BIGGIE: Esmé Bonnin-Farrales, 4th year, Computer Science + Behavioral Neuroscience Major smalls #1: Angeline Teo, 2nd year, Data Science + Health Science Major smalls #2: Raphael Acero, 4th year, Mechanical Engineering Major Fam: Beast Farm >Describe your relationship with your BIGGIE/smalls!<
EB: Angeline and Raph are like siblings to me! I love them so much and know I can talk to them about anything. From the first zoom meeting, I knew instantly that I wanted to pick up Angeline, the more I got to know her the more I wanted her to be my smalls. Raph became more and more obvious when he officially joined barkada. We started spending more time together and he started feeling more and more like a little brother to me. Angeline and I saw how much he completed the fam and we were so excited to welcome him into our family. They are the first people I text when things happen in my life. They are the best cheerleaders and support system and I know we’re here for each other no matter what. They are both such amazing dancers. I love watching and dancing with them (they make me want to try KPop). I am graduating soon but I know for a fact that we’ll be close forever. Unfortunately for them, they are stuck with me forever hehe. I cannot wait to see them grow and start their own lives and still be there for them every step of the way. AT: Esme is like the older sister I had always wanted. She is the embodiment of sunshine and has been the most loving and supportive figure in my life since coming to college. She loves me for who I am and celebrates everything I do in life. She pushes me to try new things, meet new people, and pursue my passions. She is constantly growing and learning new things and I think we complement each other in that way. She has been there to offer me emotional support and advice, and cares for me in a way I had always wanted. She has so much love in her heart and you can see it the way she smiles. I consider her family, and I want to make so many more memories with her. RA: Even though we are technically the same year Esme has been a mentor and guide helping me navigate the communities I wished I joined earlier in my college career. I was always interested in dance and being part of the Asian community on campus but I was too shy during my freshman and sophomore years. Now being a 4th year, I better understand who I am and what I want to do with my time in college leading me to finally join PAAC organizations. Last semester was the most enjoyable time I've had at Northeastern and Esme guiding me and supporting me as I find my footing in this beautiful community is a huge reason why. >What's something you've learned from your BIGGIE/smalls?< EB: One thing I love the most about my smalls is that they make me a better person. They are both not afraid to keep me in check and call me out which I am so appreciative of. Angeline teaches me how to be kinder and a better sister. She always helps me consider other perspectives, be more patient, and understand others' needs. I have always admired how genuinely kind she is. She has so much love to offer and teaches me so much about life and others. Raph teaches me to be more outgoing and social. He is so great at meeting new people and making them feel comfortable. He brings me out of my comfort zone and pushes me to go out more. They both always encourage me to be more confident and to love myself. They encourage me to be my most genuine self without being embarrassed. I struggle a lot with self doubt but my smalls have always been some of the most supportive and loving people in my life. They teach me to see the best in life. AT: That I can have opinions. I also admire her resilience. RA: Esme has taught me so much about being part of PAAC, the dance community, and pursuing your passions. However, if I were to pick the greatest lesson I have learned from Esme it is how to foster and care for the communities and people you love. She communicates with her littles across all the clubs she is a part of every day trying to set up times to hang out or if they just need someone to listen to them. Esme reaches out to so many underclassmen welcoming them to the communities here at Northeastern and making sure they know they are supported. Esme deeply loves the communities that took care of her since she was a freshman and it has been inspiring to watch her care for the future of these communities. Barkada and Beast Farm is going to continue being great even after this graduating class leaves because of the kindness, effort, and love Esme has shown her past 4 years. I am incredibly thankful for such an amazing big and I am excited to see what she will do outside of college. >What's your favorite memory with your BIGGIE/smalls?< EB: I can’t pick one because every hang out with them is actually the best! I think one of my favorite memories with the both of them is when angeline and I went on Raph’s radio show. We listened to music and talked about life. We all have similar taste in music and we could talk for hours about anything. I always have the best conversations with them. Another one of my favorite is wine nights! It’s always super chill and I love it when Angeline makes us guess the wine notes and Raph and I just end up guessing random fruits. I was also super excited about Beast Farm Christmas and being able to finally give them their rings! Before Raph was in the fam, some of my favorite memories with Angeline was playing games at 748 and spending her birthday with Meryl. We went to the esplanade and had dim sum and strawberry shortcake. I also will always cherish choreographing with Angeline until like 5am. She was the best co-choreographer! One of my favorite memories with Raph is when we stayed up until 7am talking and ended up watching the sunset on Columbus garage and taking pictures. AT: It’s hard for me to choose one, but I remember the day she picked me up and my heart was filled with so much happiness and excitement for the future. Also, when she picked up Raph – he brought so much good energy to the fam and I feel like he really brought out the best in me and Esme. Another memory was just her and I sitting across from each other at her apartment and talking and eating (sorry that’s so vague, but it’s very clear in my head). Any moment I feel close to her is my favorite. RA:My favorite memories with Esme and Angeline are when we make dinner in 748. From making tocino to Meryl's famous salmon recipe, Beast Farm dinners were usually the highlight of my week. Esme and I will also usually guess wine flavor profiles while Angeline tells us if we were correct. Although we have only been together for a semester, Angeline and Esme have become my fam and I am so appreciative of the time we all get to be together.
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BIGGIE: Katie McColgan, 4th year, Behavioral Neuroscience Major smalls #1: Chanelle Wilson, 3rd year, Health Science + Business Administration Major smalls #2: Isabel Cui, 3rd year, Environmental Science + Chemistry Major, International Affairs Minor Fam: Official Bread >Describe your relationship with your BIGGIE/smalls!<
KM: Although Biggiesmalls is a mentorship program, it’s really important to me that we are just straight up friends above all else. I really value my friendship with smalls; they are like my little sisters that I can talk about anything with! I just try my best to be a supportive biggie, and they support me right back! CW: Initially after being paired, I felt very shy to reach out to Katie because I can be socially awkward sometimes. However, Katie was really understanding of how I felt! I would say Katie and I have pretty similar personalities (ex: being the listener of the group) so it’s easier to relate to each other. She’s very kind and we try to hang out whenever we’re not busy. IC: I think sometimes I joke and call kt ‘mother’ (at least in my head) but she’s more like a cool big sister/bestie of mine. I admire her so much and we have plenty in common so I’m really glad we got paired together! even though we’re pretty busy and don’t see each other super often I’m really comfortable reaching out to her for anything and vice versa. >What's something you've learned from your BIGGIE/smalls?< KM: Something I’ve learned and am continuing to learn is how to stay connected when we are all busy with our own lives. It was really tough through COVID to keep in touch at times, especially since Chanelle lives away from campus (miss you girl!) and when Isabel and I were so busy on coop. But in the end it makes the times we do spend together all the more meaningful :) CW: Katie is an amazing person who encourages me in everything I do. She’s very caring, and I know I can reach out to her anytime. I’m glad to have been paired up with her! IC: self-love and lots of good books :) >What's your favorite memory with your BIGGIE/smalls?< KM: Fav memory with Chanelle is her finally finding all the clues during our reveal and running over to hug me! With Isabel, I loved living together over the summer and skating/picnicking on the esplanade. Here’s to more memories with the 3 of us together! CW: Talking to Katie over quarantine in 2020 especially when we face timed!! That was the first time I got to know her a lot better one on one. IC: less of a memory and more of a season lol. last summer was amazing cause me and kt were roomies!! we would both have to get up at 6 everyday for co-op but we also made lots of time for all the lovely summer things like skating and taking trips and just laying outside or something. had a blast w each other and also w all our other friends together!
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