Author Archives: Erica Rothman

On Thursday night, lured by doughnuts and board games, I watched the vice-presidential debate in my freshman counselor’s room. Expecting that my friends would silently watch the television and follow with a dry, political discussion afterwards, I naturally brought my laptop with me. I thought I might be able to get some work in as »

I saw my first episode of the television show “Gilmore Girls” sophomore year of high school when I was homesick. The episode took place at Yale, and although the show was interesting, I switched off the television when it was over and turned my thoughts to healing from my cold. Only when I was admitted »

In high school I brushed off feeling ill. A hacking cough? It’s just something caught in my throat. Serial sneezing? It’ll pass in a moment. I saw throwing up as a sign of weakness and Advil as a cure-all: If I just take some ibuprofen for those chicken pox, I’ll be better in an hour. »

When people ask me where I’m from, I say New York. If they inquire further, I say I’m from just outside New York City. It takes great persistence to pull out the fact that I actually reside across the Hudson River from Manhattan, in Bergen County, New Jersey. But really, I reassure those who ask, »

I have been warned about the dangers of overpacking for college. Interns at work this summer shook their heads disparagingly when I told them I was going shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond for the sixteenth time, and my friends from high school laughed when I let them know them I was bringing all four »