Senior Josh Rothstein – Fresh faces and familiar ones galore-it’s the first year at Temple for some and the fourth, and hopefully last, for others. Senior Josh Rothstein’s infatuation with Philadelphia and love for teaching defines his character. Rothstein, 20, said his decision to go to Temple was a mission to overcome his fear of the city, even though he grew up 15 minutes outside of Philadelphia.
“Halfway through my freshman year I wasn’t afraid to go and do my thing. It’s because of that that I’ve gotten so into music and everything the city has to offer.”
One of the biggest perks of Philadelphia is the varieties of food, according to Rothstein.
“The food here is incredible,” he said.
“The tours I give my friends when they visit all revolve around food. You can do anything from cheese steaks to Steven Starr restaurants to late-night pretzel runs at the Center City Pretzel Company.”
Aside from exploring the many music events and restaurants of the city, Rothstein considered his best college decision to be settling on his major: education.
“I found what I wanted to do by observing my own interactions with my friends,” he said. “I realized that I just get this natural high from teaching things.”
Since then, Rothstein has become a co-teacher for a freshman seminar class, a speaker for the College of Education’s open houses, and a member of several clubs and programs to improve his second language: Japanese.
He is also a resident assistant at Temple Towers, which he feels is a great way to meet people.
“The students come in so many shapes and sizes and forms. It’s just really neat. The girls next door invite me over to watch Sex and the City, and the boys next door invite me over to watch football,” he said
Rothstein plans to study in Japan next semester. Although he looks forward to his future, he talked of his nostalgia about the past.
“My best memory at Temple? – I guess just the feeling of being a freshman. No curfews, no restrictions. It was the time for me to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do,” Rothstein said.
Freshman Sakura Ung – Ung’s first day at Temple was – take a guess: hectic! Now that she finally has her room key, a guest card and a temporary major, she’s ready to bask in her independence and meet quite a few goals.
While in her hometown of Harrisburg, Pa., Ung said she had pre-college anxiety. Now comfortably set up in her poster and picture plastered room in Peabody, she’s all smiles to be here.
“College life is better than I thought it would be. I was apprehensive about leaving home because I was so used to my comfort zone,” she explained. “It’s been fun meeting my roommate, talking to friends, and taking advantage of the things that the campus has to offer.”
The Student Center and the IBC are among the many things Ung enjoys on campus and she hopes to join a few clubs.
“I’m hoping to be on the judicial panel and student government,” she said. “I also want to do volunteer work tutoring children and things like that.”
Ung chose Temple for its location and its diversity. In the past couple of weeks, Ung said, she’s already been shopping on Walnut Street, South Street and at the Franklin Mills Mall. Now, she said, she plans to meet a wide range of people.
“I hope to meet a diverse group of people who I can learn things from – such as their culture and beliefs,” she said.
Like many students, Ung already has plans to change her major. When she applied to Temple, she chose political science as a major, but since then she’s had a change of interest and wants to switch to Business.
After school Ung hopes to do consulting at a marketing firm in either New York or Philadelphia. For now, she plans to be a college student.
“Ever since I arrived at Temple, I’ve become more independent, met great people and enjoyed all my classes,” she said. “College is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I tend on taking full advantage of!”
Jillian Bauer can be reached at jilleeun@temple.edu.
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