, 2022: There’s just something about cooking ramen late at night with people you just met, chatting away until 6 am, that makes it worth staying up for. But what happens when you find out you only have one pot to cook ramen in and six mouths to feed? The answer is that it becomes a fun game of “What can be a bowl?” — August 18, 2022: There’s just something about cooking ramen late at night with people you just met, chatting away until 6 am, that makes it worth staying up for. But what happens when you find out you only have one pot to cook ramen in and six mouths to feed? The answer is that it becomes a fun game of “What can be a bowl?”

Eating My Way Back to Home

August 27, 2022: I desperately needed to eat some authentic Chinese food after moving into my dorm. Don’t get me wrong. It was nice to eat a different variety of cuisines, but, at the end of the day, I still wanted to eat Chinese food. After a trip to Green Tea, a nearby off-campus Chinese restaurant, I can’t count how many times I went back just to reminisce about my mom’s cooking. — August 27, 2022: I desperately needed to eat some authentic Chinese food after moving into my dorm. Don’t get me wrong. It was nice to eat a different variety of cuisines, but, at the end of the day, I still wanted to eat Chinese food. After a trip to Green Tea, a nearby off-campus Chinese restaurant, I can’t count how many times I went back just to reminisce about my mom’s cooking.

Go Away Flies

September 5, 2022: While I visited a friend who lived in Yang Hall, I saw this pile of rotting groceries spread across a bench. Who knows how long it had been left there, as it was clear the milk had spoiled. This would be the first of many times I would witness a form of food deformity out and about campus. — September 5, 2022: While I visited a friend who lived in Yang Hall, I saw this pile of rotting groceries spread across a bench. Who knows how long it had been left there, as it was clear the milk had spoiled. This would be the first of many times I would witness a form of food deformity out and about campus.

Wolfie’s Got His Eyes on You

September 27, 2022: On a random night, my friends and I found Wolfie boasting a pair of googly eyes in East Side Dining. Whoever did this, I would like to thank you for alleviating my stress from midterms, even for just a moment. — September 27, 2022: On a random night, my friends and I found Wolfie boasting a pair of googly eyes in East Side Dining. Whoever did this, I would like to thank you for alleviating my stress from midterms, even for just a moment.

An Aesthetic Photo Attempt

October 28, 2022: My friend and I tried taking a cute picture of our hands making a heart in the sunset. We may or may not have succeeded, but we ended up having a photo shoot session with the beautiful sky. — October 28, 2022: My friend and I tried taking a cute picture of our hands making a heart in the sunset. We may or may not have succeeded, but we ended up having a photo shoot session with the beautiful sky.

A Rite of Passage

November 23, 2022: Outside of New York, I’ve never cared to much about bagels, much less regularly have one. But I’ve always heard that having a bagel from New York City was out of this world. So, on my third trip to New York City, I tried one from Liberty Bagels. Oh my gosh! It was from this moment on that I took a liking to bagels. — November 23, 2022: Outside of New York, I’ve never cared to much about bagels, much less regularly have one. But I’ve always heard that having a bagel from New York City was out of this world. So, on my third trip to New York City, I tried one from Liberty Bagels. Oh my gosh! It was from this moment on that I took a liking to bagels.

What are You Doing Here

November 24, 2022: My friend’s sister invited me to stay with them in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for Thanksgiving Break. My friend and I decided to go on a walk to see what downtown Philadelphia was like. As we walked across the Market Street Bridge, I found the mouth of a lion’s head statue stuffed with an Uncrustable peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich. I didn’t take it out because I thought it added to the vibe of downtown Philadelphia. — November 24, 2022: My friend’s sister invited me to stay with them in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for Thanksgiving Break. My friend and I decided to go on a walk to see what downtown Philadelphia was like. As we walked across the Market Street Bridge, I found the mouth of a lion’s head statue stuffed with an Uncrustable peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich. I didn’t take it out because I thought it added to the vibe of downtown Philadelphia.

Give Me Some Mangos

November 25, 2022: The same friend I mentioned earlier would not stop raving about a dessert restaurant called Mango Mango Dessert. This was the first I had heard of the place, let alone know it has another branch in Queens, New York. I desperately want to go back. You should give it a try, especially since it’s summer now! — November 25, 2022: The same friend I mentioned earlier would not stop raving about a dessert restaurant called Mango Mango Dessert. This was the first I had heard of the place, let alone know it has another branch in Queens, New York. I desperately want to go back. You should give it a try, especially since it’s summer now!

Hear Me Out

November 26, 2022: This may sound crazy, but the same friend and I traveled from Pennsylvania to New Jersey to shop at Costco. Hear me out, it was the closest Costco to where we were located (even if Google Maps said we were eight miles from it), and I wanted my friend to try pizza from the Costco Food Court for the first time as she is an international student. The trip was well worth it. I even got to try a Crumbl cookie for the first time! — November 26, 2022: This may sound crazy, but the same friend and I traveled from Pennsylvania to New Jersey to shop at Costco. Hear me out, it was the closest Costco to where we were located (even if Google Maps said we were eight miles from it), and I wanted my friend to try pizza from the Costco Food Court for the first time as she is an international student. The trip was well worth it. I even got to try a Crumbl cookie for the first time!

Celebrating Christmas with the Houston Space Center

December 9, 2022: When I went back home to see my parents in Texas, they surprised me by saying they had gotten a membership to the Houston Space Center. My family and I frequently visited the space museum over winter break to make the most out of the membership. I was able to touch a piece of the moon and Mars many times. — December 9, 2022: When I went back home to see my parents in Texas, they surprised me by saying they had gotten a membership to the Houston Space Center. My family and I frequently visited the space museum over winter break to make the most out of the membership. I was able to touch a piece of the moon and Mars many times.

A $1 Museum Ticket

January 17, 2023: I learned over TikTok that students who go to a college in New York could go to The Metropolitan Museum of Art for as low as $1 after showing a form of valid ID. Seeing that I had come back to campus before the second semester started, I wanted to know if I could only pay $1 to get in. And, it worked! But I have to go back as I could only walk through a few exhibits. — January 17, 2023: I learned over TikTok that students who go to a college in New York could go to The Metropolitan Museum of Art for as low as $1 after showing a form of valid ID. Seeing that I had come back to campus before the second semester started, I wanted to know if I could only pay $1 to get in. And, it worked! But I have to go back as I could only walk through a few exhibits.

The Rise of Gerald Jr.

February 10, 2023: Sometimes, adding a new piece of decoration is all you need to make your day brighter. Tyler Mooney graciously gave me a plant that has grown so much since this day. And, yes, the plant and the stuffed monkey are magically related. — February 10, 2023: Sometimes, adding a new piece of decoration is all you need to make your day brighter. Tyler Mooney graciously gave me a plant that has grown so much since this day. And, yes, the plant and the stuffed monkey are magically related.

What a Coincidence

February 27, 2023: My friend and I ordered drinks from Starbucks as a way to treat ourselves for making it through another week of school. After receiving our drinks, my friend made a realization and screamed, “It’s Wanda and Cosmo from The Fairly Oddparents!” — February 27, 2023: My friend and I ordered drinks from Starbucks as a way to treat ourselves for making it through another week of school. After receiving our drinks, my friend made a realization and screamed, “It’s Wanda and Cosmo from The Fairly Oddparents!”

Where are You

February 28, 2023: Once upon a time there was a family of snow penguins happily living in the SAC plaza. But, one by one, they were taken away by students who thought they were too cute to let go. The family never saw each other after that. The end. — February 28, 2023: Once upon a time there was a family of snow penguins happily living in the SAC plaza. But, one by one, they were taken away by students who thought they were too cute to let go. The family never saw each other after that. The end.

A Breakfast of Champions

April 8, 2023: Sometimes a meal is pizza and ice cream, sometimes it’s a salad, and sometimes it’s a mixture of both. Pictured here is a bowl of fruit, an almost-finished iced coffee, a cup of water, a cupcake and a cup of diet coke. As I would put it, it’s a breakfast of champions. — April 8, 2023: Sometimes a meal is pizza and ice cream, sometimes it’s a salad, and sometimes it’s a mixture of both. Pictured here is a bowl of fruit, an almost-finished iced coffee, a cup of water, a cupcake and a cup of diet coke. As I would put it, it’s a breakfast of champions.

Can I Pet It

April 12, 2023: The freshman dorm community hosted a free petting zoo event one day. It may have smelled like poop, but it was so worth being able to pet the animals. We could even feed the three goats that were there! — April 12, 2023: The freshman dorm community hosted a free petting zoo event one day. It may have smelled like poop, but it was so worth being able to pet the animals. We could even feed the three goats that were there!

Goodbye Freshman Dorm

May 18, 2023: The time came when I had to pack up everything I owned back into my suitcases. Luckily, Gerald did not have to be vacuum sealed! But, wow, this made me realize how much stuff had accumulated throughout one school year alone. — May 18, 2023: The time came when I had to pack up everything I owned back into my suitcases. Luckily, Gerald did not have to be vacuum sealed! But, wow, this made me realize how much stuff had accumulated throughout one school year alone.

Congratulations Graduates

May 19, 2023: I had the opportunity to take photos for the Spring 2023 Commencement. Now, I have an idea of what to expect at my own Spring Commencement in 2026. My favorite part was the confetti cannons. Like who doesn’t want to play around with the confetti? Congratulations to all 2023 graduates! — May 19, 2023: I had the opportunity to take photos for the Spring 2023 Commencement. Now, I have an idea of what to expect at my own Spring Commencement in 2026. My favorite part was the confetti cannons. Like who doesn’t want to play around with the confetti? Congratulations to all 2023 graduates!

Alert: Adulting Taking Place

May 22, 2023: I decided to stay near campus for the summer rather than go back home. This meant that I had the opportunity to cook some homemade Chinese food. Thankfully, I still remember how to cook. — May 22, 2023: I decided to stay near campus for the summer rather than go back home. This meant that I had the opportunity to cook some homemade Chinese food. Thankfully, I still remember how to cook.

Another One

June 1, 2023: Another year goes by, and suddenly, it’s my birthday. My friends staying on campus for the summer surprised me with an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. They may have forgotten the candles, but the main concern was how much leftover ice cream cake there was. Fun fact: It took my housemate and me five days to finish the entire cake, quite impressive, I would say! — June 1, 2023: Another year goes by, and suddenly, it’s my birthday. My friends staying on campus for the summer surprised me with an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. They may have forgotten the candles, but the main concern was how much leftover ice cream cake there was. Fun fact: It took my housemate and me five days to finish the entire cake, quite impressive, I would say!

One is Obviously Better

June 17, 2023: Last summer, I worked part-time at a Wetzel’s Pretzels and jokingly swore that I would not try food from Auntie Anne’s. But, curiosity got the best of me, and I ate food from Auntie Anne’s at the Smith Haven Mall. I can tell you this: go to Wetzel’s Pretzels instead. — June 17, 2023: Last summer, I worked part-time at a Wetzel’s Pretzels and jokingly swore that I would not try food from Auntie Anne’s. But, curiosity got the best of me, and I ate food from Auntie Anne’s at the Smith Haven Mall. I can tell you this: go to Wetzel’s Pretzels instead.

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