Name: Taofik Kolade

Hometown: Washington, D.C

Activities at Princeton: Sympoh Breakdancing Crew, DJ, Video Production, Band: The Friendship

Before Princeton, I was an avid soccer player with hopes of playing for the Varsity team here at Princeton. In high school soccer was my life. It occupied almost all of my time, leaving some time for schoolwork and other activities. Because of my dedication, though, I wasn’t allowed much time to pursue many other interests that I could become serious about.

I grew at Princeton by realizing that other things interested me beyond soccer. This realization prompted me to join the breakdancing crew, join a band playing the saxophone, and eventually go from playing with my turntables in my room to getting paid to DJ events on campus.

I supported “cross-pollination” by pursing all outlets of creativity that I had even the slightest bit of interest in. For instance, as a freshman, I loved movies but never dreamed of making them. This changed when I decided on a whim to take a film and video production class sophomore year. Since then my knowledge of and interest in movies and production has drastically increased.

I learned that you really can do anything you want to do and enjoy it, as long as you truly care about it. It is this caring that will cause you to put in the time, effort, and heart necessary to be both successful and happy.

After reflecting on my experience at Princeton, I have concluded that one has not truly experienced Princeton until they have found some manner in which to grow. At Princeton, this growth could take an intellectual form, through book learning, and things of that nature. But it is not required that this growth only be gained through books. Extra-curricular activities, meeting new people, and just generally pursuing interests outside of school allow us to grow in a way that is different but just as vital, if not more. For the majority of people here, after graduating from Princeton, they will have no way of joining a traditional Indian dance troupe, or acting in a play, or many of the other opportunities that we presently take for granted. So why let these things pass by?

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