Issue link: http://tcnj.uberflip.com/i/1521631
15 SPRING 2024 THIS PAGE L: MATTHEW AARON CALLAHAN, R: CAROLINE GUTMAN From the heart Diana Jacob and Vaidehi Valera "She's Indian, a bio major, and she sings." That's what Diana noticed she had in common with Vaidehi when she first scrolled Vaidehi's Instagram. Online, and then in person, the two solidified a friendship as they studied for Chem 201, sang Bollywood duets, and served as leaders in the Indian Student Association together. "I was really excited to actually see the people I met online," says Diana. "Especially Vaidehi, since we had become so close on text." "I didn't want to lose touch with my Indian culture in college," says Vaidehi. "Everything just lined up with the two of us; I knew we'd get along." First impressions; fast friends Paige Babino and Alexa Giacoio Paige was one of only 1,168 students who returned to campus for the spring semester after an all-online start. But it wasn't quite what she had hoped. "I ended up going home after two weeks," she says. "It was depressing. I was in a dorm alone." But as summer rolled around and she geared up for her sophomore year, she saw a post on the TCNJ Class of 2024 Facebook group advertising an opening in a Campus Town apartment. Paige dropped a comment that she was interested; Alexa was on the other end. Self-admitted overthinkers, the pair say they worried about living with a stranger, meeting each other for the first time as they moved into their new setup in Campus Town. "When you go with a random roommate, you don't have expectations," says Alexa. "It could be a flop, or it could be something amazing." A trip to Target and Starbucks in October of their sophomore year led to an inside joke about Chuck E. Cheese, and the "a-ha" moment they realized their friendship was the real deal. Together, TCNJ felt like home. Especially for Paige: "Freshman year, I didn't want to be there. But sophomore year, I didn't want to leave." "A random Facebook comment turned into one of the best friendships," says Alexa. "We've already talked about being in each other's weddings." " I didn't want to lose touch with my Indian culture in college."